Potent Prayer - God's 26 Guards

Have you ever felt the urge to pray for someone and then just put it on a list and said, 'I'll pray for them later'?
Or has anyone ever called you and said, 'I need you to pray for me, I have this need?'

Read the following story that was sent to me and may it change the way that you may think about prayer and also the way you pray.

A missionary on furlough told this true story while visiting his home church in Michigan .

'While serving at a small field hospital in Africa , Every two weeks I traveled by bicycle through the jungle to a nearby city for supplies. This was a journey of two days and required camping overnight at the halfway point.

On one of these journeys, I arrived in the city where I planned to collect money from a bank, purchase medicine, and supplies, and then begin my two-day journey back to the field hospital.

Upon arrival in the city, I observed two men fighting, one of whom had been seriously injured. I treated him for his injuries and at the same time talked to him about the Lord.. I then traveled two days, camping overnight, and arrived home without incident....

Two weeks later I repeated my journey. Upon arriving in the city, I was approached by the young man I had treated. He told me that he had known I carried money and medicines. He said, 'Some friends and I followed you in to the jungle, knowing you would camp overnight.

We planned to kill you and take your money and drugs. But just as we were about to move into your camp,wWe saw that you were surrounded by 26 armed guards.

At this, I laughed and said that I was certainly all alone in that jungle campsite.. The young man pressed the point, however, and said, 'No, sir, I was not the only person to see the guards,my friends also saw them, and we all counted them. It was because of those guards that we were afraid and left you alone'

At this point in the sermon, one of the men in the congregation jumped to his feet and interrupted the missionary and asked if he could tell him the exact day this happened.

The missionary told the congregation the date, and the man who interrupted told him this story: On the night of your incident in Africa, it was morning here and I was preparing to go play golf. I was about to putt when I felt the urge to pray for you. In fact, the urging of the Lord was so strong, I called men in this church to meet with me here in the sanctuary to pray for you.

Would all of those men who met with me on that day stand up?
The men who had met together to pray that day stood up.
The missionary wasn't concerned with whom they were, he was too busy counting how many men he saw.
There were 26.

This story is an incredible example of how the Spirit of the Lord moves in behalf of those who love Him.
If you ever feel such prodding to pray, go along with it, you don't know what it can mean to that person.
Nothing is ever hurt by prayer except the gates of hell.

Praying for Your Pastor

This is going to be an interesting post.

Since we have announced our resignation there have been many responses. We will talk a little about that this Sunday morning.

One of the interesting responses has been the number of people who have apologised.... apologised for not praying for us as their pastors.

True to our empowering style here are some tips on praying for your pastor ... and great ones from Dan Reiland. He worked with John Maxwell for many years.

Here is a bit of what Dan says and suggests.

Pastors, particularly senior pastors, are often seen as an unrealistic combination of the Apostle Paul and Billy Graham or perhaps Rambo and OO7...whatever fits best! The point is, the
perception is unrealistic - and often superhuman.

The point I want to make is that while pastors love their work, they are human. And they often carry an unrealistic "job description." In a day of hyper-specialization, pastors are still expected to do a little of everything. My strong encouragement is that each church:

* Allow their pastor to play to his/her strengths
* Structure a realistic work load (which includes members getting involved)
* Pray for the pastor

The following is a well thought through, simple and practical plan from my book "Shoulder to Shoulder - Strengthening Your Church By Supporting Your Pastor" that will help you pray effectively for the pastor. This plan can be done in just a few minutes a day.

Monday: Pray for your pastor's family.
* God's peace and protection
* A growing love relationship with his/her spouse
* A commitment to quality and quantity time together

Tuesday: Pray for wisdom for your pastor.
* The mind of Christ
* Godly decision-making
* Understanding of biblical truth

Wednesday: Pray for your pastor's ministry focus.
* Clear vision
* Commitment to biblical priorities
* Remain true to his/her God-given gifts and strengths

Thursday: Pray for your pastor's health.
* Protection of his/her body and mind
* An extra portion of stamina and strength
* Commitment to stress-releasing activity

Friday: Pray for your pastor's spiritual growth.
* A heart for God and the lost
* Fresh biblical insights
* Personal devotions not related to sermon preparation

Saturday: Pray for your pastor's purity.
* Pure motives
* Pure thought-life and faithfulness to his/her spouse
* Pure commitment to complete integrity

Sunday: Pray for God's anointing on your pastor.
* Strength in leadership
* Passion in preaching
* Fruit and joy in ministry

The Power of Prayer - Evan Almighty Style

I used this media clip recently at the Connecting with God CLASS .

It is from the start of the movie, Evan Almighty, and it is about prayer.

Powerful!!

God’s 5 Purposes and Prayer

God’s 5 purposes for each of us are

1. celebrate
2. connect
3. grow
4. serve
5. reach

“It’s in Christ that we find out who we are and what we are living for.
Long before we first heard of Christ…..he had his eye on us, had designs on us for glorious living, part of the overall purpose he is working out in everything and everyone.”

Ephesians 1:11 (Msg)

1. We were planned for God’s pleasure - so our 1st purpose is to experience real worship - to celebrate God

Prayer - that we will learn to celebrate God more completely

2. We were formed for God’s family –so our 2nd purpose is to enjoy real fellowship - to be connected to Jesus and those in His family

Prayer - that people will connect with God and we will connect more intimately with other believers

3. We were created to become like Christ – so our 3rd purpose is to learn real discipleship - to grow

Prayer - that we will grow more like Christ

4. We were shaped for serving God- so our 4th purpose is to practice real ministry - to serve God and others

Prayer - that we will serve humbly in ministry

5. We were made for a mission – so our 5th purpose is to live out real evangelism - to reach others and make a difference

Prayer - that we will reach a hurting world by sharing our faith.

Please pray with me using this as a prayer-template - and by faith we will see the 5 purposes evident in our life... and in our church!

Powerful Monthly Prayer - This Sunday 5.58pm

I am looking forward to this Sunday night - we get to pray as a church family.


Powerful Stuff!

“prayer is breathing the air of heaven….”

"The key to effectiveness is prayer…"

”prayer is the place of power”

Biblical prayer is impertinent, persistent, shameless, indecorous. It is more like haggling in an outdoor bazaar than the polite monologues of the church - Walter Wink

When a doctoral student at Princeton asked, “What is there left in the world for original dissertation research?” Albert Einstein replied, “Find out about prayer. Somebody must find out about prayer.”

Prayer is the power by which that comes to pass which otherwise would not take place. - Andrew Murray

Prayer is the main channel in which God continues the partnership today - Julian of Norwich

"Poverty stricken as the church is today in many things, she is most stricken here, in the place of prayer. We have many organizers, but few agonizers; many players and payers, but few prayers; many singers but few lingerers; lots of pastors but few wrestlers; many fears, few tears; much fashion, but little passion; many interferers, but few intercessors; many writers, but few fighters. Failing here, we fail everywhere." - Leonard Ravenhill (mid-20th century preacher on revival)

God does nothing but in answer to prayer - William Carey

Prayer is not getting man's will done in heaven. It's getting God's will done on earth.' - Robert Law

Prayer is the key that unlocks all the storehouses of God's infinite grace and power. - R.A. Torrey

Prayer is a summit meeting in the very throne room of the Universe - Ralph Herring

One might estimate the weight of the world, tell the size of the celestial city, count the stars of heaven, measure the speed of lightening, tell the time of the rising and setting of the sun - but you cannot estimate the power of prayer. Prayer is as vast as God is, because God is behind it. Prayer is as mighty as God is because He has committed Himself to answer it - Leonard Ravenhill