Praying Kingdom Prayers

Moving from Boring to Passionate Intercession

Acts 4

• Ordered never to proclaim the name of Christ again

• Threatened with their lives

How would we pray?

• Father, Get me out of this!• God, please protect us.• Pray these men out of office

Acts 4: 23-33

“On their release, Peter and John went back to their own people and reported all that the chief priests and elders had said to them. When they heard this, they raised their voices together in prayer to God.

‘Sovereign Lord,’ they said, ‘you made the heavens and the earth and the sea, and everything in them. You spoke by the Holy Spirit through the mouth of your servant, our father David:“’Why do the nations rage and the peoples plot in vain?The kings of the earth take their stand and the rulers gather together against the Lord

and against his Anointed One.’”Indeed Herod and Pontius Pilate met together with the Gentiles and the people

of Israel in this city to conspire against your holy servant Jesus, whom you anointed. They did what your power and will had decided beforehand should happen. Now, Lord, consider their threats and enable your servants to speak your word with great boldness. Stretch out your hand to heal and perform miraculous signs and wonders through the name of your holy servant Jesus.”

Acts 4:23-33

After they prayed, the place where they were meeting was shaken. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke the word of God boldly.

All the believers were one in heart and mind. . . . . With great power the apostles continued to testify to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and

much grace was upon them all.”

Acts 4: 23-33

• Recognition of who God is– Recognize His Sovereignty– Pray Scripture (Psalm 2:1-2)

• Recognition of the Situation• Ask for Boldness

Requests

• Pray for Aunt Martha’s toe• Pray for Wendy’s test• Pray for the dispute with my

neighbor

The Difference

• The difference between boring and exciting intercession

• The difference between praying the ordinary and praying kingdom issues

Kingdom Prayer

1. When we pray for something that has lasting value in the kingdom of God. (Lost souls, God’s glory, etc.)

2. When we can turn our prayers (for any situation) into ones that we know are releasing God’s will.

Rome

“May the God who gives endurance and encouragement give you a spirit of unity among yourselves as you follow Christ Jesus, so that with one heart and mouth you may glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.” (Romans 15:5-6)

“May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.” (15:13)

Ephesus

“Ever since I heard about your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for all the saints, I have not stopped giving thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers. I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know him better. I pray also that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints, and his incomparably great power for us who believe.” (Ephesians 1:15-19)

Ephesus

“. . . That out of [God’s] glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge--that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.” (3:16-19)

Analysis

“And this is my prayer: that your love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight, so that you may be able to discern what is best and may be pure and blameless until the day of Christ” (Philippians 1:9-10)

“I pray that you may be active in sharing your faith, so that you will have a full understanding of every good thing we have in Christ.” (Philemon 6)

Application

1. Don’t Jump to the Obvious2. Pray the Process3. Pray Scriptures4. Refocus Prayers to Kingdom

Issues