Theology of Apostolic Prayer
Prayer is not overcoming Gods reluctance; it is laying hold of His highest willingness. Richard Trench
I.Apostolic prayer is rooted in apostolic revelation.
A.Paul describes the essence of apostolic revelation as a mystery being worked out through Jesus.
Mystery in the NT is not an undiscovered secret, but a secret, undiscoverable by human reason, but now revealed by God’s Spirit. Mystery - That which can only be made known to the initiated. Young’s Concordance
Pauls life was spent seeing Gods mystery revealed and spread throughout the earth.
Three elements of Gods mystery being worked out through Jesus:
1.Gentiles and Jews have been joined together in one new group, the body of Christ.
2.Through Christ and His body (the church), God will fill the earth with His glory/presence/manifold wisdom.
3.This is the continuation of the promise made to Abraham, that in your seed all the nations of the earth will be blessed (Genesis 12:3, 18:18, 26:4, Galatians 3:8-9, 16, 18, 28-29), and the mandate given at creation, be fruitful, multiply, and fill the earth (Genesis 1:26-28).
Paul prayed for and revealed it:
Eph 1:9-23 He made known to us the mystery of His will, according to His kind intention which He purposed in Him…18 I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened, so that you will know what is the hope of His calling, what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints, 19 and what is the surpassing greatness of His power toward us who believe. These are in accordance with the working of the strength of His might 20 which He brought about in Christ, when He raised Him from the dead and seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly places, 21 far above all rule and authority and power and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this age but also in the one to come. 22 And He put all things in subjection under His feet, and gave Him as head over all things to the church, 23 which is His body, the fullness of Him who fills all in all. (22-23 MSG He is in charge of it all, has the final word on everything. At the center of all this, Christ rules the church. (23) The church, you see, is not peripheral to the world; the world is peripheral to the church. The church is Christs body, in which he speaks and acts, by which he fills everything with his presence.)
Eph 2:11-22….12 remember that you were at that time separate from Christ, excluded from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers to the covenants of promise… 14 For He Himself is our peace, who made both groups into one and broke down the barrier of the dividing wall, 15…so that in Himself He might make the two into one new man.. 19 So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints, and are of Gods household…
Eph 3:2-11…by revelation there was made known to me the mystery, as I wrote before in brief. 4 By referring to this, when you read you can understand my insight into the mystery of Christ, 5 which in other generations was not made known to the sons of men, as it has now been revealed to His holy apostles and prophets in the Spirit; 6 to be specific, that the Gentiles are fellow heirs and fellow members of the body, and fellow partakers of the promise in Christ Jesus through the gospel…9 and to bring to light what is the administration of the mystery which for ages has been hidden in God who created all things; 10 so that the manifold wisdom of God might now be made known through the church to the rulers and the authorities in the heavenly places. 11 This was in accordance with the eternal purpose which He carried out in Christ Jesus our Lord,
The summation of the mystery: God is using the church (both Jew and Gentile in Christ) to continue to fulfill Gods original mandate of filling the earth with His glory through His people who bear His image.
Local and universal church: The Greek word for church is used 114 times in the New Testament 96 of which refer to a specific local group of Christians joined together in God’s mission under God given leadership (local church). Most of the New Testament letters were written to local churches and from that context are they properly understood. The local church is the primary signpost and agent in the expansion of His Kingdom. The local church is the key player in the outworking of God’s mystery (Matthew 16:18, Ephesians 1:22-23)
B.Jesus revealed apostolic prayer.
Heb 3:1…consider Jesus, the Apostle and High Priest of our confession.
Jesus the Apostle taught a pattern for prayer (The Lords Prayer). At the heart of this pattern is for more of heaven to come to earth.
Luk 11:1…Lord, teach us to pray just as John also taught his disciples. Mat 6:9-13 Pray, then, in this way: Our Father who is in heaven, Hallowed be Your name. 10 Your kingdom come. Your will be done, On earth as it is in heaven…
Jesus prayed an apostolic prayer (tied to the outworking of the mystery) before going to the cross.
Joh 17:1-26 Jesus spoke these things; and lifting up His eyes to heaven, He said, Father, the hour has come; glorify Your Son, that the Son may glorify You… 5 Now, Father, glorify Me together with Yourself, with the glory which I had with You before the world was… 9 I ask on their behalf; I do not ask on behalf of the world, but of those whom You have given Me; for they are Yours; 10 and all things that are Mine are Yours, and Yours are Mine; and I have been glorified in them. 11 I am no longer in the world; and yet they themselves are in the world, and I come to You. Holy Father, keep them in Your name, the name which You have given Me, that they may be one even as We are…16 They are not of the world, even as I am not of the world. 17 Sanctify them in the truth; Your word is truth. 18 As You sent Me into the world, I also have sent them into the world. 19 For their sakes I sanctify Myself, that they themselves also may be sanctified in truth. 20 I do not ask on behalf of these alone, but for those also who believe in Me through their word; 21 that they may all be one; even as You, Father, are in Me and I in You, that they also may be in Us, so that the world may believe that You sent Me. 22 The glory which You have given Me I have given to them, that they may be one, just as We are one; 23 I in them and You in Me, that they may be perfected in unity, so that the world may know that You sent Me, and loved them, even as You have loved Me.
Three elements of apostolic design in Jesus prayer (this coincides with the elements of the mystery seen above):
1.That Gods glory existent within the Godhead would be revealed through His people.
Glory - splendour, brightness, essence of God, self-manifestation of God.
2.The unity of the Godhead among them is essential in revealing Gods glory. Three times (11, 21, 22) He prayed that the same unity among the Godhead would be among them. As they walk together with God and each other the world may know that the Father sent Jesus.
3.In that unity, Gods people are sent into the earth to fill it with His glory (18). God’s family together on God’s mission.
C.God filling the earth with His glory through His people is the key goal of apostolic prayer.
God filling the earth with His glory has always been at the core of His purpose.
This was the creation mandate given to Adam and Eve (as they walked with God bearing His image they were to be fruitful, multiply, and fill the earth Gen 1:22, 28).
Habakkuk 2:14 “For the earth will be filled With the knowledge of the glory of the LORD, As the waters cover the sea. (Numbers 14:21, Isaiah 11:9, Psalms 72:19, Isaiah 6:3, 11:9, 40:5, Zech 14:9, Mal 1:11).
This mandate is now being carried out through Jesus and His body.
Ephesians 1:22-23 And He put all things in subjection under His feet, and gave Him as head over all things to the church, which is His body, the fullness of Him who fills all in all.
(MSG…At the center of all this, Christ rules the church. The church, you see, is not peripheral to the world; the world is peripheral to the church. The church is Christ’s body, in which he speaks and acts, by which he fills everything with his presence.)
Ephesians 3:10-21… so that the manifold wisdom of God might now be made known through the church… This was in accordance with the eternal purpose which He carried out in Christ Jesus our Lord…20-21 Now to Him who is able to do far more abundantly beyond all that we ask or think, according to the power that works within us, to Him be the glory in the church and in Christ Jesus to all generations forever and ever. Amen.
D.Salvation should be viewed in the context of His purpose.
It is important to keep central the two aspects of Gods design in salvation.
1.Seeking and saving lost people
Luke 19:10 “For the Son of Man has come to seek and to save that which was lost.”
Matthew 4:19… “Follow Me, and I will make you fishers of men.”
2.Filling the earth with His Glory
This is more than people going to heaven when they die. It is demonstrating and revealing the power and nature of God and His Kingdom on earth. (Isaiah 9:7, Daniel 7:13-14, Luke 11:20, Romans 14:17, Matthew 13 etc.) This church is the primary signpost and agent in the expansion of His Kingdom. (Matthew 16:18, Ephesians 1:22-23)
E.The summation of the key elements of apostolic prayer.
The key elements from both the mystery and the apostolic prayer of Jesus is the blueprint for all apostolic prayer.
1.Gentiles and Jews joined together in one new group, the body of Christ.
2.Through Christ and His body (the church), God will fill the earth with His glory/presence/manifold wisdom. Glory - splendour, brightness, essence of God, self-manifestation of God.
3.This is the continuation of the creation mandate “be fruitful, multiply, and fill,” (Gen 1:26-28) and the promise made to Abraham, that in your seed all the nations of the earth will be blessed. (Genesis 12:3, 18:18, 26:4, Galatians 3:8-9, 16, 18, 28-29).
4.It will take the glory of the unity in the Godhead resident within His people to carry out His design. (Jn 17:11,21,22)
5.In that oneness with the Godhead and each other Gods people are sent into the earth to fill it with His glory. (Gen 1:22,28, Jn 17:18, Eph 1:22-23, Eph 3:9-21, Num 14:21, Isaiah 11:9, Psalms 72:19, Isaiah 6:3, 11:9, 40:5, Zech 14:9, Mal 1:11)
Important: All apostolic prayers will tie in to one or more of these elements!
II.Examples of apostolic prayer in Scripture
A.Biblical prayers give us examples and confidence because they express the word and will of God.
1Jn 5:14-15 This is the confidence which we have before Him, that, if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us. 15 And if we know that He hears us in whatever we ask, we know that we have the requests which we have asked from Him. We can pray the Scriptures with complete confidence because they are His will.
B.Examples of apostolic prayers in the Bible
1.Big picture prayers from the Old Testament prophetic writings
Prayer for the nations to be the inheritance of His people:
Psa 2:8 Ask of Me, and I will surely give the nations as Your inheritance, And the very ends of the earth as Your possession.
Prayer that God will restore His people making as a light to the nations in salvation reaching the ends of the earth, cause them to multiply, and cause prodigals to return home:
Isa 49:1-26…8) Thus says the LORD, In a favorable time I have answered You, And in a day of salvation I have helped You… (13) Shout for joy, O heavens! And rejoice, O earth! Break forth into joyful shouting, O mountains! For the LORD has comforted His people And will have compassion on His afflicted…(16) Behold, I have inscribed you on the palms of My hands; Your walls are continually before Me. (17) Your builders hurry; Your destroyers and devastators Will depart from you. (18) Lift up your eyes and look around; All of them gather together, they come to you. As I live, declares the LORD, You will surely put on all of them as jewels and bind them on as a bride. (19) For your waste and desolate places and your destroyed landSurely now you will be too cramped for the inhabitants…(20) The children of whom you were bereaved will yet say in your ears, The place is too cramped for me; Make room for me that I may live here…. (22) Thus says the Lord GOD, Behold, I will lift up My hand to the nations And set up My standard to the peoples; And they will bring your sons in their bosom, And your daughters will be carried on their shoulders. (23) Kings will be your guardians, And their princesses your nurses …For I will contend with the one who contends with you, And I will save your sons.
Prayer for an ending of barrenness and a preparation for expansion:
Isa 54:1-17 Shout for joy, O barren one, you who have borne no child; Break forth into joyful shouting and cry aloud, you who have not travailed; For the sons of the desolate one will be more numerous Than the sons of the married woman, says the LORD. (2) Enlarge the place of your tent; Stretch out the curtains of your dwellings, spare not; Lengthen your cords And strengthen your pegs. (3) For you will spread abroad to the right and to the left. And your descendants will possess nations And will resettle the desolate cities….(13) All your sons will be taught of the LORD; And the well-being of your sons will be great….(15) If anyone fiercely assails you it will not be from Me. Whoever assails you will fall because of you…. (17) No weapon that is formed against you will prosper; And every tongue that accuses you in judgment you will condemn. This is the heritage of the servants of the LORD, And their vindication is from Me, declares the LORD.
Prayer that God’s house would become what He intends her to be as the agent of filling the earth with His glory:
Isa 62:1-7 For Zions sake I will not keep silent, And for Jerusalems sake I will not keep quiet, Until her righteousness goes forth like brightness, And her salvation like a torch that is burning. (2) The nations will see your righteousness, And all kings your glory; And you will be called by a new name Which the mouth of the LORD will designate. (3) You will also be a crown of beauty in the hand of the LORD, And a royal diadem in the hand of your God. (4) It will no longer be said to you, Forsaken, Nor to your land will it any longer be said, Desolate; But you will be called, My delight is in her, And your land, Married; For the LORD delights in you, And to Him your land will be married. (5) For as a young man marries a virgin, So your sons will marry you; And as the bridegroom rejoices over the bride, So your God will rejoice over you. (6) On your walls, O Jerusalem, I have appointed watchmen; All day and all night they will never keep silent. You who remind the LORD, take no rest for yourselves; (7) And give Him no rest until He establishes And makes Jerusalem a praise in the earth. (Gal 4:26, Heb 12:18-24, the church is part of, and the representation on earth of the Jerusalem and Zion above).
Prayer that God would stir awakening/revival among His people by His presence and power:
Isa 64:1-2 Oh, that You would rend the heavens and come down, That the mountains might quake at Your presence– (2) As fire kindles the brushwood, as fire causes water to boilTo make Your name known to Your adversaries, That the nations may tremble at Your presence!
Zec 10:1 Ask rain from the LORD at the time of the spring rainThe LORD who makes the storm clouds; And He will give them showers of rain, vegetation in the field to each man.
Isa 62:1-2 For Zions sake I will not keep silent, And for Jerusalems sake I will not keep quiet, Until her righteousness goes forth like brightness, And her salvation like a torch that is burning. (2) The nations will see your righteousness, And all kings your glory; And you will be called by a new name Which the mouth of the LORD will designate.
2.Specific prayers from the New Testament writers
Prayer that God would send workers into the harvest:
Mat 9:36-38 NASB Seeing the people, He felt compassion for them, because they were distressed and dispirited like sheep without a shepherd. (37) Then He *said to His disciples, The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few. (38) Therefore beseech (make request, beg, implore) the Lord of the harvest to send out workers into His harvest.
Luk 10:1-3…2 And He was saying to them, The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few; therefore beseech the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into His harvest. 3 Go; behold, I send you out as lambs in the midst of wolves. Joh 4:35-38
Prayer for unity among God’s people for His proper testimony in the earth:
Joh 17:21-23 that they may all be one; even as You, Father, are in Me and I in You, that they also may be in Us, so that the world may believe that You sent Me. (22) The glory which You have given Me I have given to them, that they may be one, just as We are one; (23) I in them and You in Me, that they may be perfected in unity, so that the world may know that You sent Me, and loved them, even as You have loved Me.
Prayer that His people would evangelize with boldness and God’s power in the midst of opposition:
Acts 4:24-31 O Lord, it is Thou who didst make the heaven and the earth and the sea, and all that is in them,…29 And now, Lord, take note of their threats, and grant that Thy bond-servants may speak Thy word with all confidence, (30) while Thou dost extend Thy hand to heal, and signs and wonders take place through the name of Thy holy servant Jesus.
Prayer that there would be greater unity in the church so they can demonstrate and declare Gods ways in order to fill the earth with His glory:
Romans 15:5-6 Now may the God who gives perseverance and encouragement grant you to be of the same mind with one another according to Christ Jesus; 6 that with one accord you may with one voice glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ
Prayer that God would fill His people with hope, joy, peace, strength, and the power of Holy Spirit:
Rom 15:13 Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that you will abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.
Prayer that Gods people would do what is right and quit doing what is wrong:
2 Corinthians 13:7-9 Now we pray to God that you do no wrong; not that we ourselves may appear approved, but that you may do what is right, even though we should appear unapproved
Prayer that His people would continually have fresh revelation of His calling, grace, and power towards us:
Ephesians 1:18-20 18 I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened (Msg your eyes focused and clear, so you can see exactly what it is He is calling you to do), so that you may know what is the hope of His calling, what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints, 19 and what is the surpassing greatness of His power toward us who believe (MSG the great and mighty power that God has for us followers. It is the same wonderful power he used (20) when he raised Christ from death and let Him sit at his right side in heaven) These are in accordance with the working of the strength of His might 20 which He brought about in Christ, when He raised Him from the dead, and seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly places.
Prayer for Spiritual strength to walk together with Jesus and His people in order to continue to live out the revelation of filling the earth with His glory:
Eph 3:3-21… 14 For this reason I bow my knees before the Father, 15 from whom every family in heaven and on earth derives its name, 16 that He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with power through His Spirit in the inner man, 17 so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; and that you, being rooted and grounded in love, 18 may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, 19 and to know the love of Christ which surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled up to all the fullness of God. 20 Now to Him who is able to do far more abundantly beyond all that we ask or think, according to the power that works within us, 21 to Him be the glory in the church and in Christ Jesus to all generations forever and ever. Amen.
Prayer in the Spirit for the saints in spiritual warfare that they would stand strong and victorious:
Eph 6:10-18 Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of His might. 11 Put on the full armor of God, so that you will be able to stand firm against the schemes of the devil. 12 For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places. 13 Therefore, take up the full armor of God, so that you will be able to resist in the evil day, and having done everything, to stand firm….18 With all prayer and petition pray at all times in the Spirit, and with this in view, be on the alert with all perseverance and petition for all the saints,
Prayer that His people would have opportunities, utterances, and boldness to speak His mystery:
Eph 6:19-20 (19) and pray on my behalf, that utterance may be given to me in the opening of my mouth, to make known with boldness the mystery of the gospel 20 for which I am an ambassador in chains; that in proclaiming it I may speak boldly, as I ought to speak.
Prayer that His people would walk in more of His love so they will be able to discern things more accurately in order to please God:
Php 1:9-10 And this I pray, that your love may abound still more and more in real knowledge and all discernment, (10) so that you may approve the things that are excellent, in order to be sincere and blameless until the day of Christ;
Prayer that God’s people would have knowledge, wisdom, strength, and understand of His will, so they will bear fruit and endure:
Col 1:9-11 For this reason also, since the day we heard of it, we have not ceased to pray for you and to ask that you may be filled with the knowledge of His will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding, (10) so that you will walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, to please Him in all respects, bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God; (11) strengthened with all power, according to His glorious might, for the attaining of all steadfastness and patience; joyously
Prayer for open doors for speaking the mystery of Christ:
Col 4:3 praying at the same time for us as well, that God will open up to us a door for the word, so that we may speak forth the mystery of Christ, for which I have also been imprisoned;
Prayer that Gods people would stand perfect and confidently in the will of God:
Col 4:12 Epaphras, who is one of your number, a bondslave of Jesus Christ, sends you his greetings, always laboring earnestly for you in his prayers, that you may stand perfect and fully assured in all the will of God.
Prayer for relational connections that will bring Gods supply, an increase in love, and holiness established among them:
1Th 3:10-13 as we night and day keep praying most earnestly that we may see your face, and may complete what is lacking in your faith? 11 Now may our God and Father Himself and Jesus our Lord direct our way to you; 12 and may the Lord cause you to increase and abound in love for one another, and for all people, just as we also do for you; 13 so that He may establish your hearts without blame in holiness before our God and Father at the coming of our Lord Jesus with all His saints.
Prayer for God working His calling in and trough local churches (revealing the nature of God and the power of His Kingdom):
2Th 1:11-12 NASB To this end also we pray for you always, that our God will count you worthy of your calling, and fulfill every desire for goodness and the work of faith with power, (12) so that the name of our Lord Jesus will be glorified in you, and you in Him, according to the grace of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ. (MSG…pray that our God will make you fit for what hes called you to be, pray that hell fill your good ideas and acts of faith with his own energy so that it all amounts to something.)
Prayer for God to give comfort, hope and strength in His peoples labor:
2Th 2:16-17 Now may our Lord Jesus Christ Himself and God our Father, who has loved us and given us eternal comfort and good hope by grace, 17 comfort and strengthen your hearts in every good work and word.
Prayer that God’s Word would spread and prosper through Gods people and rescue them from evil people:
2Th 3:1-2 Finally, brethren, pray for us that the word of the Lord will spread rapidly and be glorified, just as it did also with you; (2) and that we will be rescued from perverse and evil men; for not all have faith.
Prayer that civil government would operate in ways that would best allow His people to live out a life full of peace, godliness, and dignity:
1Ti 2:1-2 First of all, then, I urge that entreaties and prayers, petitions and thanksgivings, be made on behalf of all men, (2) for kings and all who are in authority, so that we may lead a tranquil and quiet life in all godliness and dignity!
Prayer that God would work what is pleasing to Him in His people so they will do His will and reveal His glory:
Heb 13:20-21 Now the God of peace, who brought up from the dead the great Shepherd of the sheep through the blood of the eternal covenant, even Jesus our Lord, (21) equip you in every good thing to do His will, working in us that which is pleasing in His sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be the glory forever and ever. Amen
Prayer for wisdom, understanding, and discernment among Gods people:
Jas 1:5 But if any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all generously and without reproach, and it will be given to him.
1Ki 3:8-9 Your servant is in the midst of Your people which You have chosen, a great people who are too many to be numbered or counted. (9) So give Your servant an understanding heart to judge Your people to discern between good and evil. For who is able to judge this great people of Yours?
Prayer for blessing on His people so they will be a blessing:
1Ch 4:10 Now Jabez called on the God of Israel, saying, Oh that You would bless me indeed and enlarge my border, and that Your hand might be with me, and that You would keep me from harm that it may not pain me!
Genesis 12:1-3 Now the LORD said to Abram, Go forth from your country, And from your relatives And from your fathers house, To the land which I will show you; (2) And I will make you a great nation, And I will bless you, And make your name great; And so you shall be a blessing; (3) And I will bless those who bless you, And the one who curses you I will curse. And in you all the families of the earth will be blessed.