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Expectant Prayers ®

Jennifer Jo Weiss

United We Stand-Divided We Fall- Part 2

What can possibly unify a body of people from different races, backgrounds, cultures, economic statuses, educational levels, varying life experiences, vocations, geological locations, and families?   The cross.  The work Jesus performed on the cross IS the unifying force, the glue so to speak, that holds all things together. 

Look at Colossians 1:15-19 (The Message)

"We look at this Son and see the God who cannot be seen. We look at this Son and see God's original purpose in everything created. For everything, absolutely everything, above and below, visible and invisible, rank after rank after rank of angels—everything got started in Him and finds its purpose in Him. He was there before any of it came into existence and holds it all together right up to this moment. And when it comes to the church, He organizes and holds it together, like a head does a body.

He was supreme in the beginning and—leading the resurrection parade—He is supreme in the end. From beginning to end he's there, towering far above everything, everyone. So spacious is He, so roomy, that everything of God finds its proper place in Him without crowding. Not only that, but all the broken and dislocated pieces of the universe—people and things, animals and atoms—get properly fixed and fit together in vibrant harmonies, all because of his death, his blood that poured down from the cross."

Wow what a picture!

That is why to be unified, we must recognize, embrace, and allow our lives to reflect that unity comes in Christ alone.

Now to let you know what the Lord has been speaking to me about unity in prayer.

A little over a week ago, I was in prayer and heard the Lord tell me that we were to be people of fervent prayer in this last hour.  We were to encourage one another as a body- even more so as we see the day of the Lord's return approaching.   When I began to pray about the church, a few verses kept ringing through my soul:

Hebrews 10:25 "Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching."

Acts 2:42 "They devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer."

Mark 9:29, "He replied, "This kind can come out only by prayer."  

Matthew 21:13a, "It is written," He said to them, " 'My house will be called a house of prayer'"

To recap these verses and the impact they had on me, God began to emphasize to me the need for prayer not only on an individual level, but also as a unified group of believers.  We are not to forsake meeting together (and this doesn't need to be limited to physically meeting together).  We must meet together in prayer in the Spirit!  We are to devote ourselves to prayer.  We will overcome the enemy and evil spirits through... prayer!  Finally, God's house is to be.... a house of prayer!!!!

We unify and organize many things in the church.  We have calendars to organize our "functions", we have services arranged where we all worship in one accord using the same songs.  We hear the same announcements, give our tithe together, take communion together, listen to the same message together, we even pray together over limited topics- but what about outside the church?

Unity starts on the individual level.  As "The Message" points out in a portion of Romans 9:20, "All those people who didn't seem interested in what God was doing actually embraced what God was doing as he straightened out their lives."  Seeking God first individually brings about the transformation that many of us are desiring in our churches.  That's exciting!   When God's people come into the fellowship (local church) ready and expectant about what God is doing... you won't be able to stop it!

But how do we get there?

Prayer. 

Prayer keeps us focused on God, communicating with Him for His will and direction for our lives, and seeks His provision!  If you want to overcome the days ahead... you're going to have to be a person (and in this case a church) that prays!

So, what God was emphasizing to me is that the body needs to get on the same page when seeking Him.  Long story short, I felt the need to encourage organization of prayer throughout the corporate body. How will this get accomplished?  Through developing monthly prayer guides for the church to follow.   These were to be more than personal prayer needs... and something that every individual of the church could use - even the prayer groups that we have meeting normally.

If you are a Pastor or involved in ministry, you may be discouraged (as so many are) at the lack of prayer in your church.  The "prayer meeting" is dying out.  You know that prayer is what holds most ministries afloat and births new ones.   This vision of creating church prayer guides opens up the box to be inclusive to all members of your fellowship (young and old) without confining them to a certain time or place they have to pray.  I'm not saying throw out your organized prayer... not all all.  I believe in them and I attend several.  But, this is a way to empower everyone without anything expected of them other than the fact that they will commit to pray.  Young and old - every age of your church can be praying with the help of a prayer focus guide!

If you are a Pastor and want to start this in your church, let me encourage you not to go it alone!  Place 'overseers' over each section (trusted prayer warriors who hear from the Spirit)  and that way share the burden.  You will also rest assured that there is at least one in the fellowship that is focusing on each category.  Of course, you should approve the prayer guide since you are the shepherd responsible for leading the flock!

A good way to disperse them (the prayer guides) is to simply make copies and put them in your foyer the last Sunday morning of each month.  I would also encourage a service to share the information with your congregation and have them make a faith pledge (for those who are willing) to commit to at least 10 minutes of prayer for the church using the focus guide.  I think you will be encouraged by all who would be willing to pray!

When there is agreement in the fellowship, a vision that they are moving toward, and total dependence and faith in the living God - we WILL see things happen.  Just imagine, a congregation that is joining in prayer over the same issues and common goals; operating as a body and seeking the will and mind of Christ.  This is powerful and effective!

God gave me a focus "list" to start with.   I will share that with you.  Here are the categories:

Church
Leadership and Those in Authority
City, National, and World
Individual
Youth and Children
Church Ministries

After appointing an overseer for each category, rely on them to create the prayer focus for each group.

For example, each category could have 3-5 general focus requests listed (any more than that and you get too weighed down).  Here's an example:

CHURCH:

For God to lead us toward unity in the body and that love would flow through the fellowship.  That each member would function according to God's will and that the Holy Spirit would be free to move in our midst.

For fresh direction and vision to arise and a new fervor for the things of the Lord to grow in our hearts.  May He give us eyes to see what He desires for us and ears to hear what He is saying. Help us not to allow the past to dictate our future as a body (in hurts, offenses, victories, accomplishments, or otherwise).

That God would transform us from where we are at to the place He want us to be. 

That God would expand our territory and give us favor in our communities.

Then list a few Scriptures that the church can stand on during the month.


I hope this vision is as clear to you as it is to me.  God is calling us to prayer in these final days in a unified voice.  If we can join together in praying for our elections,  why are we not seeking such unity in our fellowships/churches?  We need to strike while the iron is hot and guide our fellowships toward prayer.  There are many reasons for this, some of which are not yet revealed, but rest assured... He is calling His church to be a house of prayer!

Blessings!






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