Hi...
Well, the prayer conference starts tonight! I've had a number of different ones send me scriptures that seem to be indicating, that God is going to use this weekend to stir up a passion in our city for prayer!
I hope to give you some feedback, if not each day of the conference, but atleast give you an overview of how it went. We have 50 registered! How awesome! Imagine how amazingly wonderful it feels today, to know that we will fill a room tonight, with people who are not only hungry to pray, but hungry to learn more about prayer! We have alteast 10 bible college students coming from two local bible colleges, and even 2 or 3 high school students! I'm more than excited! Thank you Lord! ...May it be pleasing in your sight...and sweet music to your ears!
If any of you reading this, attended the conference, I'd LOVE to hear your feedback too!
Be praying!
Pam
Friday, February 24, 2012
Monday, February 20, 2012
Praying in Agreement
First let me say that I'm so sorry it's been two weeks since I posted! Life gets busy...but I really want to endevour to keep this blog current...so if those of you reading it consistently would pray for me to be disciplined and consistent in posting - that would be aweosme!
Now..let's get to the subject of ' agreement in prayer'. I love talking about this! I think the power of agreement is such an incredible weapon of warfare! I also think it can work against us, or for us. How so, you ask? Well..listen the words of your mouth. Listen to the conversations around you. You will hear two things; either people are agreeing with what God says about their lives...or they are agreeing with what the enemy says. Whichever one you agree with, becomes a stronger influence in your life!
Now..I am NOT talking about word faith...or 'name and claim it'. Nor am I talking about the power of positive confession - altho there is some truth in all of the ones I've just named. It seems to be that because a 'truth' gets taught and then becomes extreme by those teachign it, we tend to throw the baby out with the bath water! The Word Faith movement taught us to get back into the Word and know what God says about us, our lives etc. The 'name and claim' movement, taught people to stand on that word , beleiving! The power of positive confession movement taught us to be aware of how we were speaking. The problem is ( in my opinion), all those teaching began to be used for our own selfish means - to get more, have more etc. - AND sadly enough, to begin to judge others! So...beleive me when I say, I'm not advocating any of that.
What I am saying tho, is that we DO need to get back to Word..and become aware of what God says about us. We do need to stand on what He promises...and we need to start speaking that out. For instance..I am going to 'agree' with God that HE is my source of provision and because of that I can trust Him for my daily needs. ( Does that mean I don't work - of course not! I also agree with God that it's 'good for man to work'...and that 'a laborer is worthy of his wages ' etc.).. But I want to start my prayer times off with positioning myself IN AGREEMENT with what I know about God - He is listening to me. His ear is inclined to me. He loves to save his people. The list goes on and on.
When I pray I don't want to be either talking to the enemy or agreeing with him aobut my situation. Even in my darkness times, I chose to be like David, and confess my weakness, my sadness BUT then give it to him, and stir up my sould to REMEMBEER what God has said and done in the past. When I am waiting for an answer to something, I thank God that He hears me, is working on my behalf. I remind myself that God has delivered my int he past and WILL do it again. I do not agree that I am helpless, hopeless or should give up. I come into agreement with what I know about God, speak it out over my situation..and tell God my faith is in Him to move!
Sometimes my thoughts want to convince me otherwise. I can get really downcast..and as David said, my soul becomes disquieted. The longer I look at the battle waging around me. The longer I look at a storm and it's apparent power, I can start agreeing ith the enemy that my situation 'looks hopeless'...that it's never going to end...that God doesn't care I'm in pain - and the list goes on.. The more I agree with the enemy, the worse the situation feels and the bigger the storm looks.
I chose to give my attention, turn my attention..and give my agreement to what I truly know - whether I 'feel' like it or not - ' this I know'... GOD IS FOR ME....God is in control. God is working on my behalf. God will make a way of escape for me. God will turn this for good . I can trust Him. He loves me!
The power of agreement, isn't just in agreeing with someone else ( altho that's another powerful prayer tool) ...it's agreeing with the character and word of God. It's amazing how much hope comes from praying from that position!
Now..let's get to the subject of ' agreement in prayer'. I love talking about this! I think the power of agreement is such an incredible weapon of warfare! I also think it can work against us, or for us. How so, you ask? Well..listen the words of your mouth. Listen to the conversations around you. You will hear two things; either people are agreeing with what God says about their lives...or they are agreeing with what the enemy says. Whichever one you agree with, becomes a stronger influence in your life!
Now..I am NOT talking about word faith...or 'name and claim it'. Nor am I talking about the power of positive confession - altho there is some truth in all of the ones I've just named. It seems to be that because a 'truth' gets taught and then becomes extreme by those teachign it, we tend to throw the baby out with the bath water! The Word Faith movement taught us to get back into the Word and know what God says about us, our lives etc. The 'name and claim' movement, taught people to stand on that word , beleiving! The power of positive confession movement taught us to be aware of how we were speaking. The problem is ( in my opinion), all those teaching began to be used for our own selfish means - to get more, have more etc. - AND sadly enough, to begin to judge others! So...beleive me when I say, I'm not advocating any of that.
What I am saying tho, is that we DO need to get back to Word..and become aware of what God says about us. We do need to stand on what He promises...and we need to start speaking that out. For instance..I am going to 'agree' with God that HE is my source of provision and because of that I can trust Him for my daily needs. ( Does that mean I don't work - of course not! I also agree with God that it's 'good for man to work'...and that 'a laborer is worthy of his wages ' etc.).. But I want to start my prayer times off with positioning myself IN AGREEMENT with what I know about God - He is listening to me. His ear is inclined to me. He loves to save his people. The list goes on and on.
When I pray I don't want to be either talking to the enemy or agreeing with him aobut my situation. Even in my darkness times, I chose to be like David, and confess my weakness, my sadness BUT then give it to him, and stir up my sould to REMEMBEER what God has said and done in the past. When I am waiting for an answer to something, I thank God that He hears me, is working on my behalf. I remind myself that God has delivered my int he past and WILL do it again. I do not agree that I am helpless, hopeless or should give up. I come into agreement with what I know about God, speak it out over my situation..and tell God my faith is in Him to move!
Sometimes my thoughts want to convince me otherwise. I can get really downcast..and as David said, my soul becomes disquieted. The longer I look at the battle waging around me. The longer I look at a storm and it's apparent power, I can start agreeing ith the enemy that my situation 'looks hopeless'...that it's never going to end...that God doesn't care I'm in pain - and the list goes on.. The more I agree with the enemy, the worse the situation feels and the bigger the storm looks.
I chose to give my attention, turn my attention..and give my agreement to what I truly know - whether I 'feel' like it or not - ' this I know'... GOD IS FOR ME....God is in control. God is working on my behalf. God will make a way of escape for me. God will turn this for good . I can trust Him. He loves me!
The power of agreement, isn't just in agreeing with someone else ( altho that's another powerful prayer tool) ...it's agreeing with the character and word of God. It's amazing how much hope comes from praying from that position!
Monday, February 6, 2012
People Group and Israel Intercessors
Today's article is going to be finishing off a series of articles I did a year ago, on the different types of intercessors! For those of you that have waited so patiently for this last article - thank you! Hope you enjoy this..and it helps explains 'nation or people group' assignments!
Prayer Shepherds for Ethnic Groups
The most common 'people group' or 'nation' that people often gather for to intercede is Israel. But..
the term 'people groups' can refer to any group of people based on background, status, residence, occupation, health, knowledge, religion, race, nationality - the list could be endless.
The nation that I personally pray for is not Israel, but (believe it or not), is Scotland. The key is that regardless of what people group or nation that God puts on your heart, you pray for them! We need to learn that one nation is not more important than another and whatever prayer burden God has put on an intercessors' heart - it's important to Him, that we are praying for that nation, or that people group. This is where intercessors can tend to be territorial or get into comparisons. We need to really FIGHT that spirit of division - you know the one...the one that says ' Oh, you don't pray for........? Why not? Don't you think it's important?'...or worse yet, picking up the spirit that says the people in a prayer group don't get you...or aren't as spiritual as you simply because they don't have the same burden - NOT TRUE! We must all be faithful to pray for the assignments God puts on our hearts - no comparisons, no competitions and definitely no judgements! There's enough needs to go around and enough nations and people groups that need our prayers!
As we target a group of people in prayer, God will surface unlikely leaders within the group( we are praying for) whom He can use to turn it around. Lambs don't follow the shepherd, they follow the sheep that follow the shepherd. In other words, as we show others the way, they will eventually lead herds of others along the same path. So it's key to pray for the God's leaders to rise up in any people group we're praying for!
The nation that I personally pray for is not Israel, but (believe it or not), is Scotland. The key is that regardless of what people group or nation that God puts on your heart, you pray for them! We need to learn that one nation is not more important than another and whatever prayer burden God has put on an intercessors' heart - it's important to Him, that we are praying for that nation, or that people group. This is where intercessors can tend to be territorial or get into comparisons. We need to really FIGHT that spirit of division - you know the one...the one that says ' Oh, you don't pray for........? Why not? Don't you think it's important?'...or worse yet, picking up the spirit that says the people in a prayer group don't get you...or aren't as spiritual as you simply because they don't have the same burden - NOT TRUE! We must all be faithful to pray for the assignments God puts on our hearts - no comparisons, no competitions and definitely no judgements! There's enough needs to go around and enough nations and people groups that need our prayers!
As we target a group of people in prayer, God will surface unlikely leaders within the group( we are praying for) whom He can use to turn it around. Lambs don't follow the shepherd, they follow the sheep that follow the shepherd. In other words, as we show others the way, they will eventually lead herds of others along the same path. So it's key to pray for the God's leaders to rise up in any people group we're praying for!
Another interesting thing is that God may ask you to pray for a specific people group, that you have actually been wounded by. You need to remember that it's Satan who may wound us through a people group. Yet, if we pray, the Lord will redeem our hurts and allow us to lead our enemies to Christ. The chronicles of Corrie ten Boom are an example of God's redemptive love. Another example is my personal testimony of being lead to pray for a people group.
I had a season where God asked me to pray for a specific ethnic community in our city. A few years previously I had been attacked on our property by a man of this very ethnicity. When God asked me to pray for that people group, I was stunned! " Are you kidding God?! I'm scared of them!'...Slowly He began to talk to me about forgiveness, and not walking in a spirit of fear. He began to speak to me about mercy triumphing over judgment. He began to ask me' Who better to pray for them Pam, than one who could ask for judgment, but chooses to ask for mercy for this people group?' Wow...I realised that I was in a powerful position ! So...for years I prayed for this people group , that revival would come to them, that the love of God would be made known to them - that salvation would touch their houses and their families! It was an awesome assignment that lasted for a number of years! So, the thing the enemy had for evil, God turned for good, and an assault turned into a fervent prayer assignment for not just one person, but an entire people group!
I had a season where God asked me to pray for a specific ethnic community in our city. A few years previously I had been attacked on our property by a man of this very ethnicity. When God asked me to pray for that people group, I was stunned! " Are you kidding God?! I'm scared of them!'...Slowly He began to talk to me about forgiveness, and not walking in a spirit of fear. He began to speak to me about mercy triumphing over judgment. He began to ask me' Who better to pray for them Pam, than one who could ask for judgment, but chooses to ask for mercy for this people group?' Wow...I realised that I was in a powerful position ! So...for years I prayed for this people group , that revival would come to them, that the love of God would be made known to them - that salvation would touch their houses and their families! It was an awesome assignment that lasted for a number of years! So, the thing the enemy had for evil, God turned for good, and an assault turned into a fervent prayer assignment for not just one person, but an entire people group!
The call to intercession is costly. There are countless amazing and inspiring stories of missionaries who give their lives to pray for those overseas. Then, it may be followed by a summons to occupy a hostile environment where the altars of satanic gods have wrought the curse of idolatry upon the land and it's people groups.It may cost our lives.Our city prayer group has had the privilege of training up people who have gone out to hostile countries to be a light in the midst of great darkness. Yes, it can be tiring, but regardless of the repercussions, we can rest assured that our intercession cannot be silence - not even by the grave. The prayers of martyrs echo through the hallways of time.
Three major monotheistic religions - Christianity, Judaism, and Islam - all dominate the world today. All have roots in Abraham - the Hebrew father of Ishmael and Isaac. Today, Ishmael's descendants represent the Arab nations, most of which are Islamic and follow the teaching of Mohamed.
The world shares a common destiny with Israel and the Jews, because the Jews are the people group Jehovah calls the apple of his eye. There is much confusion over whether the Jews are a nation or a religion, or one and the same. Probably no other people group in history has been more scattered or persecuted than the Jewish people . When you make a decision to pray for Israel and the Jews, you need to sit down and count the cost, rather than fall into the trap of romanticism. How do you pray for the house of David and the inhabitant of Jerusalem?
The world shares a common destiny with Israel and the Jews, because the Jews are the people group Jehovah calls the apple of his eye. There is much confusion over whether the Jews are a nation or a religion, or one and the same. Probably no other people group in history has been more scattered or persecuted than the Jewish people . When you make a decision to pray for Israel and the Jews, you need to sit down and count the cost, rather than fall into the trap of romanticism. How do you pray for the house of David and the inhabitant of Jerusalem?
- pray that miraculous signs and wonders will be released to them
-ask God to convict them of sin so they will see their need for a saviour.
- pray that religious blinders or scales will fall off their eyes-speak comfort to them and bind the wounds of persecution they have suffered.
Regardless of whether you have been given an assignment for nations or a people group, the key is to PRAY! If you can't find a group that wants to pray with you, or has the same burden, then pray on your own! It's your assignment and may not be everyone else's! Remember that some of these assignments may last a short time, or they may last for years. Enjoy them for whatever time you have them. Remember too, that not everyone gets a nation or a people group to pray for - you've been uniquely wired for this assignment! Don't fight it. Dont' compare it with other's assignments - just thank God for what He's trusted you to pray for and that He's created you to love your unique assignments!
Friday, January 20, 2012
The Authority Position of STANDING
I've asked my prayer mentor and friend, Marilyn Wishart to write this week's blog! Thanks Marilyn!
There
is great spiritual authority available to those who know where they have
positioned themselves and that this specific place belongs to them. There is
also great rest and assurance in being in that place and remaining.
But
how do you get there when the battle areas can be so fierce, debilitating and
emotional?
First,
you need your promise from the Bible for the situation you are praying about.
Then you apply faith by believing in the promise for yourself and your
situation. Make the promise into a declaration after you have prayed it. Then
rest on God’s faithfulness to bring it about, and an aspect of His character
around that word. You can now lean into Him and rest in who He is and that He
is working.
The
declaration places the stake in the ground, positioning you in where you are to
stand. You may not know how God will do it but you believe He is with you and
He is working in the situation for His purposes and yours. Whether the struggle
or battle still rages is immaterial; what your emotions say is immaterial; your
position is in standing. You are at rest in whom God is and that He is faithful
to His word (promise). This becomes your promised land that you are already
occupying even though you do not see change at this present time. You can and
should reaffirm your declaration many times especially when it is hard for you
to believe. There will always be temptations to give in to the old behaviours
but remember that stake in the ground. You are still standing. You will grow to
be fully persuaded that God is working in this process. This position, as you
are standing gives you authority- kingdom authority- the Kingdom of God being
established in your position. As your faith takes root your authority increases
whether you feel it or not, or even know it or not at times. Now you can pray
for others in similar situations in faith, releasing hope to them and equipping
them because you are strong in your faith. You will find that God will add new
weapons, truth from His word, godly principles from the Holy Spirit in your
particular faith stand because you have been faithful and persistent. Your
territory is expanding, radiating out to new influence areas in others lives,
and situations you cannot imagine. God is releasing His glory and His kingdom
on earth through you. You are at peace in Him. Do you still pray into your
situation? Yes! The new weapons are used in prayer and with new declarations,
and faith holds your emotions steady.
A
personal example - A standing place for me is the promise in Isaiah 59:21 for
my family - the active living presence of God in every member of my extended
family. My rest is in God who keeps His covenant based on this verse,
regardless of what I see or hear. I have done all in prayer and declaration and
I am standing. This is my position and my territory in the spirit and here I
remain.
Marilyn
Wishart.
Thursday, January 19, 2012
Called to Prayer Conference.
Called to Prayer Conference.
With Marilyn Wishart and Pam Dyck.
February 24-25
Join us for a weekend of discovery of the joy of prayer!
Friday night 7 – 9:30 pm.
Session 1 What is the call to Prayer?
Session 2 Types of Intercessors
Session 3 Activation excerise...
Sat. 9a.m. – 4:30 pm.
Session 4 Strategies of Battle and How to endure in prayer.
Session 5 Warfare Praying in Psalms – staying God focused when we prayed
Session 6 Activation exercise
Lunch 12:30 – 2:00
Session 7 Individual and Corporate Prayer
Session 8 Prayer Shields – praying for those in spheres of influence
Session 9 Activation exercise
Being hosted at:
Central Heights Church
1661 McCallum Rd, Abbotsford, BC V2S 3M4
Room 3003 / 3004
Enter and park at the Southside entrance
(Please do not call the their office for info)
Call 604-855-9423 ( River Community Church) for info.
Costs: $30 per person
$50 for couples
$15 for students
Pay now or e-mail to register and then pay at the event.
NOTE: No cheques. Debit and credit card machine will be available at the event.
Monday, January 16, 2012
Hitting the Mark...
Do you ever feel like you just don't know HOW to pray in a certain situation or for a certain situation? I know that I have often felt like that! It's during these times, I pray the best ( and shortest) prayer that my prayer mentor and friend, Agnes, taught me to pray - and it goes like this......' Oh God, help!'...Best prayer ever...and always gets results! Why? Because I know He hears me - the Word tells us that!
There's another thing you can do, if you are wondering how to pray about something - GO TO THE WORD!....There was a real movement a number of years ago, that taught us how to pray the scriptures. Many people have forgotten that, but I think it's good to be refreshed in it! When we pray according to the Word - we can be confident of 'hitting the mark'.
One of the meanings of intercession is to 'strike the mark'...and that is a phrase that is derived from a Hebrew term ' PAGA'. (Dutch Sheets does a great teaching about this in his book, ' Intercessory Prayer.') Paga means 'to meet'; and it is often referred to as the 'violent part of intercession'. ( check out Benni Johnson's book on the Happy Intercessor'. ) Don't you just LOVE that...?!! I do..and I must admit it's probably because there is something of a 'warrior' inside of me! I love praying, but I'd never do well in a group that didn't get loud once in a while! I can always tell when I'm 'hitting the mark'...Something in me winds up, or amps up..and I can feel the strength and power of heaven behind me when I pray! My husband just thinks I get louder....but it's much more than that! It's an authority that comes and yes...it does tend to come with more volume -altho not always! For those who think we ought to always pray quietly...remember this:
Heb. 5:7 During the days of Jesus' life on earth he offered up prayers and petitions with loud cries and tears to the one who could save him from death...AND HE WAS HEARD because of his reverent submission!'....
So, while it's not the volume that made Him heard, but his heart towards God's will - even Jesus was LOUD when the need was great! His prayers were aimed at God...
Another scripture is Job. 36:32 which is often used to describe a 'paga' meeting...' He covers His hands with lightening and commands it to strike ( the mark).' I love it!...What a picture of power!
BUT the point of all this, is 'hitting the mark'.... Even the very term 'hitting the mark', is an offensive term. We push through, press on...press in! In order to pray prayers that 'hit the mark' tho, we must be on a quest to know God's heart, and the only way we can do that with certainty, is to know His heart! Where do we go to find His heart? Go to the Word!
As intercessors we NEED to be focused in our prayers and in our intercession. We can't be aiming all over the place....- it's like that picture my husband had of people in a room all painting different portions of a wall, but with no real plan. Intercession requires us to 'hit the mark'. God wants to give us plans and strategies, so that we can pray effectively! Bulls eye!! We want bulls eye prays! Dead center!... We can hit that mark, hit the center, through knowing God's heart. We can know His heart, but knowing His word.
Next week...let's talk about how to pray the Word!..another 'hit the mark' way to pray!
There's another thing you can do, if you are wondering how to pray about something - GO TO THE WORD!....There was a real movement a number of years ago, that taught us how to pray the scriptures. Many people have forgotten that, but I think it's good to be refreshed in it! When we pray according to the Word - we can be confident of 'hitting the mark'.
One of the meanings of intercession is to 'strike the mark'...and that is a phrase that is derived from a Hebrew term ' PAGA'. (Dutch Sheets does a great teaching about this in his book, ' Intercessory Prayer.') Paga means 'to meet'; and it is often referred to as the 'violent part of intercession'. ( check out Benni Johnson's book on the Happy Intercessor'. ) Don't you just LOVE that...?!! I do..and I must admit it's probably because there is something of a 'warrior' inside of me! I love praying, but I'd never do well in a group that didn't get loud once in a while! I can always tell when I'm 'hitting the mark'...Something in me winds up, or amps up..and I can feel the strength and power of heaven behind me when I pray! My husband just thinks I get louder....but it's much more than that! It's an authority that comes and yes...it does tend to come with more volume -altho not always! For those who think we ought to always pray quietly...remember this:
Heb. 5:7 During the days of Jesus' life on earth he offered up prayers and petitions with loud cries and tears to the one who could save him from death...AND HE WAS HEARD because of his reverent submission!'....
So, while it's not the volume that made Him heard, but his heart towards God's will - even Jesus was LOUD when the need was great! His prayers were aimed at God...
Another scripture is Job. 36:32 which is often used to describe a 'paga' meeting...' He covers His hands with lightening and commands it to strike ( the mark).' I love it!...What a picture of power!
BUT the point of all this, is 'hitting the mark'.... Even the very term 'hitting the mark', is an offensive term. We push through, press on...press in! In order to pray prayers that 'hit the mark' tho, we must be on a quest to know God's heart, and the only way we can do that with certainty, is to know His heart! Where do we go to find His heart? Go to the Word!
As intercessors we NEED to be focused in our prayers and in our intercession. We can't be aiming all over the place....- it's like that picture my husband had of people in a room all painting different portions of a wall, but with no real plan. Intercession requires us to 'hit the mark'. God wants to give us plans and strategies, so that we can pray effectively! Bulls eye!! We want bulls eye prays! Dead center!... We can hit that mark, hit the center, through knowing God's heart. We can know His heart, but knowing His word.
Next week...let's talk about how to pray the Word!..another 'hit the mark' way to pray!
Monday, January 9, 2012
We've spent time talking about how to ruin a prayer meeting. Now I'm going to address my comments to those that have another train of thought when it
comes to a Prayer Meeting. These are people who think a Corporate prayer
meeting should involve everyone...should be fun, energetic and bring results!
so...
So....here
is how to MAKE a Corporate Prayer Meeting successful in THREE points... Top 3 ways to make a Corporate prayer Meeting
successful:
#1: to make a Corporate
Prayer meeting work is: to actually BE corporate - Working as one – with one
aim – one focus – as a group – not as individuals. Become a Symphony
of Prayer. Corporate can mean,
harmony or harmonizing – every voice needs to do it’s part... One Heart, One
Mind. Now
apparently these people believe that Prayer meeting is not a time for back-row,
anonymous, or secret believers. Gather everyone in a tight-knit group, making their petitions and prayers KNOWN! Remember: these people believe that: · True corporate prayer is
when individuals get together to pray as a group, not, a group getting together to pray as individuals. Corporate
prayer has as it's ultimate aim to be as it were, a single voice rising to
the throne of God.
Here's
a couple of Scriptures:
Another Example: Praying together....in one accord..and with one purpose...seems to
work! Which leads us to.....
Soldiers
overlapped their shields around their group
. Roman
tacticians, in Paul's day, developed a unique defensive tactic called the
testudo, or tortoise. In this maneuver each soldier overlapped their shields around
their group and above their heads forming a 'tortoise' shell of protection.
This is a strong illustration of what unified praying is all about.( I also use this example when teaching on Prayer shields! Check out my other blog for more info on this!) Working together, does GREAT things!
My husband had a picture one day, while in the midst of prayer meeting, where everyone was praying all over the map - no single focus on the prayer. He suddenly saw the group he was with, in a room , that they had been given the task to paint. Everyone had picked up paint brushes and rollers, and at the starting gun ( so to speak), everyone started painting whatever area they were standing in front. At the end of the time, there were bits and pieces of the walls done, but no one wall was completely done. Then he saw the vision start over, but this time, the group acted as one, and they all painted on one wall at a time and when the time was over, the whole room was done. The same time it had taken to paint bits and pieces.....when their energy become 'focused', they got the whole room done. That picture has changed how my husbands prays!
Imagine a symphony of prayer going up....each voice making it contribution....creating a harmonious sound of prayer that releases the commanded blessing of God
Imagine...chasing ten thousand...
Imagine...a
house of prayer – united – full of eager, excited followers of Christ ...
Imagine
a prayer meeting full of enthusiastic, excited, prayer people, flowing in unity,
praying with focus, surrounding those issues and people we love, with heavenly
protection....J
Just imagine what Corporate prayer could be....
We
have nine ways to ruin a prayer meeting...or 3 ways to get a good one going: you chose!
1.: being in harmony – all our voices together
being raised in prayer,
2.
multiplying
our strength: –recognizing that our strength is multiplied when we pray
together...and
3.
3. Having a common goal when we pray: letting
our prayers work together for a common
good – not only protecting those we love, but bring VICTORY against the enemy!
Seems
to me that making a good corporate prayer meeting happen is a lot less work
that working to make one boring!! ( 3 steps vs. 9 ).
.....
they lifted their voices in a wonderful harmony in prayer:Act.4:24
.
Hearing the report, they lifted their voices in a wonderful harmony in
prayer:Act.4:24
Phil.2: 2 Fill up
and complete my joy by living in harmony and being of the same mind and one in
purpose, having the same love, being in full accord and of one harmonious mind and
intention.
*
remember The opposite of being in agreement or unity is DISHARMONY: : Matt.
12:25, and Luke 11:1725And Jesus knew their thoughts and said
unto them, "Every kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation,
and every city or house divided against itself shall not stand.
Ps.133 : 1-3 speaks about what harmony is... -it's like oil, it's precious AND
it's in that place that the Lord commands a blessing!
#2 : to make a Corporate
prayer meeting successful is for Prayer Warriors pray in agreement, the power generated is multiplied
tenfold ( Where 2 or 3 are gathered!)..
“Five of you will chase a
hundred, and a hundred of you will chase ten thousand! All your enemies will
fall beneath your sword.”Lev.26:8
Matt: 18: 19 ( Amp.)Again I tell you, if two of
you on earth agree (harmonize together, make a symphony together) about
whatever [anything and [a]everything]
they may ask, it will come to pass and be done for them by My Father in heaven.
* This verse is actually in context of dealing with offenses and
discipline, but one of the commentaries says “ these are principles that need to be
practised everywhere under all circumstances..” .so we are going to use it as
an example of what happens when we agree – whether it's about discipline or
about prayer..- if we agree, Christ is in the midst!
And the Harper Study Bible (RSV, Zondervan 1979) on p.185, states
the following in its notes for Leviticus 26:8
"In spiritual things the law which governs is not that of
arithmetic progression but an accumulative effect as the numbers rise.
Symbolically, five will chase one hundred but one hundred will chase ten
thousand. Especially in prayer may it be
said that the power generated will be proportionately greater as more people
pray. Thus the more of God's people who...pray together the more significant
will be the results."
Some examples:
In
1987 Alliance, Nebraska had the highest per capita incidence of drug use in
America, but a group of concerned pastors banded together and prayed 15
months. During an evangelistic series of
9.5 weeks nearly 10 percent of the population of Alliance was converted.
Max Lucado recounts how he formed four
prayer teams of 30 members each to pray for the church. In six months the church broke attendance
records twice, finished over budget, and grew!
The NYC noon prayer
meetings, started with one guy who tacked up posters asking if anyone else
wanted to pray – together!!
Alarmed by the spiritual state of affairs, a Dutch Reformed layman
named Jeremiah Lamphier tacked up notices in New York City calling for a weekly
prayer meeting on Wednesdays from noon till one. The first week, only
six showed up and none of them before 12:30.
The next
week, though, the attendance jumped to twenty.3 Then they nearly doubled again. About that time Wall Street
crashed. The ensuing financial panic arrested the country‟s attention and
turned hearts toward more heavenly things. So great and so immediate were the
changes that in less than six months time, more than 10,000 business men
were meeting daily in New York to pray during the noon hour. That
movement leapt to every single major city in America. The response of God to
His people was that 1,000,000 Americans out of a population of 30,000,000 were
converted in two years. At the height of revival, perhaps 50,000 a week were
being converted.
Point
# 3 to make a Corporate Prayer Meeting Successful: Work as a Group..with one
goal – one purpose – to BE a Team...
In
the Prayer of Agreement, or unified praying, two or more Prayer
Warriors act and think as in one accord for whomever they are interceding for.
The function of this type of praying is to enclose their prayer
objective(s) in heavenly protective custody.
|
Phil1:27 Stand united,
singular in vision, contending for people's trust in the Message, the good
news, not flinching or dodging in the slightest before the opposition. Your
courage and unity will show them what they're up against: defeat for them,
victory for you—and both because of God.
|
My husband had a picture one day, while in the midst of prayer meeting, where everyone was praying all over the map - no single focus on the prayer. He suddenly saw the group he was with, in a room , that they had been given the task to paint. Everyone had picked up paint brushes and rollers, and at the starting gun ( so to speak), everyone started painting whatever area they were standing in front. At the end of the time, there were bits and pieces of the walls done, but no one wall was completely done. Then he saw the vision start over, but this time, the group acted as one, and they all painted on one wall at a time and when the time was over, the whole room was done. The same time it had taken to paint bits and pieces.....when their energy become 'focused', they got the whole room done. That picture has changed how my husbands prays!
Imagine:
the people of God...coming together like that, to pray....defeating the enemy –
working together to be victorious even when outnumbered? The strength of prayer
warriors working together!
Imagine...a
house being packed full of praying friends....Imagine a symphony of prayer going up....each voice making it contribution....creating a harmonious sound of prayer that releases the commanded blessing of God
Imagine...chasing ten thousand...
Just imagine what Corporate prayer could be....
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