Intercessory Prayer; I nviting God’s Engagement

1. Intercessory Prayer;Inviting God’s Engagement Dynamic # 2

2. The sovereign God awaits our invitation • “The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field.” • Luke 10:2 • “No prayer” results in “no workers” • “Nothing is promised to be expected from the Lord, which we are not also bidden to ask of him in prayers.” • John Calvin, Institutes of Christian Religion 3:20:2

3. The Moses – Joshua Partnership

4. Moses and Joshua Teams • The Amalekites came and attacked the Israelites at Rephidim. Moses said to Joshua, "Choose some of our men and go out to fight the Amalekites. Tomorrow I will stand on top of the hill with the staff of God in my hands.” So Joshua fought the Amalekites as Moses had ordered, and Moses, Aaron and Hur went to the top of the hill. As long as Moses held up his hands, the Israelites were winning, but whenever he lowered his hands, the Amalekites were winning. When Moses' hands grew tired, they took a stone and put it under him and he sat on it. Aaron and Hur held his hands up – one on one side, one on the other – so that his hands remained steady till sunset.

5. Moses and Joshua Teams • So Joshua overcame the Amalekite army with the sword. Then the LORD said to Moses, “Write this on a scroll as something to be remembered and make sure that Joshua hears it, because I will completely blot out the memory of Amalek from under heaven.” Moses built an altar and called it The Lord is my Banner. He said, “For hands were lifted up to the throne of the Lord. The Lord will be at war against the Amalekites from generation to generation.” • Exodus 17:8-16

6. Moses and Joshua Teams • In the realm of the Spirit there is a profoundly critical connection between… • Moses’ role of intercessory prayer • Joshua’s role of leading the warriors • If either abandoned their task the battle would be lost

7. Examples of Moses and Joshua Teams • In Scripture • Paul’s prayer support from Ephesus, Corinth & Galatia • “Pray for us” • Ephesians 6:19-20 ; Colossians 4:3-4 ; 2 Thessalonians 3:1-2 • In history • Spurgeon’s ‘boiler room’ prayer team

8. The Moses role – receiving vision for the people of God • “Where there is no revelation, the people cast off restraint.” • Proverbs 29:18 • ‘Vision’ is revelation, not speculation • Vision shapes the future and provides the proper focus for prayer and action

9. Cultivating Intercessory Prayer in the congregation

10. Teach the people how to pray • Modelling and instructing • Honest testimony about one’s own life of prayer • Engage in prayer and reflect together afterwards

11. Leaders vulnerable enough to ask people to pray for and with them • “Now I urge you, brothers and sisters, through our Lord Jesus Christ and through the love of the Spirit, to join fervently with me in prayer to God on my behalf. Pray that I may be rescued from those who are disobedient in Judea and that my ministry in Jerusalem may be acceptable to the saints, so that by God's will I may come to you with joy and be refreshed in your company.” • Romans 15:30-32, NET • Invite people to pray with you on specific occasions

12. Create contexts and opportunities for prayer • Prayer meetings where people are encouraged to follow the ebb and flow of the Spirit’s leading • Leaders’ meetings rooted in, and governed by, prayer that shapes the agenda and decisions • Special prayer events for particular seasons of the church’s life • Prompts for prayer (eg: bookmarks, prayer chain, bulletin,)

13. Identify and equip the Intercessors • Be watchful for people who are drawn to prayer , and encourage them to continue growing • Encourage intercessors with teaching, reading materials and events / conferences • Provide a framework in which intercessors can begin to exercise, and be nurtured in, their calling • Clarify expectations of how intercessors and leaders will interact, and sustain the relationship