Leaders Build a House of Prayer 1

God Promises a New Covenant Community that Gathers the Nations to Pray Isaiah 56: And foreigners who bind themselves to the LORD… 7 these I will bring to my holy mountain and give them joy in my house of prayer. for my house will be called a house of prayer for all nations. " ◦ 8 The Sovereign LORD declares— "I will gather still others to them besides those already gathered. “

Jesus Prayer Visitation Suddenly, Jesus, the messenger of the covenant, the one they seek, the one they desire, The Lord comes to his temple to see if it has indeed become a house of prayer for all nations. (Malachi 3: 1 -2 paraphrased) What does Jesus find?

Matthew 21: 12 Jesus entered the temple area and drove out all who were buying and selling there. He overturned the tables of the money changers and the benches of those selling doves. 13"It is written, " he said to them, " 'My house will be called a house of prayer, ' but you are making it a 'den of robbers. ’ His people are not gathering the nations to pray to and call on the Lord of the Covenant (They have turned the Gentile precincts into a bazaar)

If Jesus came to his “temple” today: What would he find? Would he: 1. Commend his church for being a house of prayer for all nations? 2. Warn his people to ‘strengthen what remains’, 3. Would he cleanse the “temple”? Come as a refiner’s fire?

The House that Jesus Builds: • Is Born in Prayer & Mission • Has Leaders and People Devoted to Prayer • Overcomes Obstacles to the Mission in Prayer

A House of Prayer is Born Acts 1: 4 On one occasion, while he was eating with them, he gave them this command: "Do not leave Jerusalem, but wait for the gift my Father promised, which you have heard me speak about. 5 For John baptized with water, but in a few days you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit. " Acts 1: 8 But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth. "

A House of Prayer is Born Acts 2: 13 When they arrived, they went upstairs to the room where they were staying… 14 They all joined together constantly in prayer, along with the women and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with his brothers. 1 When the day of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place. 2 Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven

Leaders are Devoted to Prayer 3: 1 One day Peter and John were going up to the temple at the time of prayer - at three in the afternoon. 6: 4 We will turn this responsibility over to them 4 and will give our attention to prayer and the ministry of the word. " 10: 9 About noon the following day as they were on their journey and approaching the city, Peter went up on the roof to pray.

Leaders Make Decisions a Matter of Prayer and even Fasting 6: 6, 7 They presented these men to the apostles, who prayed and laid their hands on them. 7 So the word of God spread. Acts 8 When the apostles in Jerusalem heard that Samaria had accepted the word of God, they sent Peter and John to them. 15 When they arrived, they prayed for them that they might receive the Holy Spirit, . . 17 Then Peter and John placed their hands on them, and they received the Holy Spirit.

Leaders Make Decisionsa Matter of Prayer and even Fasting 13: 1 In the church at Antioch. . . 2 While they were worshiping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, "Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them. " 3 So after they had fasted and prayed, they placed their hands on them and sent them off. 15: 23 Paul and Barnabas appointed elders for them in each church and, with prayer and fasting, committed them to the Lord, in whom they had put their trust.

Leaders Endure Persecution Mission Advanced Through Prayer Acts 16: About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the other prisoners were listening to them. 26 Suddenly there was such a violent earthquake that the foundations of the prison were shaken

The People are Devoted to Prayer Like their Leaders 2: 42 They devoted themselves …to prayer… 43 Everyone was filled with awe, and many wonders and miraculous signs were done by the apostles. 46 Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts…. 3: 1 at the time of prayer—at three in the afternoon.

The People Overcame every Obstacle in Prayer On their release, Peter and John went back to their own people and reported all that the chief priests and elders had said to them. 24 When they heard this, they raised their voices together in prayer to God.

The People Overcame every Obstacle in Prayer Acts 12: 5, 12 Peter was kept in prison, but the church was earnestly praying to God for him. … 12 When (the fact God had opened the gate of the city) had dawned on (Peter), he went to the house of Mary the mother of John, also called Mark, where many people had gathered and were praying.

What House did Jesus Build? The house that God promised. A house of prayer for all nations. A house where leaders and people pray together

Basic Evaluation of My Prayer Life Weak ---- Growing Strong 1 2 3 ---- 4 5

1 Weak ---- Growing 2 3 ---- Strong 4 5 • I spend regular time in prayer • I’ve been trained to pray according to biblical prayers • I pray and intercede for others • My prayer life is filled with the mission of Christ • I regularly experience answers to my prayers • I bathe important decisions and crisis in prayer • I am training others how to pray

Pair Up to Discuss and Pray. Choose one area you are growing in and one area you are weaker in that you would like to grow stronger. Discuss Pray

Priorities & Practices to Build a Praying Church Put Prayer Training as a First Priority: • • Preach Prayer Sermons Regularly Make Prayer Resources Available Prayer Training Groups & Sessions Model Kingdom Prayer in Services, for Church and the City

Priorities & Practices to Build a Praying Church Make Prayer Foundational in Decisions: • Aim for 50/50 (prayer/planning) in Leader Meetings • Prayer & Planning Retreats for Long Range Planning

Priorities & Practices to Build a Praying Church Build Prayer into Every Ministry: • • Make Small Groups into Prayer meetings not just Bible studies for cell groups (1/3 fellowship, 1/3 prayer, 1/3 study) Have every Leader Develop a Prayer Plan & Strategy for their Ministry - & Get People Praying for Them

Build an “Umbrella”of Prayer Arts Leader Formation Worship Teams Justice & and Choir Mercy Community Groups CE International Prayer Training

Priorities & Practices to Build a Praying Church Get Eyes for your City & Put Feet to your Prayers: • • Prayer Walk your Community • Develop a “Prayer Map” of your City Pray through City Newspaper or Newscast

Priorities & Practices to Build a Praying Church Encourage Opportunities for Prayer: • • Prayer Partners • Periodically Evaluate Your Church & its Prayer Culture Hold Quarterly Days of Prayer e. g. Advent, Good Friday

Priorities & Practices to Build a Praying Church Evaluate Prayer: • Regularly Evaluate Your Church & its Prayer Culture • Celebrate Answers to Prayer!

Priorities & Practices to Build a Praying Church Pray for Prayer: • What is God Leading You to Implement?

Church Progress Evaluation 1………. . 2……… 3………. 4………. 5 Weak----- Improving---- Strong • • • Prayer meetings are well attended / energetic We have prayer teams / small group prayer We pray for lost and seeking & missionaries Leaders/people are praying together We are learning to pray. (discipleship / training)

Groups of Two or Three Share one strength and one weakness in your churches prayer life. Pray together for God to send a ‘Spirit of Grace and supplication’ to this church… and for this church to become a ‘house of prayer for all nations’… (Isaiah 56…Matthew 21)

Pray for Leaders and People! • Pray for your church and it’s leaders: that leaders and people grow in prayer together • For prayer initiatives like Prayer Current • Pray to be a cultivator of prayer and unity in your church and among your fellow believers.

Thank You for praying with us. We have materials to help you! prayercurrent. com/assembly-2012 mbcm Keep In Touch: 19