Sponsor: FBA prayer subgroup of Church Health & Leadership Development Team 1 Prayer Stimulation Training - Whitewright Bethel Baptist Men’s Conf; May.

Sponsor: FBA prayer subgroup of Church Health & Leadership Development Team 1

Prayer Stimulation Training - Whitewright Bethel Baptist Men’s Conf; May 1-2, 2009

• Purpose– Encourage individual & group prayer growth

• Individually• Within & between churches churches

• 1st Session– Prayer slides & brief concert of prayer

• 2nd Session– Prayer slides/plans & review of Church Prayer

Resource Notebook

Agenda 1


• Session I – Prayer Stimulation Topics, followed by Concert of Prayer– Stimulate your personal prayer– Stimulate new and ongoing prayer groups in your church– Stimulate community prayer groups between churches

• Why? Because:– Prayer promotes unity within your church– Prayer promotes unity between churches– Prayer Promotes personal spiritual growth and revival– Prayer Promotes church/community spiritual growth and revival– Prayer Promotes compassionate community evangelism & revival– Jesus quoted “My house shall be a house of prayer” (Isa 56:7, Mat.

21:13, Mar. 11:17, Luke 19:46– We need to pray first and then obey what God shows us in prayer and

in His word, rather than plan first and then pray for God to bless it


Agenda 2• Session 2 - Prayer Planning Discussion , followed by

Review of contents of your church prayer notebook from FBA

The planning session is to help us organize intentional prayer in & between churches to

– Promote exchanges of prayer resources– Job description of a Prayer Action Team Coordinator for your

church, approved by your pastor. – Encourage prayer chains and bulletin prayer inserts for your church– Plan prayer events (e.g. more prayer team training, concerts of

prayer, special inter-church prayer meetings)– Plan Reviews of books on prayer– Receive your ideas, passions & resources to stimulate Fannin

County prayer


Prayer Stimulation Introduction• Prayer Motivation Matters• Compare: Get to vs. Got to

– It is amazing that our Sovereign God has chosen to work by prayer and to give us the joy of participation!

– Jesus modeled this for us as He prayed about everything, and He did everything by prayer

– Who would not want a private audience with the King? Isn't this too big a privilege to be ignored?

– At a Boyd BC revival service the pastor prayed “what matters is what we do on our knees.”

– I believe God is looking to see if we are serious and persistent in talking with Him.


Prayer Book Bibliography1- Fred A Hartley III, Everything By Prayer; Christian Publications, Inc.,

3825 Hartzdale Drive, Camp Hill, PA 17011; 2003; www.christianpublications.com

2- Jim Cymbala, Fresh Wind, Fresh Fire, Zondervan, Grand Rapids, MI; 49530; ; www.brooklyntabernacle.org

3- Cheryl Sacks, The Prayer Saturated Church: A Comprehensive Handbook for Prayer Leaders; NAVPRESS Pray! Books; PO Box 35004; Colorado Springs CO 80935; www.praymag.com

4- Dutch Sheets, Intercessory Prayer, Regal Books from Gospel Light; Ventura, CA; 1996

5- Daniel Henderson, Fresh Encounters: Experiencing Transformation Through United Worship-Based Prayer, NAVPRESS, PO Box 35004; Colorado Springs CO 80935

• Church Prayer Leaders Network; www.prayerleader.com• FBA On-Line: www.fanninbaptistassociation.com

http://www.christianpublications.com/

http://www.brooklyntabernacle.org/

http://www.praymag.com/

http://www.prayerleader.com/

http://www.fanninbaptistassociation.com/


Prayer is about attitude, not style

– Prayer is a matter between you and your Lord• Don't let anyone else tell you how to pray (style) • Do let the scriptures stimulate you to prayer through those

that have experienced real prayer• Don't let anyone dictate rules for your prayer• Do let the Holy Spirit guide and direct your prayers• Do come boldly to the throne of grace to let your High Priest

Jesus intercede for you• Do realize that private prayer can lead you to private filling of

the Holy Spirit• Do realize that corporate prayer can lead you to corporate

filling of the Holy Spirit• Start with worship, praise, thanks, confession; then petitions• Do realize that God can use prayer to unite us


5 characteristics that attract and make the Holy Spirit feel welcome

• The Spirit produces these characteristcs in willing believers

• The Spirit fills and uses believers who are passionate for God with these characteristcs

# Characteristic

1 Humility

2 Broken heartedness

3 Hunger & Thirst for God

4 Desperation

5 Holiness


Dynamics of an Effective Corporate Prayer Meeting by Daniel Henderson• Prayer is the most-often talked about, but the least practiced

discipline in the Christian life.• Worship-based prayer begins with and is fueled by God and His

character, not our needs.• Prayerlessness is our declaration of independence from God & vice

versa (Prayer is our declaration of dependence upon God) • When we limit ourselves to seeking His hand, we may miss His

face.• Worship is the response of all I am to the revelation of all He is.• In the recent centuries the church has wandered far away from the

priority of community experiences of prayer. We have tended to do so under the banner of the private ‘prayer closet.’ [let’s have both]

• Young Christians must learn to pray in community with mature believers. This promotes prayer growth and maturity

• Taken from Reference 5


Dynamics of an Effective Corporate Prayer Meeting by Daniel Henderson• Nothing kills a prayer ministry quicker than dead, disjointed,

depressing prayer meetings. [Antedote: focus on Him!]• The will of God is the Word of God. The best way to talk to God

about His purposes is in His own words.• Prayer participants need to be taught to pray from the Scripture,

talking to God in His own words. [The Spirit knows all the translations, including your paraphrase.]

• The Holy Spirit of God is our personal indwelling prayer tutor.• It is not the greatness of my faith that moves mountains, but my faith

in the greatness of God.• Remember we pray to an audience of One.• Don’t expect a big crowd when God is the only attraction.• The only enduring motive for prayer is that He is worthy to be

sought. • Taken from Reference 5


People who loved to Pray

• See their Passion and Persistence:– David - Psalms 5:2. 55:17. 119:76. 122:6

• Resonates with us, because he prayed in all situations

– Daniel - Dan 6:4-5. Dan 6:10-11 Then these men assembled, and found Daniel praying and making supplication before his God.

– Jesus - Mark 1:35 long before daylight…Luke 6:12 He climbed a mountain to pray. He was there all night in prayer before God. Luke 5:15-16 He withdrew himself into the wilderness, and prayed.


People who needed to Pray – Job - Job 42:8 My friend Job will pray for you… He

will ask me not to treat you as you deserve for talking nonsense about me, and for not being honest with me, as he has." Job 42:10 And the LORD turned the captivity of Job, when he prayed for his friends: also the LORD gave Job twice as much as he had before.

– Martin Luther - He said he had so much work to do that it took him 3 hours of prayer to prepare for it.

– Mother Teresa - Her work among the "poorest of the poor" who were sick and dying, showing them God's love, was so demanding that she also spent several hours first in preparation and strengthening by worship and prayer.


Benefits of Prayer

– It changes the one who prays to discern and align himself first to God [Psa 46:10 Be still, and know that I am God], and then to His will [Psa 40:8 I delight to do thy will, O my God: yea, thy law is within my heart.]

– It leads us to admission and confession of sin that restores fellowship with God

– It promotes thanksgiving that changes our attitudes, appreciations, and enjoyments

– It promotes praise that is a seed bed for joy– It helps take our focus off of negative circumstances

and onto Jesus, our answer


Ways to experience benefits of prayer• Be willing to DO God's will when He reveals it. John 7:17 (MSG)

Anyone who wants to do his will can test this teaching and know whether it's from God or whether I'm making it up.

• Identify and confess sin readily to restore fellowship with God ASAP. 1John 1:7-9 But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin. If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness

• James 5:16 Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.

• Phi 4:6 Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.

• Psalm 126:5 They that sow in tears shall reap in joy. • 1Th 5:18 be thankful in all circumstances. This is what God wants

from you in your life in union with Christ Jesus.


What hinders your desire to pray?

• Regimens, “got to,” artificial rules or schedules

• The Law is a burden; but grace stimulates• A forced or mandated STYLE of prayer• Self-consciousness vs. Spirit-led• Lack of a regular time and place to pray• Lack of discipline; wrong priorities• Yielding the important to the urgent

“distractions”


What encourages you to pray?• Prayer partners/Team (accountability, regularity, enlarges vision,

sharing of answers)• Attitudes

– “Get to” have an audience with the King– Jesus already finished His redemptive and intercessory work on

the cross, victoriously!– He calls us to His throne to appropriate His victories & His

nature– He presents me in His righteousness at the throne– He wants us to partner with Him – “on earth as it is in heaven”– Desperation– He cares, listens, and responds per His will

• Prayer teaching, practice, retreats, & answers to prayer


Ingredients of successful prayer

• Four Essential Upper Room Prayer Essentials; Taken from Ref. 1: Everything By Prayer p. 18– Doorway of Obedience - they obeyed Jesus command: Act 1:13

And when they were come in, they went up into an upper room…

– Atmosphere of Unity - Act 1:14 These all continued with one accord in prayer and supplication...

– Ceiling of Spiritual Intimacy - Mar 15:37-39 With a loud cry Jesus died. The curtain hanging in the Temple was torn in two, from top to bottom…

– Floorboards of Expectancy - Luke 24:49 (CEV) I will send you the one my Father has promised, but you must stay in the city until you are given power from heaven.


Golden Prayer Promises (Pray the promises of God to God)

• John 14:13 And whatever you may ask in My name, that I will do, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son.

• John 14:14 If you ask anything in My name, I will do it. • John 15:7 If you abide in Me, and My Words abide in you,

you shall ask what you will, and it shall be done to you. • John 16:23 And in that day you … Truly, truly, I say to you,

Whatever you shall ask the Father in My name, He will give you.

• John 15:16 … whatever you shall ask of the Father in My name, He may give it to you.

• John 16:24 Before now you have asked nothing in My name; ask and you shall receive, that your joy may be full.

• John 16:26 At that day you will ask in My name;• Taken from Reference 1


Prayer Pattern (Ref. 1)• Topic #1: Relationship- "Our Father in heaven. . ."• Christ makes it clear that we are not praying for a relationship, but

from a relationship. We don't pray so that God will love us more; He already loves us as much as He ever will. He wants us to begin each day and each prayer with a conscious awareness of His love and blessing toward us. If we get no further than to allow our souls to marinate in His love, it will be a profitable prayer time. For this reason, the pattern begins, "Our Father."

• Topic #2: Worship- "Hallowed be Your name. . ."• We quickly move from relationship to worship. The key to worship

is a proper understanding of the name and character of God. Focusing on, praying, even declaring the names of God is the essence of worship. It is essential as we continue in prayer, flowing out of our love relationship with the Father, to move into worship that is Christ-centered and Christ-exalting. We want to learn the names of God - to appreciate them, to pray and declare them, to value them and cherish them.


Prayer Pattern (Ref. 1)• Topic #3: Lordship- "Your kingdom come, Your will be done

on earth as it is in heaven. . ."• Lordship completes the three "Your" statements - "Your

name, Your kingdom, Your will." Henry Blackaby's Experiencing God course defines one of the spiritual realities as "God speaks by the Holy Spirit through the Bible, prayer, circumstances and the church to reveal Himself, His purposes, and His plans." To pray for Him to reveal Himself is to pray, "Your name be hallowed." To pray for Him to reveal His purposes is to pray, "Your kingdom come." To pray for Him to reveal His plan is to pray, "Your will be done." This moves from the higher part of the prayer , "Your name," to the principles, "Your kingdom," to the specific plans, "Your will." Too many of us begin our prayer time praying for plans instead of God's purposes, let alone the higher plane of His Person. He then moves us to consider His principles, so that we can better pray His plans.


Prayer Pattern (Ref. 1)• Topic #4: Sonship- "Give us today our daily bread. Forgive us

our debts. . . ."• Two things a child asks his daddy for are-food and forgiveness.

For this reason we call this the "sonship" part of the Lord's prayer pattern. God loves us to look to Him as our Provider and Forgiver. "And forgive us our debts" is the "speed bump" of the Lord's Prayer. We can be cruising along in prayer through other elements, but when we come to confession of sin it causes us to pause and take deeper inventory . The exhaling of sin and the inhaling of God's forgiveness makes for healthy spiritual respiration.

• Topic #5: Fellowship- "As we have forgiven our debtors…. "• Certainly sonship and fellowship, even as receiving forgiveness

for our sins and extending it to others, go hand in hand. Guarding the soul against resentment and bitterness is critical to our own spiritual well-being. Having been forgiven much, we are able to forgive others as well.


Prayer Pattern (Ref. 1)

• Topic #6: Leadership- "And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one."'

• In some ways, the whole prayer builds up to this point. How can we properly ask God to deliver us from the evil one if we have not confessed our sins, or if we hold unforgiveness in our heats against others? Bitterness is one of the primary strongholds the enemy uses to gain ground and influence in our lives. It is healthy for us to daily put on the whole armour of God, submit to God and resist the evil one. For this reason the Lord Jesus included this portion of His prayer pattern.


GOD'S STANDARD"My House shall be called a House of Prayer “ (Ref. 3)

Matthew 21:13• HOUSE OF PRAYER1. Entire congregation involved.2. Entire congregation takes ownership

for doing their “prayer share.” 3. Teaching from the pulpit and priority is

placed on prayer by the pastor.4. Classes and special opportunities on a

regular basis offered on prayer.5. Concept of “prayer band” has grown to

larger vision of “prayer army.”6. All leaders, staff and lay persons have

a burden for prayer.7. Groups spend time praying together

and set times of prayer in addition to regular meetings.

• PRAYER MINISTRY1. Limited number of people involved.2. Prayer is done by a select few who

always pray.3. Little or no regular emphasis from

the pulpit.4. Very little training offered in prayer.

Limited vision for prayer growth.5. Contented with prayer status quo

and only a few praying.6. Only a few leaders attend prayer

meetings with limited commitment. A few carry the burden to pray.

7. Church groups open meetings with prayer as a main agenda item.


Session 2• Week 2 - Prayer Planning Discussion , followed by

Concert of Prayer

– The planning session is to help us organize intentional prayer in & between churches to

– Promote exchanges of prayer resources– Identify a Prayer Action Team Coordinator for your church,

approved by your pastor. – Encourage prayer chains and bulletin prayer inserts for your

church– Plan prayer events (e.g. more prayer team training, concerts of

prayer, special inter-church prayer meetings)– Plan Reviews of books on prayer– Receive your ideas, passions & resources to stimulate Fannin

County prayer


GOD'S STANDARD"My House shall be called a House of Prayer “ (Ref. 3)

Matthew 21:13• HOUSE OF PRAYER1. Entire congregation involved.2. Entire congregation takes ownership

for doing their “prayer share.” 3. Teaching from the pulpit and priority is

placed on prayer by the pastor.4. Classes and special opportunities on a

regular basis offered on prayer.5. Concept of “prayer band” has grown to

larger vision of “prayer army.”6. All leaders, staff and lay persons have

a burden for prayer.7. Groups spend time praying together

and set times of prayer in addition to regular meetings.

• PRAYER MINISTRY1. Limited number of people involved.2. Prayer is done by a select few who

always pray.3. Little or no regular emphasis from

the pulpit.4. Very little training offered in prayer.

Limited vision for prayer growth.5. Contented with prayer status quo

and only a few praying.6. Only a few leaders attend prayer

meetings with limited commitment. A few carry the burden to pray.

7. Church groups open meetings with prayer as a main agenda item.


SEVEN MARKS OF A PRAYING CHURCH

(Ref. 3)1. Most members have a strong devotional

prayer life and are committed to praying for others.

2. Church members have a biblical understanding of who God is and how they can relate personally to Him through prayer.

3. Leaders are praying people and set an example of prayer for the congregation.



4. Prayer is a way of life throughout the church. Rather than being seen as an isolated program, central prayer support permeates every ministry within the church and every outreach of the church.

5. Corporate prayer meetings are given high priority in the lives of the church leadership and congregation.

6. Spending time in the presence of the Lord produces humility, purity, unity, and compassion, and Christ likeness in the lives of leaders and the congregation.



7. God’s presence fills His house. Perhaps the single most distinguishing characteristic of a “house of prayer” is that it is filled with the tangible presence of God. A lack of spiritual appetite in the congregation is replaced by spiritual hunger. Unbelievers’ hearts are converted by the life-giving messages preached from the pulpit. The spiritual objectives of the church begin to move forward, not so much by human ingenuity and hard work as by the supernatural assistance of God’s Holy Spirit. Striving ceases; it often seems more is accomplished with less effort.

• Pray for Your Church to Become a House of Prayer


Laws of revival that come from "Upper Room" prayer (Ref. 1)

• The Holy Spirit brings conviction of sin to the non-Christian in the measure in which He first works in Christians in the Church.

• The unconverted feel their need of salvation when Christians first feel the need for them to be saved.

• When Christians feel their deeper need of the Holy Spirit, non-Christians will feel their need of Christ.

• The Church is first concerned for the world, and then the world is concerned for Christ.

• Non-Christian seekers will deal with their sins according to the way Christians first deal with theirs.

• When Christians repent, sinners will repent.• Sinners will pray and seek the Lord when Christians do so first.• The unconverted will be "born again" of the Holy Spirit when

Christians are burdened and birth them in prayer.


Laws of revival that come from "Upper Room" prayer

• When Christians are filled with the Holy Spirit, non-Christians will be convicted of sin and converted to Christ.

• When revival is strong in the Church, evangelism will be strong in the world.

• When Christians walk in the light they have, sinners will see the light in and through them.

• When God's people face the many plain Scriptures about holiness of life, cleansing from all sin, purity and victorious Christian living, sinners will face up to the plain Word of God regarding their salvation.

• When Christians wake up (revival), non-Christians will also wake up (evangelism).


Prayer Planning Session

Organize intentional prayer in & between churches to:• Promote exchanges of prayer resources• Identify a Prayer Action Team Coordinator for your

church, approved by your pastor. • Encourage prayer chains and bulletin prayer inserts for

your church• Plan prayer events (e.g. more prayer team training,

concerts of prayer, special inter-church prayer meetings)• Plan Reviews of books on prayer• Receive your ideas, passions & resources to stimulate

Fannin County prayer


Identify a Prayer Action Team for your church

• Identify a Prayer Action Team Coordinator & Team Members for your church – This will require approval by your pastor

• Please let us know if you will join our Prayer Action Team – on the sign-in sheet

• It will help us if you list your own inventory– Spiritual Gifts– Heart for prayer– Abilities


Prayer Action Team Planning

We want to now:• Receive your ideas like passions & resources to

stimulate Fannin County prayer• Ideas to encourage prayer chains and bulletin

prayer inserts for your church• Plan prayer events (e.g. more prayer team

training, concerts of prayer, special inter-church prayer meetings)

• Can your church open for prayer 11-1 one day a week?

• Plan Reviews of books on prayer


Ideas to Stimulate Prayer at Your Church

• Set day & time for your Prayer Team to meet to:

• Encourage people with the desire for prayer growth

• Pray: local, community, state, national• Plan community meetings or classes on

prayer• Prayer Book Reports on books on prayer• Plan and become a House of Prayer

where prayer is the engine that drives the plans and activities of your church



• Use some of the ideas in "The Prayer Saturated Church" to organize your Prayer Action Team – see summary of material available on CD

• Turn those ideas into an action plan with action items, responsibility, and target dates

• Layout some initial goals, approaches, and plans for your Prayer Action Team

• Setup communications with other churches in your county to share prayer request, results, & plans

• Setup and participate in prayer classes among these churches

• Participate in community-wide prayer opportunities such as Concerts of Prayer

• Use, develop and share the Prayer Resource Notebook for your church



• Share Prayer requests/results from your church co.-wide• Ask your Pastor to write a PrayerGram for the media• Let FBA know when your church alter is open for prayer• Share your church prayer events like Concerts of Prayer• Request help & resources for your own prayer classes • Participate in community-wide prayer opportunities such

as Concerts of Prayer• Update your church Prayer Resource Notebook• Contacts for help & resources: (FBA is the sharing hub)

– FBA; Donna Cox; [email protected]; 903-583-2210– John Hoelzel; [email protected]; 903-664-2471; FBA

Prayer Group Coordinator– Church Prayer Leaders Network; www.prayerleader.com

mailto:[email protected]

mailto:[email protected]

http://www.prayerleader.com/


“Prayer Notebook” sample material• Sections1. Prayer Bibliography - Book recommendations & favorites2. Prayer Stimulants Teaching Slides; from training at 7th & Main

BC; April 18, 20073. Prayer- A major study outline with Bible references; Ten

Sections; www.bible.ca/ntx-prayer.htm4. Prayer Requests (includes inter-church prayer updates)5. Fannin County Prayer Coordinators (Name, church, e-mail;

phone)6. Prayer support worksheet resources from "The Prayer

Saturated Church" CD7. Prayer ideas, events, and activities from other TX Baptist

Associations8. Prayer Quotes9. Calendar of upcoming prayer events, trainings, and

information


"The Prayer Saturated Church" summary of CD sample material

• Assessing your churches needs

• Designing a House of Prayer strategy

• Motivating the whole church to pray

• Mobilizing & managing intercessors

• Leading corporate prayer gatherings

• Praying outside the walls of the church

• Prayer Walking



• CHaPTer 1: THe CHurCH THaT prayer BUILT

• 1.1: God's Standard• 1.2: Seven Marks of a Praying Church• 1.3: Praying for Your Church to Become a

House of Prayer• CHaPTer 12: PrayInG Outside the Walls of the

Church• 12.1: Prayerwalking• 12.2:"Release the Lost" Prayer Guide• 12.3: Ten Specific Prayers for Revival



• CHaPTer 5: ASSeSSInG YOur CHurCH'S NeeDS

• 5.1: Evaluating Your Church's Will and Skill

• 5.2: Analyzing Your Church's Prayer Level• 5.3: Identifying Barriers to the Presence of

God • 5.4: Church Prayer Discovery Guide• 8.4: How to Pray for a Spiritual Leader



• CHaPTer 9: MOTIVaTInG THe WHoLe CHurCH TO pray

• 9.2: Forty Days, Forty Ways Prayer Initiative Agenda

• 9.4: How to Start a Men's Prayer Meeting• 9.6: Teaching Children to Pray• 9.7: Ways to Incorporate Prayer into the Worship

Service • 9.8: The Personal Prayer Retreat• 9.13: School of Prayer Curriculum• 9.14: Sample Prayer Ministry Brochure


Prayer Action Team Events 2009

• Aug 4-6, 2009 National Pastor’s Prayer Summit– SWBTSeminary; F/W, TX; 916-489-4774– Dennis Fuqua; Daniel Henderson; Phil Miglioratti

• Sat. Aug. 22nd; Leadership Conference @ FBC Bonham, included– Building a House of Prayer - Dennis Conner– 7 Habits of Highly Effective Pray-ers - Dennis Conner

• FBA Church Prayer Notebooks Available• Weekly prayer for your community & revival


Prayer Action Team Events• Ideas from past 2008 Events:• On-going Prayer Stimulation Trainings- First BC

Bonham, Jan. 20 & 27, 6 PM• Feb 14- Pray Bonham; School Admin. Bldg

Auditorium; 7-8:30; Dennis Conner• Current & Future Events:• Wed. 7 AM community/revival prayer- 1st floor of

Bonham Ct. House; Prayer opening @ City Bldg.• NDP May 7- Ct. House; 12-1 PM; E. side tent

• More FBA Church Prayer Notebooks available• Next Concert of Prayer – when & where?

Grayson & Fannin Co. needs prayer

• Our county needs increased consistent, persistent, and effective prayer– Governments; US, State, County, City– Schools– Churches; pastors, teachers, leaders– Seeing and meeting needs as a door opener

for the Good News; church collaboration

• Please see your Prayer Team Coordinator– God seeks His people to stand in the gap


US. needs prayer

• Our country needs increased consistent, persistent, and effective prayer– Salvation of our president– Humility before God. His Word, His Ways– Government and spiritual leaders– Christians to stand up for kingdom esentials

• Work together to make a difference– God seeks His people to stand in the gap


Sponsor: FBA prayer subgroup of Church Health & Leadership Development Team 1 Prayer Stimulation Training - Whitewright Bethel Baptist Men’s Conf; May.

Documents

churches prayer

revival prayer

personal prayer

concerts of prayer

intercessory prayer

prayer chains

intentional prayer

church prayer notebook