I am asking Father to fulfill these Scriptures in all our Christian Churches:
“ And when they had prayed, the place was shaken where they were assembled together; and they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and they spake the word of God with boldness.” (Acts 4:31)
” And great fear came upon all the church, and upon as many as heard these things.” (Acts 5:11)
Acts 2:42, tells us of the normal, daily, activities of the early church:
“And they continued stedfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers.”
These were the four pillars of the early church: teaching, fellowship, Lord’s Supper, and prayer! — Much of the Western church today is following the Corporate Model of doing church, and wondering why numbers are still declining! — Perhaps what we need today is less Leadership Training and more Followship Training . . . following the Spirit of God!
All the Leadership and Church Planting training programs I have attended gave little more than a nod toward the value of prayer (admittedly, I can only speak of the ones I have attended). To be effective, prayer must be #1, #2, and #3 in the ranking of importance. If one does not pray, and pray, and pray some more; he hasn’t a prayer of succeeding!
It is virtually impossible for anyone to be an effective follower (disciple) of Christ without developing an intimacy with Jesus through an intentional life of prayer. Therefore, it must be understood that far too many pastors/leaders are spiritually ineffective!
The first required courses for any Seminary or Bible College ought to be an intensive Spiritual Formation program, where there is some class time, and, much lab work on your knees. You must obtain personal proficiency here, or you may not move on to further studies!
Our LORD has invited us — and commanded us — to pray. Listen:
“Seek ye the Lord while he may be found, call ye upon him while he is near” (Isaiah 55:6)
“Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you” (Matthew 7:7)
“And he spake a parable unto them to this end, that men ought always to pray, and not to faint” (Luke 18:1)
“Hitherto have ye asked nothing in my name: ask, and ye shall receive, that your joy may be full.” (John 16:24)
“Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints.” (Ephesians 6:18)
“Be careful for nothing; but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.” (Philippians 4:6)
“Pray without ceasing.” (1 Thessalonians 5:17)
“Is any among you afflicted? let him pray.” (James 5:13)
“Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.” (James 5:16)
“But ye, beloved, building up yourselves on your most holy faith, (How?) praying in the Holy Spirit.” (Jude 1:20)
Then Jesus gave us the basis of all our praying in what we have wrongly labeled “The LORD’s Prayer”, it would better be called the “Disciple’s Prayer Guide.”
Let me share with you our LORD’s direct invitation to His Church to enter a relationship with Him through prayer:
“Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear My voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with Me.” ( Revelation 3:20)
Many have used this verse out of the context it was written. This is not a call to salvation, though it is a great picture of that, it is a call to the Church of the LORD Jesus Christ to enter this relationship with Him through prayer. It is not our prayer that moves the LORD Jesus. It is Jesus Who moves us to pray! He invites! He knocks!
God has designed prayer as a means of intimate and joyous fellowship between God and man. Unfortunately, too many Christians do not enjoy this dimension of prayer.
I have had some pastors tell me that they seldom teach their people on prayer. My observation of such a claim is either that pastor is most selfish, or that pastor’s prayer-life is lacking! It cannot be the first, because when you are enjoying an intimate relationship with Jesus, the only natural response is to want everyone to be in that kind of relationship. So, it has to be that that pastor’s prayer-life is lacking!
“(Jesus) said unto them, It is written, My house shall be called the house of prayer; but ye have made it a den of thieves.” (Matthew 21:13)
Pastors, leaders, go deeper in prayer! Pastors, leaders, encourage, teach, your people to pray!
Let me give you a two-fold prayer focus:
- Pray for a spirit of prayer to fall upon you and your church; a prayer revival of your Church!
- Pray for the advancement of Christ’s Kingdom; a Spiritual Awakening in your nation!
Pray On!
