Power of Prayer

For those of you who are like me and have sort of taken a break from praying for your campus this summer, I would like to remind you that now is a good time to start praying that the Lord would lay on your heart His plans for the coming school year. 

Why don’t you pray daily as you spend time with Him as well as try to gather a few friends together to ask God to show you what He would have you do this coming semester to build a movement of prayer, evangelism and discipleship among the lost students at your school?  If you are alone in your town or city right now, consider using something like Skype to pray with other student believers you know who are in other locations.  I have used Skype to pray with believers in other countries and it works just fine (well, if Skype is working, it works just fine!). 

Next week I’m going to ask you to start making some concrete plans for the semester, so you will definitely want to spend extended time with God to ask Him for His thoughts and plans – so that you can be sure that you are not writing down your own human ideas, but are doing the things He would have you do!

The following is an excerpt from a book on student prayer, FIRESEEDS Of Spiritual Awakening, that should encourage you as you persist in prayer:

The Power of Prayer

By Dan Hayes

Through prayer, God has given us the privilege of being used by Him to help change the lives of men and nations. God has made available to us a vast reservoir of power, wisdom, and grace beyond words to define, if only we are willing to believe Him and claim His promises.”                  

– Bill Bright (founder of Campus Crusade for Christ)

Whenever God is ready to do something new with His people, He always sets them to praying.”

– J. Edwin Orr (one of the greatest authorities on the history of religious revivals in the Protestant world)

Prayer has always been the precursor to revival. If we commit ourselves to prayer, there is no limit to what we can see God do. Genesis 32:26 gives us Jacob’s instructive prayer to God: “I will not let you go unless you bless me.” This is the kind of fervency and persistence that needs to characterize our prayers. Jacob was saying, “You can’t make it rough enough for me to stop. I am holding on until You fulfill Your promises.”

This is what Jesus was teaching about prayer when He encouraged His followers, “Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you” (Luke 11:9). Knocking—by definition—is persistent repetition.

This is extremely difficult for us to do. We are addicted to the short term, and with every advance in technology and convenience, and every new button added to our ‘remotes’, that habit intensifies. We pray a while. When no obvious answers are forthcoming, we become distracted or discouraged and quit. But lasting revival is the fruit of persistent prayer: weeks, months, sometimes years of petitioning God for a spiritual brushfire to break forth on our campuses, converting the lost, quickening believers, and drawing the focus of the entire campus to Jesus Christ.

The Prayer of One Person

Consider the influence of just one person. James 5:16 states, “The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective.” James goes on to support that idea with the example of Elijah. “Elijah was a man just like us. He prayed earnestly that it would not rain, and it did not rain on the land for three and a half years” (verse 17).

Like us, Elijah was a weak and sinful person, but he loved a great and powerful God. He prayed that it would not rain, so that the degenerate king of Israel, Ahab, would be brought to his knees before God.

God heard Elijah’s prayer, and He answered specifically. For three and a half years there wasn’t a drop of rain. In desperation the people turned to God, and Ahab himself finally admitted his need for divine intervention.

Elijah prayed again. This time he prayed it would begin to rain. And it poured. Through Elijah, James clearly makes the point that “the prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective.”

Do you believe this? Do you believe that your prayer has the power to make it rain, both physically and spiritually? If so, even if no one joins with you, you need to begin praying for revival on your campus, persistently and expectantly.

 

Please know that I am praying with you that God’s mercy, like a torrential downpour, comes to lost students on your campus as you ask Him to make Himself known!

A plan for planning

       Plans fail for lack of counsel, but with many advisers they succeed Prov. 15:22

              Prepare plans by consultation, and make war by wise guidance. Prov. 20:18

                     Wise planning will watch over you. Understanding will keep you safe. Prov. 2:1

                              

                           Commit your works to the Lord and your plans will be established. Prov. 16:3

There is an old saying “If you fail to plan, you’re planning to fail”- it’s old but still true. For every hour you spend in planning, you’re likely to save five times that in execution. God desires to use our lives in purposeful ways. He delights when we use the minds, passion and zeal He has given us for His purposes and to glorify Him!

Here are some helpful things to think about as you trust Him to build a Spiritual Movement of God on your campus:

            1. Gather the group you have to plan and pray together. Prov. 15:22

            2. What’s the Vision he wants to give you for reaching your campus

         *Keep the Mission in mind: “to glorify God through sharing the gospel with lost 

                 students and through the training of faithful disciples who will carry the good 

                 news about Christ to the ends of the earth.” (one suggestion)

         *How could this mission be lived out on your campus?! Dream big - we have a big 

                 God!

         *Write out some of those things that God impresses on your hearts about what you 

                 would like to see happen in your movement. 

                 Cultivating a vision for my campus. 

3. The Steps. How will you reach the vision God gives you? What steps do you want to take? At the core of every spiritual movement for God are the steps the Lord has already laid out for us in the Great Commission.

    Use the planning worksheet in this section to help you brainstorm ideas and track with 

          them.  Strategic Planning Process for your Campus.doc

      Step ~ Win – Providing opportunities for people to come to know Christ 

                             Personally

      *What are some ways to gather non-believers especially the first few weeks 

             on campus?

     

      *What are some ideas for evangelistic outreaches?

Step ~ Build – Providing opportunities for people to grow and develop

     *Who can lead small group Bible studies?       How can we serve the campus & 

            the community? (Service can be a great expression of God’s love and a great 

            way to grow in our faith.

     *What else can we do to help believers grow?

Step ~ Send – Providing opportunities for people to go out and share Christ’s 

                        love.

    *Are there ways we can partner with others to reach our campus?

    *How can we recruit people to conferences, mission trips etc.?

Something to consider before you start planning:

A study has been done showing that the friends and alliances that first-year students make in the first 2 weeks of school turn out to be the friends and alliances that they maintain throughout their career as a student.  If they make friends with those who enjoy the ‘wilder’ scene, then they will most likely continue to hang out with those friends throughout the school year.  It is very important that we give them some alternative choices for friends and activities and alliances the first few weeks of campus!

Many of you are upperclassmen and may not be planning on doing much on campus until your classes begin later in the month.  I would like to challenge you to sacrifice some of your free time in September to take advantage of the fact that first-year students are very eager to make friends and find things to do at this time.  It would be a great time to hand out the student magazines to first-year students the first 2 weeks of September.  You could host some activities (hikes, picnics in the park, movie night, tea and games, etc) during the time when these students are looking for something to do.

Psalm 106 – confession guide

“This Psalm begins and ends with Hallelujah—"Praise the Lord." The space between these two descriptions of praise is filled up with the mournful details of Israel's sin, and the extraordinary patience of God.  It is a good reminder for us to bless the Lord both at the beginning and the end of our meditations when sin and grace are the themes.” (Charles Spurgeon)

Psalm 106	LIKE OUR ANCESTORS…	…WE HAVE SINNED. (Psalm 106:6)
	“Commentary”	Reflection Questions (take time in prayer to ask the Holy Spirit to open the eyes of your heart to the real answers to the following questions)
(v.7) -they gave no thought to Your miracles -did not remember Your kindness/mercy -Instead, they rebelled by the sea	Israel is not quite out of Egypt, and yet she begins to exasperate the Lord by doubting His power to deliver, so quickly turning away, and questioning His faithfulness to his promise. They took for granted God’s love for them; they were not impressed at all with His miracles …and such miracles He did!  Consider the plagues in Exodus 7-11 and how God protected them from the Egyptians by parting the Red Sea!  (Ex.13:17-14:31).	When have you recently doubted God’s leading in your life? How do you take for granted the Lord’s love for you?  Where in your life do you undervalue His work in your life? Do you take adequate time to reflect on God’s words and promises?
(v. 12-13) -They believed His promises and sang His praise… -But, soon forgot what He had done	Our ancestors believed the promise only after they saw it fulfilled;  it is similar to the ‘unbelief’  of “Doubting Thomas” (John 20:24-29). Their praise for God was short-lived because they quickly forgot about God’s miracles.	Have you been guilty of quickly forgetting God’s great work in your life and have fallen into doubt and unbelief?  If so, what happened?
(v.13)   -they did not wait for His counsel	They were eager to have their own way and prone to trust in themselves. With God there is counsel and strength, but they were vain enough to look for these (counsel and strength) in themselves.  So they did not wait for God’s guidance and plans for them, but did what they thought was right.  (James 4:13-16).	When was the last instance in your life when you did not wait for God’s leading?  Why?
(v.14)  -They gave into their craving -put God to the test	When the most suitable and pleasant food was provided for our fathers in abundance, it did not please them long, but they grew ungrateful and considered themselves too good for food from heaven.  They dwelt on their desire for earthly food until it became an obsession with them. (Romans 13:14, Ephesians 2:3). In the place where they were absolutely dependent upon God and were fed every day by His direct provision, they had the presumption to provoke their God with insistent demands.	What of God’s provision do you think is not good enough for you? Is there any area where you are ‘tempting’ God’s patience with you by demanding that He provide better for you? Is there any area where you are behaving like a spoiled brat with God?
(v.16)   -They became envious of Moses	Amongst the Israelites there was a spirit of dissatisfaction in general, and therefore the whole nation is charged with this sin.	Who are you guilty of envying?  Why? What is the root issue?
(v.19)  -They made a calf and worshipped an idol…	In the very place where our fathers had solemnly pledged themselves to obey the Lord they broke His commands not to make an image of God, nor to worship any other ‘gods’; they made a golden cow and bowed before it, exchanging the glory of the presence of God for a “cheap souvenir.”	Who or what are you putting before God?  What ‘cheap souvenir’ are you looking to instead of looking to God? Have you idolized and served yourself rather than God?!
. (v.21-23)  -They forgot the God who had saved them…	Our ancient fathers forgot the nature and character of God (who had already done so many mind-boggling things for them) which is why they thought that an image of a grass-eating animal could be an image of the God of Israel!  They forgot the Miracle-working, Awesome Deed-doer!  There is no one like our God!	What attributes of God have you forgotten? What prevents you from remembering all He has done?  What is the root of your sin in this area? How have you cheapened God’s ‘image’ by making Him something lesser than who and what He is in your life?
(v.24) -They despised the pleasant land and -did not believe His promises	They spoke lightly of God’s Promised Land, though it was the joy of all lands. In fact, they even spoke fondly of the land of their cruel slavery as if they preferred it over God’s provision.  They spurned and despised God’s provision. The Israelites did not believe His word. Unbelief is at the root of their sin. If we do not believe the Lord's word, we shall think lightly of His promised gifts.	Have you loved thinking more about the world than heaven?! Is there anything that God has provided that you are not grateful for? Have you not rudely questioned God's faithfulness?! How is unbelief causing you to think lightly of His gifts?
(v.25)  -They ... grumbled in their tents and -did not obey	The path from unbelief to murmuring and complaining is a short and natural step. Murmuring is a great sin as it contains within itself unbelief, pride, rebellion, among other sins.  Our ancestors found fault with the life that God gave them and stirred up others to unbelief by inviting them to join them in their grumbling. Because they did not trust or rely on God’s promises, they refused to listen to Him.	How have you been guilty of finding fault with God’s provision for you? Who have you drawn into your sin? Is there anything that you are refusing to listen to God in?  If so, what?
(v.28-29)   -they joined themselves also to Baal-peor (a sexual god)	This form of Ba'al-worship called for sensual indulgence. What started as unchecked doubt, forgetting, unbelief, complaining, etc has brought the Israelites to a lifestyle of continuing to fall into a life of awful sin.	Have you become caught in the web of sensual lusts with pornography, fantasy or any other sexual sin?
(v.33-34) -Because they provoked his (Moses’) spirit, so that -he spoke unadvisedly with his lips	We are to appreciate and esteem our leaders and pray for them (1 Thes.5:12-13).  Our ancestors, instead, provoked their leader to anger and sin. Moses’ sin was a sin of the lips…he exploded and lost his temper; he spoke recklessly, in anger; he spoke foolishly with rash words.	Do you love and honor your leaders? Have you aggravated them without reason? What “sin of the lips” are you guilty of?
(v.34-35) -they did not destroy the peoples	We see the danger of incomplete obedience and compromise.  Instead of getting rid of temptations to sin, our fathers mingled with nations, adopted their customs and learned their ways. They delighted in ungodly company and became fascinated by the worldly culture’s charms.  Because of complacency they embraced the world, becoming just like the ungodly.  (Romans 12:2, 1 John 2:15-17, James 4:4, 1 Cor.7:31 – don’t withdraw from the worldly culture, but don’t fall in love the world ).	How have you not completely obeyed the Lord? Where are you becoming tolerant of sin in your life? Where are you allowing compromise to gain hold? What customs/values/morals of the world are you being drawn into? Does anything stand out in you that would cause others to see Christ in you?
(v.36-38) -they worshipped their idols	An idol is anything that you love or pursue more than you love and pursue God (your desires, your reputation, your plans, your career, etc.) (Ex 20:3, Hos. 13:4, Mt 22:37-38, John 8:44, 1 John 5:21).	Who or what, apart from God, is occupying your thoughts, time and attention?
(v.39) -By their deeds they prostituted themselves	Our fathers broke the marriage bond between them and the Lord, and fell into spiritual adultery.  They betrayed their love for God by selling themselves out for momentary pleasure and fitting in with those around them.  They prostituted themselves by becoming involved in relationship with corrupts morals and character.	Is there any place in your life where you are being unfaithful to the Lord?  What is it? What are you doing, or contemplating doing that puts you in danger of compromising in your walk with God?
(v.43) Many times He delivered them, -but they were bent on rebellion	The Israelites never learned though God rescued them over and over.  They just continued to sink deeper in life of sin, developing a lifestyle of rebellion against the Lord by refusing to obey.	Is there any area the Lord has been showing you to be sin for a long time, but you have refused to confess and turn away from? What ‘pet sin’ have you been keeping from the Lord? What is it that you are not willing to sacrifice to God? Think about the last time you sinned – ask, “what was the good I wanted and what was the joy that I thought I would get by pursuing this course of action?” What steps do you need to take in order to put off sin and put on holiness?

Nevertheless He regarded their affliction, when He heard their cry. One special note is found in verse 44.  In spite of the terribleness of the sin of the Israelites, the Lord still heard their prayer and pitied them. This is very wonderful and encouraging news for us!  It would be reasonable to expect that the Lord would have closed His ears to their prayers since they had continually turned away from Him.  But our Lord is a compassionate Father, whose heart continues to turn toward His erring child with love and forgiveness that never runs out.  For that, we have reason to say, Halleleujah, praise the Lord!