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The prayers of children what a powers tool
Goal: To make children and youth feel a greater part of your church. To teach them about prayer and how it is important to "stand in the gap" for others. How to be a intercessor. A outreach ministry to your community nursing homes and those outside your church that are in need.
Communication is the most vital part to any relationship. In our churches today it is important that we teach children how to pray, and about prayer in general but as a Youth Pastor I believe it is important to realize that one of our greatest tools is our Children. How powerful is it to see the children of your church take 'prayer requests' and go to God and stand in the gap for others. This makes our children feel part of our church community in a specail way but it also bring results that I am not able to put into words. I began this program when I was the youth minister at the Mt. Olivet UMC outside of Wheeling, Wv. It was with youth but is most effective also with children and Sunday school classes.
I Recommend that you prepare the road for this program. In your Sunday School and Youth Programs you should have a several week lesson plan around Intercessor and the Bible before you launch this program. Below is some reference for your study. Remember to write you lesson plan on their level. Make it simple to undersatnd. Below are only notes for your use. Don't overwhelm them. Most churches talk about Prayer warriors. We leave the Prayer warriors to the adults, we want to train children and youth to be Intercessors. This comes full circle with our Vacation Bible School Program Lets talk about Heroe's. Hereo's are for others..........A true Intercessor is found in every hero.
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Intercessor versus prayer warrior. are different Intercessors are not prayer warriors.
Prayer warriors can pray for a thing to be done without necessarily being willing for the answer to come through themselves Prayer warriors are not bound to continue in prayer until the prayer is answered. Prayer warriors can pray according to their own thought, desire, whim. Intercessors:
Intercessors do not ask God to answer prayer through others if it can be answered through them. Intercessors must gain their objective - not free from prayer until position is gained.
Intercessors must pray as the Holy Spirit guides - not free to pray otherwise - must wait for the Holy Spirit to speak mind of God.
Identifications of intercessors.
Intercessors identify with those whom they pray and intercede for.
Secret of intercession is identification with one prayed for.
ntercessor pleads effectively because he gives his life for those he pleads for.
John 10:11 - The Good Shepherd layeth down His life (psuche) for the sheep.
John 13:34 - A new commandment I give you, that ye love one another, as I have loved you, that ye also love one another.
John 15:13 - Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life (psuche) for his friends.
Intercessor is their genuine representative. Teaches children about real LOVE.
Intercessor has submerged his self interest in their needs and sufferings.
As far as possible he has taken their place.
Jesus took sinner's place as sin-bearer, sickness-bearer, and burden-bearer - intercessor reveals Jesus' love by allowing the Holy Spirit to intercede through him.
Sin-bearer - bruised for iniquity - John's form of intercession - reaping the effect of disobedience to the word - will touch sin and temptation in area of word violation.
Sickness-bearer - chastised for peace - Paul's form of intercession - broken hearted, wounded spirit, physical manifestations - will touch pain, hurt, wounding, and physical symptoms.
Burden-bearer - wounded for transgression - Peter's form of intercession - weakness of flesh, captives and prisoners, will feel heaviness and despair either for demonic involvement or flesh stones, judgments, etc.
Agony in intercession.
Intercessors are living martyrs - one who is willing to give up his life for the Savior's sake.
Romans 12:1 - I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.
Are separated to God.
May be asked to take a Nazorite vow. Judges 16:17, Numbers 6:2-7
Intercessors live a life of hiddenness - must have as much joy in a hidden life as in an open and successful one.
Before intercession comes dealings with self-life - crucifixion of the flesh.
Crucifixion of the flesh produces agony - flesh has a life of its own, it does not want to die and lose control.
Daily path of 'the way of the cross'.
Purpose of intercession on intercessor.
Transforming intercessor into the image of Christ.
Holy Spirit judges thought and intent, attitudes, and actions of intercessor.
The law of intercession - only as far as the intercessor has been tested and proved willing to do a thing can he intercede for others.
The Holy Spirit shares His groanings with us (can cause physical pain) and lives His life of sacrifice through the intercessor.
Authority of intercessor.
Intercession is not a substitute for sin - each sinner must pay own dues.
Intercession so identifies intercessor with the sufferer that it gives him a place of prevailing with God.
Comes as a result of abiding with God.
John 15:7 - If ye abide in Me and my word abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will and it shall be done unto you.
As intercessor continues to abide he becomes aware of the Spirit engaging in spiritual warfare until assurance of victory is gained. The Holy Spirit never prays in an arbitrary way - but only just as far as the intercessor can become one with Him in prayer.
Gained position of intercession.
Fact of experience either through a cross experience or previous intercessions.
Price of obedience to what the Holy Spirit asked for is paid - intercession fulfilled.
Intercession may involve fasting.
Point of fasting is to bring the body into subjection to the Holy Spirit.
Each fast done in obedience to the Holy Spirit's direction makes the body more equipped to carry intercessions. Intercession may require some outward identification signs.
The inner wrestlings and groanings take their full course.
- The word of the Lord comes.
The Spirit informs intercessor that the intercession has accomplished its purpose.
Authority position over the enemy (flesh or Satan) is gained.
The intercessor speaks the word of deliverance.
Intercessor awaits deliverance in praise and faith.
Spiritually done moment gained.
Physical manifestation can take years to be seen.
New place in grace gained and maintained.
The first fruits of intercession (new positions gained) belong to the Lord and have to go to altar.
Once gained, intercessor can claim all the blessings on that degree of intercession but cannot claim higher blessings.
"One youth said one night...they are like stars in the sky" as the balloon soared into the night sky.
 
Here's how it works
1. During the month the children or youth have a what I call "Prayer Can" at the front of the church by the altar or prayer rail, nursing home, or community location. The youth or children can take a can and paint it or design it as they like in a Sunday school class or youth group.
2. The congregation or where you place the can you place prayer requests. These slips that are given prayer request slips every worship time at your church.
3. In your church Those who worship simply write down their requests and place them into the can. If they want a unspoken request they just place unspoken.
4. [ If your can is at a nursing home or outside your church someone will have to pick it up before that Sunday each month. I like to do it on the first Sunday of every month.]The youth or Sunday school take the can [cans] and once a month as the sun sets and it is setting into the night sky they gather around in a circle and the leader opens the can and they mention each prayer request.
5. They offer a time of prayer
6. Then they all release the white balloons into the night sky.
7. The parents or adults can be present but the circle and the balloon release should be only done by the children and youth.
8. Afterwards, you can have some refreshments or even roast hotdogs outside.
I started this program in a nursing home some years ago. The God Can. God can do all things.
What you will need:
1. Someone to pick up the balloons filled with helium on that first Sunday or whatever time you choose. The helium is only good for so many hours so pick them up about 2 hours before your release. Some church purchase a small balloon helium tank to keep at the church. This depends upon the budget and available funds your church has. The balloons should be white tied with LONG red or white strings. At our local dollar store they do it for us for about 5.00. Sometimes you can have a family in your church donate the balloons for that month just like they do flowers.
2. Someone to make sure that the prayer request slips are available each Sunday and at the places you put cans outside your church in the community. Also someone to pick up those cans for your release and take them back. THE REQUESTS stay in the cans and the cans are brought to the release on that Sunday.
3. Someone to take charge of the refreshments if you choose to have them.
5 Finger Prayer we use in our Programs.
 < First, I want you to put your hands together in front of you as if you are praying.Keep your eyes open so that you can see your hands. You will notice that the closest finger to you is the thumb. We call that HOME in our lessons. The first finger or the THUMB is closest to you. So the THUMB represents our HOME and to pray for our family. Mom and Dad, brother's sisters, and relatives.
 The next finger is called your index finger, or Number 2 in our lesson program. It is between the two black keys on the keyboard. Some people call it the POINTER finger for it is used to point. So Let this finger remind you to pray for those who teach you and point you in the right direction, like our Sunday school teachers, and school teachers, and our preacher and those who help us in life.
 The next finger is the tallest finger. It is number 3 in our keyboard lessons. The number 3 is very important as it is the place where we learn to CROSS under as we go up the keyboard. Since it is the tallest finger, Let us pray in Thanksgiving to God for his son Jesus who died for us on the CROSS.
 The fourth finger is the called the ring finger. This is the finger that it is also the weakest of all your fingers. So let us pray for the sick and the people who dont know Jesus.
"For God so loved the World that He gave his only son, that whosoever believeth in him shall not perish but have everlasting life"
 The next finger is the smallest finger is number 5 in our keyboard lessons. Let this little finger remind you to pray for yourself. For just like you it is small and growing. So pray to God to help you grow in spirit, mind and body.
So the next time you are talking to God, and you can't think of anything to say, let the "Five Finger Prayer" help you.
Dear Lord, we thank you for prayer. It is good to have a friend to talk to, but even friends sometimes have trouble thinking of something to say. Help us to remember this Five Finger Prayer to remember those who need our prayers. Amen.
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