The Power of Prayer in Small Groups

Take the power of prayer found in one faithful heart and add a prayer partner: their prayer becomes much more than the sum of the two of them. Then put a few prayer partners together into a small prayer group. Now the power explodes exponentially. Add groups together to become a whole church, and let those groups pray fervently for the neighborhood of their church, for the neighborhoods of each member, for the work of God in the whole world. What might God be able to do with such a church?

A small group often includes study time as well as prayer time. The small group usually meets once a week, often in the middle of the week. By consensus, the group chooses a book of the Bible to systematically study, or they may choose another book to read through together. Prayer time follows during which individuals request prayer for themselves or situations they know about. Then they pray together. A group dedicated specifically to become prayer warriors will spend at least as much time in actual prayer as in study or in talking about prayer requests. The requests will be made known to God in each other’s assenting presence, rather than to each other in God’s presence. Instead of spending twenty minutes on “praises and concerns” and five minutes saying, “God, You know the needs of each person mentioned,” prayer groups will spend the time in prayer, giving God the praises, telling Him the concerns.

This will help to avoid sanctified gossip. It is easy to talk about other people in their absence under the guise of “praying for that person.” Sometimes this is well-intentioned. Sometimes pride and feeling better than the one prayed for plays a part. Make sure that you are not sharing confidential information. It’s best to get another’s permission to bring concerns to the group. Maintain loyalty in the absence of another. Show other people in the best light possible. When negatives come out remember that everyone has them. Admit your own weaknesses.

God works more easily when we are unified in purpose. When two or three people agree, God will hear their request. Does this mean that everyone needs to think alike, dress alike and live alike? Absolutely not. We are all different. Still, in spite of the differences, we can unite in purpose. Knowing the motives and intentions of others helps us focus on the important. To get past appearances to motives, we need to ask questions. What does this mean to you? What are your intentions? Then listen trying to see through the eyes of another person. Look for what will enhance God’s kingdom. At times we have to give

forgiveness to get beyond differences.

Ask—Repeatedly

Remember that Jesus said to ask and since He repeated the advice as many times as He did, He must have really meant it. Ask for anything within His will. Whatever He has promised must be within His will, because God can’t lie. He can’t be unfaithful to Himself. He will do what He has said He will do. He will do it on His time schedule and His timing may not be here on this earth, it may only be done in heaven. For example, some illnesses God will not cure here. Some deformities will be cured in heaven. In some cases, the tears will be wiped away in heaven. But no matter when it’s done, God will do it.

Belief is an attitude. Belief grows as relationship with God grows, as trust grows. When it’s hard to believe, it helps to say like one man said to Jesus, “Lord, I believe. Help my unbelief.” The things we say react on our minds, making belief stronger. It’s important to say the things we want to believe or choose to believe.

To claim is to receive. When I receive a gift, I reach out, take it and then say, “Thank you.” Jesus said, “Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks the door will be opened.” (Matthew 7:7, NIV)

The seeking and knocking imply action, taking action to receive what has been asked for. Going through the same actions we normally do when receiving a gift strengthens our belief. To claim the promise, thank God for it.

Claiming Promises

In prayer we ask for what we need. But prayer is more than asking for things. “God made great and marvelous promises, so that his nature would become part of us. Then we could escape our evil desires and the corrupt influences of this world.” (2 Peter 1:4, CEV) True prayer brings us into relationship with God. In that relationship we become more like Him and less like anything destructive around us.

I am sure you know how to look for some of those “great and marvelous promises,” those treasures of

the Bible. You know how to look up a certain thing you need, such as faith, or patience, or healing, and find promises of those things. You probably know how to claim those promises for yourself, too. One of the most popular ways is the Ask, Believe, Claim method. You find the promise, hold it up to God, even put your finger on it if you wish, and ask Him for it. You believe that He promises it to you, and you claim it as your own. No doubt you remember to lean as hard as you can on Thy will be done, not mine! Remember, some things are fulfilled later than we wish, maybe not even on this earth.

But have you ever looked for those promises in the light of this passage? Have you ever looked for a promise of healing or protection and then asked God how the fulfillment of that promise would make you partake of the divine nature, or, as the Contemporary English Version has it, make God’s nature become a part of you? It’s a whole different thought, isn’t it? “He shall give His angels charge concerning you, and they will bear you up in their hands lest you dash your foot against a stone.” Why? So you don’t hurt your

foot? Or so you will be more like Jesus? “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive our sins.” Why? So we won’t feel bad anymore? Or so we’ll be more like Jesus?

Let’s look at a specific promise in the context of prayer as evangelism. It’s found in 1 John 5: 16-17. Here it is in New American Stand Bible: “If anyone sees his brother committing a sin not [leading] to death, he shall ask and [God] will for him give life to those who commit sin not [leading] to death. There is a sin [leading] to death; I do not say that he should make request for this. All unrighteousness is sin, and there is a sin not [leading] to death.”

What do you suppose this means? Is it talking about the unforgiveable sin, the one where someone has thrown up so many brick walls against the voice of God that he can’t hear it anymore, won’t ask for forgiveness, and cannot be reached, even by the Spirit of God? If so, how could we know that? Only God knows that. I believe this verse means that we can always ask God for forgiveness and life for those around us, and trust that God will always give life where He can, and only He knows that.

We can walk through our lives on this earth, praying constantly for literally everyone who crosses our paths, praying for God’s blessing on them, praying the covering of Jesus’ blood over them, praying that if there’s anything we can do for them, God will show us. This is the kind of open communication He needs, the kind of prayer with which He can change the world.

But we pray and pray, and nothing seems to be happening. How long? How many times?

Prayer Partners

God always hears us. However, at times our sight may be clouded by our own experiences or perceptions. We need the view of others. A trusted friend can gently help us to see ourselves. “I promise you that when any two of you on earth agree about something you are praying for, my Father in heaven will do it for you. Whenever two or three of you come together in my name, I am there with you.” (Matthew 18:19-20, CEV)

When we have communicated and agree, we can pray together, and God will answer. When we gather together, God is there.

The best prayer partner is a trusted friend. Sometimes churches will assign people to each other as prayer partners. New friendships can grow from these partnerships, but developing enough trust to share at deeper levels takes time. With a trusted friend, one can share pains too deep to be shared with a whole church. Prayer partners watch out for each other spiritually. Times of prayer can be scheduled or they can happen spontaneously as needed. Prayer partners can communicate in person, by telephone or by email. Prayer partners bring each other’s needs to God. Both grow in their relationships with God. To be truly prayer partners, both people must feel comfortable enough with each other to be honest. A relationship in which one person shares while the other prays for him or her without sharing is more like a counseling situation than a partnership.

In describing the characteristics necessary for a prayer partner for a pastor, John Maxwell makes this statement. “The [two] must be of the same gender. You should never allow an intimate prayer relationship to develop between members of the opposite sex, unless, of course, they’re married to each other.” (Maxwell) It is best to have a prayer partner who holds no possibility for romantic attraction. Intimate sharing can precipitate and/or enhance romantic feelings. In addition, men and women think differently about issues. For prayer, it’s nice to partner with someone who can potentially better understand how you think.

Aside from praying for and supporting each other, prayer partners can also partner to pray for others, not only those they know, but for all who need God. Prayer partners can commit to praying regularly for those in their neighborhoods and workplaces to find a strong and loving relationship with God. They can especially commit to praying for the outreach of their church, particularly before, during, and after special outreach events. We will never know until we reach heaven how powerfully God used our prayers for others. Sometimes they help people we will never know. Often they help God mold us into the kind of people He needs to show His unconditional love to others.

Attitudes for Prayer

Prayer doesn’t have a set form or place. We can talk with God any time, any place, in many ways. We can pray quietly in our thoughts, pray audibly, or pray in writing or with song. If we listen, the Holy Spirit may impress us how to pray. Paul says, “In certain ways we are weak, but the Spirit is here to help us. For example, when we don’t know what to pray for, the Spirit prays for us in ways that cannot be put into words.” (Romans 8:26, CEV) God’s word is powerful, powerful enough to create the world. God will do what He says He’ll do. (Isaiah 55:11) As we pray, we can acknowledge that greatness and power, requesting that God be present with us.

Tell God that you believe that He’ll honor any promise that you find in Scripture. The timing, though, is up to Him. For example, sometimes healing will happen only in heaven. But it will happen. Prayers which may be unanswered here on earth will be answered in heaven. Continuing to pray builds treasure for heaven, like putting money in a savings account for later. So leave the timing with God.

Ask humbly, leaving room for God to work His will. Be willing to have your own plans changed if God has a different plan.

And ask with gratitude. A woman had been badly hurt by another. The pain was so great that she didn’t think she could handle it. Sitting in church, she considered walking out. Suddenly, a thought popped into her head, “Thank God for the pain.” Without even thinking about it she quietly whispered, “Oh God, thank you for this pain.” Immediately the pain left. In its place was peace. Having pain shows us we are alive, and sensitive. If we didn’t hurt when people do cruel things to us, we wouldn’t be much good for loving, either.

We all need forgiveness. We all have done things that we wish we hadn’t. We all have traits we wish were better. God promises to forgive those things and to cleanse us—to make us better. (I John 1:9)

We all need to forgive, too. (Matthew 18:21-35; Matthew 6:14) Since forgiving others is God’s will, we can ask God to give us the forgiveness we need to give.

Corrie ten Boom saw terrible things in German concentration camps during World War II. After the war she gave talks about God’s forgiveness. The approach of a former German officer tested her attitude of forgiveness. Corrie recognized the man as one of her torturers. He did not recognize her.

“Your talk about forgiveness was wonderful,” the man began. “I was a guard. I need to know that I’m forgiven for my atrocities. Will you forgive me?”

Corrie tried to lift her hand to shake his. She couldn’t. Quickly she offered a silent prayer. “God, I will go through the motions, but you will have to supply the feeling.” As she gripped his hand, warmth started in her hand and spread up her arm and through her body. Feelings of forgiveness washed over her.

When we are by ourselves with God we can say exactly what we feel. We can talk just as we would to a friend knowing that the friend knows us in good and bad times and will see us for our good. Alone with God we can pray about issues that we may not want to tell others. Laying it all out before Him, we can find peace, direction, guidance. And God can use our personal, individual prayers to lead others to Him and to His peace, as well.

The Holy Spirit as a Gift

One of Jesus’ last promises was to send the Holy Spirit to be with us. “Then I will ask the Father to send you the Holy Spirit who will help you and always be with you.” (John 14:16, CEV) This is the highest form of personal relationship now possible for sinful humans. Just imagine it, God Himself lives with us!

This new relationship brings new thoughts into our minds. The things that God cares about, the people He loves, are now important to us, too. The Holy Spirit guides thoughts and decisions. Have you ever had another person suddenly pop into your mind? Some people pause briefly and pray for that person when that happens. Many have later found that at that very moment, that person needed God’s help. The Holy Spirit had impressed them to pray. In listening to the Holy Spirit’s prompting, those who pray join with God in bringing good things into another’s life. Creating God’s good through prayer, helping others to come closer to God, is evangelism at its best.

Prayer Part II-Jesus’ Relationship with His Father

When Jesus was on earth, He was one with God the Father. He would walk alone and pray with God. After one all night prayer time with God, Jesus named His twelve disciples. The Bible doesn’t say much about what Jesus prayed about on these occasions, however, Jesus attributed all His miracles to God in heaven. He was one with His Father. He prayed that we also would be one with God. When we are one with God, we can know His will. When we know His will, we can pray prayers for others that are in line with what God wants to do. When we are one with God, we want to do the things God does.

“You did not choose Me. I chose you and sent you out to produce fruit, the kind of fruit that will last. Then my Father will give you whatever you ask for in My name. So I command you to love each other.” (John 15:16-17, CEV)

When we partner with God, we pray for others and God brings good to others’ lives. Praying for others and watching God make their lives better is like watching fruit grow and ripen on a tree. God wants that fruit to grow and remain, not get blown in a wind storm. When we pray for anything that God wants, especially when we pray for other people, God gives good gifts. Praying for good for another person is a way of loving. “If you abide in Me,” Jesus said, “and My words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it shall be done for you. By this is my Father glorified, that you bear much fruit.” (John 15:7-8, NASB)

Five times in His last conversations with His disciples before His death, Jesus told His disciples to ask. For example, “I tell you for certain that the Father will give you whatever you ask for in my name. You have not asked for anything in this way before, but now you must ask in my name. Then it will be given to you, so that you will be completely happy.” (John 16:23-24, CEV) The other times Jesus said to ask are found in John 14:13, 14; John 15:7, 8; John 15:16; John 16:23-24; and John 16:26. Jesus said the same thing in one of His first sermons, The Sermon on the Mount. (Matthew 7:7, 8) If He repeated this idea so many times, He must have really meant it.

Just before He was crucified, Jesus prayed for His disciples. Here is part of His prayer. “I want all of them to be one with each other, just as I am one with you and you are one with me. I also want them to be one with us.” (John 17:21, CEV) During this same time, He promised the Holy Spirit many times.