3DW Week 2, Part 3

Direction Through Prayer

We've examined how devotion to prayer prepares us to use it as a witness and we've seen that we can't let unanswered prayer or silent times from God hinder us in our use of prayer for those in need of witnessing. Today, we conclude our 2nd part of 3DW by looking at how, after having devoted ourselves to prayer and determined to pray even in difficult times, we can now effectively use prayer in the lives of those for whom we reach.   This directed prayer is not a new concept, but one that is outlined throughout the Book of Acts.

Acts 2

The followers of Christ had been in directed prayer for the power of God to fall and it did.  This not only led to all of those people receiving the Spirit of God and being saved, it also led to a revival of souls that numbered in the thousands.

Thought:  When we are directing our prayers to God for an outpouring of His power, He will provide.  However, he will also give us the opportunity to spread that power around.  Will we take the opportunity?

Acts 4

The followers of Christ, facing persecution on a wide scale for the first time, were moved to directed prayer for their situation.  This led to an earth shaking move of God, literally.  It also led people to start funding the spreading of the Word of God.

Thought:  When we face struggle from the world in our witness, we can call out to God for protection and peace and He will provide both.  However, He may also direct us to give of ourselves in ways we never considered.  Will we oblige His request?

Acts 9

Saul, having had an encounter with God, was in prayer believing for deliverance from blindness and fulfillment of truth in his life.  Meanwhile, Ananias was in prayerful conversation with God and moved upon to go and pray for Saul.  What resulted was both a miraculous healing and the salvation of the most effective soul winner in the history of the church. 

Thought 1:  When God reveals His plan, it may come with a physical hindrance like with Saul (i.e. a financial burden, family situation, even health issue, etc.)  Will we embrace our situation and believe that God will bring us through the dark times to the light or wilt at the opportunity to draw nearer to Him and be used? 

Thought 2:  When God directs us to witness to someone, it may not be who we want to reach out to.  Saul was a dangerous man.  Will we cower at the circumstances surrounding the soul God has laid before us, or will we reach out and help the broken individual? Note: Ananias got to be a witness because he was devoted to prayer.

Acts 10

Cornelius was a man of prayer and God directed him towards Peter.  Meanwhile, Peter, being in the Spirit, was directed towards Cornelius.  The two came together and the result was the Holy Ghost and salvation being made available to all people, not just Jews and Samaritans. 

Thought: When God asks us to do something that has never been done before, will we take on the awesome responsibility to be trailblazers for His cause?  Will we reach into communities that have never been touched before?  Will we reach for people who have never had truth like we have it? 

The Opportunities Are There.  Will We Take Them?

All of these opportunities to share God came out of times of prayer.  Each opportunity was different, but the main result was the same.  The message of Jesus Christ went forth and people were saved.  When we get devoted to a regular prayer life and determine in our hearts to pray regardless of what's going on and to do whatever God tells us through prayer, we will be directed to people, places and opportunities that we never thought possible.  The question is, will we take that direction and run with it?  If we have a devoted and determined prayer life, as well as the faith we talked about in Part 1, there is only one answer to that question.  Absolutely!