DAWN Intercession

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DAWN INTERCESSION

HANDBOOK

by Cathy Schaller

Dawn Ministries

A CALL TO MEDI TATI ON

Come now, l i t t l e ma n,

t u r n as i d e f o r a wh i l e f r o m

y o ur d ai l y emp l o yme nt ,

e scape f o r a momen t f r om

t h e t u mu l t o f y o ur t h ou gh t s .

Pu t a s i d e y o ur we i g ht y c ar e s ,

l e t y o ur b ur d en some di s t r a ct i o ns wa i t ,

f r e e y ou r s e l f a wh i l e f o r Go d

a nd r e s t a wh i l e i n hi m.

En t e r t h e i n ne r c h amb er o f y o u r s o u l ,

s h ut o ut e v er y t h i n g ex c e pt Go d

a nd t h at wh i c h c an h el p y ou i n s ee k i n g hi m,

and when you have shut t he doo r , seek h i m.

Now, my who l e hea r t , say t o God ,

' I s eek y our f ac e,

Lor d , i t i s your f ac e I s eek . '

AnselmArchbishop of Canterbury

1033-1109

This is a first draft. It may be reproduced for non-commercial purposes only. In no case may the selling

price exceed the cost of production. As a courtesy to the author and the publisher, it is requested that two

copies of any private edition or translation be sent to the address below. Please help us improve this tool

by sending your comments, i llustrations, observations and questions.

Copyright (c) 1992 by Cathy Schaller

Dawn Ministries, 7899 Lexington Dr. Suite 200-B, Colorado Springs, CO 80920

PHONE (719) 548-7460 FAX (719) 548-7475

INTRODUCTION


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Cathy Schaller

I believe we are living in the most exciting age of allhistory the time just before the Lord returns to claim his

bride.Before this can happen, however, the Lord says his gospelmust be taken to all nations; the Great Commission must becompleted.

One of the movements the Lord has raised up in our time towork at this task is called DAWN, an acronym for Discipling AWhole Nation.

The DAWN strategy takes literally the idea that the Lordwants nationsto be discipled. To do this, DAWN seeks to mobilize thewhole body of Christ in whole nations in an optimum strategy tosaturate a country with evangelical congregations.

DAWN works toward the goal of providing an evangelicalcongregation for every class, kind and condition of man in anation. DAWN seeks to see a cell of believers that trulyincarnates the Lord Jesus Christ in all his beauty, compassion,power and message in the midst of every small group of 500 to1,000 people.

To do this for every nation, it is estimated that sevenmillion more churches are required over the face of the earth.

Such a majestic undertaking surely calls for the power ofGod to fall as a result of the fervent prayer and intercession ofhis people. As Brian Mills of the DAWN-type "Challenge 2000"project in England says, "saturating a nation with churches is atask which must be born out of prayer, be preceded by prayer andbe accompanied by prayer."

With that in mind, Dawn Ministries has developed a prayer ministryto undergird the DAWN strategies that are developing in scores ofnations around the world. This handbook is designed to take the readerto the heart of the nature and practice of the kind of prayer that willtruly bring nations to the feet of the Saviour.

We rejoice in the fact that God has been calling his people

to prevail in this kind of prayer in more and more nations aroundthe world.One example comes from the country of VENEZUELA. A few

years ago, Armando Campos felt the Lord calling him to open ahouse of prayer. He rented a small home in a run-downneighborhood in his city and put up a sign saying that they wouldpray for any and all needs.

As people began coming to the little house and his smallgroup of intercessors prayed, God began saving, healing anddelivering people, many in miraculous ways. The ministry grew toinclude a School of Prayer, prayer seminars and then eventually tobecome a national prayer movement.

It was at this time that we at Dawn Ministries began seekingfor national church leaders in South America that we could inviteto a DAWN training conference. Armando's name was given to us.Though he could not come to the conference, he sent his wife in

his place, believing that the Lord had something for them.At the conference, Yajaira told us with great joy that asshe began to understand the principles of DAWN she recognized thatthis was the strategy that they had been praying for. This wasthe vehicle by which God was going to answer the many prayers thathad been going up for their country.

Armando Campos is now one of the members of the DAWNCommittee in Venezuela and is responsible for the prayer arm ofthe strategy. In each of the states of the country there is aregional DAWN Committee which also includes an intercessor.


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Prayer is still a major part of the life of the Venezuelan Churchand an integral part of the DAWN strategy.

Friends of the Bridegroom is what I call a network ofintercessors around the world who, like Armando and his wife, seekthe Lord on behalf of their nations. To me, they're like John theBaptist who stated, The Bride (the church) belongs to theBridegroom. The friend who attends the bridegroom waits andlistens for him, and is full of joy when he hears the bridegrooms

voice. That joy is mine, and is now complete. (John 3:29)Like John the Baptist, we want to be counted among those who

wait and listen for the voice of the Lord to hear Him speak to usof His plans in every nation for revealing the glory of His Sonthrough His Church. We desire to work, as did John the Baptist,to prepare the way for the coming of the Lord in each nationthrough the work of intercession.

The final chapter of this handbook, Models of NationalPrayer Movements, is a compilation (still in progress) of actualprayer strategies that are effectively being used in variousnations to not only saturate the nation with prayer but toestablish a nationwide network of prayer groups for whichsaturation church planting is a major focus.

Our hope is that you, as you read through this briefhandbook, may benefit in such a way that you can encourage others

to enter into the joy of being a Friend of the Bridegroom and inthe process see your nation truly become a disciple of our risenLord.

THE HEART OF INTERCESSION:


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INTIMACY WITH GOD

Cathy Schaller

I. The Heart of Intercession is Relationship with God

A. A stereotype of prayer

Ive heard the story of a godly missionary who had a deep commitment to pray for his

nation. With a detailed map of the country on the floor, he would spend hours on his

knees and finally on his face. Beginning in the south, he would pray earnestly for each

province until he reached the northernmost part. He would pray for each city and then

each town and village. He would pray for the pastors, missionaries and other Christian

workers, weeping over them before the Lord.

Perhaps this is your image of what it means to pray for nations: you need to get a map

or at least a list of of all the geographical units of a country. You need long lists of

prayer requests from those that are laboring for the Lord throughout the land. You

need a good plan, a good techniqueand lots of time and emotional energy!

These can be helpful. And I have no doubt that God heard the petitions of this intrepid

missionary. In fact, many years later, revival did start to break out in various parts ofhis adopted land.

But this is not the beginning point in developing a strategy of prayer for nations. We

will present models of prayer movements in a later chapter. First, however, we must

establish a basic understanding of what prayer is all about.

B. Our confidence is in God

I must start by saying I don't believe in prayer. Prayer is not what I put my trust in.

Rather, I put my confidence in God to whom I pray. The difference is this: if prayer is

my goal, it becomes a skill to be mastered; if knowing God is my goal, prayer becomesa relationship to be lived. Seen in this light, prayer is more a matter of knowing God

than of mere sending up petitions. He is the one who is the focal point, not ourselves.

True prayer and intercession can only be understood and experienced in the context of

a vital, living relationship with God.

Sometimes prayer is viewed as an almost magical ending which is supposed to bring

forth the power and life of God into our already established plans and programs.


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Sometimes it's seen as the key ingredient in our recipes which insures the outcome of

our desires. Sometimes we see prayer as the oil that runs the machinea necessary

lubricant in the assembly line of kingdom work.

It seems to me that these approaches put our focus on the wrong thing. Prayer gets

reduced to a tactic that may or may not work. Instead, prayer should be an outgrowthof our intimate relationship with the living God.

C. The surpassing value of relationship

Many scriptures emphasize the surpassing value of such an intimate relationship:

One thing I ask of the Lord, this is what I seek: that I may dwell in the house of

the Lord all the days of my life, to gaze upon the beauty of the Lord and to seek

him in his temple. (Psalm 27:4)

Better is one day in your courts than a thousand elsewhere; I would rather be adoorkeeper in the house of my God than dwell in the tents of the wicked. (Psalm

84:10)

I consider everything a loss compared to the surpassing greatness of knowing

Christ Jesus my Lord. (Philippians 3:8)

Righteous Father, though the world does not know you, I know you, and they

know that you have sent me. I have made you known to them, and will continue

to make you known in order that the love you have for me may be in them and

that I myself may be in them. (John 17:25, 26)

When one has spent time gazing upon the beauty and surpassing greatness of the Lord

and experiences the love of the Lord within, then a relationship has begun and he or

she has entered the prayer process.

II. Developing This Relationship with God

How is this relationship to be developed with God? Through understanding who He

is and then drawing close to Him.

A. Understanding who God is

To better understand who God is, we must first challenge our concept of God and then

develop a true perception of God.

1. Challenging our concept of God


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Our understanding of who God is and what He is like is marred by all of lifes

circumstances. We thereby end up with a distorted view of God. This affects our

ability to approach Him with boldness and confidence; it inhibits our ability to

receive from Him and it keeps us from being able to reflect His love, mercy and

power to a fallen world. Jesus came to reveal the Father to us, to show us what He

is really like. As we experience Him as He really is, He will bring healing to uspersonally and help us to move into the place of intimacy that He has ordained for

us.

a. How weperceivedour parents when we were children affects our perception

of God today.

Unless we specifically address the issue, our tendency will be to expect the

same kind of relationship with God that we had with our parents. We will

expect God to act and be the same as we perceived our parents to act and be.

b. How we respondedto our parents affects our response to God.

If you perceived your parents to be critical, for example, your tendency would

be to think of God as critical. Your response to both parents and God would

likely be one of rebellion.

As you go through the list below, remember you are dealing with perceptions

your parents may not actually have been as you perceived them. The important

thing to notice is how you understood them to be and what you came to believe

about God through that relationship.

If my father was ......................................I might be

open and honest .....................................trusting

like a policeman......................................like a prisoner

abusive ...................................................fearful

over-indulging .........................................spoiled

a teacher.................................................a student

macho.....................................................a wimp

critical.....................................................rebellious

absent.....................................................lonely

over-controlling.......................................out-of-controlunconditionally loving...............................loving, giving

firm but reasonable..................................self-assured, secure

superior ..................................................inferior

servant-leader.........................................a willing follower

supportive, trusting..................................secure, significant


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If you tend to perceive God as absentfar away or uninvolved in your life

when you needed Him most, you may ask yourself if that is how you

perceived your earthly father. If your answer is yes, you may be responding

to your father image rather than the truth of who God has revealed Himself to

be. You can then ask your heavenly Father to illumine your heart and mind with

the truth of His abiding presence.

Likewise, if you tend to perceive God as a policeman looking over your

shoulder to see if you are breaking any of His laws, you can analyze your

relationship with your earthly father. Maybe you are projecting onto God

something that doesnt correspond to who He really is.

c. Church and society affect our image of God

Though the home is the strongest influence on our lives, we also are impacted

greatly by both our religious and secular experiences. The attitude of Sunday

school teachers and pastors or what we picked up in the neighborhood or at

public school can similarly shape our perceptions of God, and therefore our

relationship with him. It can be helpful to analyze these influences on our lives to

make sure they are not distorting our concept of God.

2. Developing a true perception of God.

Learning to identify the expectations we put on God gives us opportunity to

challenge and change our perceptions in light of the reality of the truth of God's

word. We can thereby learn to know God as He really is.

a. By asking God to enlighten our minds.

We need to grow in the truth by asking God to enlighten our understanding of

who He isand trust that He is ready, willing and able to do so. This is the

process of renewing our minds so that we can have a relationship of intimacy

with Him.

Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be

transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test

and approve what God's will ishis good, pleasing and perfect will.

Romans 12:2

We can also ask the Lord to show us specifically how he is different from what

we perceived our earthly fathers to be.

b. By speaking the truth to ourselves.


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The truth is always GOOD NEWS. Truth comes to bring God's perspective

into a situation in a way that comforts, liberates and stabilizes us as we walk

through life. I have found that it is important to speak the truth to myself! When

I remind myself of the truth of God's provision, salvation, redemption, power,

love, majesty and glory, I am dwelling in truth. This is so much better than

allowing my mind to be filled with the lies and threats of the enemy or even thefolly of my own misunderstanding.

Then we will no longer be infants, tossed back and forth by the waves, and

blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and

craftiness of men in their deceitful scheming. Instead, speaking the truth

in love, we will in all things grow up into him who is the Head, that is,

Christ. From him the whole body, joined and held together by every

supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does

its work. Eph. 4:14-16

c. Praying scripture.

One way to develop a true perception of God is to pray the scriptures. By

taking texts of scripture, putting them in the first person and praying them to the

Father, God illumines our minds to really see Him as He is. We have the

opportunity to come face to face with the contrast between what we

intellectually believe about God and who He would have us know Him to really

be. We can begin to identify false perceptions of God, and ask Him to cause us

to know Him in Truth.

I have found a continuing prayer in my life to be: Lord, show me what I amreally believing about you, your purposes, and about myself as I interpet this life

situation. Cause me to believe that You are really the way you say you are,

even when my feelings or my perception of events tell me the opposite.

Interacting with the scriptures in prayer may look somewhat like this: Lord,

you are the Good Shepherd. You know your sheep, and You tell me that

Your sheep know You, and recognize Your voice, and would never follow

the voice of a stranger. Father, enable me to experience the reality of

these words. I long to know You in this way, to recognize each time You

would speak to me, to follow Your voice and not the voice of my ownemotions or of the enemy. Enable me to experience Your Shepherds

heart, and to trust in Your protection and provision for my life. (based on

John l0).

B. Drawing Close to God


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As we have a better understanding of God, we become ready to learn how to draw

closer to Him. Among other things, this can happen through worship, through silence,

and through submission.

1. Through worship.

a. God is looking for worshippers.

God values worship very highly. We read in John 4:23 that true worshipers

worship the Father in spirit and in truth, for the Father is seeking just such

people as these as His worshipers. My understanding is that the Father is

looking for those who will make relationship with Him their portion, their delight

(Psalm l6). He is seeking those for whom relationship with Him is enough. He

wants those who are not interested in building their own ministry or their own

kingdom, but whose delight is to know and to follow Him.

b. Singing love songs to the Father.

True worship flows as we sing TO rather than just ABOUT God. Singing to

the Father brings us face-to-face with Him. Just as intimate, face-to-face

communication builds relationships on the human level, so it does with the

Father. We do this through such simple songs as these:

I want to know you, Lord, I must know you;

You are the Vine, we are the branches; keep us abiding in you;

I come to You on bended knee, with just one plea, give me more ofThee.

c. Coming to the Father with childlike simplicity.

God doesn't care about how eloquent our prayers are nor the perfection with

which our voices can hit the high notes. Rather, He welcomes us as we give

Him our heartswith the simplicity and totality of a child's affection.

2. Through silence.

Spending time in silence before the throne of God is something 20th centuryChristians are often uncomfortable with. Sometimes we think we need to make

something happen or do something in order to have value in God's sight.

Practicing the discipline of silence can often enable us to hear the Lord speak to our

hearts. This allows Him to give us impressions in our thoughts about Himself, about

ourselves or about someone for whom He desires us to pray.


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3. Through submission.

There comes an intimacy with God through allowing Him to plant His life within us.

Before the new seed of His life is sown, however, there is necessity for ploughing

and uprooting of other things that are growing in the field of our thoughts and hearts.

The person who is serious about being close to God will find Him pulling up all

kinds of growing things that seemed to be life-producing but were really harmful.

C.S. Lewis puts it well as we can see in this excerpt from his book Mere

Christianity:

Christ says, Give me All. I don't want so much of your time and so much of

your money and so much of your work: I want You. I have not come totorment your natural self, but to kill it. No half-measures are any good. I

don't want to cut off a branch here and a branch there, I want to have the

whole tree down. I don't want to drill the tooth, or crown it, or stop it, but to

have it out. Hand over the whole natural self, all the desires which you think

innocent as well as the ones you think wickedthe whole outfit. I will give

you a new self instead. In fact, I will give you Myself: my own will shall

become yours.

The terrible thing, the almost impossible thing, is to hand over your whole

selfall your wishes and precautionsto Christ. But, it is far easier thanwhat we are all trying to do instead. For what we are trying to do is to

remain what we call ourselves, to keep personal happiness as our great aim

in life, and yet at the same time be good. We are all trying to let our mind

and heart go their own waycentered on money or pleasure or ambition

and hoping, in spite of all this, to behave honestly and chastely and humbly.

And that is exactly what Christ warned us you could not do. As He said, a

thistle cannot produce figs. If I am a field that contains nothing but grass-

seed, I cannot produce wheat. Cutting the grass may keep it short: but I shall

still produce grass and no wheat. If I want to produce wheat, the change must

go deeper than the surface. I must be ploughed up and resown. (pp. 166-170)

III. Our Prayer Life Reflecting our Relationship with God

As we develop our relationship with God through understanding who He is and by

drawing close to Him, we find that His purposes become our purposes. His desires

become our desires. His Spirit becomes more evident in us.


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A. From legalism to freedom

Even as a pregnant woman swells with the growth of a new life within, so we become

increasingly filled with the lovely fruit of the Spirit. Our prayer life reflects this change

as we shift from a basis of legalism (praying to get something from God, to

impress Him or to satisfy Him) to a basis of freedom and joy. We no longerhave confidence in our ability to be faithful in prayer, or to do it right, or better or

longerbut our confidence is increasingly in Himin His faithfulness, His

lovingkindness, His power.

Our prayers radiate outward with the very nature and character of God when we let

Jesus fill us with Himself and when we keep Him as our focus. This kind of prayer

that is produced by the indwelling of the Spirit glorifies the Producer: Christ. As we

focus on Jesus, we become like Him. Because He is the source of life, we need to

be preoccupied with Him, letting His life overflow into our prayers and petitions.

B. Our prayers rewarded in heaven

This kind of prayer is not concerned with the applause and approval of man, but

does things in secret which will be rewarded in heaven.

We've all been in prayer meetings where the glory, the attention, the focus was being

pulled towards a person. In such meetings, the usual fruit is cold hearts,judgmental

spirits, bitterness, jealousy, unloving attitudes, and self-righteousness. It causes us to

despise others or others to despise us. We find ourselves in the place of the Pharisee

in Luke l8, who rejoiced in his commitment to prayer and fasting, yet was rejected by

the Lord.

C. Prayer flowing from the Spirit

1. Exhibits the fruit of the Spirit

How different the prayer is that flows out of the very Spirit of God within us! That

prayer is filled with love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,

gentleness and self-control. When this kind of prayer is operating, everyone is drawn

to Jesus. There is no sense of competition or strivingrather, participants get caught

up in Him. Let us be wary that we would not pursue and rejoice in our externalcommitment to the Lordlet us instead pursue and rejoice in the Lord Himself!!

2. Rejects the lies of the enemy

As we remain focused on Jesus in our prayer, He will woo us into prayer and

intercession for His purposes. The Lord does not draw us into prayer with


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condemnation. We need to recognize that it is the enemy who would tell us that

whatever we do, it's not enough, or it's not good enough.

Our enemy will attempt to get us to believe that we're not worthy to approach God,

or to be forgiven or to have our prayers received. The blood of Jesus is truly

adequate for all our sin and failure. We need to continually meditate on the truth ofour standing with the Father as revealed in His Word to close this door to the enemy.

3. Avoids being overwhelmed

When we allow our focus in prayer to be drawn away from the Person of Jesus, we

can become overwhelmed with the sheer volume of need around us. I often

wondered how Jesus could handle walking through the midst of crowds of lost, sick,

helpless people without becoming discouraged or anxious.

Some understanding in this area came to me as I began to perceive the meaning of

John 5:l9 I tell you the truth, the Son can do nothing by himself; he can do only whathe sees his father doing. Jesus walked in such intimacy with the Father that He was

able to perceive the things that the Father has already initiated in heaven! Jesus

spoke into being those things that He saw His Father doing.

4. Releases Gods answers to prayer

When we couple the above with John l7:23 (which states that the Father loves us

even as He loves Jesus) we can expect that the Father will also show us those things

that He is about today. I used to envision intercession as this: my job was to tap a

very busy God on the shoulder and point out to Him all of the needs of those aroundme so that He could do something about them. I often felt anxious and

overwhelmed.

Over the past years, however,God had given me a new picture of intercession: I

now see my role as coming to the feet of my heavenly Father, who knows all and is

exceedingly full of compassion for all that He has made. As I wait in quietness upon

Him, he taps me on the shoulder, and says, Cathy, see what I desire to birth in this

situation. Release healing (or salvation, etc.) through your prayers.

D. His (prayer) burden is light

The job of the Father is to know when and how to extend His kingly rule and reign in

the earth; my job is to listen and obey. How freeing and fulfilling to partake of His

work in His timing! Truly this yoke is easy and this burden light. God will not forget

nor is He slow in performing His will. But my understanding is that He is looking for

those who would quiet their hearts to hear Him and to pray forth that which He

reveals.


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IV. Intimacy with God and Prayer for Nations

How does intimacy with God relate to prayer for nations? As we suggested from the

beginning, the heart of all intercession is intimacy with God. This includes prayer for nations.

As we really get to know God, we can learn more and more about how His Spirit isbrooding over the affairs of nations to draw a people unto Himself. In seeing our nation

more from Gods perspective, we are more able to pray into being those things that He

wants to accomplish. Now our praying is more powerful as we learn to bind on earth what

He has already bound in heaven and loose on earth what He has already loosed in heaven.

Now we are praying forHiswill to be done in our nation and not just bringing our plans and

desires to Him.

Our prayer is now beginning to align with what God is already doing, the topic of the next

chapter.

Father, I pray that you would grant us, out of the rich treasury of Your

glory, to be strengthened and reinforced with mighty power in our

inner person by Your Holy Spirit. We ask You to indwell us in our

innermost being and personality. Father, would you cause Christ,

through our faith, to dwell, to abide, to make His permanent home

in our hearts! Cause us to be rooted deeply in love and founded

securely in love, that we may have the power to apprehend, to grasp

with all the saints the experience of Your love, the breadth andlength and height and depth of it. Cause us, Father to really come

to know practically, through the experience for ourselves, the love

of Christ, which far surpasses mere knowledge, that we would be

filled throughout our being unto all the fullness of God. Enable us

to experience the richest measure of the divine Presence, and

become a body wholly filled and flooded with Yourself.


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Now unto You, Lord, Who, by Your power at work within us, are able

to carry out His purpose and do superabundantly, far over and

above all that we dare ask or think, unto You be the glory in the

church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations forever and

ever.

THE WORK OF INTERCESSION:

ALIGNING WITH GOD

Cathy Schaller

I. Prayer is partnership with God.

I view prayer as partnership with God. We have not chosen Him,but He has chosen us before the foundation of the world to knowHim, to go and bear fruit in His name.

I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me andI in him, he well bear much fruit; apart from me you can do

nothing.If you remain in me and my words remain in you, askwhatever you wish, and it will be given you., This is to myFather's glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to bemy disciples.You did not choose me, but I chose you to go andbear fruit fruit that will last. (John 15:5, 7, 16)

God is more desirous to answer prayer than we are to ask,because He wants to involve us in His work.

Prayer is the channel that He has determined for that partnership.Our Father prompts us to pray, drawing us to a place of intimacy

where He can share His plans and purposes with us. He willaccomplish His sovereign will and He allows us to be a part ofthat happening.

This partnership involves a cycle of interaction with an enthronedGod, with our need, and with faith. Just as God established cyclesand rhythms that we can observe in the universe around us, sothere is a cycle in prayer.


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(The Efficacy of Prayer fromTHE WORLDS LAST NIGHT

AND OTHER ESSAYS, HarcourtBrace Jovanovich, Publishers,

New York, 1960)

We learn of His concerns through His Word and by His Spirit. Itcomes from inclining our hearts and minds towards Him. SimoneWeil, a French philosopher from the turn of the century, puts it thisway, prayer consists of attention. It is the orientation of all theattention of which the soul is capable toward God. The quality ofthe attention counts for much in the quality of the prayer. Evenwarmth of heart cannot make up for it."

We can be involved in Gods concerns at many different levels:internationally, locally, and personally.

My desire is to encourage plain, main people like myself to beinvolved in the work of the Kingdom through prayer. As weordinary folks learn to discern the concerns of God in the situationsand circumstances of our lives, we will see and participate in theadvancement of His kingdom.

A. Involvement in International events.

We can partner with God in a variety of ways that affectinternational events. Some of us will go and minister invarious nations. Some of us will be involved with the people

who do that. We will be significant prayer partners for them,sharing in the joys and struggles of their ministry. Somethingthat all of us can do is to pray as we watch the news ontelevision or read the papers. Its my habit to watch theNews at Ten every evening. During the past years God hasbeen teaching me to watch the news from the perspective ofHis kingdom. Instead of just acquiring knowledge, watchingthe news actually becomes a prayer time. My mind andheart are inclined towards seeking Gods purposes in eachsituation that comes forth. Many times God gives me Histears to cry for the pain and bondage that people

experience. Sometimes He gives me petitions to pray forindividuals or nations. Sometimes I find myself simplyconfessing truth that contradicts the impressions or reportsof the media. Often I will ask God to forgive the sins andredeem the consequences of the blantant sins that arereported. Sometimes God enables me to see His glory in asituation, and I pray for the accomplishment of that. Thereare times when God tells me to speak against or to rebuke a


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specific spirit or work of darkness that is controlling asituation. Most of this happens very ordinarily, very quietlyas Im sitting in my living room. Usually, I dont even pray outloud. This is one way that I have found to be involved in thework of the kingdom internationally.

B. Involvement in the Local church.

As we see in the Book of Revelation, Chapters 2 and 3, itbecomes evident that God has concerns for churches. Hehas ordained a purpose for each church. He may call andequip some to be sending churches, or healing churches, orteaching churches. Obviously, all churches will haveelements of each of these and other giftings, but usually onefocus will emerge as the primary call on that body. Aspeople begin to understand that God has a purpose and

concern for their particular body, and seek Him towards thatend through prayer, tremendous potential can be tapped.As we pray, I believe that God brings forth bothunderstanding and fulfillment of that call.

C. Involvement with Individual people.

I love what C. S. Lewis says about loving our neighbor. It isa serious thing to live in a society of possible gods andgoddesses, to remember that the dullest and mostuninteresting person you talk to may one day be a creature

which, if you saw it now, you would be strongly tempted toworship, or else a horror and a corruption such as you nowmeet, if at all, only in a nightmare. All day long we are, insome degree, helping each other to one or the other ofthese destinations (The Weight of Glory, p. l4-15).

I believe that the most effective way that we can help orhinder one another to realize the destiny of God in our livesis to pray. This doesnt mean that we have to do somethingto make it happen or to become busybody advice-givers,but rather to walk through our lives with an awareness of the

people around us, with an awareness that God is even nowwanting to release or heal or equip or empower or protect orprovide for them. I make it a practice to use the time waitingin parking lots for my children to finish sports activities to askthe Father to bring to my mind those He would wish for me topray for. Lord, show me what Youre even now desiring tobring forth in them. It is a simple way of entering into theconcerns of God in the context of everyday life.


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II. Understanding God's Priorities.

All of our prayer should reflect not just perceivedneeds,but thepriorities that God has established. Therefore, understanding thelarger picture of Gods interaction with man is essential. If we

study that big picture we find that Gods priorities include thefollowing:

A. Gods priority is to reveal His own character and glory.

1. God revealed his glory through Jesus.

a. We see through Jesus life that the passion of theFather's heart is to glorify His Son and the passion ofthe Son is to glorify His Father. Jesus prayed:

glorify your Son, that your Son may glorify you. . .glorify me in your presence with the glory I had withyou before the world began. (John 17:1, 5)

I believe that the Father delights in and longs to fulfill theprayer of Jesus. I can imagine the Father saying, "I'm ina hurry to give glory to my Son I want themagnificence of the glory that He already has in heavento be known on the earth. He has shed His blood, beencounted among men as a transgressor, and providedsalvation. I long to give Him the reward of His

sufferings. I long to give Him the place before all ofcreation that He deserves."

b. We are invited into the relationship of love betweenFather, Son and Holy Spirit. Jesus prayed for our sinsthe night before He was nailed to a tree:

I have given them the glory that you gave me, thatthey may be one as we are one: I in them and you inme.

Father, I want those you have given me to be with mewhere I am, and to see my glory, the glory you havegiven me because you loved me before the creation ofthe world. (John 17:22-24)

Can you imagine what it will be like to enter into thatpure, holy, passionate fire of love between the Fatherand the Son? To be caught up in the holy fire that pours


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forth from their relationship to redeem mankind? Yet,that is exactly what God's desire is for us.

2. God promises to reveal his glory in a future, final revelation.

a. This revelation of glory awaits an appointed time.The revelation began with the coming of the Lord Jesus,but we still await an unveiling in which the whole worldwill recognize Him. The Lord is not slow in giving thisfull revelation of His Son, but, for our benefit, tarries.

For the revelation awaits an appointed time, it speaksof the end and will not prove false. Though it linger,wait for it; it will certainly come and not delay.(Habakkuk 2:3)

The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as someunderstand slowness. He is patient with you, notwanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come torepentance. (2 Peter 3:9-10)

b. This future revelation will be characterized by thepervading knowledge of God.

The time is coming, declares the LORD...no longer willa man teach his neighbor, or a man his brother,

saying, "Know the LORD," because they will all knowme, from the least of them to the greatest, declares theLORD. (Jeremiah 31:33-4)

c. In that day there will be perfect communion with God.

It shall come to pass that before they call I will answer,and while they are yet speaking I will hear" (Isaiah65:19, 24).

and the city has no need of sun or moon to light it, for

the glory of God and of the Lamb illuminate it.(Revelation 21:23)"

d. This glory will be pervasive, powerful and permanent.


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The earth will be filled with the knowledge of the gloryof the Lord as the waters cover the sea. (Habakkuk2:14)

B. Gods priority is to establish His kingdom, bringing all

things under the headship of Christ.

And he made known to us the mystery of his will accordingto his good pleasure, which he purposed in Christ, to be

put into effect when the times will have reached theirfulfillmentto bring all things in heaven and on earthtogether under one head, even Christ. (Ephesians 1:9,10)

1. The beginning point God wants to save us from hell.

The "good news" that we proclaim is that, through the

blood of Jesus, our sins can be forgiven, thus saving usfrom the eternal damnation that we deserve. It is nolight matter to be "snatched from the fire"(Jude 23).My understanding, however, is that this is only abeginning point of realizing the plan that God has for ourlives.

2. The culmination God wants to make us kings and prieststo serve under Christs headship. We are being savedfrom hell but saved into a position of kingship andpriesthood before our God.

His purpose in our salvation is to make us rulerswithChrist who will exercise kingly authority,

And to make us priestswith the high calling ofministering unto Him,offering the priestly sacrifice ofpraise.

...with your blood You purchased men for God fromevery tribe and language and people and nation. Youhave made them to be a kingdom and pr iests to

serve our God,and they will reign on the earth.(Revelation 5:9-10)

III. Aligning with God's Priorities in Prayer.


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God the Father is looking for those who would stand in the gap,who would so identify with His priorities and purposes and withHis heart that they would be able to call out to Him in prayerwith boldness.

A. Praying forth the revelation of God's character andglory.

Prayer must reflect God's priority of revealing His character:Jesus prayed, May Thy Name be hallowed (knowing theheart of God praying for a revelation of His nature andcharacter to all mankind).

It is toward this end that we pray that all will hear thegospel, that many will come to repentance, that the fullnumber will be brought into the kingdom as priests to serve,

and worship the Living God so that we, in Jesus, will bebrought into the fullness of relationship with Him in

glorythat He intended from before the creation of the world.

B. Praying forth the dynamic rule and reign of God.

His purpose: May Thy kingdom come, and Thy will bedone on earth as it is in heaven (doing the workof Godextending His reign into the circumstances of men).

1. The nature of Gods kingdom.

God's kingdom is not a geographical location, butrather His kingly rule and reign. It is the exercise of Hispower that confronts and brings into submission thepowers of darkness, the realm of nature, and evendeath.

Jesus' exercise of His kingly authority resulted indemons being cast out, raging seas being stilled, thedead brought back to life, and sins forgiven.

2. Extending Gods kingdom through prayer.

The blessings of the age to come, which characterizethe kingdom of God, are present even in this "presentevil age," but not yet in their fulness.


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God uses us as His instruments as we pray accordingto His purpose to establish His rule and reign in ourlives, our cities, our nations.

IV. Letting God initiate.

It is foundational to understand that God is always the initiator:

He initiates our relationship with Him. The Father has known usbefore the creation of the world. For God, who said, "Let lightshine out of darkness," made his light shine in our hearts to giveus the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face ofChrist. (2 Corinthians 4:6)

He initiates in our sanctification. For He chose us in him beforethe creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight.

(Ephesians 1:4)

He initiates love. He loves us before we even acknowledge Him.We love because he first loved us. (1 John 4:19)"

He initiates our salvation. He saves us while we are helpless.When we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly...Goddemonstrates His own love for us in this: While we were stillsinners, Christ died for us. (Romans 5:6-8)

"He saw that there was no one, he was appalled that there was no

one to intercede; so his own arm worked salvation for him.(Isaiah 59:16)

In the same way, God initiates prayer: we are dependent uponrevelation from Him as to the focus of our prayer.

A. Ask God to reveal to us His character.

Then Moses said, Now show me your glory. And theLORD said, I will cause all my goodness to pass in front ofyou, and I will proclaim my name, the LORD, in your

presence. . . Then the LORD said, There is a place nearme where you may stand on a rock. When my glory

passes by, I will put you in a cleft in the rock and cover youwith my hand until I have passed by. Then I will removemy hand and you will see my back; but my face must notbe seen.


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So Moses...went up Mount Sinai early in the morning, asthe LORD had commanded him. . . Then the LORD camedown in the cloud and stood there with him and proclaimed

his name, the LORD. And he passed in front of Moses,proclaiming, The LORD, the LORD, the compassionateand gracious God, slow to anger, abounding in love andfaithfulness, maintaining love to thousands, and forgivingwickedness, rebellion and sin. (Exodus 33:18,19,21-23;34:4-7)

B. Ask God to reveal to us His plans.

1. He revealed His plans to His prophets.

Surely the Sovereign Lord does nothing withoutrevealing his plan to his servants the prophets. (Amos3:7)

But which of them has stood in the council of theLORD to see or hear His word? Who has listened andheard his word? If they had stood in my council, theywould have proclaimed my words to my people andwould have turned them from their evil ways and fromtheir evil deeds. (Jeremiah 23:18, 22)

2. He showed Jesus what He was doing.

Jesus did only what He saw the Father doing.

"I tell you the truth, the Son can do nothing by Himself;He can do only what He sees His Father doing,because whatever the Father does, the Son also does.For the Father loves the Son and shows Him all Hedoes." (John 5:l9-20)

3. He will direct our prayer.We have not received the spirit of the world but theSpirit who is from God, that we may understand whatGod has freely given us. . . . "For who has known themind of the Lord that he may instruct him?" But wehave the mind of Christ. (1Corinthians 2:12, 16)


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I find that some of the most important questions I canask the Father when faced with a prayer request aresimilar to these: Father, what are you doing in thissituation right now?

What is the next step that you desire to bring to pass?Would you direct the gaze of my eyes to that which youhave already initiated?

As we pray, we too can "learn to see what the Father isdoing." As we develop a relationship with Him ofintimacy, we can grow to perceive the moving of HisSpirit, and pray in accordance with His heart and Hispower at work in the affairs of men.

C. Ask God to make us sensitive to His timing.

My understanding is that Gods plans are perfect, andnothing is left out or forgotten.

Yet we find that throughout the scriptures, there is arepetition of the phrase in the fulness of time. God has anappointed time, a kyros, for all His designs. Theincarnation, the indwelling of God in man, came about at thekyrosordained by the Father.

As we pray, we can ask the Father to sensitize us to His

timing so that we neither:l) take a stance of "demanding" blessings to materializein accordance with our time schedule; nor

2) lose heart as we wait for the "birthing" of an answerto our prayer.

Father, we thank you for the gift of your Holy Spirit, through

whom you continue to make your truth known to us. Touch

our eyes that we may see, and our ears that we may hear allthat You would speak to us. Enable us, Father, to be one in

Youunited in Your love, thinking Your thoughts, and

doing Your kingdom work as we are aligned in Your will, in

Jesus name, Amen.


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PRAYING FOR CHRISTIAN

LEADERS

Cathy Schaller

I. Why leaders need prayer.

A. Leaders are key to the growth and health of the church.

They have a role of greater responsibility and accountabilityfor the work of the kingdom than others.

we who teach will be judged more strictly. (James 3:1)

Keep watch over yourselves and all the flock of which the

Holy Spirit has made you overseers. Be shepherds of thechurch of God which he bought with His own blood. (Acts20:28)

Be shepherds of God's flock which is under your care,serving as overseers not because you must, butbecause you are willing, as God wants you to be; notgreedy for money, but eager to serve; not lording it overthose entrusted to you, but being an example to the flock.(1Peter 5:2, 3)

B. Power is released when people pray for leaders.

Increasingly we hear reports of leaders who haveexperienced unusual protection and empowerment in keysituations as others have been led to intercede for them.

One evening as I was attending a Christian concert, Ibecame aware of an increasingly intense presence of evil. I


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experienced sharp pain in my back, and the words I havecome to kill, to steal, and to destroy came strongly andclearly to my mind. I knew that God was enabling me to seethat a significant person in my life was caught in a deepstruggle with the enemy. I began to intercede, relying on

scriptural prayer and rebuking this work of the enemy.

After about 20 minutes, I sensed the evil resistance beingovercome, and then it suddenly stopped. The Lord gave mea deep peace that He had accomplished His purposes inthe spiritual realm. The pain left my back and we went homefrom the concert.

Later that evening, I received a phone call informing me thata prominent Christian leader had, at the very time I had beenpraying, taken a bad fall off of a ladder onto a concrete slab,

landing on his neck and back. Although shaken andbruised, he sustained no permanent injury from what couldeasily have been a fatal accident. I suspect that I was one ofseveral people whom God tapped on the shoulder andcalled to pray, allowing us to be used in the release of Hispower for His kingdom purposes.

He has delivered us from such a deadly peril and he willdeliver us. On him we have set our hope that he willcontinue to deliver us, as you help us by your prayers.Then many will give thanks on our behalf for the gracious

favor granted us in answer to the prayers of many. (2Corinthians 1:10-11)

So Peter was kept in prison, but the church was earnestlypraying to God for him. The night before Herod was tobring him to trialan angel of the Lord appeared and alight shone in the celland the chains fell off Peter's wrists.(Acts 12:2-7)

C. Leaders may be specifically targeted by the enemy.

While travelling on an airplane recently, a minister notedsomeone seated near him engaging in what appeared to bedeep prayer. At an appropriate time later in the flight, theminister spoke to the young man, saying I noticed youpraying earlier. Are you a Christian? To his surprise, theyoung man replied, Oh no. Actually, Im a Satanist, and one


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day a week we fast and pray for the breakup of marriages ofChristian leaders.

Leaders are targeted by the enemy as focal points for hisdestructive work.

Strike the shepherd and the sheep will scatter is still astrategy of the enemy for bringing confusion and impotenceto the church. If a leader can be enticed to fall into moral sin,or be led astray doctrinally, many others may fall intodisillusionment, unbelief or bitter criticism of Christ and/orHis Church.

Satan rose up against Israel and incited David to take acensus of Israel. (1 Chronicles 21:1)

He must also have a good reputation with outsiders so thathe will not fall into disgrace and into the devils trap. (1Timothy 3:7)

And of this gospel I was appointed a herald and an apostleand a teacher. That is why I am suffering as I am. (2Timothy 1:11-12)

II. Prayer for leaders is biblical.

The Amalekites came and attacked the Israelites at Rephidim.

Moses said to Joshua, 'Choose some of our men and go out tofight the Amalekites. Tomorrow I will stand on top of the hill withthe staff of God in my hands.' Joshua fought the Amalekites asMoses had ordered, and Moses, Aaron and Hur went to the topof the hill. As long as Moses held up his hands, the Israeliteswere winning, but whenever he lowered his hands, the

Amalekites were winning. When Moses' hands grew tired, theytook a stone and put it under him and he sat on it. Aaron andHur held his hands up one on one side, one on the other so that his hands remained steady till sunset. So Joshua

overcame the Amalekite army with the sword. (Exodus 17:8-13)

A. Joshua, leader of the Israelite army, needed prayer.

While Joshua is credited with "overcoming the Amalekitearmy with the sword, his success was utterly dependent onthe intercession of Moses who was in turn dependent forhelp upon Aaron and Hur. God has ordained a healthy inter-


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dependence in the body of Christ for the outworking of Hisplans and purposes.

Just as Joshua, although a godly man and powerful warrior,was unable to defeat his enemies alone, so leaders today

also need the prayers of others.B. Moses role was that of intercessor.

Moses was God's chosen intercessor, the one to whom Godgranted authority (symbolized by the rod) in this event.

God is still granting spiritual insight and authority to believerswho are called to intercession on behalf of leaders. Notethat Moses, in addition to praying for Joshua during thebattle, also gave direction to go to battle in the first place (v.

9), another role that intercessors sometimes play today.C. Paul was aware of the need for partnership with

intercessors.

One day, while praying for one of our overseas teammembers, I kept seeing a picture in my mind of his head andneck. Strangely enough, in the picture in my mind I sawJesus hand placed over his throateven exerting pressureon the area. I wasnt sure if this brother perhaps had a sorethroat which the Lord was touching and healing, or if there

was another meaning.I finally called him and told him what I was sensing.Immediately he recognized the meaning of the picture. Atthat very moment he was praying for the Lord to show himwhether or not he should confront a Christian brother withsome things that were bothering him. Through thispartnership in intercession, God revealed to him that thetime was not right for him to speak, and he was able to waitin peace until the Lord would ordain such a meeting to takeplace in a constructive way.

Paul was not just being polite when he asked for prayerhewas inviting brothers and sisters to partner with him foreffective ministry.

We see this in these New Testament injunctions to pray forhis ministry:


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Brethren, pray for us. (1 Thessalonians 5:25)

I beg you, brethren, through the Lord Jesus Christ, andthrough the love of the Spirit, that you strive together withme in your prayer to God for me. (Romans 15:30)

III. Why some leaders have difficulty asking for

prayer.

A. Ignorance

Some leaders are unaware of the potential power-source ofintercession on their behalf. They have never perceived thatPaul's requests for prayer for himself and the ministry werenot a polite invitation but a vital recognition of need.

B. Individualism

Some leaders prefer to "sink or swim" on their own. Theyperceive that they have full responsibility for the carrying outthe vision and work granted them by God, without realizingthe principles of teamwork outlined in biblical illustrationssuch as that of Joshua fighting the Amalekites. (Exodus l7)

C. Fear

Fear of being perceived as weak or needy can cause some

leaders to resist asking for prayer. Also, the accountabilityand vulnerability involved in asking for prayer may feeluncomfortable. These fears can be overcome as mature,trustworthy prayer partners are established and the leaderbegins to experience the benefit and blessing of havingothers lift him before the throne of grace.

D. Spiritual Arrogance

"I don't need anyone to pray for me," is a dangerous attitudeharbored by some leaders. This underlying pride often

"goes before a fall." (Proverbs 16:18) God has created Hisbody to work in a healthy inter-dependence, allowing for Hisname alone to be glorified. Anyone who believes thathe/she has all of the gifts and fruit of the Spirit necessary tomove in leadership without the aid of others is deceived.

E. Undue humility


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Sometimes leaders feel that their ministry is insignificant inthe sense that they shouldn't bother others to pray for them.They are afraid that their requests for prayer might beperceived as arrogance considering their ministry moreimportant than they ought. While humility is truly a virtue,

leaders need to realize that "if it's worth doing, it's worthpraying about."

IV. Establishing Personal Prayer Partners.

One way to encourage intercession for leaders is to invitespiritually mature, praying people into a relationship of being aprayer partner. Prayer partners have had significant impact onmany leaders ministries. The size of such a group may vary fromas small as 3 to as many as l00. A target number for a leader maybe 8-l2 people.

In building a prayer partner ministry, a leader should:

A. Identify those who are gifted in the area of intercession.

Typically, they would be those who:

1. have a close relationship with God

2. feel a special obligation to pray for a particular leader orgroup of leaders

3. receive revelation from God as to how to pray

4. do not look for rewards or use prayer manipulatively for theadvancement of their own cause.

B. Recruit them to be prayer partners.

1. Determine time period.

Invite people to serve as prayer partners for a specificperiod of time, such as six months or one year.

2. Clarify commitment.

Clarify the expectations of how much time in prayer youare asking intercessors to commit to (daily, weekly, asGod impresses them to pray). This helps preventmisunderstanding and confusion.


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3. Understand focus.

Some intercessors may be called to pray for one

specific arena of your life or ministry such as yourfamily, health, travel, etc.

C. Pray for your intercessors.

Although the intercessors will probably spend a moresignificant amount of time praying for the leader, it isappropriate for the leader to ask the Lord to protect andbless those who are involved in the ministry of intercession.

D. Communicate regularly.

Remembering that intercessors are people too can do muchto facilitate the relationship between leader andintercessors.

Remember to:

1. Encourage.

Personal greetings, messages of encouragement andappreciation from time to time give messages to theintercessor that you do consider him/her to be a

significant part of the ministry.

2. Communicate.

Regular communication of plans and needs should alsooccur, so that those praying can be specific as theypray. A letter sent out once a month is usually adequateto convey needed information. It is helpful to share thesignificance of certain events with the intercessor,instead of just giving a list of names, places, and datesof conferences, etc.

3. Train.

Getting together with the intercessors from time-to-timeto enjoy fellowship as a group, or to equip throughspecific teaching and training, may be profitable for allinvolved. From the following passage in Ephesians, we


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can see an illustration of how Paul communicated withthose praying for him:

emboldened type: Paul's prayer requests/needsunderlined text: Communication, encouragement

"...pray always with all prayer and supplication in the spirit,being watchful to this end with all perseverance andsupplication for all the saints . . . and for me, thatut terance may b e given to m e,that I may open mymouth bold ly to make known the mystery of the

gospel,for which I am an ambassador in chains; that in it Imay speak boldly,as I ought to speak. But that you mayknow my affairs and how I am doing, Tychicus, a belovedbrother and faithful minister in the Lord, will make all thingsknown to you; whom I have sent to you for this very

purpose, that you may know our affairs, and that he maycomfort your hearts. (Ephesians 6:18-22)

E. Watch out for dangers.

As in any close relationship, care needs to be taken thatunhealthy behaviors and attitudes, such as the following, donot develop:

l. Spiritual dependency.

This happens when the leader feels that he doesn'tneed to seek God, because there are others who arepraying for him. To avoid this pitfall, it would be prudentfor the leader to have a relationship with one in spiritualauthority over him, to whom he is accountable for hisown devotional/spiritual life, as well as ministry goals.

2. Emotional dependency.

This occurs when either the leader or the intercessor iscontrolled by the feeling that they cannot function without

the support or approval of the other or if there is toogreat an attachment between the two. A general rule isthat the leader should not share deeply personal needsor information about his marriage with prayer partnersof the opposite sex. Keeping the marriage relationshiphealthy is the best way to avoid this kind ofinappropriate dependency.


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3. Physical dependency.

This may simply be defined as sexual attractionbetween the leader and the intercessor. Establishinggeneral rules of conduct which establish boundariesaids in avoiding temptation. This would include suchpractical guidelines as never meeting alone with aprayer partner of the opposite sex, never engaging incounseling or other intimate aspects of relationshipwithout one's spouse present, etc.

While a leader/prayer partner relationship can involvesome risks, being watchful and dealing with problemsbefore they become disasters is possible. Stayingfocused on God, trusting in Him, and enjoying a healthyinter-dependence with His Body will enable us to beeffective leaders, to the glory of the King.


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Material in this chapter developed in conjunction with Dr. C. Peter Wagner.

ESTABLISHING INTERCESSION

IN THE LOCAL CHURCH

Cathy Schaller

I. A church prayer ministry is grown.

I see prayer as the channel for the life of God to flow into the bodyof believers. For this reason, its important that prayer bedeveloped in our churches. I purposefully do not bring you a howto packet, because I believe that God wants it to be somethingunique in each church. My strong conviction is that prayerministries are not something that we just organize, but rather

something that God grows. So you may want to think of this as apacket of seeds.

The ministry of intercession, like a plant needs to grow over time.Each church also has a unique calling. Each church has a uniquesoil (receptivity), climate (spiritual atmosphere) and mix of gifts.God will grow a ministry of prayer that is consistent with who Hehas called you to be.

Efforts to transplant a full-grown ministry (structure a ministry likeweve seen in another church) are seldom effective. Just because

He is blessing through a method in one place doesnt necessarilymean that He will use the same method in your church.

II. A church prayer ministry begins with breaking

up the hard ground.

A. It starts with a recognized need.


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Prayer begins by a church or pastor recognizing thatsomething is missing. This recognition usually comesthrough experiencing difficulties, such as disillusionment,illness, problems in relationships and even physical andmental breakdown.

This need is the drive that pushes us toward God, as webegin to feel and believe that, We dont want just anotherprogram. We need the life of God.

A Baptist pastor in California puts it this way, We, as achurch, no longer desire to do something for God, but forGod to do something in us and through us.

B. It has a cost.

A prayer ministry will involve self-denial, an evaluation ofvalues, a call to holiness.

a. Giving up control.

One pastor said, "The cost of waiting on God is givingup control." God is going to do it His way.

God knows exactly what He wants done, when hewants it done and how He wants it done. Who are we todictate to God what needs to be done and when?

Our task is to step where He steps, pray as He wouldhave us pray, wait when the Lord says wait, and moveon when He would have us move on. (Exodus l4:l3-l5). Itis not up to us to figure out how to expand His kingdom,but to listen to Gods call in our life and be obedient toHis voice.

b. Evaluating the seed were planting.

Even good things, like prayer, will only bear fruit that islike the seed that is planted. If the seed is from God,

the fruit will be a glory unto Him. Likewise, if the desireis coming from our own flesh, that too will becomeevident.

III. The pastor is key to the expansion of prayer

ministry.


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If the pastor of a church is looking only for a way to improve prayermeetings or even to have a prayer ministry, I dont think that muchis going to happen. Prayer itself is not our goal: relationship withGod Himself is the goal. Everything flows from thisrelationship. Prayer both releases and causes our hunger for God

to increase in our church family.

Case study In the First Baptist Church of La Jolla, CaliforniaPastor Brian Fairley and a small group of people began seekingGod for direction for prayer ministry a few years ago.

Brian brought his congregation along with him as he began toexperience a deeper relationship with God through prayer. Heshared his experiences, his trials, his joys, his confusion.

The Lord then imparted through him to his flock a hunger and

desire for God. They saw that Brian was changing and wanted togrow as he was growing. The general level of expectation andanticipation in meeting with God in prayer was raised throughoutthe church.

As this developed, Brian recognized that there were some peoplewho surfaced for whom this life of prayer came naturally andspontaneously. These are intercessors whom, I believe, Godplaces in each assembly. It is usually these people through whomministries of prayer develop.

Brian shares the following about his experience: Prayer haschanged my life. Seven people prayed for me without evenknowing my name. Prayer was responsible for breaking my heartand allowing Truth to touch me. After nine years of pastoring, Ifound God.

As a church, prayer has strengthened and intensified our worshipexperience. We expect to find God any time we gather to worship.For over two and a half years there has been two hours of prayerfor every hour of worship. There is now power in our worshipbecause God is there. We have come from knowing about God to

knowing Him.

Prayer has caused us to see that the main activity of the church isto focus on Christ and keep that focus before us. We have movedfrom a program-based body to a relational body.

IV. The root of a church prayer ministry is its

intercessors.


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People, rather than programs, form the foundation of effectiveprayer ministry. Thus, recognizing and involving those who have adesire and feel called to pray becomes of critical importance.

A. Every believer is called to pray:

Every believer is called to pray. I believe that the primaryreason for that is that it is through the life in union with Christwe can be ambassadors of His to others. As we spend timewith God in prayer, we take on his likeness in character,speech and action. This is the foundation of whateverservice we render in His kingdom.

a. Scriptural injunctions to pray

Pray continually. (1 Thessalonians 5:17)

And pray in the spirit on all occasions with all kinds ofprayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert andalways keep on praying for all the saints. (Ephesians6:18)

We can encourage all believers in prayer by developingthe prayer opportunities that are already established inour churches. One way of obeying the scripturalinjunction for all believers to pray for one another mightbe through the formation of prayer pairs. Everyone

can pray for one other person in the congregation,sharing concerns, and scripture passages with oneanother. This fosters caring and provides place forneeds to be expressed so that in the context of largerprayer groups focus is not diverted in praying forSallys great-aunt Susie.

b. Continual prayer.

They devoted themselves to the apostles teachingand to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to

prayer. (Acts 2:42)

Use of formal prayer times, such as benedictions, canbe a way for pastors to model prayer that is vulnerable,expectant and real.

c. Situational prayer.


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For the sick.

Confess your sins to each other and pray for eachother so that you may be healed. (James 5:16)

Sending out missionariesSet apart for me Barnabas and Saul for the work towhich I have called them. So after they had fastedand prayed, they placed their hands on them and sentthem off. (Acts 13:2, 3)

Keep before the congregation messages of faith andexpectation that God answers and honors prayer.Teaching from texts which demonstrate the process ofprayer builds faith and desire to know God.

B. Some have a special calling on their life to pray.

Intercessors are not favored of God or more spiritual thananyone else. Its just that prayer is their service to the bodyof Christ. They have a priestly ministry. As people who areinvolved in a personal ministry of prayer grow, a churchprayer ministry will emerge.

a. Difference between the role and gift.

Though the role of prayer is key to the life of everybeliever, God seems to gift some with the desire andability to devote themselves to intercession for others.They will often spend more time and energy in prayerthan others.

b. Example of someone with a special calling to prayer:

Anna She never left the temple but worshiped nightand day, fasting and praying. (Luke 2:37)

Nigel Buxton Nigel is a retired missionary, an 80+year old doctor, who lives in Canada. He spends fourhours each day in prayer. He is consumed by thedesire to be before the throne of grace on behalf ofDawn Ministries, and receives insight from God intoparticular situations. I believe that God has Nigels foreach outpost of His kingdom.


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V. The church prayer ministrys goal.

A. To identify the intercessors in the church.

Intercessors will be able to readily identify other potentialintercessors. Remember the principle that like attractslike. Often intercessors will share a common experienceand desire for God expressed through prayer.

Emerging pray-ers, seeking those who can further equip andencourage them in prayer, will recognize those leaders whoare intercessors by that common experience and desire.

B. To equip the intercessors.

This involves helping them to identify and develop the uniquecalling that God has put in their lives, such as: praying forthe city, praying for the sick, praying for leaders.

There are many different kinds of anointing in prayer, and itis important to help people to receive training appropriate totheir call.

Those who are called to pray for a city or nation may have astrong warfare stance or focus. They may be bestnetworked with other people in the city who share a commoncall to pray for that realm.

Pastoral-type people will often want to do personal ministry,spending longer amounts of time ministering to those whoare broken physicially, spiritually or emotionally. They willneed different training for their ministry.

It is important to let each person wear their own armor.

David couldnt fight Goliath with Sauls armor on; rather, hehad to minister out of who God made him to be.

C. To release them into ministry.

As times of empowering come to intercessors and fruitbegins to be apparent, structure is added to support the


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fruit-bearing limbs. Ministries are formed according to thegifting/calling of the various individuals and groups.

There will probably be different branches in the tree of yourchurchs prayer ministry. One may predominate, in terms of

the overall call of the church community. Making room foreach branch is crucial to the health of the whole organism.Allowing each part to operate without competition orsplintering takes watchcare and wisdom.

VI. Conclusion

Prayer has taught us that the process of ministry, and how torelate to those in that process, is as important to God as theproduct we are trying to produce. If the process is wrong, theproduct loses meaning. In fact, the process in Christ isthe

product. Brian Fairley

Again, prayer is founded in relationship. Relationship with God,and with one another. Ultimately, its never going to be what wedo, but who we know that brings forth anything of real substanceand life in our churches. May God bless you as you follow Him.

May the God of peace, who through the blood of the eternal covenant brought back from the dead our Lord

Jesus, that great shepherd of the sheep, equip you with everything good for doing his will, and may he

work in us what is pleasing to him, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory forever and ever, Amen.

(Hebrews 13:20, 21)


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PRAYING FOR NATIONS

Cathy Schaller

I. God holds the whole world in His hands.

A. God is the Creator of the nations.

While God cares about each of us individually, He also sees uscollectively as nations. The existence and separate identity ofnations are noted from the beginning to the end of scripture.

From one man He made every nation of men, that they shouldinhabit the whole earth; and He determined the times set for themand the exact places where they should live. ( Acts 17:26)

When the Most High gave the nations their inheritance, when hedivided all mankind, He set up boundaries for the peoplesaccording to the number of the sons of Israel. (Deuteronomy

32:8)

There is something unique about each created nation and peoplegroup. Each, out of the individuality that God has given them, isable to reflect a special facet of God's glory unlike any other.Peruvians can bring to the worship of God a different flavor thanGermans. While we are all in Him, the diversity of nations andcultures demonstrates the greatness of God.

Who will not fear you, O Lord, and bring glory to Your name? Foryou alone are holy. All nations will come and worship before you,

for your righteous acts have been revealed. (Revelation 15:4)

B. God is the Judge of the nations.

God deals with the nations justly, according to His righteousness.He blesses those that acknowledge Him and punishes those thatdo not respond to His revealed will but turn from relationship withHim to their own devices.


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The reasons for God's judgment of nations is very clear, especiallyin the Pentateuch and the Old Testament prophets. The mostfrequent reasons for judgment include:

l. Apostasy abandoning the God of the covenant.

In the records you will find that this city is a rebellious city,troublesome to kings and provinces, a place of rebellion fromancient times. That is why this city was destroyed. (Ezra4:15)

I will deal with you as you deserve, because you havedespised my oath by breaking the covenant. (Ezekiel 16:59)

2. Idolatry turning away from the worship of the one true God.

This is what the Sovereign LORD says: O city that brings onherself doom by shedding blood in her midst and defilesherself by making idols, you have become guilty because ofthe blood you have shed and have become defiled by theidols you have made. You have brought your days to aclose, and the end of your years has come. Therefore I willmake you an object of scorn to the nations and alaughingstock to all the countries. (Ezekiel 22:3, 4)

3. Injustice a neglect of the poor and oppressed, alien, orphan,and widow.

Is not this the kind of fasting which I choose, to loosen thebonds of wickedness, to undo the bands of the yoke, and tolet the oppressed go free, and break every yoke? Is it not todivide your bread with the hungry, and bring the homeless

poor into the house; when you see the naked, to cover him;and not to hide yourself from your own flesh? (Isaiah 58:6-7)

4. Indulgence of self in all its forms abundance of food, ease,opulence.

Now this was this sin of your sister Sodom: she and herdaughters were arrogant, overfed and unconcerned; they didnot help the poor and needy. They were haughty and diddetestable things before me. Therefore, I did away with themas you have seen. (Ezekiel 16:49-50)


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5. Abuse of power and leadership kings, princes, et. al. who areunprincipled or abusive.

Woe to the city of oppressors, rebellious and defiledherrulers, her prophets, her priestsknow no shame. I have

cut off nations. (Zephaniah 3:1, 3-6)

This is what the Sovereign LORD says: Woe to theshepherds of Israel who only take care of themselves!Should not shepherds take care of the flock? You eat thecurds, clothe yourselves with the wool and slaughter thechoice animals, but you do not take care of the flock. Youhave not strengthened the weak or healed the sick or boundup the injured. You have not brought back the strays orsearched for the lost. You have ruled them harshly andbrutally. So they were scattered because there was noshepherd, and when they were scattered they became foodfor all the wild animals. (Ezekiel 34:l-5)

6. Immorality in all its forms.

We should not commit sexual immorality, as some of them did and in one day twenty-three thousand of them died. (I Corinthians10:8)

If we look to church history, we see that judgment and revival

often happen at the same time. Think of John Wycliffe, the"Morning Star of the Reformation" (l330-l384). At the sametime as he was disseminating his new English translation ofthe Bible, over one-third of the English population died of theblack death. The followers of Wycliffe, known as Lollards,affirmed obedience to the Word of God and brought to theEnglish Church such a wave of repentance from dead worksthat the Lollards became a threat to the religious establishmentand were severely persecuted.

What will happen in the end times? Some say a great falling

away, while others predict a worldwide revival. Again theanswer is both. The Bible predicts a great polarization ofdarkness and light at the end of the age. Satan will unmask hiskingdom and intensify his efforts. There will be no illusion ofmiddle ground. On the other hand the Spirit of God will bepoured out on the earth and an unparalleled harvest will begathered into His Kingdom.


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God is a God of mercy and grace, but He is also a holy Godwho hates the suffering caused by wicked people. God

judges a nation when people have repeatedly rejected Hismessage and warning, but judgment is His last resort.

---John Dawson Taking our Cities for GodC. God is the Redeemer of the nations.

Even as it is the LORD who brings judgment, so it is also He whobrings redemption to our nations as we seek Him.

When your people Israel have been defeated by an enemybecause they have sinned against you and when they turn backand confess your name, praying and making supplication beforeyou in this temple, then hear from heaven and forgive the sin of

your people Israel and bring them back to the land you gave tothem and their fathers. (2 Chronicles 6:24-5)

I know the plans I have for you, says the LORD, plans to prosperyou and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I willlisten to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek mewith all your heart. I will be found by you, declares the LORD.(Jeremiah 29:11-14)

I will defend this city [nation] and save it, for my sake and for the

sake of David my servant. (Isaiah 37:35)

I will deliver you and this city [nation] from the hand of the king ofAssyria. I will defend this city. (Isaiah 38:6)

I will raise up Cyrus in my righteousness; I will make all his waysstraight. He will rebuild my city and set my exiles free.(Isaiah45:13)

When the word of the LORD reached the king of Ninevah, hearose from his throne, laid aside his robe from him, coveredhimself with sackcloth, and sat on the asheswhen God saw theirdeeds, that they turned from their wicked way, then God relentedconcerning the calamity which He had declared He would bringupon them. And He did not do it. (Jonah 3:6,10)

II. God has a will for each nation.


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We must understand that there is a differentiation between God's willFOR A NATION, that is, His ultimate purpose which will be fulfilled sometime in the future, and God's will IN A NATION at a given point of time.

A. Gods will FOR each nation is:

1. To exalt His Son.

The primary purpose of God for each nation is to exalt in it thename of His Son, the Lord Jesus Christ. It is God's desire thatall people respond to His gift of redemption.

Therefore God exalted Him to the highest place and gaveHim the name that is above every name, that at the name ofJesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth andunder the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ

is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. (Philippians 2:9-11)

After this I looked, and there before me was a great multitudethat no one could count, from every nation, tribe, people andlanguage, standing before the throne and in front of theLamb.Revelation 7:9

2. To bless them.

As King of the nations, God is primarily interested in blessingthe nations of the world in various ways:

a. Through Abraham's descendants. (Genesis l2ff)

It is emphatically and repeatedly stated that Israel had beenblessed to be a blessing to all the nations.

I will make you into a great nation and I will bless you; I willmake your name great, and you will be a blessing. I will blessthose who bless you, and whoever curses you I will curse; andall peoples on earth will be blessed through you. (Genesis12:2, 3)

b. Through observance of His ways and law revealed throughnature and His word.

The Melchizedeks' and Corneliuses' of history have salted thenations with a God-fearing disposition which brings His mercyand ultimate salvation message. Their observance of God's


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ways has preserved the larger populace for a later advent ofHis salvation message.

Righteousness exalts a nation. (Proverbs 14:34)

Through the blessing of the upright a city is exalted (Proverbs11:11)

See Romans chapters 1 and 2.

c. Through the fear of God.

Let all the earth fear the LORD; Let all the inhabitants of theworld stand in awe of Him. For He spoke, and it was done; Hecommanded, and it stood fast. The LORD nullifies thecounsel of the nations; He frustrates the plans of the peoples.

The counsel of the LORD stands forever, the plans of Hisheart from generation to generation. Blessed is the nationwhose God is the LORD, the people whom He has chosen forHis own inheritance. (Psalm 33:8-12)

d. Through the establishment of His reign.

The Kingdom of God the extension of His rule and reignover all peoples and nations is a promised reality.

He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High.

The Lord God will give him the throne of his father David, andhe will reign over the house of Jacob forever; and hiskingdom will never end. (Luke 1:32, 33)

B. Gods will IN each nation at a specific point of time:

At a specific point in time God deals with each nation in a uniqueway according to how the people of the nation are responding toHim.

Although God's love for a nation is constant, His love will be

expressed differently at different times. He will be glorified by theraising up or by the downfall of a nation.

Illustration: Israel at the point of the Babylonian Captivity.

God's will FOR the nation of Israel was to "treat you like sons andgive you a desirable land, the most beautiful inheritance of anynation." (Jeremiah 3:l9)


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Because of the unrepentant heart of Israel, God's judgment fell uponthem.

God's will IN the nation, at his appointed time, was this:

"the whole land will be ruined" (Jeremiah 4:27)punishment would come through drought, famine and the sword(Jeremiah l4)seventy years would be spent in captivity to pagan Nebuchandnezzarof Babylon. (Jeremiah 25)

Even God's judgments are ultimately redemptive in purpose andnature.

III. The Church is the prophetic mouthpiece of the Lord to

the nation.

A. God reveals his will to nations.

The prophets of the Old Testament give irrefutable evidence to theongoing conversation which God carries on with cities and nations(not only within the confines of the Holy Land) and offer much in ourunderstanding of his attitude, will and actions for and against them.

Amos 2:7 says, The Lord God does nothing without revealing Hisplans to His servants the prophets. Prophets are, by definition,intercessors, as they stand in the gap for the nations.

PROPHETS NATIONS PROPHESIED

TO:

Isaiah Assyria, Philistia, Moab,Aram, Israel, Cush, Egypt,Babylon, Dumah, Arabia,Tyre

Jeremiah Egypt, Philistia, Moab,Ammon, Edom, Damascus,Kedar, Hazor, Elam,Babylon

Ezekiel Ammon, Moab, Edom,Philistia, Tyre, Sidon


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Daniel Persia, Greece, Egypt,Syria

Hosea Israel

Joel Judah

Amos Aram, Philistia, Phonecia,Edom, Ammon, Moab,Judah, Israel

Obadiah Edom

Jonah Ninevah

Micah Israel

Nahum Ninevah

Habakkuk Judah, Babylon

Zephaniah Philistia, Moab, Ammon,Cush, Assyria, Judah

Haggai Israel

God pronounces warnings and hope for redemption and restorationthrough the agency of His people. This is demonstrated in at least thefollowing three ways:

1. Through the presence of His people in a nation.

The churchs presence is fundamental to all its activity. In the sameway that Christs incarnation was fundamental to His ministry, so theliving of the life of Christ among the people of a nation validatesproclamation of the gospel. Through the presence of Gods people in

a nation, His love, power and righteousness are made known. Theseare all necessarily carried out by the people of God in a place.

Let your light shine before all men, that they may see your gooddeeds and praise your Father in heaven. (Matthew 5:16)


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