Essays on Prayer No. 10 - By Robert Dean Steel

Essays on Prayer No. 10 - By Robert Dean Steel

   This essay is how you can pray for your church.  At the end of this essay I will also include an outline you can use to pray over you church.  Praying for your church is so important.  It knits you to your church and makes you part of the spiritual fabric of your church.
   First, you pray for the Pastors.  They are God's under shepherds.  They have the responsibility for your care and feeding.  They pray for you and when you pray for them there is a closeness that develops.  You cannot hate or criticize someone you are praying for.  Pray that God would lead them, give them wisdom and insight for the church.  Pray that as a leadership and ministry team that they will work together and the enemy will not be able to sow any strife among them.  Pray that the pastor has a strong prayer and personal devotional life.  That he has a strong relationship with his spouse.  That they are walking in unity.  That their children will not be attacked or be subject to criticism.  Cover their family in prayer.  A pastor's family is on the main line.  Every person who prays for their family is uniting with them and they are praying a hedge of protection around their family.
   Next, pray for your church leadership.  They are your representative on the leadership team.  Pray for wisdom, insight and understanding for them.  Pray that will walk in unity with their fellow leaders.  Pray that they will meet the requirements for church leadership as is spelled out in 1 Tim and Titus.  Cover their families in prayer as well.  They face the same problems and challenges as the pastor or pastors.
  Pray against any known forces of attacks.  Apathy, lethargy, apostasy, sedition, division, strife or rebellion.  Come against witchcraft, domination, control, discouragement, depression disease and sickness.  Take authority over any demonic, worldly and human agendas in the name of Jesus.  You are acting as a warrior for your church.  Your intercession can and will keep the enemy at bay.
   Here are some things you can ask the Lord to be happening in your church.  Pray that your church becomes a church of prayer.  That God will send you intercessors and people who really know how to pray and breakthrough.
   Pray for your church to be a church of the word.  A place where the word of God is preached and honored.  Pray for God's anointing, power, presence, authority and wisdom is seen.  Pray that God will send you people who love the word and are noble in the word.
   Pray that all your needs as a church would be met.  That God would bring givers and people who love to sow into the Kingdom.  A stingy church is a powerless church.  Giving releases the abundance of heaven.  God is Jehovah Jireh and He wishes to supply all your needs.
   Pray that God would send workers.  Pray to the Lord of the harvest that He would send the right workers at the right time for the right purpose.   Every church could use more people to do the work of the Lord.
   Pray for people to be released from the four directions.  I will talked about this in a future essay.  How many people do you want to see join your church each week.  Acts 2:47, says the Lord added daily to the church those who would be saved.  Your prayers are an essential part of this.
   Pray for specific groups, children, young people, young adults, young families with children, families with young people, empty nesters and seniors.  When you pray things happen.  Your church needs your prayers.

Here is a model of prayer you can pray:

   Today I stand in the gap for ______________________(name of church)  I thank the Lord for all He has done and miracles wrought in His name.  I thank Him for the reality of His presence in our services whenever we meet in His name.
   Today I declare this church free in the name of Jesus.  I believe that God has a plan and purpose and I release now His dreams and destiny for this church in Jesus name.  In His name we shall become the church God's wishes us to be and I remove remove every hindrance to that belief.
   Today I stand against demonic, worldly or human assignment in the name of Jesus and they are removed permanently.  I release this church from any residue of the past because of broken promises, authority abuse or un-forgiveness.  I release our people, priorities, and resources to the great commission and break every poverty spirit or mentality on this church.  The prosperity of this church will no longer be a thought, hope or dream it shall be a reality in the name of Jesus.  I declare people will be saved, healed and delivered in every service and this church full every Sunday no matter who may be away.  Coming to this church will be a joy and all who attend will fall into the Lord's divine will in the name of Jesus.
   I call from all over our area, country and the world those who belong to this church and I break every hindrance to their coming in the name of Jesus.  I declare thousands to come to be saved and delivered in Jesus' name.  My community will be a place of revival and our church will be on the cutting edge of this move of God.  I release children, youth, young adults, parents and seniors who belong to this church.  I release the forces of heaven to win this battle over my community in the name of Jesus.  I put to flight all opposition to God plans for my church and area in Jesus name.
   Lord I break any word curses, lies, gossip or slander spoken against this church in the name of Jesus.  Any accusations or lies spoken against our church in this city will die today and from this day forward our reputation in this city is now in the Lord's hand and protection.  Lord, this is your church and we are your people.  Lord, protect us, keep us and release us to your destiny and victory in the name of Jesus.