All Because You Prayed
“And [pray] for me, that utterance may be given unto me, that I may open my mouth boldly, to make known the mystery of the gospel, for which I am an ambassador in bonds: that therein I may speak boldly, as I ought to speak.” Ephesians 6:19-20
“Finally, brethren, pray for us, that the word of the Lord may have free course, and be glorified, even as it is with you: And that we may be delivered from unreasonable and wicked men: for all men have not faith.” 2 Thessalonians 3:1-2
“Brethren, pray for us.” 1 Thessalonians 5:25
Paul, an apostle, often requested prayer for his ministry, asking for effectiveness, courage, the advance of the gospel, and more. He knew the prayers of the churches would provide him with boldness, courage, clarity, and deliverance from spiritual adversity. His desire was that God would open doors for his message and make his ministry fruitful.
Paul understood that preaching, teaching, writing, and church-building were not merely the result of his personal skill or strategy; they depended on divine anointing and provision. So he asked others to pray for him to this end. He also knew prayer would enable people to hear clearly, understand the truth he was proclaiming, and respond appropriately. He wasn’t so much interested in ease and personal convenience through the prayers as in serving his mission and calling. Paul wanted God to protect him and remove barriers so he could continue his work and fulfill the ministry entrusted to him.
This apostle also asked for prayer regarding opposition. He was aware that satan and his demonic forces would foster hostility, misunderstandings, opposition from religious leaders or civic authorities, and resistance from those who disagreed. He recognized that the battle for success in his ministry was not fought only on a human level (arguments, politics, other religions), but on the level where spiritual forces opposed the gospel. So, to Paul, prayer involved resistance to spiritual forces and opposition–spiritual warfare.
And finally, Paul’s requests reflected humility and partnership. Although he was an incredibly strong apostle, Paul knew he needed support, and he also understood God’s intentions regarding the body of Christ partnering together. Therefore, he invited the church to share in his labors and participate in God’s mission by praying for him.
It has always amazed me that Almighty God limited Himself in many ways to His family, partnering with Him in prayer. The great E. M. Bounds said of prayer:
“The more praying there is in the world, the better the world will be, the mightier the forces against evil everywhere…God shapes the world by prayer…The prayers of God’s saints are the capital stock in heaven by which Christ carries on His great work upon earth…Earth is changed, revolutionized; angels move on with more powerful, more rapid wing, and God’s policy is shaped as the prayers are more numerous, more efficient…When God’s house on earth is a house of prayer, then God’s house in heaven is busy and all-potent in its plans and movements; then His earthly armies are clothed with the triumphs and spoils of victory and His enemies defeated on every hand…God conditions the very life and prosperity of His cause on prayer.”(1)
Feast on those words for a while!
I remind you today that your pastor will be a better leader and communicator because you pray for them. Missionaries will be more effective in their efforts to evangelize and plant churches–and be more protected as they do so–because of your prayers. And not only will leaders be blessed, but family members will be saved, the gospel will advance, soldiers will be protected, businesses will prosper, bodies will be healed…all because you prayed.
And let’s remember that God placed great emphasis on praying for those in government: “I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men; for kings, and for all that are in authority; that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty” (I Timothy 2:1-2). The word “exhort” in verse one could be translated “urge” or even “beg”!(2) How strong is that!
I wish I could convince every pastor in America that God “begged” His people to faithfully pray for government. What would happen if every church in America took 5, 10, 15 minutes every time they gathered to pray for nations and their governmental leaders? I dare say that very quickly wars would end, revivals would break out, lives would be saved, suffering would end, and God's purposes would be accomplished. But–and please forgive my sarcasm–I suppose there just isn’t enough time.
In many respects, God's people remain sheep all of their lives, rather than growing up into lions (Proverbs 28:1), eagles (Isaiah 40:31), oaks of righteousness (Isaiah 61:3), and ambassadors for King Jesus (2 Corinthians 5:20). Church services are all about the “sheep”: their needs, their comfort, teaching them to be healthy and prosperous, etc. They should also be training centers for the Ekklesia, God's governmental, nation-discipling representatives of His Kingdom on earth.
And they should be houses of prayer!
Pray with me:
Father, we pray for Your church today. In some ways, we have been deceived by our adversary into majoring on the minors, while neglecting that which matters most. When we gather, we often focus more on our needs than Yours. The average church spends more time on its “meet and greet” than it does praying for the great worldwide harvest Jesus died for. Happy, healthy sheep are typically the primary goal, not partnering with You as sons and daughters.
This has changed somewhat over the last few decades through the worship and prayer movements You generated. Thank You for this, and for connecting the prayer warriors that are engaged on a daily basis, not only through this ministry, but also through many others around the world. These warriors are accomplishing so much. However, the army must grow. We ask that You multiply it, and mature the church into the Ekklesia Jesus spoke of, one the gates of hell cannot prevail against (Matthew 16). Develop millions more into the mature sons and daughters who are led by Your Spirit, and that creation is groaning and waiting for (Romans 8).
Today, we do as You instructed us and pray for nations and leaders. We ask You to continue dismantling the evil regime in Iran, free the people there, and send one of earth’s greatest revivals. Give President Trump and his team incredible wisdom and insight as they navigate this situation. Mantle some of his team with the gifting Issachar possessed in 1 Chronicles 12:32: the ability to discern the times and know what to do. Give him Josephs and Daniels, and remind him to listen to them. Make them a strong team.
Cause revival to spread throughout the Middle East, bringing millions of Jews and Muslims to Jesus. Deliver them from the powers of darkness, open the eyes of their understanding, and save them. Do this also in Europe, Asia, Africa, South America, North America, Australia, and the islands of the sea. Cause the wind of Your Spirit to blow throughout the entire earth. Breathe on the dry bones!
You said in Matthew 9:38 to ask the Lord of the harvest for laborers. Therefore, we ask for thousands of prophetic evangelists to be raised up in this hour to flood the nations of the Earth. Fill them with Your Spirit and anoint them to release great power, signs, wonders, and miracles. Fill their words with such power and clarity that the veil of deception is ripped off the minds of those who hear them.
And lastly, we ask you to continue Your restoration of America. Let the exposing of sin, darkness, deception, and foolishness in our government continue. Destroy the agendas of evil that oppose You and send revival and reformation. Revive the church with holy, Pentecostal fire. We declare on the authority of Your Word that this is coming and will not be stopped. All of this we pray in Jesus' name.
Our decree:
We decree that Holy Spirit is blowing on the dry bones, answering our prayers, bringing revival and reformation!
Click on the link below to watch the video.
James Strong, The New Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible (Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson Publishers, 1990), ref. no. 3870.