PRAYER & SPIRITUAL WARFARE: QUALITIES OF A PRAYING CHURCH

If the church is going to operate positively in this negative world, there is need for us to be a praying church. The church is the only solution to the problem of the world.

For the purpose of the church to be realized, and be a force not a figure in this millennium, we must dare to prayer. Prayer is the power and backbone of the church. Without prayer, no church growth. For our church to grow, multiply, increase and to flourish in this end time, no church growth. For our church to grow, multiply, increase and to flourish in this end time, prayer is number one. Acts 1:14; Ps. 92:10, Mat. 16:18; II Pet. 3:18. This gate of hell will not prevail against a praying church.

A. The need for a praying church.

1. Increasing wickedness and evil – II Tim. 2:8
2. Abounding sin and transgression
3. Disease and sickness runs rampant
4. Dishonesty reigns in society
5. Death destroys easily murder, suicide, abortion, poverty, wars
6. Devil and his cohorts are having a field day
7. Occultic powers are mushrooming

These above-mentioned needs show the reality of praying church; they combined to make the majority of the people of the world despaired and miserable in life.

B. Positive Impact of a Praying Church – Matt. 16:18; Acts 2:17-18; Isa. 6-7.

Jesus has come, the world would never remain the same again and He had given the church the key of the kingdom (Prayer) to bind and lose. Now the church has possessed 100% authority of God to make positive impact in the communities. While sin and evil are abounding on one side, at the other side, God is pouring out His Spirit upon all flesh like never before. It is through the outpouring of God’s Spirit that the church will be able to bring positive impact to a negative world.

1. Forgiveness, hope and restoration
   1. Renewal, revival and rebuilding
   1. Healings, signs and wonders
   1. Miracles, blessings and deliverance
   1. Victory, prosperity and success galore
   1. Progress, promotion and peace
   1. Rapid and lasting growth

C. Balance for a Praying Church

Building a praying church is inevitable. A praying church that will experience turn around in her services must balance their praying activities with these things!

1. Purity with prayer
2. Healing with Holiness
3. Faith with faithfulness
4. Power with Pureness

Recommended Reading
FUNDAMENTALS OF FLOURISHING MINISTRY
Ten Principles of Spiritual Discipline
ow To Render Acceptable Service Unto God (2)

D. Qualities for a Praying Church

1. Strong and praying pastor – like Pastor, like church
2. Embrace change – by changing their praying attitude
3. Believe in prayer ministry a praying church must take prayer as a process not a programme.
4. Special presence of Holy Spirit – Holy Spirits is the spirit of prayer, and He is interceding is us always.
5. Intercession – Standing in the gap of others is the best prayer.
6. Listen and obey the Spirit – Sensitivity to the Holy Spirit is the key to higher level
7. Faith A praying church prays until something happen

The church must not exist as a figure but as a force. The church that God is looking for today is a praying church.

E. 7 Must for Praying Ministers

1. You must have prayer burden
   1. You must have a prayer life and maintain it
   1. You must have a holy life
   1. You must have a holy life
   1. You must have a good thought life
   1. You must have personal growth
   1. You must have relationship with intercessors
   1. You must be humble