Efficacy of prayer

THE REDEEMED CHRISTIAN FELLOWSHIP
NASARAWA STATE UNIVERSITY, KEFFI CHAPTER
2012/2013 FIRST SEMESTER EXECUTIVES’ RETREAT
THEME: EFFECTIVE LEADERSHIP (GEN 1:26)
TOPIC: EFFICACY OF PRAYERS
TEXT: JOHN 15:5, Matt 9:37-38
INTRODUCTION
To be effective means to do the right things. On the other hand to be efficient means to do things right. If you are only effective, you may find out that you are doing the right things wrongly. However, if you also know how to do things right, you will know the right answer for each situation. As leaders, we need to both be effective and efficient in everything including prayers which is out focus here.
DEFINITION: Prayer is simply a communication between God and man. It’s the meeting point of divinity and humanity. Prayer is also a time of exchange. We pray to God and him alone.
There are different TYPES of prayer such as thanksgiving (Eph 6:18), confession, intercession, request (Phil 4:6, John 14:14), petition, warfare, plea, praying in tongues (1Cor 14:14) and praise. It is worthy of note that praise is the highest form of prayer. Praise is irresistible in heaven and on earth.
There are some INGREDIENTS that must certainly come before or accompany prayers. These majorly includes; holiness, obedience, faith (Mark 11:17) and love. Also very vital is that we must pray according to the word of God and His will. If any is missing, it may be fatal to our prayer and ourselves 1Peter 3:12.
HOW do I pray? We do not know how, we simple depend on the Holy Spirit to help us. Every born again child of God has been given the Holy Spirit. The fact that you don’t speak in tongues does not mean you don’t have Him Matt 6:9. But without him, we can do noting (John 15:14), the more you pray, the more you know how to pray. Also keep praying till your joy be full (Dan 10:13). There is no POSTURE for pray or definite pattern so you can sit, stand, kneel, lie down, lift your hands, face lifted up, flat on your face etc. just be in tune with the spirit. Acts 9:40; 10:9
Let me mention that prayer also has an ATTITUDE. There is a big difference between complaining, and praying. Also, when you pray, you are not doing God a favour so humble yourself. Don’t come and show God that you are holy or that you know how to pray or that you know how to stay clean etc. don’t try to impress God or even yourself. Pour your heart out (Luke 18:10-14).
To the question of WHEN to pray, we all know it is always. But, how many of us truly pray always? (Colo 4:2, Luke 18:1, 1Thes 5:17)
WHO AND WHAT do we pray for. Everything good needs prayers to remain good and also get better. Everything bad or worse also needs prayers to get better. So pray for yourself, your tomorrow, your ministry, business, career, family and even all extended family. You need to pray for those in authority in your local government, state and federation. You need to pray for the fellowship, the president, the executives, the workers, saved members and unsaved members (Rom10:1). You need to pray for the school, faculties, departments, academic staffs, non-academic staffs, your lecturers and fellow students. You need to pray for the sick, those traveling, missionaries, and the list go on and on. (1Tim 2:1-2)
CATEGORIES of prayer includes but not limited to individual prayer (Colo 4:12, James 5:13-16), the prayer of two, the prayer of three (Ecc 4:12), the elders, the brethren and co-operate prayer (Acts 1:14; 2:42).
EFFICACY OF PRAYER
Prayer is everything else we would be pushed aside. It is commonly said that a prayerless Christian is a powerless Christian. Its worse when we have a prayerless leader. Such kind of leader would make cheap preys for the enemy and has no covering for those been led. If we don’t move God through prayer, God will not move (John 15:5). Prayer grants you access to Gods throne, brings Gods glory and presence (2Chro 30:27, 2Chro 7:12, Dan 9:21), heals (James 4:7; 5:13-18), saves (Acts 4:12), resist the devil, gives direction, prevents temptation or gives you grace (Matt 26:41, Mark 14:38), displace demons (Acts 16:16,18), enforce our victory, set free (Acts 16:25-26), divine intervention, control nature e.g. the weather (James 5:17), open doors, know the will and mind of God, sanctification (1Tim 4:5), service to God (Luke 2:36-38), support ministry (2Cor 1:11), it shows you depend on God, strength (Luke 22:41-44) and encouragement (Psalm 5:3, Phil 1:19), prayer enlist you on the new emerging army.
PRAYERLESSNESS gives you the exert opposite of all mentioned. A leader cannot afford to cease prayer at all times.
Moses prayed and God changed his mind (Exodus 32:9-14, 31-32). If Moses has being quiet, there will be no Israel today.
The brethren prayed and Peter was miraculously released from prison (Acts 12:5,7 & 10). Peter was the rock upon which Christ promised to build His church, what would have happened if they did not pray.
IN CONCLUSION, Jesus prayed (Heb 5:7) and we should follow suit. In Acts 6:4, Peter said the work of a leader is prayers. Hence, not only do we need to pray individual and in other categories, we also need to teach our people how to pray. The prayer of the leader-Moses saved the Children of Israel but when God was angry with him they didn’t pray for him (Deut 4:21) am sure God would have change his mind if they all prayed for Moses. Whereas God was moved in the case of Peter because the brethren prayed. Two things: the first; Teach your people (Eph 6:19, Colo 4:3-4) and secondly, can the President sleep comfortably because he knows you are praying? Be an effective efficient leader even in prayer. Invoke God through prayer.
Boyede Joshua