The Prayer That Will Change Your Church

I have never known a church that did not want God to do amazing things through them. They may not agree on what “amazing” results are, but they want to be part of God’s work in a powerful way. We all are aware that reality is often different from what we envision. But the fact remains that most churches and most Christians want to be part of God’s work in a powerful way. 

I know that, in my home church, we are all-in on making disciples. Kingdom growth. I spend a lot of time talking to church leaders about reaching lost people. That is the dream that I want to be real in my life and my church.

It starts with prayer.

And this is how we encourage churches to pray. But it comes with a warning. God will hear this prayer, and when He answers, it will change everything.

And now, Lord, look upon their threats and grant to your servants to continue to speak your word with all boldness, while you stretch out your hand to heal, and signs and wonders are performed through the name of your holy servant Jesus.” And when they had prayed, the place in which they were gathered together was shaken, and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and continued to speak the word of God with boldness. (Acts 4:29-31)

This was the prayer of the early church. The church God used to tell the whole world about Jesus.

Here are the key points of this prayer…

• We face opposition. If your people really want to be part of God’s work, there will be opposition from the devil. Persecution. Temptation. Sickness. Economic distress. Exhaustion. Satan has many tools, and he will use them against you. So as a church, we pray about these things.

• Speak boldly. We need to be praying as a church for boldness to talk about Jesus. Sharing our stories. Inviting. Talking about forgiveness. Opening the Bible. 

• Asking God to do signs and wonders. Praying as a church for the harvest. Asking God to heal, provide, restore. Asking Him to make the alcoholics sober and the sexually immoral pure. Asking God to act in ways that lead us to expect the next amazing things to happen.

And here is what will happen.

• Your church will be shaken. Maybe even literally, but certainly things will never be the same. Your church is asking God to unleash His power among you. And He will.

• Your church will be filled with the Holy Spirit. The Spirit will act. Holiness. Connecting non-believers to believers. Doing Kingdom work among you.

• You will speak God’s Word boldly. He will help you do what you asked. People will respond to God’s Word. The Kingdom will grow.

Have your church start praying like this. 

Things will never be the same again.

And that is a good thing. Or maybe it is a God thing.