Prayer Ponderings are short video lessons for pastors and leaders on the Prayers of the Bible and how their application can powerfully influence and impact our ministries and personal lives. We begin with the Book of Acts!
Click Prayer Ponderings 1 - Acts 1:14 with Pastor Patricia Bryan.
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Workshop Audio Recording as presented at the 2012 Foursquare Convention
"The Role of Prayer in Receiving God’s Power and Protection for Effective Ministry"
WORKSHOP HANDOUT
I. PROTECTION FOR MINISTRY
PSALM 91:14-16
14 “Because he loves me,” says the Lord, “I will rescue him; I will protect him, for he acknowledges my name. 15 He will call on me, and I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble, I will deliver him and honor him. 16 With long life I will satisfy him and show him my salvation.”
As leaders we face many challenges and difficulties.
i. EMOTIONAL
ii. PHYSICAL
iii. SPIRITUAL
* DISCOURAGEMENT
GALATIANS 6:9
Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.
Paul’s requests for prayer:
Colossians 4:2-3
Ephesians 6:19
2 Thessalonians 3:1 & 2
Romans 15:30-32
BUILDING YOUR PRAYER SHIELD
Pray – Ask the Lord to send and reveal faithful people to you.
MATTHEW 9:37-38
37 Then he said to his disciples, “The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few. 38 Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field.”
Begin with those close to you – spouse, children, parents, co-workers, friend
Intercessory Groups
i. General intercessors
ii. Personal intercessors (Prayer Partners)
iii. Confidential (Core) intercessors (Gift of Intercession)
II. POWER FOR MINISTRY
ZECHARIAH 4:6
“Not by might nor by power, but by my Spirit,” says the Lord Almighty.
Great spiritual leaders in history had one common denominator: they were people of prayer.
E.M. Bounds, “Great praying is the sign and seal of God’s great leaders.”
Andrew Murray, “What is the reason why so many thousands of Christian workers in the world have not greater influence? Nothing save this – the prayerlessness of their service…It is nothing but the sin of prayerlessness which is the cause of the lack of a POWERFUL spiritual life.”
“To learn how to pray and be empowered and guided through prayer is the most important preparation of your task as a leader. To establish a leadership lifestyle of prevailing prayer is probably the most decisive element in your spiritual success. YOU WILL NEVER BE A GREATER LEADER THAN YOUR PRAYERS…Your prayer life is a clear revelation of how much a person of God and how much a spiritual leader you are. You will never be more important in God’s sight than your prayer life. No part of your ministry will be more greatly rewarded in eternity. The eternal value of all else you do depends on this.” Wesley L Duwel
How do we gain a greater measure of Holy Spirit anointing? By Prayer!
It is prayer that unlocks God’s power in our life and ministry.
Our level of anointing rises with our level of prayer.
DEVELOPING A LIFESTYLE OF PRAYER
1. Ask God to bring you into a deeper relationship with Him.
2. Ask God to create a yearning and hunger for Him.
3. Ask for prayers of protection for yourself and church/ministry.
4. Pray with your family at home.
5. Pray with the leaders at the church.
DEVELOPING CONSISTENCY IN YOUR PRAYERS
1. Choose a regular place and time to pray alone. Mornings are best.
2. Read Bible, worship, pray – what works for you
3. Pen and paper
PRAY: Ask the Lord to stir up and impart a hunger for prayer. A hunger to be in His presence, a hunger for Him!
PSALM 34:8 Taste and see that the Lord is good; blessed is the one who takes refuge in him.
© Pat Bryan 2012