Touched By Grace: Leaders Praying with Power

LEADERS PRAYING WITH POWER

by Ron Wood

Paul gave us a model for church planting through spiritual warfare in his letter to the Ephesians and its corresponding history in the book of Acts (see Acts 18-19-20). As in all of his letters, he begins with doctrine and moves to practical applications. In Ephesians chapter 5 verse 22, he starts applying the word of God to wives, husbands, children, parents, servants and owners. Then he concludes with something we often think of as spiritual, not practical-- prayer as a means of wrestling with the devil’s dark forces (Ephesians 6:10-20). Think about it: the greatest practical teaching the apostle Paul gave us was to how to pray and defeat the devil. In Paul’s mind, prayer was not a religious exercise: it was a powerful and practical necessity for all believers in Jesus.

Simplest kind of Prayer: Mt. 7:7- Ask, Seek, Knock. Prayer is a conversation with God, children to a Father. The Lord’s Prayer- a Model- Mt. 6:9-15. Adoration- vs. 9. Pray for God’s will- vs. 10. Pray for yourself- vs. 11. Prayer for forgiveness- vs. 12. Prayer for deliverance- vs. 13.

1. ALL KINDS OF PRAYER: Ephesians 6:18

A. Five Aspects of Effective Prayer

1) Praying all the time: 1 Thessalonians 5:16-20, Isaiah 56:7

2) Pray in the Spirit: Romans 8:26, Jude 20, 1 Corinthians 14:14-15

3) On the alert: Luke 21:36, Mt. 26:36-41, 1 Cor. 16:13

4) With perseverance: Hebrews 6:12, Luke 11:8

5) For all the saints: James 5:15-18

B. Praying with the Spirit of Faith: 2 Corinthians 4:13

1) Forgiveness precedes true faith: Matthew 6:14

2) Faith expects to see the answer: Mark 11:23-25

3) Faith is a gift from God: Mark 11:22

2. INTERCESSORY PRAYER-- PRAYING IN BEHALF OF OTHERS: Isaiah 59:16

A. Jesus-- our pattern intercessor Isaiah 53:12 and faithful High Priest Hebrews 7:25

B. Secret Prayer Mt. 6:6

C. Corporate Prayer Meetings Acts 12:12

D. Prayer Walking Joshua 6:3

E. Prayer of Agreement (Pastors; with your spouse; a church) Mt. 18:18-20

F. Prophetic Acts of Repentance & Identifying with National Sins Daniel 9:3-21

3. PRAYER AS SPIRITUAL WARFARE: 2 Corinthians 10:3-5

1) Fasting to overcome evil powers Luke 4:1, 14; Mark 9:29 KJV

2) Praise as a weapon against Satan Psalms 149:5-9, Psalms 2:1-12

3) Praying for gospel workers to be sent out Mt. 9:38

4) Praying for laborers to have powerful ministry Eph. 6:19

4. PRAYER CELLS TO EVANGELIZE A CITY: Luke 6:12, Acts 19:7

A. Basics of a House Church meeting- an apostolic pattern Acts 2:42

B. The Prayer Goals of Believers in Small Groups 1 Timothy 1:15; 2:1-8

1) For those in authority to be saved; for blessings on the community

2) Testify to the Ransom, the blood of Jesus (vs 6) (see Rev. 12:11)

3) Pray with uplifted hands without anger or dissension (vs 8)