This Class will discuss the following:
- The Importance of the Altar
- The Ministry of the Altar Worker
- The Importance and Operation of the Supernatural Gifts During Prayer
- The Definition of Each Supernatural Gift
- Prayer Time Guidelines
- The Prayer Time Encounter
I. INTRODUCTION
The Altar Worker Prayer Ministry Training aims to introduce the basics of ministering at the Altar. This training class ensures a consistent ministry, and the standards of excellence are followed in everything. The joy and rewards of Altar Team Ministry are seeing people set free and walking in the anointing and power of God!
"Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much." (James 5:16 KJV)
The only way to begin having a deeper and more intimate relationship with Jesus is to come to a place of total desperation, self-abandonment, and surrender to Him through prayer. The ultimate goal of prayer is to have intimate union and dialogue with the Triune God. Prayer is the application of the heart to Jesus and the eternal exercise of love.
The prayer life of any Christian is inseparable from every aspect of their spiritual life. Genuine dialogue with God can only happen through the guidance of the Holy Spirit, who is constantly interceding on their behalf because of their fallen old nature (Romans 8:26). There are times in life when a person has challenges that have become so overwhelming that the mind can't comprehend how, or what, to pray, which is why God says to "call for the elders of the church, and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord" (James 5:14 ESV).
Elders are mature Christians who have been trained to teach and lead others. Most often, they are Pastors. Church leadership cannot handle the daily requests for prayer or when people come to the front of the church for prayer during Service, especially in a large congregation. That is why prayer ministry is so vitally important that those called to pray for others can be trained in effective prayer counseling.
During prayer, the Holy Spirit will often reveal the person's actual needs and guide the prayer to make requests of the Father beyond human wisdom to comprehend fully. We are admonished to pray "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," and by doing so, we "are building" them "up in" the "most holy faith (Ephesians 6:18; Jude 1:20 ESV).
Asking for the daily anointing of the Holy Spirit is essentially a request for empowerment to serve the Lord and to pray for others. The 'filling' comes from the waters of the river of life that flow from the throne of God (John 7:38-39 Revelation 22:1). The Holy Spirit is the source of the unhindered continuous power within the Christian. God has provided spiritual gifts intended to be given to those they come in contact with. They may need a word of wisdom or knowledge, an infusion of faith, a gift of healing or miracle, a prophetic word from God, discernment of spirits, and words spoken in different kinds of languages so that they can be lifted up, edified, encouraged, and restored.
Jesus is the same yesterday, today, and forever (Hebrews 13:8). He has always been the giver of gifts to anyone who asks and will never change (Malachi 3:6). He is a good God and only gives the best (See Luke 11:9-13). All it takes to flow with this power and use His spiritual gifts to help others is the daily yielding of the will by dying to self through repentance and walking in humility by esteeming everyone more highly than yourself.
The Altar
The Altar, as introduced to us in the Old Testament under the Mosaic Law, provided that the priests and Levites alone could labor in altar duties. Altars were used primarily as places of sacrifice, especially of animals. The Altar is a place of self-sacrifice, total surrender to God, emptying out, and a place of death. New Testament references to altars concern proper worship and hypocrisy in worship (Matthew 5:23-24,23:18-20).
The message that Jesus Christ is the ultimate sacrifice who puts us right with God is the theme of the New Testament. The Altar is where people can come to repent of their sins and receive Jesus as their Lord and Savior, pray to receive a fresh anointing of the Holy Spirit, and pray for needs, healing, and deliverance from demonic oppression.
The Alar Call
Jesus called His disciples publicly to "follow Me" and expected them to respond immediately (Matthew 4:19,9:9). He wanted them to identify with Him and His authority outwardly. Jesus required a new Disciple to acknowledge Him before others (Matthew 10:32).
The Altar Call is the practice of inviting people forward to:
- make a public confession of faith in Jesus and become Born-Again
- rededicate their lives to Jesus
- pray for emotional, physical, or spiritual healing
- surrender another part of their lives to God
- receive a blessing and experience the anointing of the Holy Spirit.
The Altar Call often involves the laying on of hands. Jesus has given us the power to lay hands on the sick so that they will recover (Mark 5:23; Mark 16:18; Acts 8:19; Acts 28:8). The laying on of hands is a point of contact that allows the person receiving prayer to feel the anointing and power of the Holy Spirit and for the Gifts of the Holy Spirit to manifest.
The Ministry Of The Altar Worker
The church should allow people to respond when God's Word is preached because we should desire each altar worker to become a channel of God's blessing. We pray that all who come to the Altar will receive a transforming touch from Almighty GOD. To achieve this goal, the church should effectively train a team of altar workers passionate about seeing and sharing the anointing of the Holy Spirit coming upon people. The church's objective and goal should be for the altar workers to effectively operate in the supernatural gifts of the Holy Spirit at the Altar, resulting in many lives being powerfully touched and transformed. Jesus said,
"I am telling you the truth: those who believe in me will do what I do—yes, they will do even greater things, because I am going to the Father." (John 14:12 GNT)
Why an Altar call is Important
The Altar is where people met with God in the Old Testament and gave their sacrifices and offerings.
"Moses and Aaron then went into the tent of meeting. When they came out, they blessed the people; and the glory of the LORD appeared to all the people. Fire came out from the presence of the LORD and consumed the burnt offering and the fat portions on the Altar. And when all the people saw it, they shouted for joy and fell facedown." (Leviticus 9:23-24 NIV)
The Altar is where people meet God and experience His presence and power. It is not just located in a church building but also the physical body of the Born-Again Christian, the Temple of God. The Altar team workers must be adequately trained and abide by the guidelines and principles as approved by the Lead Pastor.
"So he said to me, "This is the word of the Lord to Zerubbabel: 'Not by might nor by power, but by my Spirit,' says the Lord Almighty." (Zechariah 4:6 NIV)
"And he will go on before the Lord, in the spirit and power of Elijah, to turn the hearts of the parents to their children and the disobedient to the wisdom of the righteous—to make ready a people prepared for the Lord." (Luke 1:17 NIV)
A. Altar Worker Preparation
These guidelines apply to ministering to people and those seeking intercession on behalf of others. We encourage people to come to the Altar for prayer when the call is made by the Minister.
Altar Workers must have a complete understanding of the roles and responsibilities of this ministry. Humility, loyalty, and integrity must be the moral and personal criteria for an effective Altar Worker Prayer Team ministry. They have the privilege of interceding and engaging in a spiritual battle for the souls of God's people. When a person comes to the Altar in faith, they will walk away, changed by the power and anointing of the Holy Spirit. Because the Gospel is a positive and life-changing message, the Altar Worker should always be positive.
LISTEN
"Speak Lord for your servant is listening" (1 Samuel 3:9 NIV)
"My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me" (John 10:27 KJV)
The priority in prayer ministry is to hear God's voice for the sake of the one you are praying for. Here is an acrostic to guide you when you pray for others.
L earn to spend intimate time with Jesus daily. He speaks to people who make themselves available to Him (Mark 1:35). Choose a time to be with Him daily to maintain an intimate relationship. He will never turn away a hungry heart seeking to hear Him.
I ndulge in God's Word, the Bible. Ask the Holy Spirit to speak to you through His Word so that you can learn to know His voice. Do this daily, and He will teach you to hear His voice as you make yourself available to Him by reading the Bible and meditating on it daily, which is God's only trusted way (Psalm 119, Luke 24:13-35).
S ilence (Zephehiah 1:7). Spend time silently soaking before the Lord as you quiet your heart before Him. Lay down all cares, worries, and expectations at His feet, and ask Him to speak to your heart. In a world full of distractions where we are constantly 'on the go,' we must make time to spend silently before the Lord in prayer and reading His Word because many voices around us want to influence us.
T hank God for His promises that enable us to know Him and to hear His voice. Always keep a thankful heart (Psalm 138:1-3).
E xpect God to speak. He is always faithful to what He has said (Psalm 38:15). Educate yourself in how He speaks (See Job 33:14).
- He can speak audibly to you as He did to Samuel (1 Samuel 3:4).
- He can speak in an internal voice to you directly into your heart and mind.
- He can speak through the world, in visions and dreams (See Romans 1:19-20; Numbers 12:6, Acts 22:17-18).
- He may appear before you and speak as he did to Ananias and speak to you through a "knowing" or impressions (See Nehemiah 7:5l; Matthew 22:18; Acts 9:10).
N ever quit seeking Jesus.
- Never stop meeting with Him. Don't give up if He does not speak to you in the way you desire. He will speak in the way He chooses, and if you continually quiet your heart and seek to know Him and hear His voice by studying His Word, He will speak to you.
- Never seek someone to hear God for you. He desires to speak to you more than you want to hear Him. He may speak to you through a person but never seek out anyone to hear for you. That is an Old Testament principle. Jesus paid the price on the Cross so that every Born-Again Christian can hear Him for themselves.
MOST IMPORTANT!!! God will never contradict His written Word and is always consistent with the goodness and mercy of His character (1 Corinthians 14:37; James 3:17). The fruit of God's voice is always good and different than ours (Matthew 7:15-23; Isaiah 55:8-9).
B. The Altar Team Worker:
1. Must Be:
a. Born-Again
b. living a life acceptable to God
c. obedient to God
d. sensitive to the leading of the Holy Spirit
e. confident in operating in the authority of God
f. submissive to spiritual authority and follow the requests of leadership
g. understand and know the principles of salvation and leading someone to Jesus
h. emotionally, physically, and spiritually, ready for Service
i. in unity with those in authority
j. living a life above reproach
k. consistent in your prayer life and study of the Bible
l. willing to yield to the prompting of the Holy Spirit in every situation
m. on spiritual call 24/7
2. Must be willing to:
a. Have an intimate relationship with Jesus
b. Die to your reputation, imagination, desires, and burdens for what you feel you
should pray.
c. Die to how others do things
d. Be obedient to God
e. Keep your eyes on Jesus
f. live a life of prayer and intercession
g. Make Mistakes
h. Commit to a prayer and fasting lifestyle even if you don't see something happen.
i. Keep your eyes and heart clean.
j. Repent for wrongs committed against others and God.
k. bow your knee before God and walk in humility?
l. Ask the Holy Spirit to search your heart.
"If I had cherished sin in my heart, the Lord would not have listened" (Psalms 66:18 NIV)
"Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting." (Psalm 139:23-24 NIV)
3. Forgive and Reconcile with those you have offended or who have offended you.
An intercessor must live a life free of offense. We need not be the reason why others are unable to receive.
"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." (Proverbs 3:5-6 NIV)
"He who trusts in himself is a fool, but he who walks in wisdom is kept safe." (Proverbs 28:26 NIV)
"For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways," declares the LORD." (Isaiah 55:8 NIV)
4. Spend time in Prayer.
All Altar prayer ministry participants should spend time in prayer before a scheduled Service. It is also recommended that prayer be lifted up on behalf of the one giving the message and that you have knowledge of the direction of the message.
a. Ask God:
- To put keys in your hands so you can set the captives free
- Give you His heart for the people you are praying for
- For His miracle power to come
- To teach you how to pray for the sick
- For His language when you pray
- How He wants you to pray
- What memory does He want to bring up
5. Expect the Lord to speak to you
Don't expect others to be a voice from God. You must hear from Him. That requires a thorough knowledge of His Word, the Bible.
"My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me."
(John 10:27NIV)
"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)
6. Before the beginning of the Service, ask God to show you how He will move. He may not always move in the same way.
a. There may be laughter (like medicine)
b. Shouts of Joy
c. Crying or silence of intercession and repentance as He woos the Bride to the
Bridegroom
7. Be sensitive to the message Preached
a. The message will set the mood for the first invitation for special prayer.
b. The works of God always follow in response to the message of the Word of God.
c. The first invitation should respond to a commitment to the message.
d. Other invitations may include salvation, healing, commitment, dedication, and a
drawing close to God, to name a few.
8. Be a watchman on the wall during the Service.
a. Be sensitive to what is going on in the spiritual realm. If you feel an oppressive/depressive spirit, come against it in the name of Jesus.
b. Be a participant in what is going on around you.
c. Look around and see who the Holy Spirit is moving/resting on. They may be crying, shaking, sweating, fidgeting, and their face is shining, etc.
9. God will adjust your personality to align with Him in spiritual warfare.
The enemy often hits hardest on your insecurities and fears
a. 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)
10. If the Lord Anoints and touches you (shaking, crying, etc.) as you pray for others, ask Him what He wants to do.
Example prayer, "Talk to me, Lord, expose those unclean things, take me to your Holy of Holies."
Being touched by God is for a purpose that is more than just having fun.
