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Individual and Corporate Prayer  Guide
By Eric Gondwe

God is spirit and he seeks believers that “worship him in spirit and truth,” (John 4:23-24).

Prayer is one major avenue we commune with him, seeking direction, submitting to his will, etc. The more effective we are in our devotional prayers the more we’ll be able to hear from him with our spiritual ears. Thus we’ll be more fruitful in fulfilling his ordained will for each of our lives.

FRUITS OF A PRAYERFUL LIFESTYLE:
i) Fellowship with Christ
“I tell you that if two of you on earth agree about anything you ask for, it will be done for you by my Father in heaven. For where two or three come together in my name, there am I with them,” Matthew 18:19-20

ii) Waking in the power of agreement
“I tell you that if two of you on earth agree about anything you ask for, it will be done for you by my Father in heaven. For where two or three come together in my name, there am I with them,” Matthew 18:19-20
“The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective,” James 5:16
“Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their work: If one falls down, his friend can help him up. But pity the man who falls and has no one to help him up,” Eccl 4:9-10

iii) Receiving God’s mercies, protection, healing and strength to continue the race
Mercy and grace:
“Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness …” Lamentations 3: 22-23
Protection, provision, direction and strength:
“Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight,” Pr 3:5-6
“Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need,” Hebrews 4:16
Healing
“Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed,” James 5:16
“O Lord my God, I called to you for help and you healed me. O Lord, you brought me up from the grave; you spared me from going down into the pit,” Ps 30:2-3
“Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits, who forgives all your iniquity, who heals all your diseases,”  Psalms 103:1-3

iv) Inner Peace
“Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid,” John 14:27.

Dangers of prayerlessness
i) Lacking fellowship with Christ
ii) Lacking in the power of agreement
iii) Not receiving God’s mercies, grace, protection, healing and strength to continue the race
Although his grace is not conditional on our input we’re encouraged to approach His throne in prayer to receive it (Hebrews 4:16). Without his mercy and grace there is:
Little or no protection spiritually, materially, physically (health), socially
Little or no provision spiritually, materially, physically, socially
Little or no direction spiritually, materially, socially
Little or no strength spiritually, materially, physically, socially
iv) Lack of inner peace
“There is no peace,” says the Lord, “for the wicked,” Isaiah 48:22, 57:21. The wicked here are not only social criminals who deprive or harm others. They include those who choose to follow their own pleasures instead of following God’s interests.

Some where even top religious figures who constantly fasted yet God gave them no peace. “On the day of your fasting, you do as you please and exploit all your workers. Your fasting ends in quarreling and strife, and in striking each other with wicked fists. You cannot fast as you do today and expect your voice to be heard on high,” Isaiah 58:3-4.

Personal and corporate prayer is thus important as often as enabled. For those who’re enabled, a prayer database can be established with prayer points, answered prayers, intercessions, etc. Seeking direction on how it’s to be arranged and perfected should be a continuous process.


PRAYER MATTERS IN INDIVIDUAL AND CORPORATE PRAYER:
Corporate prayer is an important ministry for every believer, couple, and the church.

I. Personal matters
1. submission to God’s will and purposes
2. Anointing for effective role in the body of Christ
3. Carrier/ministry fruitfulness
4. Forgiveness and mercy
5. Deliverance (in spirit, soul, body, callings, relationships, property, finances)
6. Protection (in spirit, soul, body, callings, relationships, property, finances)
7. Overcoming obstacles (in spirit, soul, body, callings, relationships, property, finances)
8. Fruit of the Spirit in oneself  (“joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control,” GAL 5:22-23)
9. Fruit of the Spirit in marriage
10. Fruit of the Spirit in the family


II. Family tree matters
The Family tree comprises of our immediate family members, relatives, close friends and others we have a burden for. They’re our Jerusalem in the midst of our concerns and commitment to those in “Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth,” Acts 1:7

1. submission to God’s will and purposes
2. Anointing for effective role in the body of Christ
3. Carrier/ministry fruitfulness
4. Forgiveness and mercy
5. Deliverance (in spirit, soul, body, callings, relationships, property, finances)
6. Protection (in spirit, soul, body, callings, relationships, property, finances)
7. Overcoming obstacles (in spirit, soul, body, callings, relationships, property, finances)
8. Fruit of the Spirit in the extended family


III. The body of Christ
The body of Christ comprises of pastors, evangelists, intercessors, and all laborers in their various callings in the church ministries, Television ministries, radio, Internet, music, etc.
1. submission to God’s will and purposes
2. Anointing for effective role in the body of Christ
3. Carrier/ministry fruitfulness
4. Forgiveness and mercy
5. Deliverance (in spirit, soul, body, callings, relationships, property, finances)
6. Protection (in spirit, soul, body, callings, relationships, property, finances)
7. Overcoming obstacles (in spirit, soul, body, callings, relationships, property, finances)
8. Fruit of the Spirit in marriage (“joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control,” GAL 5:22-23)
9. Fruit of the Spirit the body of Christ


IV. The world – the harvest field
1. The Lord’s sending of laborers
2. The response/yielding of the harvest to the laborers
3. The poor, widows, orphans
4. Those in authority in governments, corporations
5. Specific locations (towns, countries, continents)
6. Specific people in authority, communities
7. Specific organizations

TYPES OF INDIVIDUAL AND CORPORATE PRAYER:
“And when he had taken it (the Lamb (Jesus) took the scroll), the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb. Each one had a harp and they were holding golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints,” REV 5:8

1) Prayers of deliverance and protection (spiritually, socially, physically or materially),
2) Prayers of agreement,
3) Prayers of intercession,
4) Prayers of inquiry,
5) Prayers of importunity, supplication, appeal or petition,
6) Prayers of consecration/dedication/commitment,
7) Prayers of repentance,
8) Prayers in the word (praying with the scriptures),
9) Prayers of worship/adoration and thanksgiving,