Passionate Prayer for Pivotal Times

Developing Strategic Prayer for Your World

www.PrayNC.org

"Prayer in the name of Jesus is the only way to share in the mighty power which Jesus has received from the Father for His people... effective working first needs effective praying."

Andrew Murray, With Christ in the School of Prayer, 142.

“To the use of Scriptures the early Christians added prayer as a prime necessity in all evangelistic

enterprise.” 

Green, Evangelism in the Early Church, 235.

Introduction

Decline of our ChurchesLosing our CultureChurch is Blending with the CultureMore Evangelical Churches closing than being startedWhat can we DO?

PRAY!It’s time to Pray—Jeremiah 33:3

Two Strategic Prayer StrandsPrayer Toward Revival/Renewal and Spiritual Awakening-- Psalm 85; 2 Chron. 7:14

Prayer Toward The Great Commission--Matt. 6:9-10

Defining the terms

Revival—Believers experiencing a restoration of fellowship with God (Psalm 85:6)Spiritual Awakening—Large numbers of lost people becoming aware of God, His presence, their spiritual condition and need for Christ.Prayer Evangelism—Being on Mission with Christ through personal, congregational and kingdom prayer that is focused toward the Great Commission.

Biblical Examples of Strategic Prayer

2 Chronicles 7:1-18

Nehemiah 8-9

1 Timothy 2:1-8

Acts 2; 4:23-33

Matthew 6:9-13

Historical and Contemporary Examples

Layman’s Prayer Revival (1857-58)

Moravian Revival (1727)

Lewis Islands (1949)

China (today)

New Life Baptist Church, Conover NC

Prayer For Revival and Awakening

Pray toward Personal Holiness and Renewal (Psalm 51; John 17:17)Pray for a Renewed Passion for God’s Presence and Desires (Psalm 46:10; 42)Pray toward Personal and Congregational Revival through the Fresh Blowing of God’s Spirit (Ezekiel 37)Pray for a Renewed desire to Walk with Jesus in Abiding Prayer (John 15)Pray for believers to return to their first love (Rev. 2:1-7)

Praying Toward the Great Commission A Biblical Perspective

Prayer and Preparation to Witness

Prayer and Proclamation of the Gospel

Prayer and Preservation of New Converts

Prayer and Preparation Evangelism

Prayer for the lost (Matt. 6:10; 1 Tim. 2:1-4)Prayer for laborers (Mat. 9:35-38; Acts 13:1-3)Prayer for personal holiness and unity in believers (Ps. 51:10-13; John 17)Prayer for open doors for the gospel to be shared (Col. 4:2-6; Acts 10-11)Prayer that creates an divine encounters for the Gospel to be shared (Acts 10-11:18)

Prayer and Proclamation Evangelism

Prayer for bold proclamation (Acts 4:29-31)Prayer for the proper words to be proclaimed (Is. 50:4-5; Eph: 6:18-20)Prayer for Kairos timing (Col. 4:2-4)Prayer for protection to proclaim (Rom. 15:30-33)Prayer for power to proclaim (Eph. 3:18-21)

Prayer and Preservation Evangelism

Prayer for new converts to be protected from the evil one (Mat. 6:13; John 17)Prayer that new converts will abound in love for believers and all men (1 Thes. 3:9-11)Prayer new believers will bear fruit in every good work (Col. 1:2-11)Prayer that new converts will know and do God’s will (Col 1; 9; Eph. 1:17-18)Prayer for the seed of God’s Word to bear fruit in folk’s lives (2 Thess. 3;1; Isa. 55:10-11).

Mobilizing Strategic Prayer for World Evangelization and Awakening

Prayer Grams/LinesWeekly WindowsWorld Religion Prayer GuidesState Prayer LinesPrayer Journeys-International, SFC CitiesAdopt People Groups

Prayer InitiativesPrayer GroupsPrayer WalkingPrayer ChainsPrayer RoomsPrayer StationsPrayer SummittsPrayer Training

Contemporary ConsiderationsPrayer ministries will need to flow out of prayer passions (affinity prayer groups)Strategic prayer should be sensitive to both church and non-church culturesPrayer for revival, awakening and toward the Great Commission is the heart of strategic prayerWeb-based networks provide avenues for involvement in Kingdom-oriented prayer emphases

Field-based prayer ministries provide excellent opportunities for congregations to utilize prayer as an avenue for genuine relationship buildingDenominational missions praying must be taught and modeled

Participation in Inter-denominational prayer efforts is essential

Summary of Strategic PrayerBiblical Prayer PatternsPrayer that is ContextualPrayer that is Relative to Contemporary CulturePrayer that is focused on Renewal and Revival

Prayer toward the Great Commission (Prayer Evangelism, Awakening)Prayer for Believers, Unbelievers, Evangelism Efforts, Personal Spiritual NeedsPrayer with Personal, Congregational, Kingdom Focus