PRAYER FOR A GENERATION -02

Corporate Intercessory Worship (CIW)

All manners of prayer are important, but the highest expression of the authority the redeemed can enjoy is found in corporate-intercessory-worship. It is important to understand each of these three components and why they are so significant.

Corporate.

It requires humility to embrace all that is implied in gathering corporately. Differences in worship and prayer styles, doctrinal emphases, and our personalities make humility necessary if we are to gather together in a regular way. The meekness this engenders in our hearts fosters an atmosphere conductive to the activity of the Holy Spirit.

The book of Acts again and again depicts the apostolic company of believers united together in prayer in conjunction with the great release of the power of the Holy Spirit:

Acts 1:14

¹⁴These all continued with one accord in prayer and supplication, with the women, and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with his brethren.

Acts 2:1

¹And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place.

Acts 4:24

²⁴And when they heard that, they lifted up their voice to God with one accord, and said, Lord, thou art God, which hast made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and all that in them is:

Acts 5:12

And by the hands of the apostles were many signs and wonders wrought among the people; and they were all with one accord in Solomon's porch.

There are many other scriptures that communicate this truth as well.

For example: David said, “Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity! … for there the Lord commanded the blessing “

Psalms 133:1, 3

¹Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity!

³As the dew of Hermon, and as the dew that descended upon the mountains of Zion: for there the LORD commanded the blessing, even life for evermore.

Acts 1:14

¹⁴These all continued with one accord in prayer and supplication, with the women, and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with his brethren.

The Father only releases His fullness to His family. We can go only so far in God in our individual dedication; there is a ceiling in the spirit until we come together. It takes a corporate, unified response over a period of time to reach the highest levels of God’s intended blessing over a city or nation. Also, the fire in our hearts can die out when we are alone. We are strengthened by clustering together with people of similar passion and vision.

ASKING GOD FOR ABUNDANT BLESSING

Asking God for Abudant blessing

1chronicles 4.10

¹⁰And Jabez called on the God of Israel, saying, Oh that thou wouldest bless me indeed, and enlarge my coast, and that thine hand might be with me, and that thou wouldest keep me from evil, that it may not grieve me! And God granted him that which he requested.

God had promised that it is His Good pleasure to give us the kingdom. He longs to lavish His abundant grace and mercy upon all that will ask. Are we ready to expect the extraordinary? It is time to ask God to release His favor upon our life as well as the life of our family. It is reported that when the early church spent time in prayer, prison doors would open and mighty moves of the Spirit would fall upon all in the house.

Our prayer is, “Lord do it again and again!”

Acts 4:29-33

²⁹And now, Lord, behold their threatenings: and grant unto thy servants, that with all boldness they may speak thy word,

³⁰By stretching forth thine hand to heal; and that signs and wonders may be done by the name of thy holy child Jesus.

³¹And when they had prayed, the place was shaken where they were assembled together; and they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and they spake the word of God with boldness.

³²And the multitude of them that believed were of one heart and of one soul: neither said any of them that ought of the things which he possessed was his own; but they had all things common.

³³And with great power gave the apostles witness of the resurrection of the Lord Jesus: and great grace was upon them all.

Acts 12:5-18

⁵Peter therefore was kept in prison: but prayer was made without ceasing of the church unto God for him.

⁶And when Herod would have brought him forth, the same night Peter was sleeping between two soldiers, bound with two chains: and the keepers before the door kept the prison.

⁷And, behold, the angel of the Lord came upon him, and a light shined in the prison: and he smote Peter on the side, and raised him up, saying, Arise up quickly. And his chains fell off from his hands.

⁸And the angel said unto him, Gird thyself, and bind on thy sandals. And so he did. And he saith unto him, Cast thy garment about thee, and follow me.

⁹And he went out, and followed him; and wist not that it was true which was done by the angel; but thought he saw a vision.

¹⁰When they were past the first and the second ward, they came unto the iron gate that leadeth unto the city; which opened to them of his own accord: and they went out, and passed on through one street; and forthwith the angel departed from him.

¹¹And when Peter was come to himself, he said, Now I know of a surety, that the LORD hath sent his angel, and hath delivered me out of the hand of Herod, and from all the expectation of the people of the Jews.

¹²And when he had considered the thing, he came to the house of Mary the mother of John, whose surname was Mark; where many were gathered together praying.

¹³And as Peter knocked at the door of the gate, a damsel came to hearken, named Rhoda.

¹⁴And when she knew Peter's voice, she opened not the gate for gladness, but ran in, and told how Peter stood before the gate.

¹⁵And they said unto her, Thou art mad. But she constantly affirmed that it was even so. Then said they, It is his angel.

¹⁶But Peter continued knocking: and when they had opened the door, and saw him, they were astonished.

¹⁷But he, beckoning unto them with the hand to hold their peace, declared unto them how the Lord had brought him out of the prison. And he said, Go shew these things unto James, and to the brethren. And he departed, and went into another place.

¹⁸Now as soon as it was day, there was no small stir among the soldiers, what was become of Peter.

DEVELOPING DISCIPLINE TO PRAYER

The majority of believers comprehend the need to pray and many feel the responsibility to pray, but few have developed the discipline of prayer. Few will “pray the price”. Prayer is not some religious duty to be dreaded but rather it is a true delight of our soul in the coming before our Lord, as a friend speaking to a friend. It is not hard to spend time with your best friend. True friends cherish their time together, spending hours just talking and sharing life together.

What a privileged to spend time with the creator of the universe. As the psalmist pondered and declared,

Psalms 8:3-4

³When I consider thy heavens, the work of thy fingers, the moon and the stars, which thou hast ordained;

⁴What is man, that thou art mindful of him? and the son of man, that thou visitest him?

Can you imagine that almighty God longs to fellowship with you? You have touched His heart.

What a wonder of wonders. God has been realizing the spirit of intercession in a travailing manner, much like a woman giving birth. The Spirit of God is encouraging the church to PUSH. Just as a woman giving birth is encouraged to push and to put forth an effort to bring forth-new life, the Body of Christ is being called to push into prayer on a much deeper level. It is time to PUSH! PUSH! PUSH!

PRAY UNTIL SOMETHING HAPPEN!

Many will praise prayer publicly, but will often pass over it privately. The Holy Spirit is releasing much needed instruction to the body of Christ on the subject of prayer. Prayer must never be viewed as a duty but rather a delight. It is spending time in the presence of the One who is altogether lovely and it is communing with the Lover of our soul.

The disciples who walked and worked with Jesus every day , still had to ask Him to teach them to pray.

Luke 11:1

¹And it came to pass, that, as he was praying in a certain place, when he ceased, one of his disciples said unto him, Lord, teach us to pray, as John also taught his disciples.

If they needed to be taught how to pray, it is clear that we must have needed to be taught as well. So we should not be surprised that we also need motivation and guidance. Prayer is not just a bunch of religious words; but rather we must be taught the promise of answered prayer. It is beneficial to study the scriptures in order to be more aware of the revealed will of god, so we will be asking according to His will

1 John 5:14

¹⁴And this is the confidence that we have in him, that, if we ask any thing according to his will, he heareth us:

True prayer is praying back to God what He has promised, which will always release for us Heaven’s provision. Jesus said, in

John 15:7

⁷If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you.

The prophet Hosea reported that God´s people were being destroyed because of lack of knowledge in Hosea 4:6. however, the prophet Daniel states that those who truly know God will be strong, display strength, and take action according to Daniel 11:32.

In 2 Timothy 2:15

¹⁵Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.

Now it is time to pack our heart full of the promises of God. This is so that when we pray, we pray back to God what He has promised to release for us.

Isaiah 45:11

¹¹Thus saith the LORD, the Holy One of Israel, and his Maker, Ask me of things to come concerning my sons, and concerning the work of my hands command ye me.