The Ministry of Prayer
Sunday April 14, 2019
Notes
Josiah Stewart
April 14, 2019
All scriptures (AMPC)
Old Testament examples of the ministry of prayer
1. Jeremiah
Jeremiah 1:5-10
5 Before I formed you in the womb I knew [and] approved of you [as
My chosen instrument], and before you were born I separated and set
you apart, consecrating you; [and] I appointed you as a prophet to
the nations.
6 Then said I, Ah, Lord God! Behold, I cannot speak, for I am only a
youth.
7 But the Lord said to me, Say not, I am only a youth; for you shall go
to all to whom I shall send you, and whatever I command you, you
shall speak.
8 Be not afraid of them [their faces], for I am with you to deliver you,
says the Lord.
9 Then the Lord put forth His hand and touched my mouth. And the
Lord said to me, Behold, I have put My words in your mouth.
10 See, I have this day appointed you to the oversight of the nations
and of the kingdoms to root out and pull down, to destroy and to
overthrow, to build and to plant.
2. Daniel
3. Joseph
(Genesis 39)
4. Esther
Esther 4:13-17
13 Then Mordecai told them to return this answer to Esther, Do not
flatter yourself that you shall escape in the king’s palace any more
than all the other Jews.
14 For if you keep silent at this time, relief and deliverance shall arise
for the Jews from elsewhere, but you and your father’s house will
perish. And who knows but that you have come to the kingdom for
such a time as this and for this very occasion?
15 Then Esther told them to give this answer to Mordecai,
16 Go, gather together all the Jews that are present in Shushan, and
fast for me; and neither eat nor drink for three days, night or day. I
also and my maids will fast as you do. Then I will go to the king,
though it is against the law; and if I perish, I perish.
17 So Mordecai went away and did all that Esther had commanded
him.
5. Isaiah
Isaiah 40:3-6
3 A voice of one who cries: Prepare in the wilderness the way of the
Lord [clear away the obstacles]; make straight and smooth in the
desert a highway for our God!
4 Every valley shall be lifted and filled up, and every mountain and hill
shall be made low; and the crooked and uneven shall be made
straight and level, and the rough places a plain.
5 And the glory (majesty and splendor) of the Lord shall be revealed,
and all flesh shall see it together; for the mouth of the Lord has
spoken it.
6 A voice says, Cry [prophesy]! And I said, What shall I cry? [The
voice answered, Proclaim:] All flesh is as frail as grass, and all that
makes it attractive [its kindness, its goodwill, its mercy from God, its
glory and comeliness, however good] is transitory, like the flower of
the field.
Modern examples
1. Example of Lynn Hammonds testimony about praying in the spirit.
“A modern example of what we’re talking about. Rooting out, tearing
down, building. And you don’t even have to know what you’re saying
a lot of times.”
2. Example of missionary to Afghanistan and how prayer changed his ministry
“You can see the results of that road being made in prayer. You can’t
see it with your natural eyes but it’s there.”
3. Example of Reese Howard’s testimony about praying during WWII
- Prayer Assignments
“God uses people in prayer to bring about his purpose in the earth
and to ensure that the gospel is preached to every creature on the
earth.”
Intercession for the nations
God is looking for someone to stand in the gap and pray for the
nations.
Ezekiel 22:29-30
29 The people of the land have used oppression and extortion and
have committed robbery; yes, they have wronged and vexed the poor
and needy; yes, they have oppressed the stranger and temporary
resident wrongfully.
30 And I sought a man among them who should build up the wall and
stand in the gap before Me for the land, that I should not destroy it,
but I found none.
Our Position in Christ to pray
In praying this way, we have to pray according to the word. And we
have to do it from our position we’ve been given in Christ
Ephesians 4:2-6
4 But God—so rich is He in His mercy! Because of and in order to
satisfy the great and wonderful and intense love with which He loved
us,
5 Even when we were dead (slain) by [our own] shortcomings and
trespasses, He made us alive together in fellowship and in union with
Christ; [He gave us the very life of Christ Himself, the same new life
with which He quickened Him, for] it is by grace (His favor and mercy
which you did not deserve) that you are saved ([a]delivered from
judgment and made partakers of Christ’s salvation).
6 And He raised us up together with Him and made us sit down
together [giving us [b]joint seating with Him] in the heavenly sphere
[by virtue of our being] in Christ Jesus (the Messiah, the Anointed
One).