Prayer Wednesday Night

Larry goes to the revival and listens to the preacher. After awhile the preacher asks anyone with needs to be prayed over to come forward to the front at the altar. Larry gets in line, and when it's his turn, the preacher asks: "Larry, what do you want me to pray about for you?" Larry replies: "Preacher, I need you to pray for my hearing." The preacher puts one finger in Larry's ear, and he places the other hand on top of Larry's head and prays and prays and prays. After a few minutes, the preacher removes his hands, stands back and asks Larry: "Larry, how is your hearing now?" Larry says, "I don't know, Reverend, it's not until next wednesday"

Tonights chapter was on a commitment to pray for your church leaders.

Before we begin...

We must establish that prayer is important.

God hears our prayers.

God responds to our prayers.

Prayer Changes things.

“The Bible pray-ers prayed as if their prayers could and would make and objective difference.” -Richard Foster.

The Theme of the Chapter “Pray for your Church Leaders”

You should do this.

But we are going to take a broader approach to this.

Please pray for me.

Please pray for Beccy.

Pray for the Deacons

Pray for our Sunday School teachers.

The verse we will focus on: Ephesians 6:18-19

Ephesians 6:18–19 CSB

Pray at all times in the Spirit with every prayer and request, and stay alert with all perseverance and intercession for all the saints. Pray also for me, that the message may be given to me when I open my mouth to make known with boldness the mystery of the gospel.

Ask One another for Prayer

Paul constantly expressed that he was praying for the churches He was corresponding to, and asked for their prayers.

How can people pray for us, unless they know what is going on?

This should be more than skin deep.

Find communities that you can trust to go deeper with together in prayer.

Intercede on Behalf of One Another

What is intercession?

Advocating on the behalf of.

We intercede when we go to the Lord in prayer on behalf of one another.

We see this modeled in Jesus as he prayed in the Garden before His crucifixion in John Chapter 17.

Paul also admonishes this in Ephesians 6.

Ephesians 6:18 CSB

Pray at all times in the Spirit with every prayer and request, and stay alert with all perseverance and intercession for all the saints.

This is what Paul calls us to do here. to intercede for all believers.

He does also ask for prayers for himself. We shouldn’t be afraid to do this.

What should we pray for each other about?

Our Lives

Our Health

(MOST IMPORTANT) Our Spiritual Lives.

Praying for Spiritual Power

Ephesians 3:14–21 CSB

For this reason I kneel before the Father from whom every family in heaven and on earth is named. I pray that he may grant you, according to the riches of his glory, to be strengthened with power in your inner being through his Spirit, and that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. I pray that you, being rooted and firmly established in love, may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the length and width, height and depth of God’s love, and to know Christ’s love that surpasses knowledge, so that you may be filled with all the fullness of God. Now to him who is able to do above and beyond all that we ask or think according to the power that works in us— to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen.

Pray that they will know Christ

Pray they will grow in knowledge of Christ’s love.

Be filled with the fullness of God.

We should pray for one another’s Spiritual protection.

We should pray for one another’s ongoing sanctification.

We should pray for one another’s witness.

We should pray for one another’s boldness.

Acts 4:29–31 CSB

And now, Lord, consider their threats, and grant that your servants may speak your word with all boldness, while you stretch out your hand for healing, and signs and wonders are performed through the name of your holy servant Jesus.” When they had prayed, the place where they were assembled was shaken, and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak the word of God boldly.

A Commission to Pray with Boldness

We should approach the throne of God boldly.

The difference between “If it be Thy Will” and “Thy Will be done.”

John 15:7–8 CSB

If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you want and it will be done for you. My Father is glorified by this: that you produce much fruit and prove to be my disciples.

When we abide in God and we ask boldly, our bold prayers are in alignment with God’s will.

Reminder of the Prayer focus.