Battle Plan for Prayer - Week 1

We are beginning a new series today using the book Battle Plan for Prayer by Stephen & Alex Kendrick. The book was inspired by their movie War Room. Chapters 1 & 2.

You who answer prayer, to you all people will come. Psalms 65:2

The Legacy of Prayer

Prayer can accomplish what a willing God can accomplish. Every issue we are facing can be addressed through prayer. There is nothing to difficult or impossible for God to handle. 

The greatest and most spiritually successful men and women in the world were people of prayer. There are several examples from the Bible.

Abraham walked by faith but was guided by prayer. In Genesis after Abraham told Abimelek that Sarah was his sister, she was taken to live in Abimelek’s house. But God spoke to Ambimelek and warned him that Sarah was the wife of Abraham. Abimelek returned Sarah to Abraham and Abraham prayed to restore the house of Abimelek

So Abraham prayed to God; and God healed Abimelech, his wife, and his female servants. Then they bore children, for the Lord had closed up all the wombs of the house of Abimelech because of Sarah, Abraham’s wife. Genesis 20:17-18

Isaac prayed for his wife and God blessed him with Jacob who became the father of Israel.

Isaac prayed to the Lord on behalf of his wife, because she was childless. The Lord answered his prayer, and his wife Rebekah became pregnant. Genesis 25:21

Moses spoke to God as a friend and God led Moses in everything he did. Today we still have the Torah and Ten Commandments which God gave Moses.

The Lord would speak to Moses face to face, as one speaks to a friend. Exodus 33:11

David talked to God morning, noon, and night. David was considered the greatest king of Israel.

Evening, morning and noon I cry out in distress, and he hears my voice. Psalm 55:17

Nehemiah’s prayer resulted in the wall around Jerusalem being built. A portion of that wall still stands in Jerusalem today.

When I heard these things, I sat down and wept. For some days I mourned and fasted and prayed before the God of heaven. Nehemiah 1:4

Daniel prayed three times a day. He would rather risk losing his life than stop praying.

Now when Daniel learned that the decree had been published, he went home to his upstairs room where the windows opened toward Jerusalem. Three times a day he got down on his knees and prayed, giving thanks to his God, just as he had done before. Daniel 6:10

Elijah is a wonderful example of what great things a prayer can accomplish.

Elijah was a human being, even as we are. He prayed earnestly that it would not rain, and it did not rain on the land for three and a half years. Again he prayed, and the heavens gave rain, and the earth produced its crops. James 5:17-18

Jesus is our ultimate example of a life led by prayer. Before healing, and performing miracles, before choosing his disciples, Jesus spent nights in prayer.

Very early in the morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house
and went off to a solitary place, where he prayed. Mark 1:35

Jesus challenged his followers to watch and pray.

Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation.
The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak.Mark 14:38

Jesus told his followers to pray rather than giving up. He used the parable of the persistent widow to explain that persistent prayer produces results.

Then Jesus told his disciples a parable to show them that
they should always pray and not give up. Luke 18:1

Before the crucifixion Jesus prayed so earnestly his sweat became drops of blood.

And being in anguish, he prayed more earnestly,
and his sweat was like drops of blood falling to the ground. Luke 22:44

Now Jesus is the risen Lord who sits at the right hand of the Father and makes intercession for us.

Who then is the one who condemns? No one. Christ Jesus who died—
more than that, who was raised to life—
is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us. Romans 8:34

Paul prayed constantly. 

always in every prayer of mine making request for you all with joy,
for your fellowship in the gospel from the first day until now, Philippians 1:4-5

The examples of powerful people continued through church history. Hudson Taylor was a missionary to China in the 1800s. He started 125 churches and introduced thousands of people to faith in Christ. His son wrote “For 40 years the sun never rose on China a single day that God didn’t find him on his knees.”

John Muller led the Ashton Down Orphanage and took care of more than 10,000 orphans. When he died he had recorded more than 50,000 documented answers to prayer in his journal.

Charles Haddon Spurgeon was an English preached who preached to thousands each week. In the basement of his church was a prayer room of which he said “Here is the powerhouse of this church.”

Jonathon Edwards and John Wesley helped usher in the Great American Awakening in the 1700s. Their strategy included preaching God’s word and joining people together in prayer.

Prayer is Powerful

Paul used prayer as a weapon on the battlefield. After explaining the full armor of God, Paul called Christ’s followers to pray.

praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit,
being watchful to this end with all perseverance
and supplication for all the saints Ephesians 6:18

 Prayer can accomplish anything because in God all things are possible.

But Jesus looked at them and said to them, “With men this is impossible,
but with God all things are possible.” Matthew 19:26

Prayer of a righteous man can accomplish anything because God can accomplish anything.

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. Elijah was a man with a nature like ours, and he prayed earnestly that it would not rain; and it did not rain on the land for three years and six months. And he prayed again, and the heaven gave rain, and the earth produced its fruit. 

James 5:16-18