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NETWORK
Thomas Wright, PrayTimer
I was blessed to have parents concerned with the spiritual nurture of their
children. I learned the difference in trying to do God's will over trying to
impose my will on God. (A lesson I still have not mastered). At age 8, I
recognized my sin and that Jesus was the only way to find forgiveness. I struggled
with issues of truth in High School and studied the world religions to confirm
that Jesus is in fact THE way, THE truth and THE life (John 14:6). That
conclusion led to a call to ministry and missions.
It was during the 2 years I served as a missionary to Thailand that the Lord
began to teach me about the importance of prayer. My subsequent calling has been
in the United States as an evangelistic church starter and home missionary.
Those tasks deepened a commitment to help others hear the call of God to pray
and respond with biblical prayer. The Southern Baptist North American Mission
Board began a prayer evangelism unit (department) in 1996. It was
a natural fit
for me and is now "home" for ministry and service.
It is wonderful to see the call of God for people to pray. It seems to be
consistent with the movement of God before earlier great awakenings. It is
exciting to recognize that we could see a great awakening in our lifetime if we
respond biblically to God's call to prayer. (2 Chron 7:14). It is marvelous to
see the tremendous networks and resources that God is mobilizing to renew North
America and the planet.
It is a concern to recognize Satan's efficient and consistent counter attack.
Whenever we see a legitimate movement of God, Satan will present an ingenious
counterfeit. Satan's purpose is to disobey God and lead others to do so. We must
be very careful to respond to the call to pray with biblical prayer. I see many
sincere believers who respond from emotion, intellect or ignorance. Our only
safe place to stand is the Word of God.
We need to be sure that our prayer constituency remains faithful to pray, care
AND share. It is the responsibility of every believer to reduce the population
of Hell (Luke 19:10. 4:18). We can do this by praying for lost people so that
there is openness to the gospel (2 Cor 4:3-4). We also need to be praying for
ourselves and believers so there is a boldness to witness (Eph. 6:19).
Each of our major
entities
now has a prayer
coordinator
to help maintain focus and direction for prayer. We are seeking to let prayer
undergird and permeate everything done in and through every person and
congregation. Reclaiming the corporate and individual house of prayer can
revitalize plateued churches. It can enhance compassionate ministry, powerful
worship and effective evangelism. It will foster the next great awakening, which
is the only hope for North America to survive the 21st century.
First we need to teach our people to participate in biblical spiritual warfare.
Many
believers are
being overwhelmed and intimidated into silence by Satan and His forces. We need
to boldly proclaim the truth and uniqueness of Jesus Christ. The culture wants
us to believe that Jesus is just some of the way, part of the truth and little
bit of the life. We must proclaim
Christ.
Second we must only participate in biblical spiritual warfare. So much of
what I read is based on personal experience and human opinion. Much of it tries
to impose on God our expectations. I see many sincere believers who have been
fooled into diverting needed resources into the decoys of unbiblical emphases
and events. This is occurring through neglect of the biblical principles of
spiritual warfare.
The spiritual maturity of a congregations will never exceed the spiritual
maturity of the pastor and leaders. Serve as a shepherd instead of a cowboy.
Lead your people, don't drive them, into prayer and evangelistic outreach.
Pastors must be examples of godliness and righteousness. A praying pastor will
have praying people.Recognize the difference between a prayer strategy and
series of prayer events.
Our Prayer Guide for Associations and
Churches resource kit tries to help address those issues for leaders.
Pray more than we talk about prayer. Read the Bible more than we read books
about the Bible. Be careful that the prayer team is not seen as the ones who
pray like the choir are the ones who sing. Let our prayer enhance our
relationship with Christ so much that our witness is an overflow of our walk
with Him.
The biblical focus of spiritual warfare is the conversion of the lost (Luke
17:20). We recommend three parts of a prayer ministry that makes a difference in
the church and the community. First renew a personal passion
for Jesus through praying
unceasingly (Ps. 51:10, 1 Thes 5:17). Second,
reclaim the church as a house of prayer with a passion for lost people
(Mark 11:17, Luke 19:10) and third, Respond to God'
s call to unite believers in focused prayer for global evangelization and
awakening (see 2 Chron. 7:14; John 17:20-21). If we look at incorporating these
three components we may find a purpose that gives direction to our events.
Otherwise we have a series of prayer events that may only attract and train our
prayer warriors. We need to permeate our congregation with prayer. That also
prevents us losing the big picture when we deal with spiritual warfare.
The New Testament is the primary Spiritual Warfare Guidebook. I am a bit partial
to chapter three of my new book :)
PrayTimer: Real Time for Real Prayer,
Software (including Teacher Resources) and Outreach Bible Study.
(For more
information visit http://www.praytimer.org)
It includes a pretty thorough bibliography that points believers to biblical
spiritual warfare for all of our teaching and activities. Other
excellent,
biblical resources are Lowe, Chuck. Territorial Spirits and World
Evangelization? Great Britain: Mentor/OMF, 1998. Miller, Calvin.
Disarming the Darkness. Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 1999. Powlinson, David.
Power Encounters, Reclaiming Spiritual Warfare. Grand Rapids: Baker, 1995.
Priest, Robert A., Thomas Campbell, Bradford A. Mullen, Missiological
Syncretism: The new Animistic Paradigm. In Rommen Edward, ed. Evangelical
Missiological Society Series number 3. William Carey: Pasadena, 1995.
We would see the fruit of the Spirit as more characteristic than the fruit of
the flesh. (Gal 5:19-23)
“YOU HAVE A NEW RESOURCE COMING OUT FOR PEOPLE WHO
PRAY; WHAT IS IT, HOW DOES IT 'WORK' AND HOW CAN IT BE A BENEFIT IN PRAYER?
The new book and software is called PrayTimer (TM): Real Time for
Real Prayer. This software helps maximize and expand the believer’s prayer time.
It tries to help us think about the impact by providing each person,
congregation or small group with specific, current prayer lists. PrayTimer
provides tools for individuals, prayer coordinators, and church staff to provide
those lists. It helps them to manage, print, and distribute specific, current
prayer requests. The Bible study sessions help believers and unbelievers
discover the source of effective prayer.
The PrayTimer Guidebook and Outreach Bible Study: This material helps
believers and unbelievers find real time for real prayer. It presents six
90-minute sessions about prayer that can be used as an outreach Bible study. It
also provides specific instructions for the software. Session topics include
following Christ in biblical prayer, spiritual warfare, and developing a prayer
ministry. The first and second sessions introduce unbelievers (and reminds
believers) that the source and motivation for prayer flows from our personal
relationship with Jesus. Session three presents a biblical study of prayer and
spiritual warfare. Session four describes ways to lead the church to become a
house of prayer. Session five helps each believer to become a prayer warrior
whether or not they use the software. Session six presents biblical motivation
for prayer and detailed instructions for the PrayTimer software.
“
Lord wash away all of our old nature so that nothing remains but the likeness of
Christ.
PrayTimer: Real Time for
Real Prayer
By C. Thomas Wright, Ph.D.
0633010596 - $18.99
You can order PrayTimer from LifeWay at 800-448-8032 or on the web at
praytimer.org.
Purpose of the PrayTimer Software. What could
happen if we prayed for and share Jesus every person in our community?
Here is a tool to help believers who struggle to find real
time for real prayer that makes a difference.
This software helps maximize and expand the believer’s prayer time. Think of the
impact by providing each person, congregation or small group with specific,
current prayer lists. PrayTimer provides tools for individuals, prayer
coordinators, and church staff to provide those lists. It helps them to manage,
print, and distribute specific, current prayer requests. The Bible study
sessions help believers and unbelievers discover the source of effective prayer.
Software Features include:
--- Customizable calendar options for prayer requests with daily, weekly, and
monthly calendar views.
--- Downloadable files included in the software to pray for specific national
and international requests, as well as missionaries on their birthdays.
--- A schedule of Bible verses to read through the Bible in a year.
--- A library page at
www.praytimer.org
to download updated prayer lists.
--- Easily create and import local prayer request
files
--- Easily export prayer request files to church members or other people using
the software.
--- Export requests into Microsoft Outlook.
The PrayTimer Guidebook and Outreach Bible Study: This material helps
believers and unbelievers find real time for real prayer. It presents six
90-minute sessions about prayer that can be used as an outreach Bible study. It
also provides specific instructions for the software. Session topics include
following Christ in biblical prayer, spiritual warfare, and developing a prayer
ministry.
--- The first and second sessions introduce unbelievers (and reminds believers)
that the source and motivation for prayer flows from our personal relationship
with Jesus.
--- Session three presents a biblical study of prayer and spiritual warfare
--- Session four describes ways to lead the church to become a house of prayer.
--- Session five helps each believer to become a prayer warrior whether or not
they use the software.
--- Session six presents biblical motivation for prayer and detailed
instructions for the PrayTimer software.
This Jesus-centered PrayTimer is full of incredibly
complete instructions that will produce the powerful prayer life you have been
seeking.
Evelyn Christenson, Author: What Happens When Women pray
Co-chair: North America AD2000 Women’s Track
Long ago I discovered the convenience of typing my devotional notes into the
computer, even during my personal devotional time. Technology ought to be at
the service of the kingdom. Thomas Wright has given us a useful tool for
organizing our prayer time and prayer requests. His book begins at the right
place creation and its purpose. His doctrinal content is much needed, including
a strong emphasis on coming to the Father through Christ. Dr. Wright makes a
helpful distinction between “popular prayer” and “true prayer.” His pithy
statements make strong points: “In spite of the cultural opinion to the
contrary, there is no degree of acceptable sin.” “Praying in Jesus’ name means
asking anything that is consistent with His character, nature, and personality’
– and he has others scattered at helpful places. Wright also gives helpful
correctives to some recent movements and superstitions that are confusing
sincere Christians. The content and the technology are right in line with where
I believe God wants to take serious pray-ers today.
T.W. Hunt, Retired LIFE Consultant of Prayer, Baptist Sunday School Board
The PrayTimer is a wonderful tool. The emphasis on prayer as a calendared
event is fantastic. Prayer is often that item of convenience and not that
priority item on our schedule. PrayTimer places it at the top of the list.
John W. Welch, Pastor , First Baptist Church, Winston, Mo.
Dr. Thomas Wright offers this unique software to aid believers in the life of
prayer. I commend it. Now we can pray not only on our knees, or prayer
corners, but at our keyboards. Don't let the technology scare you. This gives
"pray at all times" new meaning.
Lon Allison, Director, Billy Graham Center, Wheaton, Ill.
I have enjoyed using PrayTimer because it has made my prayer time more
focused.
Marsha Withrow, Charlotte, N.C.
The software has consolidated all my various prayer lists into one. Now I do
not forget to pray for someone on the day of their surgery because it is on my
prayer list for that day.
Kamela Efird, Stanfield, N.C.
"In an age in which the DayTimer has become ubiquitous, Thomas Wright
provides Christians an even more needed tool: the PrayTimer. Giving both
foundation and framework, PrayTimer also delivers the electronic tools necessary
to organize and enable daily comprehensive prayer. It is long overdue and just
what busy Christians need."
Randy Sprinkle, Director, International Prayer Strategy Office, SBC
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