
Spiritual
Warfare
2/19/2012
TWSP Biblical University
Dr.Diana DarnleyGibson, CEO
Starting a
Prayer Group at Home or at Church
Something
powerful always happens when God’s people come together united with a common
goal to pray and lay hold of Christ.
In Acts 1, we
read that the believers came together to pray and fellowship with one another
in Jerusalem until the promise of the Holy Spirit came. In Acts 2, we read that “when the day of
Pentecost came, they were all together in one place.” Powerful things happen when God’s people come
TOGETHER to pray. Matthew 18:19-20 says "Again, I tell you that if two of
you on earth agree about anything you ask for, it will be done for you by my
Father in heaven. For
where two or three come together in my name, there am I with them.”
Is
God calling you to be a part of a prayer
group in your home , teleconference or through email prayer request? If so,
this document is just for you. We are going to look at three basic areas to
help get you started.
1.
Goal of a Prayer Group
2.
Biblical principles for a prayer group
3.
Sample outline to use
First,
we need to start with the purpose of a prayer group and answer the question
“what’s the point”.
Group Purpose:
1.
The main purpose of a prayer
group is to allow for a set time for people
to come together to seek the Lord, to pray for one another, and learn of
the Lord together on His will for our lives, our church, our community. According to God’s promises, this opens the
door for revival, reformation, healing, and evangelism. Prayer
= revival. That is its foundational
purpose.
2.
The second purpose of this
meeting is to provide a training ground for prayer to teach others how to seek
the Lord, what hinders prayers, stipulations to prayer, and how to pray for
others.
3.
Prayer Journals are
encouraged and facilitated for each person to use as a tool in their own prayer
life.
Prayer Group Principles:
1. Seek
the Lord as a group (prayer is main focus)
“Is anyone among you suffering? Let him pray. Is
anyone cheerful? Let him sing psalms. Is anyone among you sick? Let him call
for the elders of the church, and let them pray over him, anointing him with
oil in the name of the Lord. And the prayer of faith will save the sick, and
the Lord will raise him up. And if he has committed sins, he will be forgiven.
Confess your trespasses to one another, and pray for one another, that you may be
healed. The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much.” –
James 5:13-16
“If My people who are called by My name will
humble themselves, and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways,
then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land.”
– 2 Chronicles 7:14 (revival/healing
predicated on prayer)
“They shall come with weeping, and with supplications I will lead them. I
will cause them to walk by the rivers of waters, in a straight way in which
they shall not stumble; for I am a Father to Israel, and Ephraim is My
firstborn.” – Jeremiah 31:9
2. Make
praise/thanksgiving a part of the program
Singing always opens up our heart to Jesus.
Worship prepares our heart to enter the presence of God. If you are unable to
sing songs together in a home-setting, consider starting out with a “worship”
time where you praise God for who He is. This is different than simply answered
prayer requests. Worship (adoration) is praising God for WHO He is.
“Is any one of you in trouble? He should pray.
Is anyone happy? Let him sing songs of praise.” – James 5:13
“Enter his gates with thanksgiving and his
courts with praise; give thanks to him and praise his name.” – Psalm 100:4
3. Prepare
to Enter the Lord’s Presence (opening prayer)
Typically kneel and pray – allow time for
stillness and silent repentance before God, asking for humility and openness to
hear His voice speaking.
“He makes me lie down in green pastures, he
leads me beside quiet waters.” – Psalm 23:2 (we need God to still us and quiet us – especially after a busy day!)
“This shall be a continual burnt offering throughout your generations at
the door of the tabernacle of meeting before the LORD, where I will meet you to
speak with you. And there I will meet with the children of Israel, and the tabernacle
shall be sanctified by My glory.” – Exodus 29:42-43 (sacrificing a lamb = confession of sin was required in courtyard of
sanctuary before approaching the Lord.)
"Do not come any closer," God said.
"Take off your sandals, for the place where you are standing is holy
ground." – Exodus 3:5 (kneeling
before God is a sign of reverence and humility)
“I have declared my ways, and You answered me;
teach me Your statutes. Make me understand the way of Your precepts; so shall I
meditate on Your wonderful works.” – Psalm 119:26-27 (praying for humility and understanding is important to hear God speak)
4. Learn
From the Word of God
Usually allow for 30 – 40 minutes of teaching
time on a specific topic or theme for spiritual growth/application.
“Teach me, O LORD, the way of Your statutes, and
I shall keep it to the end. Give me understanding, and I shall keep Your
law; indeed, I shall observe it with my whole heart.” – Psalm 119:33-34
“This Book of the Law shall not depart from your
mouth, but you shall meditate in it day and night, that you may observe
to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way
prosperous, and then you will have good success.” – Joshua 1:8
5. Open
praise/prayer request time for group
This is the time when we listen to praises, answered
prayers, and prayer requests. It’s not a
gossip session. We use “certain situation” for sensitive requests. It’s a time
for everyone to record requests in their own prayer journal to pray over them
personally outside of prayer group. It’s also an opportunity to train people on
prayer intercessory and allows them to see its results.
“Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you
are doing.” – 1 Thessalonians 5:11
“And let us consider how we may spur one another
on toward love and good deeds. “Let us not give up meeting together, as some
are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage
one another - and all the more as you see the Day approaching.” – Hebrews 10:24-25
True Worshippers Spiritual Warfare Pray Group is founded by
Dr. Diana DarnleyGibson, Kissimmee, FL which is the CEO of True Worshippers
School of Prophets Biblical University www.twspbu.org
Offers: Intercession
The courses listed below may be applied as a major concentration toward an Associate's, Bachelor's, Master's, or Doctoral degree. Our goal is to train up intercessors who have an understanding and experience of various models of prayer, the place and role of intercession, and a sensitivity to the Holy Spirit as He leads in the intercessory process.
The courses listed below may be applied as a major concentration toward an Associate's, Bachelor's, Master's, or Doctoral degree. Our goal is to train up intercessors who have an understanding and experience of various models of prayer, the place and role of intercession, and a sensitivity to the Holy Spirit as He leads in the intercessory process.
“But Moses’ hands became heavy; so they
took a stone and put it under him, and he sat on it. And Aaron and Hur
supported his hands, one on one side, and the other on the other side; and his
hands were steady until the going down of the sun. So, Joshua defeated Amalek
and his people with the edge of the sword.” – Exodus 17:12-13 (this is an example of holding each other
up and praying for each other so that each will be encouraged to win. Moses
couldn’t do it by himself.)
“Praying always with all prayer and supplication
in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and
supplication for all the saints - and for me, that utterance may be given to
me, that I may open my mouth boldly to make known the mystery of the gospel,
for which I am an ambassador in chains; that in it I may speak boldly, as I
ought to speak. – Ephesians 6:18-20 (even
Paul asked for prayer from the prayer group that met in his day)
“Therefore He is also able to save to the
uttermost those who come to God through Him, since He always lives to make
intercession for them.” – Hebrews 7:25 (Jesus
is our example and is an intercessory for us.
We are to intercede for others.)
6. Group
Prayer Time
It’s important that we pray together allowing each person an
opportunity to pray. It’s also vital that we teach others how to pray by
claiming God’s Word during this time. The outline below gives one example that has
worked quite effectively with other groups. This example is one way to allow
each person an opportunity to pray without making them feel uncomfortable and
conspicuous and yet teach them the elements of prayer.
“By which have been given to us exceedingly
great and precious promises, that through these you may be partakers of the
divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world
through lust.” – 2 Peter 1:4
“So is my word that goes out from my mouth: it
will not return to me empty, but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the
purpose for which I sent it.” – Isaiah 55:11
“Until now you have not asked for anything in my
name. Ask and you will receive, and your joy will be complete.” – John 16:24
Example
is how it shall be done:
Each
person to use outline or written prayer given to them by the facilitator (this
provides the teaching component to prayer and allows for everyone to feel comfortable
praying regardless of their background with prayer.)
·
Put personal prayer journals on alter
(or central place if group is in a home) before praying in groups
·
Each group to begin praying at the same
time
·
Each group to remain where they are in
silent prayer until everyone finished and facilitator finishes praying.
Closing
Prayer (if through teleconference or submit email)
·
Facilitator prays over all prayer
requests given for that evening from the prayer group binder, personal
prayer journals, and prayer group members present. Specifically mention the
prayer requests given that evening. (send all prayer request to email: prayerrequest@truworshippersschool.com
)
"Prayer does not change God, but it changes him who prays. "
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We believe that the scriptures of the Old and New Testaments are verbally and fully inspired by G-d, that they are inerrant in the original writings, and that they are of supreme and final authority in faith and life.
We believe that those who are born again possess two natures and that they may be victorious over the old through the power of the new, but that the eradication of the old nature is unscripted (?Rom 6:13)
We believe that the scriptures teach the eternal security of the believer. We reject the teaching that a public profession of faith in Jesus is license for sin. we further believe that evidence of a person's regeneration is manifested in those who keep his commandments and abide in Him (Eph 1:13-14 4:30
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