Challenge 4 - Take Prayer to a New and Powerful Level

Scripture Reference: Acts 2:6 - The early church

Challenge in a Sentence:

"To see new levels in the church that impacts the global community, the church must pray with a renewed sense of power and purpose

Rainer writes, "Prayer is foundational to the health of your church…Any efforts of a church without prayer are human-centered and ultimately destined for failure. I know empirically that the healthiest churches are those with a high priority on prayer" (Rainer, 55)

Question1: If you were honest, how much more do you(we) talk about prayer than actually prayer?

Question 2: Did the pandemic reveal how much or little time you spent in prayer?

Question 3: Do you struggle in your prayer life while succeeding in ministry?

Question 4: Are you ready to take prayer to a new and powerful level?

Prayer is spiritual communication through the Holy Spirit with the unseen God

The conflict of the church:

The pandemic exposed that many are/were in church because of a sense of duty and religious practice.

The challenge of the Post-Quarantine Church:

Return to actively seeking the presence of God because any type of move in the church occurred when the people prayed.

The pandemic forced the church to:

Evaluate its prayer life, and what we discovered is that we prayed in response to crisis instead of praying to Christ before the crisis (Rainer, 58).

"We preach and teach how to pray responding prayers when God wants people to practice prayer."

How to Take Prayer to a New and Powerful Level in the Post-Quarantine Church

Leaders must make prayer and not projects priority - Acts 6

"What you prioritize in life and ministry is what you will emphasize in your prayer life" (Rainer, 62). When prayer is priority, then God will order your projects. Just because you are involved in church,

Create multiple opportunities to engage people in prayer to keep the fire of prayer burning.

Do not yield to the masses when the masses stop showing up (Rainer, 62). Do not abandon your "virtual audience" because you are back in the building. Encourage members to pray and wait - Abraham and Sarah

Remind members that they can trust God when they cannot trace his hand. Keep emphasizing prayer--"God honors praying churches. He answers the prayers of praying people. Though we can only wait and see if a powerful spiritual awakening will follow, in the meantime we can do everything through God’s power to make certain our churches are praying churches" (Rainer, 66). Continue to be houses prayer and remain in a perpetual posture of prayer

Rainer, Thom S.. The Post-Quarantine Church: Six Urgent Challenges and Opportunities That Will Determine the Future of Your Congregation (Church Answers Resources) (p. 66). Tyndale House Publishers, Inc.. Kindle Edition.