Altar Worker Prayer Team Ministry Training - Class 5 Series

A. Praise God in advance and expect Him to speak to you.

He's a remarkable God and will do something consistent with His character.

1. When the Altar call is made, the workers should move forward immediately and face the congregation and welcome those who come to the Altar.

2. If the Speaker/Minister decides to pray for those at the Altar, workers will agree with the prayer offered.

3. If the Speaker/Minister directs the Altar Workers to pray for those at the Altar, then ask the Holy Spirit to lead you to the person He wants you to pray for.

B. Start with a personal prayer of thanksgiving.

1. Praise and thank God for who He is and for the privilege of engaging in the same wonderful ministry as the Lord Jesus.

2. Praise God for the privilege of cooperating with Him in the affairs of men through prayer.

Therefore he is able to save completely those who come to God through him, because he always lives to intercede for them. (Hebrews 7:25 NIV)

C. Submit your mind and imagination to be used by God

1. Admit to God that His thoughts are much higher than yours.

2. Lay down any preconceived ideas of how you thought the prayer time should go.

3. Be willing to lay down prayer requests that you felt were important if the Lord has other plans for the session.

"For though we 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. 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." (2 Cor 10:3-5 NIV)

D. Ask the Lord for protection as you pray and take proper authority over the Enemy.

1. Resist the enemy and remind yourself of your authority in Christ.

"Humble yourselves before God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you." (James 4:7 NLT)

2. Deal firmly with the enemy but do NOT rebuke Him. You do not have that authority. Come against him in the all-powerful Name of the Lord Jesus and with the "sword of the Spirit"--the Word of God.

E. Wait on the Lord in silence for a few minutes.

Expect the Lord to speak to you

"My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me." (John 10:27 NIV)

"Find rest, O my soul, in God alone; my hope comes from him." (Psalm 62:5 NIV)

"But as for me, I watch in hope for the LORD, I wait for God my Savior; my God will hear me." (Micah 7:7 NIV)

F. Believe the things that come into your heart and mind, as they are submitted to the Lord, are coming from Him.

You may see visions (pictures), Scripture verses, get impressions, feel His presence, smell His fragrance, or Hear His voice. In obedience and faith, submit to the group what God brings to your mind, believing.

"My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me." (John 10:27 NIV)

G. Keep asking God for direction, expecting Him to give it to you.

"I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you and watch over you." (Psalms 32:8 NIV)

The Leader goes around the group and asks each person to share what they felt was to be prayed about. If you did not receive anything, feel free to say so. If there is no central theme, go back into prayer, asking the Lord to clarify. If possible, have your Bible with you should God want to give you direction or confirmation from it

"Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light for my path."

(Psalm 119:105 NIV)

H. Expect the Holy Spirit to guide your prayers.

1. Expect words of wisdom, knowledge, or comfort. You may need to wait quietly to understand where the Holy Spirit is leading you.

2. Be sensitive in humility to find out if what you think you have been given has any significance to the person you are praying with.

3. It is better to ask a question, e.g., "I feel God has given me ______- does this mean anything to you?" rather than telling them that God has told you that their problem is _______! If you receive words or pictures, you should be wary of interpreting them for the person as you may put your interpretation or slant upon them.

4. You don't need to share everything you receive in prayer during prayer ministry. You may want to share it with your co-team member afterward to check it out. If it still feels appropriate, it can be shared with the person later.