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When Pastors and Churches Pray, God Moves

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If you're a pastor, you should certainly be striving for greater excellence as a communicator, as a leader, and as an organizer. You need a vision. You need a strategy. You need a solid, biblical theology of ministry and the church. But you can have all of these and remain stuck in mediocrity without God's power. The greatest work you'll ever commit to as a pastor is the work of prayer. Praying churches, those that experience the miraculous power of God, are led by praying pastors. This is why Jesus spent time teaching his disciples how to pray. He knew that once he had ascended back to heaven, his church would need to connect with him, and the way we connect with God and receive his direction and his power is through prayer. Jesus gave his disciples at least four reasons to keep on growing in the area of prayer.

1. Prayer is an act of dedication.

It is an opportunity to express our devotion to God as well as our dependence on God. Our biggest problem when it comes to the frequency and passion in our praying is that we don't feel the need to completely depend on God. The reason why a lot of leaders fail to pray is because it costs us something. It requires our openness and transparency with God. Prayer is a declaration of dependence upon God. In John 15:5-7, Jesus is giving an illustration of a plant and he says, "If a man remains in Me and I in him, he will bear much fruit, but apart from Me, you can do nothing. If anyone doesn't remain in Me, he's like a branch that's thrown away and withers. Such branches are picked up and thrown into the fire and burned. But if you remain in Me [if you be dependent upon Me, express your trust in Me] and My words remain in you, you can ask whatever you wish and it will be given to you." That's an unbelievable promise in prayer! It's like a branch and vine. The branch is connected to the vine or stem. If you cut the branch off, it loses all its strength and power. When we fail to pray, we wither.

2. Prayer is an act of communication.

You can't communicate with somebody unless you know your relationship to them. What is our relationship to God? In John 15:15-16, Jesus says, "I no longer call you servants because a servant doesn't know his master's business. Instead I have called you friends for everything I've learned from My Father, I've made known unto you. You didn't choose Me, but I chose you to go and bear fruit that will last. Then the Father will give you whatever you ask in My name." The reason you can ask anything in prayer is because you are friends with God. We seldom pray because we forget what a privilege it is to talk to God. God says, "I am the King of Kings, the Lord of Lords, and you are My friend and I want to talk to you!" That's what prayer is. It is dedication but it is also communication. We often have a hard time believing that God is really interested in us. We can't seem to conceive that the Creator of the entire universe is interested in car payments and house payments and buying new clothes for the kids for school and the guy at work who irritates you and the fact that you have back problems and everything else. When you fully discover how much God really loves you, prayer will no longer be a problem for you. The problem is not, "I have to pray." The problem is you don't really realize how much God cares about and loves you. Why? Because we love to talk to the people who love us the most. If you find prayer is a duty, a ritual, a routine that you don't look forward to going through, it means you don't understand how much God is in love with you and how much he's interested in everything that is of interest to you. Prayer is the umbilical cord of the Christian life from which we draw our strength.

3. Prayer is an act of supplication.

Philippians 4:6-7 says, "Don't worry about anything but in everything, with your prayers and your supplications, make your requests known to God and the peace of God which passes all understanding will keep your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus." The result of your asking, your requests in prayer, will be peace of mind. Prayer is God's chosen method of meeting your needs. The Bible teaches that there are some things that God has promised to do only if we pray. Charles Spurgeon once said, "God never shuts his storehouses until you shut your mouth." Keep on asking.

4. Prayer is an act of cooperation.

God has sovereignly chosen that we can cooperate in his plan by praying for his will to be done here on earth. Prayer is God's program. Prayer is God's modus operandi. When we pray for other people, we are cooperating with God. We are teaming up with God to accomplish God's work in the world. Prayer is not limited by time. The prayers of Jesus Christ 2,000 years ago are still being answered today. The prayers I pray today can be answered three weeks from today. They're not limited by time. Prayer is not limited by space. You can pray and it's like sending a missile. I can pray all over. I get up tomorrow morning and go into my study and spend fifteen minutes in prayer and I pray for missionaries around the world. Prayer is limitless in its power. People may reject your appeals, reject your arguments, or reject you as a person, but they're totally defenseless against your prayers. They have no defense system. They go straight to the heart. D. L. Moody, a great pastor, once said, "Every great movement of God can be traced to a single praying, kneeling figure." A praying church is a holy church, a committed church. When you pray it makes you sensitive to God and to other people. It sensitizes your life. A praying church is an enthusiastic church. Churches that pray see miracles and that gets people excited. A growing, praying church is a church that sees God act. God acts according to prayer. And churches pray when they see their leaders praying.

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Habakkuk’s Prayer Plan

For our churches to become what God wants them to be, we must listen to God. He doesn’t have laryngitis. He still speaks today. You and I need to hear from God on a variety of topics—what we’re going to preach on, how to effectively lead, how to help our people with particular problems, and so on. We need to have the wisdom of God.In the Old Testament, Habakkuk saw his nation being overtaken by another. He wanted to know why God would allow this. So he did these five things to tune in to what God was up to:He withdrew. Habakkuk said, “I will stand at my guard post. I will station myself on the wall" (Habakkuk 2:1 GW). Getting alone and avoiding distractions can be tough in today's world. But one reason you don't hear God speak to you more is because you are surrounded by noise. You've always got the TV on, your earbud in your ear, or your cell phone ringing. The world around you is so loud you never hear the still, small voice of God.Luke 5:16 says, “Jesus often withdrew to lonely places and prayed” (NIV). Jesus often made it a habit to get alone by himself. If he needed to do it, we do too. But don't stop there. You can't just withdraw.He waited. After withdrawing, you need to calm your thoughts and emotions and be still. Habakkuk said, “I will . . . wait” (Habakkuk 2:1 GNT). Habakkuk stayed put so he could hear God. Many of us don't hear God because we're just too busy. Hurry is the death of prayer. If you're going to hear God speak, you shouldn't just get away. You must mentally and emotionally calm yourself down. How do you do that? Relax your body and wait. Psalm 46:10 says, “Be still and know that I am God” (NCV). As you wait, get still and comfortable. Let go of muscle tension. Your body affects your attitudes. If you don't feel well physically, it affects your emotions and your moods. As your body relaxes, so does your mind.  Once your body relaxes, you simply wait. That takes time. It's difficult for most of us to calm down. And you can't force yourself to do it. It takes time for your body and your mind to get those RPMs down. God speaks to people who take the time to listen. If you're in a hurry, you will not hear God speak. He watched. Next, you let God give you a mental picture. Habakkuk said, “I will watch to see what he will say to me” (Habakkuk 2:1 GW). Pastor, have you noticed that God often speaks visually to us? He often gives us a mental picture of what he wants to say to us. There are hundreds of examples of this in Scripture. God would impress a mental picture on people’s minds as they were praying. You can see this all throughout Scripture—from Abraham in the Old Testament to Paul in the New Testament.Many of you are naturally visual thinkers. You often think in bright, beautiful pictures. It's very normal for you. Studies have shown that 50 to 75 percent of the population thinks in pictures. If this is you, when you read the Bible, you don't just read the story—you see the story!  When you quiet down and calm yourself, and get all the distractions out of the way, then you can simply say, "Jesus, is there anything you want to show me? Do you want to give me an idea, an impression?"He wrote. Record the ideas God gives you. Habakkuk did this. He said, “The LORD answered me: ‘Write down the vision’” (Habakkuk 2:2 NCV).Many people don't like to pray because they end up saying the same thing over and over. They're stuck in a rut. What's the solution? Write out your prayers as you think them. Journaling can help. Almost every great Christian in history has journaled. They wrote what they wanted to say to God and then wrote what God said to them. This practice keeps you focused, helps you remember what you've said to God, and helps you remember what he has said to you. Then you don't have to learn the same lesson over and over! He worshiped. The Living Bible paraphrase says, “O Lord, now I have heard your report, and I worship you in awe” (Habakkuk 3:2).When you have received God's loving response to your prayers, it's going to make you want to love the Lord more and draw you closer to him. This turns prayer from a monologue into a dialogue. It becomes a conversation. We should thank God when we hear from him!Pastor, if you will practice these biblical steps regularly, they will open up a whole new dimension of your Christian life. Prayer will become a great adventure to you instead of a source of boredom or guilt. Of course, this isn't the only way to pray. But this is a key way that God can get your attention so you can listen to him.

What Nehemiah Teaches Us About Prayer

You can learn a lot about leaders by listening to how they pray. In Nehemiah 1, we get to listen in on a prayer from Nehemiah, one of the Bible’s best leaders.When Nehemiah first heard about the fall of Jerusalem, he prayed for four months. He didn’t pray casually; he gave us a pattern for praying successfully. If you want to know how to pray, study the book of Nehemiah—particularly this model prayer.Here is what we can learn about how to pray from Nehemiah’s prayer.1. Base your request on God’s character. “O LORD, God of heaven, the great and awesome God who keeps his covenant of unfailing love with those who love him and obey his commands . . .” (Nehemiah 1:5 NLT).Start off praying like you know God will answer you: “I’m expecting you to answer this prayer because of who you are. You are a faithful God. You are a great God. You are a loving God. You are a wonderful God. You can handle this problem, God!” Notice that Nehemiah says three specific things about God:You’re great (recognizing God’s position).You’re awesome (recognizing his power).You keep your promises (recognizing God’s covenant).Nehemiah begins with the right perspective about the character of God.2. Confess the sin in your life. “I confess that we have sinned against you. Yes, even my own family and I have sinned! We have sinned terribly by not obeying the commands, decrees, and regulations that you gave us through your servant Moses” (Nehemiah 1:6–7 NLT).Nehemiah confesses his own personal sin, his family sin, and the nation’s sin. We tend to be very individualistic today. We’re taught to confess our own sins—not corporate sins. When was the last time you confessed the sins of your family, your church, or your nation? Our society has taught us we’re only responsible for ourselves, but that’s just not true! You are your brother’s keeper. We are all in this together. If you want to be a leader, you accept the blame and share the credit. 3. Claim the promises of God. “Please remember what you told your servant Moses: ‘If you are unfaithful to me, I will scatter you among the nations. But if you return to me and obey my commands and live by them, then even if you are exiled to the ends of the earth, I will bring you back to the place I have chosen for my name to be honored’” (Nehemiah 1:8–9 NLT).Can you imagine saying “remember” to God? Nehemiah is reminding God of what he said in the past. Does God have to be reminded of his promises? Of course not. But we do. Nothing pleases God more than when you remind God of one of his promises. When you remind God of his promises, you show him that you know what he has promised!  4. Make specific requests. “O Lord, please hear my prayer! Listen to the prayers of those of us who delight in honoring you. Please grant me success today by making the king favorable to me. Put it into his heart to be kind to me” (Nehemiah 1:11 NLT).For God to answer specific prayers, you need to make specific requests. Otherwise, you’ll never know if God answers them.Nehemiah prays boldly for success. You may be hesitant to do that, but there is nothing wrong with praying for success if your aim is ultimately the glory of God. If you can’t ask God to make you a success at what you’re doing, do something else. God doesn’t want you to waste your life. Make specific requests with the aim of God’s glory and watch to see how God will answer them.

The Miracles of Christmas Are for You

I know you’ve likely had a busy few weeks, full of Christmas services, programs, and ministry. By this point, you’re probably exhausted. But don’t miss the opportunity to take a few moments to reflect on the miracles of Christmas. You’ve preached about Christmas. You’ve talked about it. You’ve sung about it.It’s easy to get so busy doing ministry during the Christmas season that you never take the time to think about what God did at Christmas—and what it means for you.As you wrap up this season and head into a new year, take some time to thank God for these four Christmas miracles.God Came to EarthThe God of the universe became a man. The Bible describes Jesus as “the image of the invisible God” (Colossians 1:15 NIV). Jesus wasn’t just a good man—He was God in the flesh. The incarnation isn’t just a fancy theological term for you to preach; it’s a deeply personal reality to embrace in your ministry. God isn’t detached from the struggles you’re facing. He is right there in your fatigue, frustrations, and joys.Thanks to the miracle of the incarnation, you are never alone. God’s presence is the greatest gift you can receive this Christmas.God Came as a ManPaul tells us, “[Christ] gave up his place with God and made himself nothing. He was born as a man and became like a servant. And when he was living as a man, he humbled himself” (Philippians 2:7-8 NCV).Think about all the ways God could have revealed himself. He could have written his message in fiery letters across the sky or invented a worldwide satellite system 2,000 years ago to broadcast his arrival. But he didn’t.Jesus didn’t come as a distant force or an imposing deity. He came as a vulnerable, approachable, fully human baby. Why? So he could relate to you. He grew like you, experienced life as you do, and faced every temptation without sinning.Jesus understands the demands and challenges you face as a pastor. He knows what it’s like to be tired, to be misunderstood, and to carry the burdens of others. Let this truth sink in deeply this Christmas: You have a Savior who truly understands.God Came for EveryoneThe angels didn’t announce Jesus’ birth to the political and social elites of his time. They shared the Good News with lowly shepherds instead. It’s a powerful reminder that no one is excluded from the love Jesus came to earth to show.That includes you. You’re not just a shepherd caring for others. You’re a sheep under the care of the Good Shepherd. You’re not just a preacher of the Good News about Jesus—you’re a recipient of it as well.This Christmas, let that sink in: Jesus didn’t just come for the world—he came for you. his love is personal, and his grace is meant to renew your heart, even amid your ministry responsibilities.God Came for Our BenefitJesus didn’t come to condemn us. He came to save us. He came to give us a life of abundance and purpose. Remember what Jesus says in John 10:10: “I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full” (NIV).That “they” includes you! In the busyness of the Christmas season, it’s easy to focus on what God wants to give to those you’re shepherding. But don’t forget to thank God for the gifts he brings you—including the gift of your calling as a pastor.Reflecting on the MiraclesPastor, these miracles shouldn’t just be the foundation of your Christmas sermons—they’re God’s gift to you. As you look back on this busy season, let these truths refresh your own walk with Christ.

How God Develops Your Faith (Part 2)

Faith is an inseparable part of your ministry. You can’t please God without it  (Hebrews 11:6). But how do you develop the kind of faith that God wants you to have? By pursuing the ministry dreams God gives you. Last week I shared with you three of the six stages that God will take you through as he gives you a dream and eventually fulfills it.God gives you a dream.You make a decision.You experience a delay.But God doesn’t leave you in that delay pattern. Here are the final three stages of how God grows your faith as you pursue his dreams for your ministry. Stage #4 — You encounter difficultiesUsually, you’ll have two kinds of troubles as you pursue God’s dream for your ministry. First, you’ll have circumstances that pull you down. Second, you’ll face criticism.Throughout Scripture, God’s people faced difficulties as they tried to chase his dream for them. Read the stories of Moses, David, and Joshua. Each had to overcome painful times in their journeys. You won’t escape that pain either. But you can know that God will work through those difficulties to help you reach the dream he has given you. Peter describes how God uses trials in the faith-building process: “There is wonderful joy ahead, even though the going is rough for a while down here. These trials are only to test your faith, to see whether or not it is strong and pure” (1 Peter 1:6-7 TLB).At this stage, God tests your faith. Remember, though—the testing is only temporary.Stage #5 — You hit a dead endDuring this phase, your situation will move from difficult to impossible. You’ll be backed into a corner and exhausted. You’ll think the future of your dream is hopeless. You’ll be at a dead end.The greatest Christian missionary in history, the apostle Paul, faced plenty of dead ends in his ministry. He said he felt crushed, overwhelmed, and scared of death. But that was good, he said! “As a result, we stopped relying on ourselves and learned to rely only on God, who raises the dead” (2 Corinthians 1:9 NLT).If God can raise the dead, he can turn around any impossible situation in your life. When you face a dead end, you need to trust God to fulfill the dream he put into your heart.Stage #6 — God delivers you!Just when it looks like the impossible situation will never come to fruition, God performs a miracle as you place your trust completely in him.  Right after Paul wrote about placing his faith in Jesus when he faced an impossible situation, he said: “He has delivered us from such a deadly peril, and he will deliver us again. On him we have set our hope that he will continue to deliver us” (2 Corinthians 1:10 NIV).Not only did God deliver Paul, but the apostle knew he’d continue to do so.God is faithful. I saw it over and over again as pastor of Saddleback Church. Many times, I thought we’d hit a dead end along the way. I thought there was no chance we’d be able to start the church, get land, or build. But every time our backs were against the wall, God came through. He will come through for your dream as well. It may not happen as you expect, but God will always deliver you!I don’t know where you and your dream are in these six stages, but God will take you to stage six. You’ll get there. If God gave you this dream, he will fulfill it.