Faith Family Church begins 2020 with an emphasis on prayer. Our Men of Faith have launched a “Prayer Corps,” or organic groups of two to three men, gathering weekly to pray and encourage each other, and to strategically pray for the lost. We want God to move in our church so that we see souls saved and lives transformed for his glory.

Here’s how the Prayer Corps will work: each group designates one man to lead the group. The leader will receive prayer requests disseminated via social media (i.e., a closed Facebook group). While we will pray for specific requests, we also want the praying to be evangelistic in seeking God for the sake of precious souls.

> To join a Men’s Prayer Corps group, click here.

In 1 Timothy 2:1, the Apostle Paul urged that “supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all people.” The reason is given in verse 4: “God desires all people to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.” Therefore, if the church is not accomplishing her mission to reach the lost, it is first and foremost due to a lack of prayer.

If you are a member of Faith Family Church, or a man who knows how desperately he needs God, here are five reasons you should join the Prayer Corps:

1. Prayer is Obedience.

Men, God calls us to pray for one another. Jesus said that men ought always to pray always and not lose heart (Luke 18:1). We are instructed to “pray without ceasing,” and to pray about everything (Philippians 4:6). A major part of our Lord’s Sermon on the Mount teaches us how to pray (Matthew 6:5-15). Much of the Psalms are prayers and serve as examples for our own prayer life. For example, if you need to confess sin, go to Psalm 51 and follow David’s path to forgiveness.

In Jeremiah 33:3 the Lord lays down a prayer challenge: “Call to me and I will answer you and will tell you great and hidden things that you have not known.” James says, we do not have because we do not ask. (James 4:2) The best reason to pray is simply because God tells us to pray.

2. Prayer is Spiritual Warfare.

The best way to fight the devil is on your knees. In Ephesians 6 we find the armor of God which enables us to “stand against the wiles of the devil.” The passage ends with this exhortation: “Praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication. To that end, keep alert with all perseverance, making supplication for all the saints.” To his followers Jesus said, “Watch and pray that you may not enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.” (Mark 14:38)

A great example of prayer as spiritual warfare can be found at Christian Training Online. It’s a prayer by Don Rogers that I encourage you to read as a means of challenging yourself (click here).

3. Prayer is Ministry

Of course, you don’t have to join Men of Faith’s Prayer Corps in order to pray. You may already have a satisfactory prayer life. But if you’re like most men, you know this is an area of great struggle. We need each other and are called to minister to one another. Jesus said, “For where two or three gather in my name, there am I with them.” (Matthew 18:20) Praying with other men has a way of deepening our fellowship with Christ. It helps to get us out of ourselves to focus on the needs of others. Prayer is ministry and fellowship at the highest level.

4. Prayer Brings Joy

Prayer is hard, and everything in our flesh fights against it. Galatians 5:17 tells us that the “desires of the flesh are against the Spirit, and the desires of the Spirit are against the flesh, for these are opposed to each other, to keep you from doing the things you want to do.” Most of our greatest joys have come from doing hard stuff. But what’s really hard is going through life depending on yourself. The flesh is weak and our Lord Jesus said, “Without me, you can do nothing.” It is when we live in complete dependence on God that we find our joy full. Prayer is an admission of that dependence.

Are you tired of not seeing God work through prayer? How long has it been since you’ve seen a specific answer to prayer? Jesus promised, “Until now you have asked nothing in my name. Ask, and you will receive, that your joy may be full.” (John 16:24)

5. Prayer Glorifies God

Jesus told his followers, “Whatever you ask in my name, this I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son.” (John 14:13) The Westminster Catechism reminds us that the chief end of man is to glorify God. If God is glorified by our coming to him in prayer, then brothers, let us pray!

Make 2020 a year of prayer. I leave you with Spurgeon’s brief comment on Colossians 4:2 which says, “Continue in prayer.”

A prayerless soul is a Christless soul. Prayer is the lisping of the believing infant, the shout of the fighting believer, the requiem of the dying saint falling asleep in Jesus. It is the breath, the watchword, the comfort, the strength, the honour of a Christian. If thou be a child of God, thou wilt seek thy Father's face, and live in thy Father's love.

Pray that this year thou mayst be holy, humble, zealous, and patient; have closer communion with Christ, and enter oftener into the banqueting-house of His love. Pray that thou mayst be an example and a blessing unto others, and that thou mayst live more to the glory of thy Master. The motto for this year must be, "Continue in prayer." (C.H. Spurgeon)

> To join a Men’s Prayer Corps group, click here.