THE PRAYER WARRIOR: CHURCH PLANTERS DAILY PRAYER GUIDE

Subject: Prayer Walk

“And the Lord said to Joshua, ‘See! I have given Jericho into your hand, it’s king and mighty men of valor. All your men of war shall surround and go round the city “ (Joshua 6: 2-5)

1. First Sunday of the Month:

Cry for My Beloved City. (Jonah 3: 1-4)

2. Second Sunday of the Month:

The House Church (Ezekiel 4: 1-3)

3. Third Sunday of the Month:

City Government (Nehemiah 2: 11-20)

4. Fourth Sunday of the Month:

Intimacy with God and with Each Other (Isaiah 60: 1-3)

You are Foreigners and Sojourners

For success, journey on your knees

First Sunday of the Month

Subject: Cry for My Beloved City.

“Those who sow in tears shall reap in joy. He who continuously goes weeping, bearing seeds for sowing shall doubtless return rejoicing, bringing his sheaves with him.” (Psalm 126: 5, 6)

Sunday worship is not mentioned anywhere in the Bible. The only time the disciples got together on the first day of the week was to break bread when Paul visited them at Troas. The Jewish first day of the week started on Saturday evening. The first day of the week meeting actually took place on

Saturday night with people bringing bread for supper. Paul left early in the morning for Assos while others went to work. The first day of the week was a working day and not a day of rest. Actually Saturday night worship is an excellent idea because it will save the families from worshiping ‘the Bottle’, the Bollywood and the Idiot Box. It will also leave Sunday free for church planting.

Paul proclaimed the gospel publicly and from house to house. There were no well-prepared sermons on Sundays. Paul’s method of communicating the whole counsel of God was through reason, persuasion and dialogue (Acts 18: 4, 19). There was no time limit. The bishops and elders were overseers of the house churches. Overseeing in Greek means overshadowing, just like the Holy Spirit overshadowed Mary (Luke 1: 35). They knew that God owned the sheep because they were His purchased possession. With such loving Mentoring, the church naturally grew explosively. (Acts 20: 7-13, 20, 27-30)

Peter, Paul and Jesus Himself used the resources available in the houses of the believers to expand the kingdom. Sadly, the Christian houses are no longer the focus of spiritual activities and no wonder we now have a disastrous family situation. We need to urgently deploy the enormous human and material resources of the families so that it becomes a Great Commission training center.

God in His economy has chosen the believers’ humble households to disciple all nations. He has appointed ordinary people as Royal Priests to accomplish the enormous task of reaping the entire harvest from the city in Christian homes.

:: PRAYER ::

O Father, we know for sure that neither death nor life nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor present, nor things to come, nor height, nor depth, nor any other created thing shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus. Lord help us to use our house as a Great Commission training center to spread this message. (Romans 8: 38, 39)
O Father, thank You for providing us with food, water, electricity, communication, education and every spiritual blessing in our home. Now we pray that these facilities be used for the fulfillment of Your covenant with our forefather Abraham, to be a blessing to all the families in our neighborhood. (Ephesians 1: 3; Deuteronomy 8: 18)
Lord, we pray for our neighbors that according to Your promise, pour Your Spirit on them, so that they do not worship the works of man’s hands but may prophecy and dream dreams and see visions of their Creator and Savior. We pray that they may worship You in spirit and in truth, in their homes. (Joel 2: 28, 29, John 4: 23, 24)
Lord, we pray that disciples will visit other believers in their homes and reason, persuade and dialogue with them and share the whole counsel of God until every family knows that they are a nation of priests, a chosen generation to proclaim the praises of Him who called us out of darkness into His marvelous light. (1 Peter 2: 9)
Lord, we pray that Your Name should be great among the Gentiles in all places, from the rising of the sun to its going down. In every home in our city, in their culture and traditions, incense and pure offerings should be offered in Your name. (Malachi 1: 11)
O Father, we thank You for sending us to break the fallow ground, prepare it, sow the seed and then water it with tears. Only then we will return with sheaves with shouts of joy. (Psalm 126: 5, 6)
Pray on important news items mentioned in the media today.

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Second Sunday of the Month

Subject: The House Church (Ezekiel 4: 1-3)

Aquila and Priscilla greet the Church in thy house. (1 Corinthians 19: 16)

First century believers were severely persecuted by the Jews, the gentiles and the Roman government. They met secretly in homes in very small numbers. If caught they could be beaten up, jailed, sawn asunder and even fed to hungry lions. The price for believing in Jesus was high and yet, when people saw how Christians loved each other, thousands believed in Jesus. There was no instrumental music, no loud worship and no sermons. They lived by faith and quietly shared their faith with others. They also had no foreign funding. In spite of these or perhaps because of this they multiplied and grew rapidly. (Acts 9: 31)

Today the church has completely changed in character and content. The worship is usually deafening. Oblivious of the neighborhood, the worship leaders scream through the loud speakers with worshippers jumping around and joining in making weird noises, all in the name of spiritual ecstasy. The atmosphere to an outsider is hysterical. Sadly, the Holy Spirit comes only once a week, between 10 and 12 AM on Sundays. The message with triumphalistic language extols success achieved through foreign money and exploitation of the poor evangelists. Most of the healing crusades are stage managed, full of gimmickry, the more so when a foreigner is present. When an evil spirit is removed, there is so much shouting, screaming, pulling of hair and jumping around that it is difficult to tell who actually has the evil spirit. Instead of finding Jesus in all this, the people of other faiths find it very offensive. (1 Corinthians 14: 24, 25)

Every thing we do today is far removed from the secrecy and the simplicity of the New Testament Church. Our Lord did not teach the doctrine of worship to a religious leader but to the Samaritan woman of ill repute. To her worship meant bringing the entire Gentile village to the feet of Jesus. (John 4: 23, 24, 39)

If we want to have the same success in rapidly advancing the kingdom of God as our mother church then we need to unload all the extra-biblical garbage. We need to plant first century churches in the twenty-first century.

:: PRAYER ::

O Elohim, You are the Sovereign God of the universe, who covenants with His people to preserve His creation. Those who wait on You shall renew their strength. They shall mount up with wings like eagles. They shall run and not be weary. They shall walk and not faint. Heaven and earth will pass away, but Your words will by no means pass away. Lord let Your Church be without spot or wrinkle. (Isaiah 1: 25; 40: 31; Matt. 24: 35)
O Lord, grant that many prayer walkers will go into broadways and narrow lanes and close the gates of Hades, so that Satan will not hinder the people from entering the church. Grant O Father that just like the Jerusalem church, 3000 souls, then 5000 and finally multitudes of men and women from our city will gather in small groups to be discipled.
Father, we pray that just like all healthy living things reproduce themselves, let Your Bride also reproduce herself and multiply and fill the earth. That the church may not be preoccupied with just winning sheep but also flock them into local churches.
Lord, we uphold all the righteous people of this city that they may stand in the gap between You and the perishing. We pray that they may obtain maps of the city and like Ezekiel lay an intercessory siege against the powers of darkness. (Ezekiel 4: 1-3)
O Father, Abraham interceded for sinful cities of Sodom and Gomorrah but since they did not have even ten righteous people, the cities were destroyed. Now we pray for plenty of intercessors so that this city will not be destroyed. (Genesis 18: 22, 23)
We thank You for loving the people of our city so much that You gave Your only Son that, whoever believes in Him, will not perish but have everlasting life. Lord, thoroughly purge the dross from Your church and help us to plant the same kind of churches which You taught Your disciples to establish. (John 3: 16; Isaiah 1: 25)
Pray on important news items mentioned in the media today.

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Third Sunday of the Month

Subject: City Government

Let every soul be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God. He gives it to whomsoever He will, and sets over it the lowest of men. (Romans 13: 1; Daniel 4: 17)

The blood of the Lamb slain on the cross has redeemed us and made us kings and priests (Revelation 5: 10). Jesus is the King of kings and the government is upon His shoulders (Isaiah 9: 7). We are the servant kings and He is our King.

He is the head and we are His body, His arms, legs and shoulders. Therefore, the government is really on our shoulders and we are responsible for establishing His righteous government on earth. So if our city is in bad shape with corruption, lack of water, electricity and other essential items, bad roads and filthy slums with people defecating all over the place, then we are to be blamed for bad governance. We are the repairer of roads and restorers of the waste places. (Isaiah 58: 12)

Every day we pray, ‘Your kingdom come and Your will be done on earth’ but we do not see His will being done here because we do nothing about it. Kingdom means government. When we pray for the kingdom of God, we are in effect praying for the Government of God. Jesus said ‘All authority in heaven and earth has been given to Me.’ But we do not see His authority here on earth. Ignorance and dereliction of duty by the heirs has resulted in the devil taking over the authority and the government. We must take the authority and throw him out and install the government of God so that His will is done in our city and the nation.

For this we need to prayer walk and know the city just like Nehemiah did. He mobilized every household for repairing the fallen wall right in front of their houses. Similarly we should take charge of our locality and through intercession, repair roads, provide food, water, shelter, toilet facility and all the other essential services necessary to bring dignity in the lives of the poor people. As servant kings we must rule the nation on behalf of Jesus our King. (Mathew 5: 5)

:: PRAYER ::

Father God, the word that goes out of Your mouth shall not return void but it shall prosper and accomplish the purpose for which it was sent. Let the mountains and the hills break forth into singing and all the rivers and the trees clap their hands. (Isaiah 55: 11, 12)
Lord, You have redeemed us to bring in the rule of love, peace justice, equality and prosperity for all. Today we uphold all the officials of our city and the nation, in Your powerful name, before the throne of Grace that they may know and fear their creator. Let our light so shine before men that people may see their good works and glorify our Father in heaven. (Matthew 5: 16)
Lord, we pray that when Your servant kings go to visit the perishing, that they may find open doors, hearts and minds. That they may boldly profess the good news of Your government and that they would effectively deal with the adversary. (Colossians 4: 2, 3)
O Father, let us who are Your servant kings, comprehend the awesome authority and power You have given to us. May we reign on earth and remove the kingdom of darkness and bring in Your righteous rule of justice, peace and love in our city. That we who are Your prophets, priests and kings will zealously serve the people and transform the nation. (Revelation 5: 10; Amos 5: 11-15)
Lord, You cried over Your City Jerusalem. We repent because in spite of Your clear command to pray diligently and to work for the welfare of our city, we have not done so. Lord, burden us, Your stewards, to rule our city with tears. (Jeremiah 29: 7; Matthew 23: 27-39)
Father, we pray for those who participate in Your Government that You bless them and keep them, You make Your face to shine upon them and be gracious to them; Lord, lift up Your countenance upon them and give them peace. (Numbers 6: 24-26)
Pray on important news items mentioned in the media today.

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Fourth Sunday of the Month

Subject: Intimacy with God and with Each Other

“And they continued steadfastly in the apostolic teaching and fellowship, eating of food and in prayers and the Lord added to their numbers daily.” (Acts 2: 42-47)

Our mother church in the first century met in homes where the apostles taught. Together they searched the scriptures. Together they prayed. Together they shared their material blessings. Together they had fellowship. Together they ate food. Together they went fishing for souls. Together they brought people to their homes for discipling and the Lord added to their numbers daily.

They had been trained by Jesus to be expert fishers of men. They went out, with ‘one accord’, which means with well-planned strategy to catch men. Evidently they were greatly successful because the temple authorities persecuted them and blamed them for saturating the city with their doctrine. (Acts 5: 17- 20, 28). Soon thousands of people were worshipping together in homes.

God told Jeremiah to take the new linen sash from his waist and hide it in a hole near the river Euphrates. After some days he got the cloth back again but by this time it was ruined and profitable for nothing. Linen sash is not a showpiece but a very intimate multi-utility possession. It is used as a towel, a head covering for protection from the hot sun etc. It indicates servant-hood. Jesus used it to wipe the feet of the disciples. God wants to have the same intimate relationship with His people and use them for His service. Sadly His people are not available to Him during the weekdays and hide themselves in the church on Sundays. In the process they have ruined themselves and become useless for God. He cannot use the rotten ‘Pew Potatoes’. He needs people who are available to Him for daily use, to complete His mission. (Jeremiah 13: 1-11)

Many churches are busy with their ‘merry go round’ programs without serious concern for intimacy with God or for His mission. If we want to see our nation reached, then we must be available to do things together with God.

:: PRAYER ::

Lord, thank You for Your promise that if we are obedient to You then five of us will chase a hundred and a hundred of us will put ten thousand to flight. But if we are disobedient then one enemy will chase a thousand and two of them will put 10,000 Christians to flight. Therefore, we should be sober and vigilant because, our adversary walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour. Father, keep us intimately wrapped around you and use us. (Leviticus 26: 8; Deuteronomy 32: 30; 1 Peter 5: 8)
Father, You will not do any thing in our city or in our nation, unless You first reveal Your secret to Your servants the prophets. Lord we pray that You will speak to men, women and children in dreams and visions and together they will prophesy. (Amos 3: 7, Joel 2: 28)
O Father, we pray that peoples of other faiths will see dreams and visions of Jesus. May they see how we live together and love each other. Then let them come and grab our sleeves and say, ‘Let us go with you for we hear that God is with you.’ (Zechariah 8: 23)
Father, when believers come together, let each one bring a psalm, a teaching, a tongue and its interpretation and a revelation. May men, women and children prophesy, share visions and dreams. Let all things be done together for edification of the church. (1 Corinthians 14: 26-31)
Father, we pray for the multitudes who are in the valley of decision. O Lord, the light of the sun and the moon will grow dark on them forever. Let not Your people hide and be ruined like the linen sash but rise up and serve the multitudes to make the right decision. (Joel 3: 14, 15)
Lord, we thank You for Your promise, ‘O Little flock, do not be afraid because it has pleased the Father to give you the kingdom.’ Father give Your little flock the strategy to do the right things with one accord. Teach us the necessary ‘skills’ to become expert fishers of men. (Luke 12: 32)
Pray on important news items mentioned in the media today.