HOUSE OF PRAYER AT ST ANDREW’S

J= esus said : My house will be a house of prayer for the nati= ons

The one tim= e Jesus expressed righteous anger was related to prayer and jus= tice :

In Mark 11 v 17 (= also in Matthew 21 v 13 and Luke 1= 9 v 45 ).

Jesus, discovering the misuse of the = outer temple courts allocated for the Gentiles by the Jewish temple traders,=

chased them out and, quoting from Isaiah 56= v 7 , says

“ My house will be called A HOU= SE OF PRAYER FOR THE NATIONS.”

THE CALL<= /span>

&nb= sp;

We believe that this call given to Israel = and again through Jesus remains as a call to the Church. God has called us to be praying followers of Jesus Christ -

HOW CAN WE AS A CONGREGATION FULFIL J= ESUS DESIRE FOR HIS HOUSE TO BE A HOUSE OF PRAYER FOR THE NA= TIONS ?

* MY HOUSE<= /span> : By being His Temple – Christ’s own belongi= ng - where the Spirit lives ( R= 20; Do you not know that you are a temple of the Holy Spirit ?” )=

* WILL BE A HOUSE OF PRAYER : By letting the Spirit help us satu= rate our living and loving by his power so that we are practicing prayer in all = of our lives as the Spirit directs under the Lordship of Jesus. ( Pray in the Spirit on all occasions - - Eph 6 v 18 )

* FOR ALL NATIONS := By be= ing an inclusive place where all nat= ions and groups who come to us can= find a place of prayer expression without being hindered by our traditions or church culture .

If we are to see the= Lord bring us to our full potential as “ a connecting community where Jesus’ love and pow= er is transforming lives, families, friends and society - - and “ to be praying ,gro= wing, serving and sharing followers=

of= Jesus Ch= rist in the power of the Holy Spirit “ - then

w= e = need to be deepening and broadening our teaching and practice of prayer accordin= g to

2 Chronicl= es 7 v 14 – If my people who are called by my name will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and tur= n from their wicked ways- - -,

and= Ephes 6 v 18 &n= bsp; Pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests- - - -

WHAT DOES= A HOUSE = OF PRAYER LOOK LIKE ?

It is a Christ-given description and = vision of a joyful inclusive gathering - as God’s temple - of priests active in prayer and praise to the Father in Jesus’ name.

As God forms this house amongst us, while = it includes both Sunday gatherings as well as formal gatherings , it also transcends them..

THE VARIED EXPRESSIONS OF<= /span> A GATHERED HOUSE OF PRAYER

This House of Prayer could consist = of the following levels of pra= yer experience

( “ Pray in the Spirit on all occasion with all kinds of prayers - - - ‘ )=

Church of Christ - semester concerts of prayer

Community - weekly ?<= /p>

Congregation - weekly

Church ministry t= eams - weekly/monthly=

Cell – small groups - weekly

Christian family<= span style=3D'mso-spacerun:yes'> - daily

Closet - daily

( We can call this C-7 prayer saturation . No one individual w= ill necessarily be involved in all these prayer experiences every week or even every year but we will be open to the Lord’s leading to “ be joyful always, PRAY CONTINUALLY, be thankful= in all circumstances, do not put out the Spirit’s fire” = 211; 1 Thes. 5 v 16) .

HOW CAN Y= OU HELP BUILD THIS HOUSE OF PRAYER ?

Start by giving 10 minutes each day to private prayer.

Expand it by giving more input into h= ow you pray in worship services.

Then add to that prayer in the home. =

Later add in prayer in a weekly small= group.

THE WEEKLY PRACTISE OF A H= OUSE OF PRAYER

This House of Pra= yer can form through the week as follows

Sundays: 9 am Prayer preparatio= n

before in and after morning services
In evening services and Co= me Together
Teen class and Club St A&#= 8217;s prayer circles.

Mondays : Intercessory prayer gr= oup/ Prayer chain

Monday to Friday :&nbs= p; Personal, family, marriage and community prayers

Tuesday to Thursd= ays : small group prayer

Fridays :&nbs= p; church or work staff prayers

· = SAYF Prayers

Saturday : special family and home prayers

THE HOME AS A HOUSE OF PRAYER AND CARE – PARENTS AS PRIESTS

Leaders in the home = can in Christ exercise the priestly role of prayer.

Whatever the configu= ration of the family and home, if there are at least two

then Jesus’ promis= e is applicable and waiting to be fulfilled :

“Where two of = you agree on earth about anything you ask it will be done for you by my Father = in heaven. And

Where two or three c= ome together in my name there I am with them. “ Matthew 18 v 19-20.

So the dad or mom or= older sibling can begin to guide the family or household towards building a house= of prayer. For example

Prayers at meals,

Prayer before travel= ing

Prayers at times of decisions

Prayers of blessings=

Healing prayers=

Bed-time prayers

Prayers between couples - cleansing through confession and forgiveness

Warfare prayer at ti= mes of temptation or evil attack

- all the above and more -

can be ways of building a temple or a hou= se of prayer for the Lord.

THE SMALL GROUP AS A HOU= SE OF PRAYER AND CARE

Small group leaders can lead members in their priestly calling of prayer and praise.

When cell groups gat= her we can “ pray in the Spirit on all occasions = - - “:

Praise prayers and s= ongs

Prayer before Bible = study

Healing prayer<= /o:p>

Intercessory prayer<= o:p>

Prayers of confessio= n

Benedictions and pra= yers

e-mailing emergency prayer ne= eds.

THE WORKPLACE AS A HOU= SE OF PRAYER AND SERVICE

Where appropriate an= d with management’s permission two or three can gather in a room and pray for the company and employees.

This can have a powe= rful effect on the work environment and build bridges between believers.

All believers are ca= lled to be praying priests :

You also l= ike living stones are being built into a spiritual house TO BE A HOLY PRIESTHOO= D

offering spiritual sacrifices acceptable to god thru Jesus Christ. ( 1 Peter 2 v 5 )

PRAYER AN= D THE HOLY SPIRIT :

PRAYER= PRECEDED PENTECOST = AND FLOWED FROM PENTECOST

* Before the Day of Pentecost the apostles gathered for p= rayer :

&= #8220;They all joined together constantly= in prayer, along with the women and Mary and JesusR= 17; brothers” ( Acts 1 v 14 )

*= After they were filled with the Spirit and Peter had preached Jesus Christ as Lord and King 3 000 were baptized and

&= #8220; They devoted themselv= es to the apostle’s teaching, the fellowship, to the breaking of bread a= nd prayer .” = ( 9 Acts 2 v 42 )

*= Later as the church faced persecution and her leaders were imprisoned they prayed boldly for spiritual power . <= /p>

<= span style=3D'mso-spacerun:yes'> “ They raised the= ir voices together in prayer to God - - -

and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke the Word of God boldly<= /span> . “ (Acts 4 v31 )

<= o:p>