‘Prayer is a God given privilege and responsibility of all believers.’ Col 4:2

Sundays before the meetings

Join us next to the impact center  from 6:30 - 6:40am and from 17:40- 17:50.
All are welcome!

After the meetings

After any Sunday meeting the opportunity is there for prayer at the front of the church, please feel free to come ask for prayer for anything, no matter how big or small

Heeling meetings

Although we are always available to pray for healing we have recently introduced an occasional Wednesday night prayer meeting focused on some intense corporate prayer for exceptional circumstances, for example cancer sufferers. These meetings give us the opportunity to spend a little bit more time than usual in prayer for individuals and we really trust that God would move. Watch the announcements for the next one.

All night prayer

All night prayer can take on many different forms as well. Worship plays a very big part and will continue on and off for the duration of the meeting with different people from the worship team on a roster.

All night prayer will normally focal around breakthrough and is normally on a Friday night every 6 to 8 weeks and lasts a pre-determined time for 2 to 12 hours normally starting at 18:00 on the Friday evening.

People can come for any amount of time that they feel, from 30min to 12 hours.

Elders Prayer

This is a closed meeting. Every week morning except Mondays the Elders get together for an hour to pray specifically over our church and our congregation.

As Elders we are encouraged to spend an additional hour a day in prayer for specific people and ministries in the church.

When our calender allows the elders and there wives will come together for an evening of prayer aswell.

Teaching

1.    What is prayer?

A dictionary will give you a rather dry definition of what prayer is, but the Bible gives an epic picture of it being a dynamic communion with the living God - whom Jesus showed is our loving Father.  The same God who walked with Adam in the garden of Eden in the cool of the day (Gen 2-3) desires our close fellowship today.

Jesus says in Mark 12:30 that the most important commandment is to “love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.”  Genuine prayer is thus everything to do with relationship and nothing to do with religion or ritual - it’s a love relationship involving dialogue with God.

Man is the crown of God’s creation, made in his image, for fellowship with him.  “I will take you as my own people and I will be your God” (Ex 6:7) echoes like a refrain throughout scripture.

2.    Do we have free  access to God our Father?

The Bible shows us that through Adam’s disobedience we are born sinful and that sin separates us from God (sin cannot come near his holiness).  But God so loved us that he sent his son Jesus to die for us on the cross.  Jesus’ death makes atonement for our sin and gives us direct access to the Father (John 3:16 & 17).

While we were still sinners God reached out to save us.  How much more now that we are believers, co-heirs with Jesus, is our heavenly Father concerned about us.

In the Old Testament, only the High Priest could enter the Holy of Holies, i.e. gain access to the presence of God, and then only once a year after complex ritual requirements had been completed.

In the New Testament, Christ’s death gives all who believe in him direct access to God’s presence.  The book of Hebrews explains why priests are no longer necessary as mediators between us and God.  The resurrected Jesus, our great High Priest, now seated at the right hand of the Father, is our mediator.  He gives us confidence to come boldly to the throne of grace to “receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.”

John 1:12 says of Jesus: “Yet to all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God.” It is an awesome thing when we realize that the Creator of all things desires to have a personal relationship with us, that he knows us by name.

John 20:17 says: “I am returning to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God." What an awesome privilege to be able to come to the Creator of the universe and be received as his child.

3.    Why should we pray?

Isaiah 55:6 encourages us to: “Seek the Lord while he may be found; call on him while he is near.”

Eph. 6:18 urges: “And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests.”

Phil. 4:6 says: “Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.”

Col. 4:2 exhorts: “Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful.”

1 Thess. 5:16-18 says: “Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances.”

• Throughout scripture we see God desiring a relationship with his people.  We need to pray because without communication there is no relationship.

• Throughout scripture it is clear that God desires us to ask of Him.  (Matt. 7:7-8, Matt. 9:37-38, John 14:13-14, 1John 5:14)  Even though He knows what we need, He still says that we should ask.  This teaches us to use our faith and put our trust in Him.

• We need to abide in Christ for without him we can do nothing (John 15:5), and we do this through a life of increasing prayer.

• As we pray in the Spirit, he helps us to align ourselves with God: “This is what we speak, not in words taught us by human wisdom but in words taught by the Spirit, expressing spiritual truths in spiritual words.” (1 Cor. 2:13).  As we pray in the Spirit we build ourselves up (Jude 20) and edify ourselves (1 Cor. 14:4).

• Prayer moves God’s hand and changes us and circumstances.  In prayer we find grace to forgive, courage to admonish, strength to persevere and zeal to run the race God has placed before us.

• We are in a spiritual battle (Eph 6:10-19) and the moment we stop praying we loose ground.  If we want to win the battle we need to pray.  Through prayer we open gates and strike the winning blow.

• Generally God will do nothing until we have prayed.

Remember: The devil does not have a problem with us talking about prayer, unless we start praying!

4.    Examples of prayer in the Old Testament

5.    Examples of Jesus praying

6.    Jesus’ teaching on prayer

7.    How should we pray?

Christ is our pattern.  Paul says “..imitate me as I imitate Christ.” In John 8:28-29 Jesus says: “I do nothing on my own but speak just what the Father has taught me. The one who sent me is with me; he has not left me alone, for I always do what pleases him."

We need to do the same, understanding that prayer is essentially a heart turned towards God at all times.  Paul urges us to pray without ceasing.

Scripture shows people praying in many different ways:

Jesus taught in John 16:24,26 that we should ask the Father in his name.  We can now go directly to the Father in the name of Jesus.  Jesus has prepared the way for us. 

Hebr. 4:16 also says that we can approach God in confidence and boldness.  His arms are open wide for his children!!

8.    Practical steps in starting your prayer life

Spending time daily with God in prayer is important as it builds our relationship with Him.  Every Christian must be encouraged  to make his or her personal prayer time with God our Father a priority.  Building your prayer life has endless rewards, but know that it will take sacrifice. 

Many people battle with praying for an extended time period.  Do not let this worry you; it is better to pray regularly/daily for short periods than to pray once in a while for a long session.

The following is a simple program that you can use in helping you to spend about 20 minutes in prayer daily.

• Spend the first 5 minutes in praise and worship.  The Word says that we should  come before the Lord in joyful songs.  Use a tape or CD player if it will help.

• Use the next five minutes to talk about yourselves.  Use this time to bring your needs and desires before God in prayer.  If need be, repent of your sins and  receive His forgiveness.

• In the next five minutes pray for the people close to you.  During this time pray  for your spouse, children, family, church, friends, etc.

• Use the last five minutes to pray for the nations.  A recommendation would be to pray for one nation per day.

Remember that the above-mentioned steps are just suggestions and not an unbreakable law.  Be flexible and also be aware of the Holy Spirit's guidance.  He will   guide you and teach you!