Simply put, The Apostolic Prayers are the prayers the apostles prayed, and they literally come from the Bible. All the prayers the apostles prayed in the Bible can be used as a basis when we pray for the Church.

How do you do it? It is very simple. You prayerfully read through each reference to an apostolic prayer in Scripture, then you ponder the deeper meaning of each verse, and how it applies to your specific congregation or the Church in general, and then you pray those verses! The Word of God is so powerful and we read of this in Isaiah 55:11, AMPC: So shall My word be that goes forth out of My mouth: it shall not return to Me void [without producing any effect, useless], but it shall accomplish that which I please and purpose, and it shall prosper in the thing for which I sent it.

To pray Scripture from Scripture is the wisest thing you can do! The prayers of the apostles are literally promises of God for the Church. We can pray them as a confession before God, or as a proclamation or as prayers of supplication. We start by focusing our prayers on our own congregation, and then on the Church in our country and also worldwide. Praying these prayers teaches us to use the Word as prayer guideline, and also how the apostles and the early Church prayed.

 

Benefits and characteristics of The Apostolic Prayers

1. They focus on God. Neither Satan nor any demonic force or curse are ever addressed in these prayers. These prayers are all positive and its content does not lead us to pray against anything. Rather the content is to establish God’s kingdom in its every aspect.
2. They focus on the fundamental aspects of the faith, the essence of being a Christian and the believers’ testimony in the world. The focus of the content of these prayers is on the character of God, the knowledge of God and the Spirit-filled life. When these things become visible in a congregation, the power of God will be visible and people will be set free.
3. They mainly focus on establishing God’s glory in the Church, for wisdom and to be filled with the knowledge of God and His perspective upon matters.
4. They focus on God’s love and bearing spiritual fruit. When we pray these prayers, they support real discipleship, to do good works, and walk out the Christian life with integrity and character. Specifically, that every member will be filled with the Holy Spirit to such a degree that their lives will demonstrate the Kingdom of God in a dark world, especially through signs and wonders.

Following is a non-comprehensive list of prayers the apostles prayed.

 

Apostolic Prayers of Paul^[1]

1. Greater revelation of the Lord Jesus and the destiny of believers
   …the Father of glory, may give to you the SPIRIT OF WISDOM AND REVELATION IN THE KNOWLEDGE OF HIM, the eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that you may know what is the HOPE OF HIS CALLING, what are the riches of the GLORY OF HIS INHERITANCE IN THE SAINTS, and what is the exceeding GREATNESS OF HIS POWER TOWARD US… (Ephesians 1:17-19).

2. Strength and Christ’s indwelling presence
   …that He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, TO BE STRENGTHENED WITH MIGHT THROUGH HIS SPIRIT IN THE INNER MAN, that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; that you, being rooted and grounded in love, MAY BE ABLE TO COMPREHEND with all the saints what is the width and length and depth and height– to know the love of Christ which passes knowledge; that you may be filled with all the fullness of God. (Ephesians 3:16-19).

3. God’s love, discernment and righteousness
   And this I pray, that YOUR LOVE MAY ABOUND still more and more in knowledge and all discernment, that you may APPROVE THE THINGS THAT ARE EXCELLENT, that you may be sincere and without offense till the day of Christ, being FILLED WITH THE FRUITS OF RIGHTEOUSNESS which are by Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God. (Philippians 1:9-11).

4. Knowing God’s will, fruitful ministry
   We…do not cease to pray for you, and to ask that you may be filled with the KNOWLEDGE OF HIS WILL in all wisdom and spiritual understanding; that you may have a WALK WORTHY OF THE LORD, fully pleasing Him, BEING FRUITFUL in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God; STRENGTHENED WITH ALL MIGHT, according to His glorious power, for all patience and longsuffering with joy; giving thanks to the Father who has qualified us to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in the light. (Colossians 1:9-12).

5. Unity
   Now may the God of patience and comfort GRANT YOU TO BE LIKE-MINDED toward one another, according to Christ Jesus, THAT YOU MAY WITH ONE MIND AND ONE MOUTH glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus. (Romans 15:5-7).

6. Joy, peace and hope
   Now may the God of hope FILL YOU WITH ALL JOY AND PEACE IN BELIEVING, THAT YOU MAY ABOUND IN HOPE by the power of the Holy Spirit. (Romans 15:13).

7. Salvation of Israel
   Brethren, my heart’s desire and prayer to God for ISRAEL is that they may be saved. (Romans 10:1).

8. Holiness
   …we rejoice for your sake before our God, night and day praying exceedingly that we may see your face and perfect what is lacking in your faith? Now may our God and Father Himself, and our Lord Jesus Christ, direct our way to you. And may the Lord make you increase and ABOUND IN LOVE to one another and to all…so that He may ESTABLISH YOUR HEARTS BLAMELESS IN HOLINESS before our God and Father at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ with all His saints. (1 Thessalonians 3:9-13).

9. Sanctification
   Now may the God of peace Himself sanctify you completely; and may your whole spirit, soul, and body be preserved blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. He who calls you is faithful, who also will do it. (1 Thessalonians 5:23-24).

10. Calling and destiny
    Therefore we also pray always for you THAT OUR GOD WOULD COUNT YOU WORTHY OF THIS CALLING, AND FULFILL ALL THE GOOD PLEASURE OF HIS GOODNESS AND THE WORK OF FAITH WITH POWER, that the name of our Lord Jesus Christ may be glorified in you, and you in Him, according to the grace of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ. (2 Thessalonians 1:11-12).

11. Deliverance, spiritual victory, the power of God’s Word
    Finally, brethren, pray for us, THAT THE WORD OF THE LORD MAY RUN SWIFTLY AND BE GLORIFIED, just as it is with you, and that we may be delivered from unreasonable and wicked men; for not all have faith. But the Lord is faithful, who will establish you and guard you from the evil one. And we have confidence in the Lord concerning you, both that you do and will do the things we command you. NOW MAY THE LORD DIRECT YOUR HEARTS INTO THE LOVE OF GOD AND INTO THE PATIENCE OF CHRIST. (2 Thessalonians 3:1-5).

Now when the Gentiles heard this, they were glad and glorified the word of the Lord. And as many as had been appointed to eternal life believed. (Acts 13:48).

So the Word of the Lord grew mightily and prevailed. (Acts 19:20).

The Word of God spread, and the number of the disciples multiplied greatly… (Acts 6:7).

But the Word of God grew and multiplied. (Acts 12:24). 

12. Open doors and salvation
    Continue earnestly in prayer, being vigilant in it with thanksgiving; meanwhile praying also for us, THAT GOD WOULD OPEN TO US A DOOR FOR THE WORD, to speak the mystery of Christ, for which I am also in chains, that I may make it manifest, as I ought to speak. (Colossians 4:2-4).

…that God…had OPENED THE DOOR OF FAITH to the Gentiles. (Acts 14:27).

For a GREAT AND EFFECTIVE DOOR HAS OPENED TO ME… (1 Corinthians 16:9).

when I came to Troas to preach Christ’s gospel, and a DOOR WAS OPENED TO ME BY THE LORD… (2 Corinthians 2:12).

…I have set before you AN OPEN DOOR, and no one can shut it… (Revelation 3:8).

…IF GOD PERHAPS WILL GRANT THEM REPENTANCE, so that they may know the truth, and…come to their senses and escape the snare of the devil…(2 Timothy 2:24-26).

He opened their understanding, that they might comprehend the Scriptures. (Luke 24:45).

13. Gifts of God’s kingdom
    I thank my God always concerning you for the grace of God which was given to you by Christ Jesus, THAT YOU WERE ENRICHED IN EVERYTHING by Him in all utterance and all knowledge, even as the testimony of Christ was confirmed in you, so THAT YOU COME SHORT IN NO GIFT, eagerly waiting for the revelation of our Lord Jesus Christ, who will also confirm you to the end, THAT YOU MAY BE BLAMELESS in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ. (1 Corinthians 1:4-8).

But EARNESTLY DESIRE the best gifts… (1 Corinthians 12:31).

…DESIRE SPIRITUAL GIFTS, but especially that you may prophesy. (1 Corinthians 14:1).

DESIRE EARNESTLY to prophesy, and do not forbid to speak with tongues. (1 Corinthians 14:39).

 

Apostolic Prayers of Peter and John

Boldness, signs, wonders
…they raised their voice to God with one accord and said: “Lord, You are God, who made heaven and earth and the sea, and all that is in them, “who by the mouth of Your servant David have said: `Why did the nations rage, and the people plot vain things? The kings of the earth took their stand, and the rulers were gathered together against the Lord and against His Christ.’ “For truly against Your holy Servant Jesus, whom You anointed, both Herod and Pontius Pilate, with the Gentiles and the people of Israel, were gathered together” to do whatever Your hand and Your purpose determined before to be done. Now, Lord, look on their threats, and GRANT TO YOUR SERVANTS THAT WITH ALL BOLDNESS THEY MAY SPEAK YOUR WORD, “BY STRETCHING OUT YOUR HAND TO HEAL, AND THAT SIGNS AND WONDERS MAY BE DONE through the name of Your holy Servant Jesus. And when they had prayed, the place where they were assembled together was shaken; and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit, and they spoke the word of God with boldness. (Acts 4:24-31)

…and for me, that utterance may be given to me, that I may open my mouth boldly to make known the mystery of the gospel, (Ephesians 6:19).

[1] Layout taken, shortened and adapted from ihopkc.com

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