Copyright © 2021, Watoto Church, Kampala, Uganda

All scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible,

New International Version (NIV) except when a different Bible version is indicated.
Table of Contents
LESSON 1: WHAT IS PRAYER 1
Understanding Prayer 1
Why We Pray 1

LESSON 2: JESUS’ TEACHING ON PRAYER 4

Focus on God 4
Focus on our Needs 5
Focus on Relationships with Others 5

LESSON 3: DEVELOPING A HABIT OF PRAYER 6

When to Pray 6
Types of Prayers in The Bible 8
Practical ways to nurture a lifestyle of prayer 9

LESSON 4: KEYS TO EFFECTIVE PRAYER 10

What is Effective Prayer? 10

LESSON 5: PRAYER AND FASTING 14

What is fasting? 14
Types of Fasting 15

LESSON 6: SPIRITUAL WARFARE 17

How are we involved in Spiritual Warfare? 17
The Armor of God for Spiritual Warfare 20

LESSON 7: INTERCESSION 25
Biblical examples of intercessory prayer 25
Purposes of Intercession 26

LESSON 8: SPIRITUAL MAPPING 28

LESSON 9: PRAYING AS A CELL GROUP 32

What a Cell Group can Pray for: 32
Leading a Prayer Meeting 33
Preparing for Your Prayer Meeting 34
Choose a Prayer Method 35

SOURCES OF CONTENT: 38
LESSON ONE : WHAT IS PRAYER

“The little estimate we put on prayer is evidence from the little time we give
to it.”–E. M. Bounds

Learning Objective
To understand what prayer is and communicate with God meaningfully.
Scripture to memorize: (Jeremiah 33:3, NIV)

“Call to me and I will answer you and tell you great and unsearchable things
you do not know”.

Discussion

What comes into your mind when you hear or see the word “prayer”?

What views do people commonly hold about prayer?

Understanding Prayer

Simply, prayer is communication between us and God. It is holding a mean-

ingful conversation with Him as our Heavenly Father.

So, through prayer, , we commune, fellowship and become intimate with

God as we surrender and submit to His will, and welcome His involvement
in our affairs. Prayer, therefore, is more than just telling God what we need
or want. It involves hearing from him,listening to and understanding what
He’s saying to us.

Through Jeremiah, God told the Israelites: “Call to me and I will answer
you and tell you great and unsearchable things you do not know” (Jere-
miah 33:3). So, it is important to view prayer as a two-way communication
(dialogue) between us and God.

Why We Pray
To fellowship with God. Through prayer, we connect with and build our
relationship with God. Jesus, for example, regularly communed with His

Growing in Prayer 1
Father in prayer (Matthew 14:23; Mark 1:35; 6:46; Luke 3:21; 5:16; 6:12).
To understand God’s will. God’s general will is revealed in His written word,
the Bible. When we pray, God will reveal His specific will and purpose for
our lives (Proverbs 16:9, Proverbs 19:21)

To live a victorious Christian life. Jesus taught his disciples to pray, “lead
us not into temptation but deliver us from the evil one” ( Matthew 6:13).
While praying on the Mountain of Olives, he told them, “Pray that you will
not fall into temptation.” (Luke 22:39-40).

To seek God’s help. As God’s children, we can confidently ask God to help
us in our time of need or hardships. While under oppression in Egypt, the
Israelites persistently cried out to God to deliver them and God heard their
cry. At the right time, He sent Moses to lead them out of Egypt (Exodus
3:7-10).

Read the following Scriptures and identify other reasons for prayer:

John 14:13 ____________________________________________________

I Thessalonians 5:17 ____________________________________________

Acts 4:23-33 _________________________________________________

Matthew 9:38 _________________________________________________

2 Chronicles 7:14 ______________________________________________

2 Kings 20:1-11________________________________________________

Ephesians 6:19-20 _____________________________________________

1 Kings 3:4-9 _________________________________________________

James 1:5 ____________________________________________________

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LESSON 2: JESUS’ TEACHING ON PRAYER

Learning Objective

To understand the principles of prayer Jesus taught his disciples.

Scripture to memorize: Matthew 6: 9-13 (NIV)

9
“This, then, is how you should pray:

“Our Father in heaven,

hallowed be your name,

10
your kingdom come,

your will be done,

on earth as it is in heaven.

11
Give us today our daily bread.

12
And forgive us our debts,

as we also have forgiven our debtors.

13
And lead us not into temptation,

but deliver us from the evil one”.

Mathew 6:9-13 (NIV) provides a model which can guide your prayer. It
essentially focuses on three areas: God, our needs and our relationships
with others.
1. Focus on God
“This, then, is how you should pray: “‘Our Father in heaven, hallowed be
your name, your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.”
(Mathew 6:9-10, NIV).

From this statement, we learn that:

• We have a relationship with God. That means, God is our Father and
we are His children through Jesus. This truth is declared in John 1:12-13:
“Yet to all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, he
Growing in Prayer 3
 gave the right to become children of God—children born not of natural
descent, nor of human decision or a husband’s will, but born of God”.
How wonderful it is to know that when we’re praying, we’re talking and
connecting with our loving and good Heavenly Father. This changes
our perspective on prayer. We should enjoy it instead of dreading it.

• God’s name must be “hallowed”- regarded as holy, sacred. That means,

as God’s children, we must live in a manner that brings Him glory, honour
and reverence. In other words, we live holy lives out of reverence (respect)
for God. 1 Peter 1:14-16 tells us: “As obedient children, do not conform
to the evil desires you had when you lived in ignorance. But just as he
who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do; for it is written: “Be holy,
because I am holy.” We must then be concerned about God’s reputation
and desist from anything that brings shame or disgrace on God’s name.
That is why Paul says, “For we are taking pains to do what is right, not
only in the eyes of the Lord but also in the eyes of man” (2 Corinthians
8: 21, NIV).

• His kingdom must come. Though it is important to take our concerns

and needs to God in prayer, the high priority of prayer must be the
realization of His kingdom (power, authority, agenda and way of living
both on earth and into eternity. It’s then important for us to pray for
God’ power to be demonstrated among people and his purposes to
be accomplished on earth at the present time. This includes obeying
the teachings of Jesus, winning the spiritually lost to Him, exercising
authority we’ve been given to defeat Satan’s work and agenda, heal
the sick, deliver the demonically oppressed etc. We can operate in
the power of God only as we develop a deeper relationship with God
through prayer and depend on the Holy Spirit for empowerment and
guidance.

• His will be done: To pray “Your will be done” means we desire God’s
purposes, desires and plans to be fulfilled in our lives and other people’s
lives. We can primarily know God’s will through His written Word (the
Bible) and by depending on the leading of the Holy Spirit (Romans 8:5).
God’s will is accomplished when we earnestly pray that He establishes
Kingdom and fulfills His will in our lives. But we must also be ready to
take action toward accomplishing His desires, purposes and plans as
He reveals them to us.

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2. Focus on our Needs
• “Daily bread”: According to Jesus, it’s absolutely okay for us to ask
God to provide for our daily needs. While writing to the Philippian
Christians, Paul told them “Do not be anxious about anything, but in
every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your
requests to God” (Philippians 4:6). He also gave them this assurance:
“my God will meet all your needs according to the riches of his glory in
Christ Jesus” (Philippians 4:19). But note that as we present our needs
and desires to God, we need to be thankful for whatever means He
chooses to answer our prayers and whatever He chooses to give us.
God, as our good Father knows what is best for us.

• “Forgive us”: Prayer is a time for confession of sins so we can experience

God’s forgiveness. Apostle John states that “If we claim we have no
sin, we are only fooling ourselves and not living in the truth. But if we
confess our sins to him, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and
to cleanse us from all wickedness. If we claim we have not sinned, we
are calling God a liar and showing that his word has no place in our
hearts. My dear children, I am writing this to you so that you will not
sin. But if anyone does sin, we have an advocate who pleads our case
before the Father. He is Jesus Christ, the one who is truly righteous.
He himself is the sacrifice that atones for our sins—and not only our
sins but the sins of all the world” (1 John 1: 8-9; 2:1-2, NLT)

3. Focus on our Relationships with Others

• “As we also have forgiven”: As we pray, it’s crucial that we maintain
healthy relationships with others. Apostle Paul in Romans 12:18 (GNT)
tell us:” Do everything possible on your part to live in peace with
everybody”. That means we shouldn’t harbor grudges, bitterness,
anger, hatred towards anyone for what they do or have done to us. So,
when we’re hurt by someone one way or the other, the right thing to do
is to ask God for grace and strength to forgive them.

Personal application:

Take a moment to worship God in your own words, tell Him what you
need. Ask God to help you forgive someone who has hurt you and make a
commitment to wholeheartedly and unconditionally forgive them.

Growing in Prayer 5
LESSON 3: DEVELOPING A HABIT OF PRAYER (PRAYER AS A
LIFESTYLE)
Learning Objective

To appreciate the importance of nurturing a habit of praying regularly.

Scripture to memorize: Mark 1:35

“Very early in the morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the
house and went off to a solitary place, where he prayed”.

When to Pray

In 1Thessalonians 5:17, Paul encouraged the church in Thessalonica to “pray

without ceasing. The essence of Paul’s message is that we who know God,
should involve Him in our everyday ordinary lives. That means, we should
pray on all occasions (Ephesians 6:18), in all situations (James 5:13-14). One
way to keep our spiritual lives growing is by developing a habit of praying
regularly. That is, we need to intentionally make prayer a lifestyle not just
something we do once in a while when it’s convenient or out of pressure
or as a duty to be fulfilled. It is apparent King David made it his custom to
pray every morning. He declares, “In the morning Lord, you hear my voice;
in the morning I lay my requests before you and wait expectantly” (Psalm 5:3).

Where to Pray

We have the privilege of talking and connecting with God in prayer any-
where, any time because God is present everywhere at the same time.
He is with us everywhere we go and in any situation we face. David in
Psalms 139: 1-12 declares:
You have searched me, LORD,
and you know me.
You know when I sit and when I rise;
you perceive my thoughts from afar.
You discern my going out and my lying down;
you are familiar with all my ways.
Before a word is on my tongue
you, LORD, know it completely.
You hem me in behind and before,

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and you lay your hand upon me.
Such knowledge is too wonderful for me,
too lofty for me to attain.
Where can I go from your Spirit?
Where can I flee from your presence?
If I go up to the heavens, you are there;
if I make my bed in the depths, you are there.
If I rise on the wings of the dawn,
if I settle on the far side of the sea,
even there your hand will guide me,
your right hand will hold me fast.
If I say, “Surely the darkness will hide me
and the light become night around me,”
even the darkness will not be dark to you;
the night will shine like the day,
for darkness is as light to you.
Please note, though you can pray any time anywhere, it is important to
set a specific time and place to spend time with God with no or limited
interruptions.

How long should we pray?

How long we pray doesn’t matter. What matters is the sincerity of our
prayer or prayers and trust in God that he hears us. There is a time to
pray briefly. There is a time to pray for extended period. When we analyze
Jesus’ prayer life, he prayed briefly on some occasions and prayed longer
at other times. For example, while raising Lazarus from the dead, he simply
said, “Father, I thank you that you have heard me. I knew that you always
hear me, but I said this for the benefit of the people standing here, that
they may believe that you sent me.” (John 11:42). Before instructing his disciples
to distributes five loaves of bread and two fish to thousands of people, Jesus
didn’t pray for a long time. He only gave thanks (Matthew 14: 13-21). But
we’re told in Luke 6:12 that Jesus spent the whole night praying. John 17 is
also an example of Jesus’ long prayer.

Prayer Postures in the Bible

These are some of the postures (positions) people in the Bible used while
praying which we can also adopt:
Growing in Prayer 7
• Kneeling- 1kings 8:54; Ezra 9:5; Luke 22:41; Acts 9:40
• Sitting- 1 chronicles 17: 16-27
• Bowing the head- Exodus 34:8, Nehemiah 8:6, Psalms 72:11
• Raise hands- 2 Chronicles 6:12-13; Psalms 63: 4; 1 Timothy 2:8
• Walking around-2 Kings 4:35
• Standing- Nehemiah 9:5; Mark 11:25; Luke 18:13
• Lying on the ground- Joshua 7:6; Ezra10:1; Matthew 26:39; Mark 14:35
• Looking to heaven- John 17:1; Luke 9:16; Matthew 14:19
Types of Prayers in The Bible

Paul in his letter to the Christians at Ephesus urged them to “pray in the
Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests” (Ephesians
6:18). So, these are the kinds of prayers in the Bible we can offer God:

a. Prayer of confession: This is when we confess our sins to God and ask
Him to forgive us. (Psalm 25: 11; Psalm 51; 86: 3-5).

b. Prayer of supplication (petition): The privilege we have as God’s chil-

dren is that we’re free to present our personal requests to Him in prayer
(Philippians 4:6; Matthew 7:7-8; John 14: 13-14).

c. Thanksgiving prayer: In Philippians 4:6 and 1 Thessalonians 5:18, we are

exhorted to give thanks to God always. We thank God for what He’s
done, what He’s yet to do and in every circumstance.

d. Worship prayer: In the prayer of worship we exalt, lift up, bless and
adore God for who He is. This can be done individually or corporately
(1 Chronicles 29:10-13; Psalm 42:1-3; 100:4; Matthew 6:13 KJV or NKJV).

e. Prayer of dedication: This involves offering or surrendering our lives or

what we have to God and let Him use us or what we give him to accom-
plish His purposes (1 (Kings 8: 22-52; 1 Samuel 1:24-28; Ezra 6:16-18 ).

f. Prayer of intercession: This is when we play a priestly role of praying

for others (1 Timothy 2: 1-3; 2 Chronicles 7:14; Genesis 18:22-19:29; John
6:25; Nehemiah 1:4-11).

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Practical ways to nurture a lifestyle of prayer

a. Journal what God says to you: When you read the Bible, you can ask
yourself these questions:

• What does this passage tell me about God?

• What feelings does this passage evoke in me and why?
• What thoughts or memories occur to me as I reflect on these verses?
• What could God want me to understand and apply?
Answers to these questions will move you to a point where you can ask
God how He wants you to respond to whatever He’s saying to you through
what you’re reading. Also, you can ask the Holy Spirit to help you learn to
hear from God. Besides speaking to us through the Scriptures, God speaks
to us through other ways such as; people, circumstances, impressions e.t.c.
Even then you can ask God to tell you what you need to do about the mes-
sage He is conveying to you

b. Schedule a time to connect with God: It’s natural that the more people
interact, the deeper and stronger their relationships become. So be-
sides praying anytime, anywhere, it’s rewarding to schedule time on a
daily basis to talk with your Heavenly Father and friend.

c. Pray with other people: Proverbs 27:17 says, “As iron sharpens iron, so
one person sharpens another”. Truthfully, there are times you don’t feel
like praying. But when you pray with others, you’ll be inspired to pray.
Watching and listening to others pray can greatly motivate you to pray
regardless of how you feel or what’s going on in your life.

Group discussion:

In what other ways can you practically develop a habit of praying?

Growing in Prayer 9
LESSON 4: KEYS TO EFFECTIVE PRAYER
Fundamentals of effective prayer
“Our praying needs to be pressed and pursued with an energy that never
tires, a persistency which will not be denied, and a courage that never fails.”
E.M. Bounds

Learning Objective
To learn and practice principles that guide effective prayer.
Scripture to memorize: James 5;17 (NLT)
“Confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may
be healed. The earnest prayer of a righteous person has great power and
produces wonderful results.”

What is Effective Prayer?

We often think of effective prayer as that which produces results we desire
to see. But prayer is not some incantation (chant) or formula to produce
“results we want.” Rather, prayer is a means of communicating with God.
These two statements give us insight into what effective prayer is:

“Prayer is effective not because of great men who pray, but because of a
great God who graciously hears his people. We pray as ordinary people who
have an extraordinary God”- Jonathan Parnell, Pastor, Minneapolis, Minnesota

“The results of prayer are not only in the things we see God do in response
to prayer, but also in the deepening of our relationship with God”- Author un-
known.

When we pray, we should not only expect God to move mountains or part
the Red seas before us. We should also expect Him to carry out the work
of transforming us into the image of His Son, Jesus Christ (becoming more
like Christ) (Roman 8:29). We’re told in Exodus 39:29 that “When Moses
came down from Mount Sinai with the two tablets of the covenant law in
his hands, he was not aware that his face was radiant because he had spoken
with the Lord.”

So, when we talk about effective prayer, there are two factors to consider:
1. Prayer that is acceptable to God
For prayer to be effective, it must first and foremost be an offering that is
pleasing and acceptable to God. Otherwise our prayers will be hindered
despite us speaking the right religious language, saying the right things,
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praying with passion and for a long time.

2. The quality and impact of prayer

This has to do with the meaningfulness of our prayer experience and the
results of our prayers.

So, what makes prayer effective?

1. Knowing God. That means we must have a relationship with Him. James
5: 16 says, “The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective”.
A righteous person is one who has been made right with God. We become
righteous when we put our trust in Jesus for salvation (Romans 3:22;
Philippians 3:9). As a result, we become sons and daughters of God
(John 1:12; Ephesians 1:5; Romans 8:15-16) who have the privilege of
communing with Him and telling Him anything and everything. God
hears the prayers of the righteous- those who have a relationship with
Him (Proverbs 15:29; Psalm 34: 17; 1 Peter 3:12).

2. Praying According to God’s will. When our prayers are in line with
God’s will, He hears us (1 John 5:14-15). Praying according to God’s will
essentially means our prayers are in harmony with God’s purposes,
plans, agenda, desires, mind. That is why Jesus taught His disciples to
pray: “Your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as it is in heaven”
(Matthew 6:10). God’s will is revealed to us throughout the Bible.

3. Dependence on the Holy Spirit. Because we’re human, we on our own,

do not know what to pray for. But the Holy Spirit helps us by interceding
for us according to God’s will (Romans 8:26-27). So, it’s important to let
the Holy Spirit lead us when we’re praying.

4. Praying persistently (1 Thessalonians 5:17). In Luke 18:1-8, Jesus illus-

trates the importance of persisting in prayer with a story of a widow
who kept going to the judge to plead for justice until she received it.
He told his disciples to pray continually and “not give up”. In the Old
Testament, Hannah is an example of a person who persisted in prayer
till she received a miracle of a child (1 Samuel 1:1-19).

5. Praying with Faith. Faith is the confidence and assurance we have that
God hears and answers our prayers. So, when we engage in prayer,
we shouldn’t wonder whether God will hear us and act. James 1: 6-7
tells us, “when you ask, you must believe and not doubt, because the

Growing in Prayer 11
 one who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the
wind. That person should not expect to receive anything from the
Lord”. What Jesus told his disciples in Mark 11: 22-24 is a promise for us
to stand on when we’re praying: “Have faith in God,” Jesus answered.
“Truly I tell you, if anyone says to this mountain, ‘Go, throw yourself into
the sea,’ and does not doubt in their heart but believes that what they
say will happen, it will be done for them. Therefore I tell you, whatever
you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be
yours” (NIV). Another time, Jesus said to his disciples: Very truly I tell
you, whoever believes in me will do the works I have been doing, and
they will do even greater things than these, because I am going to
the Father. 13 And I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the
Father may be glorified in the Son. 14 You may ask me for anything in
my name, and I will do it (John 14:12-14).

6. Praying with the right motives. It’s important to examine our motives
whenever we ask God to do something for us. According to James
4:3, wrong motives hinder us from receiving what we desire from God:
“And even when you ask, you don’t get it because your motives are all
wrong—you want only what will give you pleasure” ( NLT)

7. Confessing ours sins. Sin acts as a barrier between us and God (Isaiah
59:2). If we are aware of something sinful we’ve done but we delib-
erately choose not to confess and repent of it, God will not hear us.
Isaiah 59:2 says: “It’s your sins that have cut you off from God. Because
of your sins, he has turned away and will not listen anymore”. Uncon-
fessed sin acts as a barrier between us and God. But when we genu-
inely confess our sins to God, that barrier is removed and God will hear
and answer our prayers. The Psalmist says, “If I had not confessed the
sin in my heart, the Lord would not have listened. But God did listen!
He paid attention to my prayer” (Psalm 66: 1-19, NLT). John 1:9 gives us
this assurance: “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive
us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness”. The Contempo-
rary English Version (CEV) puts it this way: “But if we confess our sins
to God, he can always be trusted to forgive us and take our sins away”.

How to respond when God doesn’t answer our prayers the way we want
As God’s children we have the assurance that God hears us when we pray
(Daniel 10:11-12; Exodus 3:7-10;2 Kings 20:1-5). God of course will not pay

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attention to our prayers if we’re deliberately living in sin and unrepentant
or pray with wrong or selfish motives. But even when we are in a right
relationship with God and pray with the right motives, the fact of life is
God doesn’t always answer our prayers the way we want. For example,
David prayed and fasted for his sick son to recover but he didn’t (2 Samuel
12:16-24), Moses begged God to allow him to cross the Jordan River to
see the promised Land, but God didn’t grant him his request. Instead, He
told Moses to stand on the peak of Pisgah mountain and look at the land
(Deuteronomy 3:23-29). Three times Paul pleaded with God to take away
“a thorn in hi flesh” but He didn’t do it (Corinthians 12:7-9). Three times
Jesus asked His Father to spare him the torturous and humiliating death by
crufixion that the worst criminals deserved, but God didn’t grant him his
wish (Matthew 26:36-46).

Obviously, when God doesn’t answer our prayers the way we want, it is
disheartening and frustrating. Those are moments our minds are flooded
with many questions and we wonder whether God hears us. We tend to
wonder what could be wrong with us. We are also tempted to doubt Gods
existence and power. As a matter of fact, when we don’t receive the an-
swers we want from God, we’re tempted to give up praying.

But how should we respond when God doesn’t answer our prayers the way
we want?

Group discussion:

Read the following Scriptures and discuss how as Christians we should

respond when God doesn’t answer our prayers the way we want:

1 Thessalonians 5:18

Daniel 3:16-18

Jeremiah 29:11

Romans 8:28

Isaiah 55:8-9

Proverbs 19:21

Proverbs 16:1(NLT)

Matthew 26:36-42
Growing in Prayer 13
LESSON 5: PRAYER AND FASTING

Learning Objective
To understand what fasting is and its importance in a Christian’s life

Scripture to memorize: Matthew 6:17-18 (NIV).

“But when you fast, put oil on your head and wash your face, so that it will
not be obvious to men that you are fasting, but only to your Father, who is
unseen; and your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you”.

Although the Bible does not give a direct command on fasting, examples
of fasting exist in both the Old and the New Testaments. Moses didn’t eat
or drink for fourty days on Mt. Sinai - Deuteronomy 9:9). Nehemiah fasted
for some days when he received the sad news of Jerusalem’s destruction (
Nehemiah 1:1-4); David fasted when his child became ill (2 Samuel 12: 16- 17;
Jews in exile fasted for three days when they learnt of the plan to extermi-
nate them ( Esther 4); The church in Antioch fasted ( 13:1-3); Jesus fasted
fourty days and fourty nights ( Matthew 4: 1-3).

While teaching on fasting in Mathew 6: 16-18, Jesus told his disciples, “When
you fast------” not “If you fast------.” This implies Jesus expected his follow-
ers to fast.

What is fasting?
Biblically, fasting is the act of abstaining from food and drink for a certain
period to seek God individually (privately) or corporately. Fasting therefore
is not a religious obligation to fulfill, a dieting exercise or a mark of spiritual
superiority- thinking that one is spiritually stronger than others because
they fast.

It is worth noting that though you can pray without fasting, you cannot fast
without praying.

Types of Fasting
A Regular or Normal Fast - Traditionally, a regular or normal fast entails
refraining from eating all food. But most people drink water or juice during
a regular fast. There is no biblical example of this type of fasting. Some
Bible scholars think Jesus could have drank water when he fasted fourty
days and fourty nights since it’s only mentioned that “he ate nothing” and
became hungry after fasting (Luke 4:2).

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A Partial Fast - This type of fast generally refers to omitting a specific meal
from your diet or refraining from certain types of foods - Daniel 10:2-3.

Absolute Fast - It is a complete fast with no food and no drink. For exam-
ple: Esther through her cousin Mordecai mobilized the Jews in exile to fast
by not eating or drinking anything for three days - Esther 4:15-16. Ezra ate
no food and drank no water while mourning over the unfaithfulness of his
people - Ezra 10:1-6. Moses didn’t eat or drink for fourty days on Mt. Sinai
- Deuteronomy 9:9.

Why Fast?
The primary Biblical reason to fast is to develop a closer walk with God by
taking our eyes off the things of this world and focus more of our attention
on Him (Matthew 6: 16-18; Luke 2:37). So, through fasting, we express our
sense of need for God (Psalm 42:1-2; 63:1; 84:2).

As emphasis, fasting should not be considered a “dieting method”. We

shouldn’t fast to lose weight nor should we fast to fulfill a religious duty.
Rather we fast because we want to experience deeper fellowship with
God, worship Him and listen to Him as we think about Him and meditate
on His word.

Other biblical reasons people fast include:

• Demonstrating our dependence on God to provide what we need

• Seeking God’s help or intervention when we’re facing difficult situa-

tions.

Examples:
a. Ezra and the Israelites he led out of exile fasted for protection (Ezra 8:
21-23); The people of Nineveh fasted because they needed God’s mercy
(Jonah 3:3-10).

b. After losing 40,000 men in battle with the Benjamites in two days, the
Israelites cried out to God to give them victory (Judges 20:1-48). Verse
26 says, “Then all the Israelites, the whole army, went up to Bethel and
there they “sat weeping before the Lord. They fasted that day until eve-
ning and presented burnt offerings and fellowship offerings to the Lord”.
When they asked the LORD whether they should attack and fight their
brothers, the Benjamites again, God’s response was Go, for tomorrow I
will give them into your hands” (v. 28).
Growing in Prayer 15
c. David fasted for the healing of his son (2 Samuel 12: 15-17). Though the
boy didn’t recover, the lesson for us is that David sought God’s help by
fasting.

• To mourn and repent for personal sins and the sins of others (Nehemi-
ah 1:5-9; 9:1-2; Jonah 3: 1-10).

• To set people apart for ministry assignments (Acts 14:23).

• To intercede for the wellbeing of others (Psalm 35: 11-14)

Wesley Duewel, a twentieth-century writer, once said, “You and I have no

more right to omit fasting because we feel no special emotional prompt-
ing than we have a right to omit prayer, Bible reading, or assembling with
God’s children for lack of some special emotional prompting. Fasting is just
as biblical and normal a part of a spiritual walk of obedience with God as
are these others.”

Group discussion
Why do some if not many Christians dread fasting?

What misconceptions do people have about fasting?

Personal application: While going through this course in prayer, set some
time aside to seek God by praying and fasting.

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LESSON 6: SPIRITUAL WARFARE

Learning Objective
To understand who our enemy is and how we fight and defeat him.

Scripture to memorize: Ephesians 6:12 (NIV).

“For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers,
against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against
the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms”.

“Spiritual warfare” is a phrase you might hear some Christians use, but the
truth is many people do not fully know what it is, or what to do about it.

One way to explain spiritual warfare is by comparing it to a physical war.

Historically, battles were often fought to control territory for political or
economic power.

However, God has an enemy, who is known as Satan or the devil. Because
he is God’s enemy, he is also the enemy of God’s people.

Satan is determined and works hard to prevent people from having a re-
lationship with God and trusting Him with their lives. The enemy’s tactics
may vary depending on whether someone is already a Christian or not. But
his ultimate purpose is to keep people from having a relationship with God
and experiencing His love.

“The god of this age has blinded the minds of unbelievers, so that they
cannot see the light of the gospel that displays the glory of Christ, who is
the image of God.” — 2 Corinthians 4:4, (NIV).

How are we involved in Spiritual Warfare?

If you have given your life to Jesus, then you know you have asked Him to
be in control of your life. But part of you wants to take back control and
continues to put up a fight.

You might even feel like there is a battle going on in your mind. Do you
have days when you struggle to believe what the Bible says about God,
about you, about how you should live or about others? That’s completely
natural. But lies — especially subtle ones — are one of the enemy’s favorite
tactics.

Growing in Prayer 17
Know Your Enemy
The Bible teaches that three forces are competing with God for control of
our hearts and lives: the world, the flesh and the devil (1 John 2:15-16; Ga-
latians 5:17; James 4:1; 1 Peter 5:18). Thankfully, God is stronger and more
powerful than all of them.

The world and spiritual warfare

Societies and cultures in the world influence people to think and act in
certain ways. Every culture has some good or positive aspects. But every
culture has some beliefs, values or practices which are in conflict with biblical
or godly principles.

The Bible reminds us that to live to please God, we need to be alert and
aware of the ways we are influenced by the people around us.

“For everything in the world — the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and
the pride of life — comes not from the Father but from the world” (1 John
2:16, NIV).

“Do not conform to the pattern of this world but be transformed by the
renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what
God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will” (Romans 12:2, NIV).

Reflection moment: Ask the Holy Spirit to search your heart and reveal to
you something you could have put first in your life that the world values.
What elements of your culture or the culture you’re familiar with contra-
dict biblical principles?
The flesh and spiritual warfare
Though the influence of the world around you is very real, you also need to
be aware that the struggle to turn away from God can come from within
you — from your own sinful nature ( your flesh).
Apostle Paul, who was mightily used by God to preach the Gospel to the
Gentiles as a missionary and wrote 13 books of the 27 of the New Testa-
ment, struggled with the desires of his flesh. He paints a clear picture of his
personal struggles in Romans 7:21-23:

“It happens so regularly that it’s predictable. The moment I decide to do

good, sin is there to trip me up. I truly delight in God’s commands, but it’s
pretty obvious that not all of me joins in that delight. Parts of me covertly
rebel, and just when I least expect it, they take charge” (Romans 7:21-23,
The Message).
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“I have discovered this principle of life—that when I want to do what is
right, I inevitably do what is wrong. 22 I love God’s law with all my heart. 23
But there is another power[a] within me that is at war with my mind. This
power makes me a slave to the sin that is still within me” (Romans 7:21-23,
NLT)

Reflection moment: Ask God to search your heart and make you aware of
ways you might be choosing to be the god of your own life. As He reveals
things to you, ask for His forgiveness and the strength to live according to
His plan for you.

The Devil and Spiritual Warfare

Ultimately, the devil has already been defeated by what Jesus did when He
died on a cross. Jesus’s resurrection from the dead demonstrates that He
won the victory over death. But the devil wants to blind people to the truth
of who Jesus is and has done.

The devil’s attempts to lead us away from God, go right back to the begin-
ning of the human story. He was the author of the first temptation human-
kind faced.

The temptation of Adam and Eve, which we read about in Genesis 3, pro-
vides a clear picture of who Satan is and what he does:

• He is craftier than any wild animal.

• He comes alongside you pretending to be an ally.

• He deceives you by twisting the truth God speaks to you.

• He tries to plant doubts in your mind about the things God has said.

• He wants you to think God is restricting you when in reality He is pro-

tecting you.

• He encourages you to rebel against God by telling you that you de-
serve to be the ultimate authority of Your life.

• He uses pride and guilt to turn you away from God.

We need to be mindful that our enemy, the devil, is real. He is single-minded

and dangerous, so be wise in how you conduct your warfare with him. As
followers of Jesus, God has given us His Word and the Holy Spirit to help
us fight and defeat the enemy. But we need to be careful we don’t rely
Growing in Prayer 19
on our strength to fight the Devil. This is the warning Apostle gives us:
“Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a
roaring lion looking for someone to devour” (1 Peter 5:8).

James also says, “Therefore submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee
from you” (James 4:1).

Reflection moment: If you feel under attack from the devil in some way,
bring that to God in prayer. Thank Him for the protection only He can give
and let Him fight on your behalf.

The Armor of God for Spiritual Warfare

Take note of this truth: “Though we’re human and live in the world, we do
not wage war as the world does. The weapons we fight with are not the
weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish
strongholds” (2 Corinthians 10:3-4, NIV)

One of the key passages in the Bible about being prepared for spiritual
warfare is Ephesians 6: 10-18.

Paul, the early Christian leader who wrote his letter to the church in Ephesus,
advises believers to prepare for spiritual warfare because he knew it was
inevitable for them to engage in spiritual battles.

So, he writes:

Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on the full armor
of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. For our
struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the
authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual
forces of evil in the heavenly realms. Therefore put on the full armor of God,
so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground,
and after you have done everything, to stand. Stand firm then, with the
belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteous-
ness in place, and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from
the gospel of peace. In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with
which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. Take the
helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.
And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and re-
quests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the
Lord’s people (NIV).
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The weapons Paul mentions in the passage above are called God’s armor
because they come from God. Knowing and using the armor God gives us
is critical to wining spiritual battles. So, it is important to understand the
function of each piece of armor God we are to put on.

Growing in Prayer 21
The armor that Paul describes is based on the weapons of the Roman sol-
diers, fighters of the dominant political and military power during his time
used. Paul uses these physical weapons as a metaphor to describe the
behaviour and responses of Christians during spiritual warfare.

The Belt of Truth - Ephesians 6: 14

The belt (leather apron) of a Roman soldier sat around his waist beneath
the armor to secure his clothing. It also held a sheath (case) for the sword
to sit in, ready for the soldier to draw when confronted by the enemy.

The devil will from time to time, tell you clever and attractive lies about
God and what He says like he did to Adam and Eve. Wearing the belt of
truth means, you resist and defeat deception from Satan by upholding the
truth as revealed in God’s Word and living by it. Jesus told his disciples,
“you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free” (NLT).

The Breastplate of Righteousness - Ephesians 6:14

The breastplate normally consisted of a leather overlaid with metal. It pro-
tected the soldier’s chest and heart.

Paul’s point to us is that a Christian’s basic equipment in the spiritual bat-

tle, is living according to God’s standards (righteous living). It is effective in
defeating the enemy because it reflects transformation and the new life in
Christ (2 Corinthians 5:17; Ephesians 5:8-13).

Feet Fitted with Readiness from the Gospel of Peace - Ephesians 6:15
Shoes were extremely important for a Roman soldier. Soldiers traveled
long distances at a time, and their shoes allowed them to move quickly
and safely without distraction. This gear is essential to prepare for battle.

It’s therefore important for us to be well prepared to fight the enemy with the
gospel of peace. Believing and sharing the message (gospel) of Christ who
reconciles us to God, is a sure way of advancing the cause Christ and de-
feat Satan who doesn’t want people to be saved.

Shield of Faith - Ephesians 6: 16

Roman soldiers were equipped with large rectangular shields made of
wood and leather. In battle a soldier could lock his shield together with the
shields of his comrades to form a wall in front and a roof overhead. This
would make them virtually invulnerable to flaming arrows flying towards
them. Before battle, the leather was well soaked with water to quench any
fiery darts launched by the enemy against the soldiers. For our benefit,

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the fiery darts Paul talks about can refer to direct attacks from Satan, temp-
tations, bitterness, anger, fear, bondages etc. we experience. So “taking up
the shield of faith” symbolizes believing and claiming God’s promises to
save, deliver and grant us victory when we’re under Satan’s attack.

The Helmet of Salvation - Ephesians 6: 17

A helmet protected the soldier’s head from arrows. The helmet was made
of bronze and brass pieces. It was strong enough to give the soldier confi-
dence as he went into battle.

So, putting on the helmet of salvation is having assurance of our relation-

ship with Christ. It’s being confident that we are secure in Him no matter
comes against us. Nothing will snatch us from Him. Nothing and no one
will separate us from his love (Romans 8:35). Based on that we stand firm,
unshakeable in in our Lord Jesus.

The Sword of the Spirit - Ephesians 6:17

A Roman soldier’s sword was a very powerful weapon which was used in
close combat with the enemy.

The sword of the Spirit is God’s Word. It’s our offensive weapon to be
used against attacks from the evil one. We’ve been given God’s Word
to strike back against the enemy. So, we strike with God’s truth we’re
tempted to sin. We strike with God’s truth when we’re tempted to sin.
We strike when the world around us is pervaded by ungodly influence,
ideas (philosophies) and practices. Above all, we use God’s Word as our
offensive weapon to defeat Satan and his agenda by preaching the gospel
of Christ that leads people out of darkness into the light.

Praying in the Spirit - Ephesians 6:18

Our warfare against Satan’s spiritual forces calls for serious and continued
prayer. Prayer shouldn’t be viewed just as another spiritual weapon, but as
something we do habitually as we work together with God to gain victory
for ourselves and others. Failing to pray diligently, with all kinds of prayer in
all situations, is to surrender to the enemy (Luke 18:1; Romans 12:2; Philippi-
ans 4:6; Colossians 4:2).

Growing in Prayer 23
Group discussion:
Why do some Christians fear Satan and his demons and how can such fear
be overcome?

Have you ever experienced Satanic or demonic attack? How did you deal
with it?

24 Watoto Church
LESSON 7: INTERCESSION

Learning Objective
To understand the importance of praying for others and incorporate inter-
cession in regular prayer.

Scripture to memorize: 1 Timothy 2:1-3 (NIV)

1 “I urge, then, first of all, that petitions, prayers, intercession and thanks-
giving be made for all people— 2for kings and all those in authority, that
we may live peace- ful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness. 3This is
good, and pleases God our Savior, 4who wants all people to be saved and
to come to a knowledge of the truth “.

In Biblical terms, intercession involves someone faithfully and continually

pleading particularly to God for another person or a group of people. Inter-
cessory prayer is for the Lord to take action in their situation.

Biblical examples of intercessory prayer

The Bible gives many examples of people praying for others, and we can
learn the importance of intercession by studying these examples. Here are
just a few:

• Abraham interceded for the people of Sodom for the sake of his neph-
ew Lot (Genesis 18:23-33). He memorably started by asking if God would
spare Sodom if 50 righteous people were there. From there he boldly
but humbly asked about 45, 40, 30, 20 and finally 10, and God an-
swered, “I will not destroy it for the sake of ten.” Though God did not
find 10, He fulfilled Abraham’s intent by sparing Lot and his family.

• Moses pleaded for God’s mercy for the sinning people of Israel (Exodus
32:9-14; Numbers 14:11-20). Moses turned down God’s offer to make a
nation out of Moses’ descendants, and persuasively begged for God’s
mercy for God’s name’s sake.

• Daniel made supplication to God for his people (Daniel 9:3-19). Daniel’s
passionate and meaningful prayer ends with his plea, “O Lord, hear! O
Lord, forgive! O Lord listen and act! Do not delay for Your own sake, my
God, for Your city and Your people are called by Your name” (verse 19).

• Nehemiah interceded for his people, the Jews. He repented on their

behalf (Nehemiah 1: 4-11).

Growing in Prayer 25
• David prayed for his son Solomon who succeeded him as the king of
Israel. (1 Chronicles 29:19).

• Job regularly prayed for his children (Job 1:5).

Intercession of Christ and the Holy Spirit

During his earthly ministry, Jesus prayed for those who were spiritually lost
because they are the ones he came to seek and save (Luke 19:10). He was
brokenhearted and in tears as he entered the rebellious city of Jerusalem
(Luke 19:41). He prayed for his disciples, both individually (Luke 22:32 and
as a group (John 17:6-26). He also prayed for his enemies while he hung on
the cross (Luke 23:34).

The ministry of Christ at present is to intercede for us to the Father

(Romans 8:34; Heb. 7:25; 9:24) for our ongoing relationship with God.

The Holy Spirit is also involved in intercession. Paul states, “We do not
know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us
with groans that words cannot express” ( Romans 8:26). The Holy Spirit
through the human Spirit of those who have a relationship with God in-
tercedes according to “God’s will” ( Romans 8:27). That is to say, the Holy
Spirit communicates with the Father in perfect unity with God’s purposes.
So, as Jesus intercedes for the believer from heaven, the Spirit intercedes
within a believer on earth.

Intercession of Believers
As stated earlier, the Bible often refers to the intercessory prayers of God’s
people. But Apostle Paul as a follower of Christ deserves special mention
as a fervent intercessor. In many of his letters, he tells of his own prayers for
various churches or individuals ( Rom 1:9-10; 2 Cor 13:7; Phil 1:4-11; Col 1:3;
9-12; 1 Thess 1:2-3; 2 Thess 1;11-12; 2; Tim 1:3; Phm 1:4-6). At the same time,
Paul frequently asks churches to pray for him, knowing that only through
their prayers would his ministry have great impact ( Rom 15:30-32; 2 Cor
1:11; Eph 6:18-20; Philippians 1:19; Col 4:3-4; 1 Thess 5:25; 2 Thess 3:1-2).

Purposes of Intercession
In the numerous intercessory prayers in the Bible, God’s people pleaded
with Him :

• To withhold judgment (Gen 18:23-32; Numbers 14:13-19; Joel 2:17)

• For physical healing (1 Kings 17:17-21; Acts 28:7-8; James 5:14-16)

26 Watoto Church
• For the forgiveness of sins (Ezra 9:5-15; Daniel 9; Acts 7:59-60).

• For people in authority to lead well (1 Chronicles 29:19; 1 Tim 2:1-2).

• For spiritual growth of believers (Philippians 1:9-11; Colossians 1:9-12)

• For effective ministers of the gospel (church leaders) (2 Tim 1:3-7).

• For effective preaching of the gospel (Matthew 9:38; Ephesians 6:19-20)

• For the salvation of the lost (Rom 10:1-3)

• God’s people were also instructed to pray for the nation’s healing, peace
and prosperity (2 Chronicles 7:14; Jeremiah 29:7; Psalms 122:6-8).

• Given the crucial role a family plays in shaping society, it is also our
responsibility as God’s people to pray for the wellbeing of our families
(Psalm 127:1; Psalm 133:1-3; Job 1:5).

Please note, we’re free to intercede for anything that’s in line with God’s
will-his desires, plans and purposes.

One unfailing principle is that God honours and rewards sincere and per-
sistent prayer (Refer to Luke 18: 1-8).

Personal application:
Identify someone or some people in your circle of influence you can pray
for this month.

Growing in Prayer 27
LESSON 8: SPIRITUAL MAPPING

Scripture to memorize: Matthew 18:18 (NIV).

“Truly I tell you, whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and
whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven”.

Spiritual mapping” is a strategy to set communities, cities and nations free from
the bondages of sin and spiritual strongholds. It involves identifying the spiri-
tual forces at work in our communities, cities and nations. In essence, “spiritual
mapping enables Christian to study and understand events in the community,
city or nation they live in from the spiritual perspective. This is based on the
understanding that the physical reality-the visible, is influenced by the spiritual
reality- the invisible. As a result, Christians can engage in spiritual warfare and
intercession with knowledge. The Scriptural mandate for spiritual mapping is
derived from the following Scriptures:

Ephesians 6: 12: “For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against
the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world
and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms” (NIV)

2 Corinthians 10: 3-5: 3 “For though we live in the world, we do not wage
war as the world does. 4 The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of
the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds.
We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the
knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient
to Christ” (NIV).

Matthew 6: 10: “-----your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is

in heaven”

So, spiritual mapping can be done for a community, workplace or school,

city, region or nation. To conduct spiritual mapping effectively, it’s important
to gather information about a given place first and then pray according to
that knowledge. You can collect information by interacting with people in
the community of interest, observing what characterizes that community
as its culture, visiting a local library (if it exists) and historical sites, paying
attention to what is communicated through the media etc.

28 Watoto Church
In the case of the city or nation, you can conduct Historical Research by
focusing your questions on issues such as:

A. The founding of the city: Who were the founder of the city or nation?
Why did they establish the city or nation? What were their beliefs and
philosophies? What was their vision for the future of the city or nation?
What is the significance of the original name of the city or nation? Has
the name been changed? Are there other names or popular designa-
tions for the city or nation? Do these names have meaning? Are they
linked to a religion of any sort? Are they demonic or occultic names? Do
they signify blessing or curses?

B. The later history of the city or nation: What role has the city played in
the life and character of the nation as a whole? As prominent leaders
have emerged in the city or nation over the years, what was their vision
for their city or nation? Have any radical changes taken place in the
government or political leadership of the city or nation? Is the city’s or
nation’s past or present characterized by wars, lawlessness, bloodshed,
famine, anger, bitterness, hopelessness or technological advancement,
industrial development and economic progress? Has greed characterized
city or national leaders? Is there evidence of corruption among political,
economic, or religious leaders and institutions?

What is the background and possible significance of the statues and mon-
uments of the city? Do any reflect demonic characteristic or glorify the
creature rather than the Creator? What other artwork is featured in the city,
especially in public buildings, museums, or theaters? Look especially for
sensual or demonic art. Are there any prominent archaeological sites in the
city or nation? What meaning might they have? In which areas are ungodly
practices such as abortion clinics, pornographic bookstores or theaters, prosti-
tution, gambling, homosexuality, etc prevalent? Which places have a high
concentration of poverty, violence, disease or fatal motor accidents?

Do certain landmarks-hills, trees, water bodies etc of the city have names
that would not glorify God? What is the highest geographical point in the
city and what is built or located on it? This can be a statement of influence
and authority. Does the city or nation have a motto or slogan? What is its
meaning? What kinds of music do the people love? What is the message
they receive from that music? What positive and negative things do people
say about the city or nation?
Growing in Prayer 29
You can also research on the History of Religion in The City or Nation by
focusing on:

A. Non-Christian religion: What were the religious views and practices

of the people who inhabited the area before the city was founded or
the nation was modernized? Have any non-Christian religions entered
the city or nation in significant proportions? What witchcraft practices,
Satanic or occult practices operate in the city or nation?

B. Christianity: When did Christianity come to the city or nation? Under

what circumstances? What influence has the Christianity had in the life
of the city or nation as a whole? Have there been changes in this? 4.
Is Christianity in the city or nation growing, on a plateau, or declining?

You can also do Spiritual Research by investigating the following:

A. Non-Christian Life: What are the names of the principal deities or ter-
ritorial spirits associated with the city past or present? What are the
locations of high places, altars, temples, monuments or buildings asso-
ciated with witchcraft, occult, fortune-telling, Satanism, Freemasonry,
Mormonism, eastern religions, Jehovah’s witnesses, and the like? Do
these form any patten when plotted on a map? What are the sites of
pagan worship from the past, even before the city was founded? What
are the different cultural centers that might contain art or artifacts con-
nected with pagan worship? Has any city leader knowingly dedicated
himself or herself to a pagan god or a principality? Were any known
curses placed by the original inhabitants on the land or people who
founded the city?

B. Christian Life: How has the gospel been received in the city or na-
tion? Has the preaching of the gospel been easy or hard? Where are
the churches located? Which of them would you see as “life giving”
churches? What is the health of the churches in the city or nation? Who
are the Christian leaders considered as “elders of the city”? Is it easy to
plant a church in any part of the city or nation?

Being informed about the spiritual state and influences in your community,
work- place, school or nation is helpful in praying against spiritual strong-
holds you identify. Remember, the goal of spiritual mapping is to see peo-
ple and communities set free from demonic oppression and control and
usher in the rule of Christ. We’re on a mission of advancing God’s kingdom
30 Watoto Church
and will in our communities, workplaces, schools, city and nation. Therefore,
engage in spiritual mapping so God’s kingdom comes and His will is done
“on earth as it is in heaven” (Matthew 6:10).

Personal application:
Critically and prayerfully study what is going in your community and identify
strongholds that could be existing. With the authority you have in Christ as
God’s child, pray against those demonic strongholds so your community is
set free from them.

Growing in Prayer 31
LESSON 9: PRAYING AS A CELL GROUP
Learning objective
To appreciate the necessity and power of praying with fellow believers

Scripture to memorize: Matthew 18: 19-20 (NIV)

19“Again, truly I tell you that if two of you on earth agree about anything
they ask for, it will be done for them by my Father in heaven. 20For where
two or three gather in my name, there am I with them.”

Though it’s important to pray alone, praying with others is vital. There is
power in prayer in praying with fellow believers. That is why it should be
the habit of every cell group to pray together regularly.
It’s recorded in Acts 2: 42-43 that believers in the early church “devoted
themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of
bread and to prayer. 43 Everyone was filled with awe at the many wonders
and signs performed by the apostles”. It’s clear from this Scripture that
as believers studied God’s Word, fellowshipped, broke bread and prayed
together, God worked mightily through them. They performed miracles
which caught people’s attention.

A cell that prays together stays together. A cell that prays together grows
spiritually, relationally and numerically. A cell that prays together will touch
its community as God works through them.

What a Cell Group can Pray for:

• Cell members: Praying for one another demonstrates care among cell
members. Within Watoto Church and globally, there are countless tes-
timonies of the miraculous things God has done in people’s lives as a
result of cell members praying for each other.

Joel Comiskey, a cell church expert and consultant shares this story in one
of his teachings:

“Janet, a member of our home cell group, struggled with emotional and
physical abuse in her childhood. We spent hours with her, trying to help un-
ravel the dark web of fear and self-condemnation. One night on the phone,
Janet told me she just couldn’t handle it anymore and that she was leaving
the church and our small group.

We prayed and prayed, not knowing if we’d ever see her again. But God
was faithful to answer our prayers. Eventually Janet resurfaced and contin-
32 Watoto Church
ued to walk in holiness. Janet was not only able to overcome her own in-
adequacy, but she is also helping others overcome their problems through
effective cell leadership” (https://joelcomiskeygroup.com/en/resources/
cell_basics/en_dyn_intercessoryprayer/).

• The spiritually lost: The best way to mobilize the entire group to pray
for the unsaved is by asking each member to write down the names of
friends, relatives, workmates or neighbours in the community with the
purpose of praying for their salvation. This is called evangelism by in-
terceding. As people on the cell members’ lists give their lives to Christ,
their names are crossed out and replaced with others. Also, remember
to celebrate the miracle of salvation in the lives of those the cell has
been praying for.

• Community: Praying for the community is so important because the

cell group doesn’t exist for only fellowship, peer discipleship and rela-
tionship building. A cell group is meant to have impact in the commu-
nity. One of the sure ways a cell can have influence in the community
is by praying for it. Praying for the community is part of caring for
community. Issues affecting the spiritual and physical well-being of the
community must be the concern of the cell group.

In Jeremiah 29:7, God told the Jews in exile in Babylon through His prophet
Jeremiah that “Also, seek the peace and prosperity of the city to which I
have carried you into exile. Pray to the LORD for it, because if it prospers,
you too will prosper.”

Leading a Prayer Meeting

When you think about prayer meetings, what comes to mind? Do you think
of words like “refreshing,” “powerful,” “inspiring” and “important”? Or do
you think of words like “boring”, “awkward”, “uncomfortable” and “unnecessary”.

Sadly, prayer meetings are often something we think we must be a part of

rather than something we want to be a part of.
But if prayer is having a conversation with the living God, it should then be
exciting!
So where is the disconnect? How has something as amazing as talking to our
loving and all-powerful God become so unappealing, boring or even dreadful?
Prayer meetings can be unexciting if they are not planned well. Since
prayer is as simple as talking with God, many people mistakenly think that
a prayer meeting should be able to just happen with little or no effort in
Growing in Prayer 33
planning it. In reality, getting a group of people together to effectively carry
out even the simplest task requires planning and organization.

When a prayer meeting is well organized and there is a sense of expectancy

that God’s presence will be felt and He will do something in the lives of people
attending, people will be excited to attend.

Good preparation before the prayer meeting sets the stage for a meaningful
time of connecting with God and other believers. So, prayerfully plan each
element of the prayer session.

Preparing for Your Prayer Meeting: The Basics

The Leader
Prayer meetings tend to get awkward and uncomfortable without a leader
who guides the flow of corporate prayer.

The leader’s responsibility is also to manage time-starting a prayer meeting

in time and ending on time. It’s okay if people want to hang out and continue
praying afterward. But a leader must make sure people who need to leave
can go at the scheduled time. If a prayer meeting keeps going indefinitely,
people may not come to the next prayer meeting.

The Location
Select a space that offers adequate seating for everyone as well as minimal
distractions, such as ringing phones or “people traffic” (a lot of movement).
A prayer meeting can be held anywhere provided it’s convenient and
accessible to those participating in it.

The Time Frame

Communicate the frequency and duration of the prayer meeting. Will it be
a one-time or a recurring event? How long will the prayer meeting last?
Keep in mind the needs of the people who are coming to the prayer meeting
while choosing the day, time, meeting length and frequency.

For example, if you are gathering co-workers during the workday to pray,
you may want to schedule 30 minutes to 1 hour before work or during lunch.

If the prayer session is scheduled on a weekend, you might dedicate a whole

morning or afternoon to it. Again, there needs to be flexibility as you organize
prayer meetings.

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The Focus
It’s important to be clear about the focus of the prayer meeting each it’s
organized. Is your meeting going to be focused on personal prayer re-
quests, a geographical area, an upcoming event, or people in need in your
area? Choose something people can relate to motivate them to come.

A tip: You can encourage the people you pray with to pray beyond the
prayer meeting by asking each member to pray for specific requests that
are recorded during the corporate prayer time. This way, every request will
be prayed for by at least one person in the group.

Opening Remarks
Plan how you will start your meeting to get everyone engaged right away.

Remind participants of the focus of the meeting and cast a vision for why
you are gathering to pray together. Help set the tone of expecting God to
be present at the meeting and answering prayer.

When you start a prayer meeting with the vision that God will do some-
thing great, it creates a high expectation and inspires people to trust in
God as they pray. So, ask the Holy Spirit to guide you the leader and the
participants during the time of prayer.

Ground Rules
In addition to communicating the purpose of the meeting, let people know
what is expected of them during the prayer session. Creating some “ground
rules” will help avoid disorder.

Some factors to consider as “ground rules”:

• Silence during prayer is okay.

• People should pray as they feel comfortable.

• Limit movement in and out during the prayer meeting

• When one person is praying about a specific issue, others should listen
and agree unless everyone is praying simultaneously (concurrently).

Last-Minute Preparations
On the day of the meeting, send out a reminder to the whole group. Encourage
people to bring their Bibles, notebooks, cards or a journal to record prayer
requests.
Growing in Prayer 35
What to Do When You’re Praying with Others
The point of the prayer meeting is to spend time in prayer as a group, as
stated earlier, it’s important to plan it well.

Transition to Group Prayer

It can be helpful to set aside some time for individuals to pray on their own
before the group prayer begins. If necessary, let the people know how long
they will pray alone.

Opening Prayer
This can be done by anyone a leader chooses. But preferably, opening the
prayer meeting yourself as the leader takes the pressure off and helps your
prayer time start smoothly. If you assign it to another person, make sure
they’re aware of it beforehand.

Choose a Prayer Method

There are many ways to pray with a group of people. Here are some
approaches you can use:

1. Break into smaller groups. Assign specific requests to each group.

2. Conversational prayer is praying as if you are having a discussion be-

tween all of you and God. Each prayer is brief — maybe a few sentences
at a time — and related to what the person before said. This method
works best between people who already know one another.

3. “Popcorn prayer,”- individuals pray aloud one at a time but following

no particular pattern or order.

4. Korean-style prayer refers to when everyone prays out loud simultaneously

— a method that allegedly originated in South Korea. This can expand
your vision of how God hears our prayers. It is a tangible experience of
how He can listen to every prayer offered at a given moment by many
people.

5. Prayer walking- allows you to be physically present in places relevant

to your prayer focus. With open eyes, you can see the needs of individuals
and the community. It enables you to pray more specifically for them.

6. Pray using the Bible. Have the group use one or more verses from the
Bible as their guide for praying. Choose any passage you feel is appropriate.
One way to do this is to read a psalm of praise as a group (e.g., Psalm
103, 145 or 150). You can also encourage people to take turns reading
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specific verses and pause after each verse for prayer inspired by that
piece of Scripture.

Growing in Prayer 37
Sources of Content
Donald Stamps and J. Wesley Adams (Eds.). Fire Bible: Global Study Edition
(2009). Hendrickson Publishers Marketing, LLC, Peabody Massachusetts

D.A Carson, R.T France, J.A Motyer and G.J Wenham( Eds.). New Bible
Commentary: 21st Century Edition (1994). InterVarsity Press, Illinois, USA

Carig S. Keener. The IVP Bible Background Commentary: New Testament

(1993). InterVarsity Press, Illinois

Chelsea Kight. The Armor of God: How to Prepare for Spiritual Warfare. Retrieved
from https://www.cru.org/us/en/train-and-grow/spiritual-growth/armor-
of-god.html

Ross Mccall. How to Pray through Spiritual Warfare. Retrieved from https://
www.cru.org/us/en/blog/spiritual-growth/prayer/spiritual-warfare-prayer.
html

Ross Mccall. Reasons why we pray. Retrieved from https://www.cru.org/us/

en/train-and-grow/spiritual-growth/prayer/why-we-pray.html

Life Application Study Bible: New International Version (2005). Tyndale

House Publishers, Inc., Carol Streams, Illinois and Zondervan, Grand Rapids.
Michigan

Sarah Martin and Faith Eng. How to Plan and Lead Effective Prayer Meet-
ings. Retrieved from https://www.cru.org/us/en/train-and-grow/spiritu-
al-growth/prayer/meetings.html

Tonilee Adamson and Bobbye Brooks. Spiritual Warfare: Understanding the

Battle. Retrieved from https://www.biblestudytools.com/bible-study/topi-
cal-studies/spiritual-warfare-lesson-1-understanding-the-battle-11554631.
html

Mike Bennet. Intercessory Prayer: How to Pray for Others. Retrieved from
https://lifehopeandtruth.com/god/prayer-fasting-and-meditation/how-to-
pray/intercessory-prayer/

Harvestime International Institute. http://harvestime.org/translations/en-

glish/Spiritual%20Strategies%20Of%20Warfare.pdf

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