Materials
The
Life of Prayer: Prayer in Practice
Priestly Prayer
by R. Todd Bouldin
I. INTRO TO PRIESTLY PRAYER
A. 1 Peter 2 – “You are a royal priesthood.” One of the ministries of our priesthood is to go to God on behalf of others. It is a sacred obligation of all of us who call on The Name of Christ and who are called into His ministry. As we go to God on behalf of others, there are two prayer forms which become important: a) Prayers of intercession and b) Prayers of healing.
B. Intercessory Prayer is prayer offered on behalf of others. It is selfless, self-giving prayer. Healing prayer is prayer offered for the physical, emotional or spiritual healing of a person. Both are biblical forms of prayer, and expressions of our priesthood.
II. INTERCESSORY PRAYER
A. Intercessory prayer is the means by which we show love to others. Augustine: “Prayer is to intercede for the well-being of others before God.” Example: Moses in Exodus 17:8-13. Joshua won the battle on the ground, but Moses won the battle in the heavenlies. Then Aaron and Hur upheld Moses.
Intercessory prayer is a community activity – and it is to recognize that our ministry and battle for the lives of others is taking place on multiple battlefields – and so all of us are called to priesthood. Some of us will be called to pray.
B. We can intercede because we have an Intercessor. Our prayers are backed up and reinforced by the eternal intercession of Jesus Christ. Romans 8:34; Hebrews 7:25. Ambrose wrote, “Unless He intercedes, there is no intercourse with God either for us or for all the saints.” Why does it make a difference that Jesus has now gone into the heavenlies and intercedes for and with us? Because we can pray with new authority. Jesus opens the door and gives us access to God. He straightens out and guides our feeble prayers and makes them acceptable before a holy God. His prayers urge us on in our praying.
C. What does it mean to pray in The Name of Christ? John 16:24
1. It is to pray in the assurance of what Christ has done for us in His life, death, resurrection and continuing reign.
2.To pray with the nature and way of Christ – make the intercessions He would make. John 15:7 – abide in Me. Key is to learn how to be a branch. We come to “smell Gospel.”
3.To pray in His authority.
D. Supplication and Persistence. Luke 18:1. To ask with intensity, with perseverance. Wesley “We must never be weary in waiting for God’s help.” Do we continually and persistently pray for others?
E. Individual and corporate. Matthew 18:20. Blessings are multiplied by the corporate intercessory prayer. “My house shall be a house of prayer.” Luke 19:46.
F. What do we pray for? Our enemies; Salvation of others; Deliverance from addiction to sex, power and money; Deliver us from racism, sexism, nationalism, and consumerism; To save cities; For those in government office.
G. How? Prayer lists, go directly to a person and ask them, “What would you like prayer for?” Prayer is a way of loving others.
H. Can we pray for everyone? “I am praying for you.”
III. HEALING PRAYER
A. Ambivalence about the issue – We know that we should pray for the sick, and we know God does heal. Yet, we also are not very bold to pray for the healing of others in The Name of Jesus.
B. It begins with two theological foundations: 1) That physical healing is a characteristic of the Kingdom of God; 2) Redemption in Jesus is total – even for the body and emotions as well as the soul. In primitive cultures, and in Jewish culture, physician and priest are the same person.
C. Begin with the small things – we tend to pray only for the big things like cancer and disabilities.
D. What about those who never heal? I don’t know. We sometimes are not aware of the true need either. Confusion of physical need for emotional need.
E. Laying on of hands. Hebrews 6:1-6; it is an elementary matter of the Gospel which allows us to go on to maturity. In Scripture, it is used for the tribal blessing, the baptism in the Holy Spirit, and the impartation of gifts. Most common use is healing prayer. Mark 6:5; Mark 8:22-25; Acts 28:7-10; Mark 16:18. Laying on of hands does not heal the sick; Christ heals the sick. But it is an act of obedience, a multi sensory healing that quickens faith and gives God the opportunity to heal. James 5:14 – with oil.
F. How?
1. Listen to God and to people. Inner “yes” that is invitation to prayer. Learn what the true need is.
2. Ask God for healing to come. Ask what is to be. Do not weaken with ifs, buts, and ands. Luther said he prayed for Melanchthon, “with great vigor . . . quoting from Scripture all the promises I could remember, that prayers should be granted, and that God had to grant his prayer if he was to put faith in His promises."
3. We believe with the whole person. Trust in the love and faithfulness of God.
4.We give thanks.
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