Excerpted from Praying with Impact by Sam Kawesa

Having established that prayer is the vehicle necessary to translate our faith from the realm of the spiritual, and that prayer is the heartbeat of the body of Christ, it follows therefore that prayer is a necessity not an option. In order for us to worship, serve, speak to and/or hear from God, we need prayer. God seeks a praying people. It’s a wonderful thing to seek after God, it is much more wonderful to be sought by the Almighty God!

We may ask,  “How could an Immortal and Almighty God really seek out mortal and weak man?” That is the essence of Grace and Agape unconditional love. The scriptures tell us that God is indeed seeking out for a praying people.

John 4:23 But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship him.  24 God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth

2 Chronicles 16:9 For the eyes of the LORD run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to show Himself strong on behalf of those whose heart is loyal to Him.

Prayer is Key to individual maturity and church growth

1. Corporate and/or group prayer

Prayer is an equalizing force that is for the whole body.  Your church or group does not have to be in a certain geographical area or be of a certain size. Individuals do not have to be “super spiritual”, “intercessors”, church officials or ministers. In fact, many times the praying people are without office, title or rank but simply obedient Christians. Prayer matures Christians individually and corporately because being in the presence of Jesus imparts unimaginable wisdom, power and knowledge.

Acts 4:13 Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were unlearned and ignorant men, they marveled; and they took knowledge of them, that they had been with Jesus.

For there to be viable church growth in the true sense of increasing new believers as well as maturing all believers, as opposed to shifting believers, prayer has to be at the heart of every Christian church. In the book of Acts we see a powerful, vibrantly growing and maturing church that was under-guarded by continuous prayer. The disciples were always prayerful prior to making tough decisions that required supernatural wisdom for effective ministry.

Acts 6:3-7 3Wherefore, brethren, look ye out among you seven men of honest report, full of the Holy Ghost and wisdom, whom we may appoint over this business. But we will give ourselves continually to prayer, and to the ministry of the word. And the saying pleased the whole multitude: and they chose Stephen, a man full of faith and of the Holy Ghost, and Philip, and Prochorus, and Nicanor, and Timon, and Parmenas, and Nicolas a proselyte of Antioch: Whom they set before the apostles: and when they had prayed, they laid their hands on them. And the word of God increased; and the number of the disciples multiplied in Jerusalem greatly; and a great company of the priests were obedient to the faith.

Prayerlessness: The “flat tire” believers

Imagine driving a car that has only one side of its tires inflated. One may continue to drive it, but the ride will be rough and damage to the car will inevitably come. Such is a church or believer that is doing everything else but leaves prayer out of the equation. The imbalance in an individual or church body will lead to spiritual stagnation, lack of progress as well as unnecessary “damage.

As mentioned earlier, the church founders in the book of Acts saw the danger of prayer-less Christianity and declared:

“2Then the twelve called the multitude of the disciples unto them, and said, It is not reason that we should leave the word of God, and serve tables.3Wherefore, brethren, look ye out among you seven men of honest report, full of the Holy Ghost and wisdom, whom we may appoint over this business. 4But we will give ourselves continually to prayer, and to the ministry of the word.” Acts 6:2-4 “

2. Individual Prayer

Examples of Fervent and Unceasing Prayer

Hanna and Anna, The Praying Duo‘s Example

There are two women, who because of their fervent prayers, the Biblical landscape was changed. One was younger and the other older, but were both focused in prayer. They show us that fervency and perseverance in prayer are inseparable. Separated in time, each prayed and waited for a male child, Samuel and Jesus. It is interesting that these two children were described in the Bible with characteristically very similar words. Hanna shows us an example of importunity in prayer while Anna shows as perseverance and patience in prayer.

Bible Search

1.Name two references in the Bible where there was corporate or group prayer, one in the Old Testament and another in the New Testament.

2.What were the reasons or scenario for the prayer you chose?

3.Can you think of such a scenario today?