Prayer as Strategy!

When was the last time you prayed and asked God to do something in your ministry only he could do? About noon the following day as they were on their journey and approaching the city, Peter went up on the roof to pray. (Acts 10:9) They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. (Acts 2:42) They all joined together constantly in prayer. (Acts 1:14 ) When they heard this, they raised their voices together in prayer to God…After they prayed, the place where they were meeting was shaken. (Acts 4:24, 31a)

3 Questions: Why should we pray? What should we pray? How should we pray?

Why should we pray? Prayer is a significant part of putting on God’s armor in spiritual warfare. Finally be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes….And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the saints. (Eph. 6:10, 11, 18) God’s power in our ministries is only released by prayer. “Have faith in God,” Jesus answered. “I tell you the truth, if anyone says to this mountain, ‘Go, throw yourself into the sea,’ and does not doubt in his heart but believes that what he says will happen, it will be done for him. Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours. (Mark 11:22-24)

Prayer keeps us mindful that it is NOT up to us! For we have no power to face this vast army that is attacking us. We do not know what to do, but our eyes are upon you. (2 Chronicles 20:12b) Prayer gives us the strategies with which we can proceed. Then you will know which way to go, since you have never been this way before. (Joshua 3:4) Prayer joins the body together in the task – those on the frontlines and those at home. I urge you, brothers, by our Lord Jesus Christ and by the love of the Spirit, to join me in my struggle by praying to God for me. (Romans 15:30)

What should we pray? That God’s mercy would fall on this people group. “I looked for a man among them who would build up the wall and stand before me in the gap on behalf of the land so I would not have to destroy it, but I found none. So I will pour out my wrath on them and consume them with my fiery anger, bringing down on their own heads all they have done,” declares the Sovereign Lord. (Ezekiel 22:30-31) Then Moses said t Aaron, “Take your censer and put incense in it, along with fire from the altar, and hurry to the assembly to make atonement for them. Wrath has come out from the Lord; the plague has started”…He stood between the living and the dead, and the plague stopped. (Numbers 17:46,48)

For deliverance from non-believers and coalition team-building among believers. Pray that I may be rescued from the unbelievers in Judea and that my service in Jerusalem may be acceptable to the saints there, so that by God’s will I may come to you with joy and together with you be refreshed. (Romans 15:31-32) For God’s Spirit to give boldness and courage to those proclaiming the Gospel and that the message would be accompanied by obvious displays of God’s power. Now, Lord, consider their threats and enable your servants to speak your word with great boldness. Stretch out your hand to heal and perform miraculous signs and wonders through the name of your holy servant Jesus. (Acts 4:29,30)

That God would prepare the hearts of the people to hear the good news of Jesus Christ. Cornelius answered, “Four days ago I was in my house praying at this hour, at three in the afternoon. Suddenly a man in shining clothes stood before me and said, “Cornelius, God has heard your prayer and remembered your gifts to the poor. Send to Joppa for Simon who is called Peter…” So I sent for you immediately, and it was good of you to come. Now we are all here in the presence of God to listen to everything the Lord has commanded you to tell us. (Acts 10:30-33)

How should we pray? In humility If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and heal their land. (2 Chronicles 7:14) Corporately and individually They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. (Acts 2:42) But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. (Matthew 6:6) With confidence This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us. And if we know that he hears us – whatever we ask – we know that we have what we asked of him. (I John 5:14,15)

Practical considerations: Designate one person on your team as the team’s prayer strategist. As you calendar your training events and trips to the field, also calendar prayer sessions. Keep prayer needs of the people group before the church body at all times in multiple ways.