A MINISTRY OF PRAYER

DISCIPLES PRAYER LIFE: WEEK 13

June 22, 2022/June 29, 2022

I am probably the least qualified person to teach on prayer. For all my life as a believer I have struggled to pray. I’ve tried numerous systems and patterns to organize my prayer time - only to see those plans fall apart after just a few days - sometimes even weeks!

I hope we are learning, however, that prayer is as essential to the new life that is ours in Christ as breathing is for our physical life. To stop breathing is to stop living; to stop praying is to spiritually become dead.

In keeping with our recent emphasis on Antioch, let’s examine the patterns for prayer exhibited by the early church - those believers who had been following Jesus all over their region.

Acts 1:13–14 HCSB

When they arrived, they went to the room upstairs where they were staying: Peter, John, James, Andrew, Philip, Thomas, Bartholomew, Matthew, James the son of Alphaeus, Simon the Zealot, and Judas the son of James. All these were continually united in prayer, along with the women, including Mary the mother of Jesus, and His brothers.

‘continually united in prayer...’ does not mean long periods of every head bowed, every eye closed. Rather united in prayer means literally having a continual conversation with God - and with one another.

Acts 3:1 HCSB

Now Peter and John were going up together to the temple complex at the hour of prayer at three in the afternoon.

Every afternoon at 3:00pm (the ninth hour) priests would gather for a time of prayer just prior to the afternoon/evening sacrifice.

Devout Jews would try and attend in person when possible. Jews living outside of Jerusalem would often open their windows and position themselves facing toward Jerusalem at the appropriate hour to pray (see Daniel 6)

This attendance at prayer was a pattern (see Acts 2:42).

Acts 4:23–31 HCSB

After they were released, they went to their own people and reported everything the chief priests and the elders had said to them. When they heard this, they all raised their voices to God and said, “Master, You are the One who made the heaven, the earth, and the sea, and everything in them. You said through the Holy Spirit, by the mouth of our father David Your servant: Why did the Gentiles rage and the peoples plot futile things? The kings of the earth took their stand and the rulers assembled together against the Lord and against His Messiah. “For, in fact, in this city both Herod and Pontius Pilate, with the Gentiles and the people of Israel, assembled together against Your holy Servant Jesus, whom You anointed, to do whatever Your hand and Your plan had predestined to take place. And now, Lord, consider their threats, and grant that Your slaves may speak Your message with complete boldness, while You stretch out Your hand for healing, signs, and wonders to be 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 God’s message with boldness.

After Peter and John were released they assembled with the believers and they gathered for - prayer!

Acts 6:2–4 HCSB

Then the Twelve summoned the whole company of the disciples and said, “It would not be right for us to give up preaching about God to handle financial matters. Therefore, brothers, select from among you seven men of good reputation, full of the Spirit and wisdom, whom we can appoint to this duty. But we will devote ourselves to prayer and to the preaching ministry.”

Early in the growing community it was recognized that prayer and the ministry of the Word. Both are necessary.

One last example...

Acts 12:11–12 HCSB

Then Peter came to himself and said, “Now I know for certain that the Lord has sent His angel and rescued me from Herod’s grasp and from all that the Jewish people expected.” When he realized this, he went to the house of Mary, the mother of John Mark, where many had assembled and were praying.

Upon Peter’s arrest - knowing that Herod had already killed James God’s people did what they knew to do: PRAY.

While there are certainly many more examples in Acts, these give us some guidance as we think about our own personal prayer ministry and the prayer ministry of our church moving forward.

Prayer: THE ministry of the church

On social media, pastor Daniel Dickard asked this question:

Is prayer a ministry IN your church, or is it the defining ministry OF your church?

For the believers in Acts prayer was THE mnistry.

Prayer opened doors for meeting needs, for proclaiming the gospel, and for experiencing unity.

Prayer: A Personal Commitment

FASTING

Matthew 6:16–18 HCSB

“Whenever you fast, don’t be sad-faced like the hypocrites. For they make their faces unattractive so their fasting is obvious to people. I assure you: They’ve got their reward! But when you fast, put oil on your head, and wash your face, so that you don’t show your fasting to people but to your Father who is in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you.

Jesus assumed His followers would pray. Fasting is a discipline that can involve avoiding food totally.

Fasting can also be done by fasting from:

TV/MOVIES

SOCIAL MEDIA

READING THE NEWSPAPER

Fasting at the very least is to be done privately - not in a way to garner support, praise, or pity.

Prayerwalking

Leisurely walk around your neighborhood - pray that God would open blinded eyes.

Use the Bless Ever Home website and pray by name for neighbors living around you

Praying with others

Identify 2 or 3 others with whom you can meet regularly - on the phone or in person. you can gather in a living room, or gather at the church (let me know so the time and room will be made available).

FOR WHAT DO I PRAY?

There is no end to suggestions on how to keep a prayer list. At minimum let me suggest the following:

Record the date you recieved the prayer request

Record as much info as you have re: the request

Make room to note answers and the date the prayer was answered

Some suggest dividing your prayer list into seven categories: one category for each day of the week:

Sunday - Church/Ministry/Kingdom Needs

Monday-Family/personal needs

Tuesday -Local Leaders - include schools administrators; county, state, and federal leaders

Wednesday Missionaries and their families

Thursday Specifically pray for you pastor and church leaders

Friday Pray for lost people specifically by name

Saturday - Catch up!

NEXT WEEK: Strengthening our Church Prayer Ministry