Michael Catt - The Power of Persistence

ENDORSEMENTS

This amazing book addresses three critical questions in my personal journey: What is the secret to compassion, creativity, and consistent clarity? How can one church in a small city reach millions through the medium that has eluded our grasp in the past? What is missing today in our denominations and churches across the land? This book, a practical but profound call to prayer, has the answers. If you desire a fresh wind from elsewhere to blow away the stale, the shallow, and the status quo, then discover The Power of Persistence.

Jay Strack, President

Student Leadership University

Some men write on subjects their research has prompted, while others feel the need to address the passion of their lives and ministry. The latter serves as the inspiration of this book, as its subject of prayer has been fleshed out in the life of its author. This is a must-read for anyone who desires intimacy through persistence in prayer.

Johnny Hunt, Senior Pastor

First Baptist Church, Woodstock, Georgia

President, Southern Baptist Convention

Aristotle said, Give me a place to stand, and I can move the world. Michaels book really nails it. It tells me how to get to that place on my knees before the throne and stay there until it happens. And it will happen.

John Bisagno, Senior Pastor

Colonial Heights Baptist Church

Ridgeland, Mississippi

We need this book today more than ever, not because people wont fill our churches even when we are spiritually empty. We need this book today because a sovereign God has inextricably linked the persistent praying of His people to the manifestation of His life-changing power and sin-killing presence. The old, old story told by prayed-up preachers who are leading prayed-up churches still works. Its the only thing that really works.

Alan Day, Senior Pastor

Edmonds First Baptist Church, Edmond, Oklahoma

This book is a compelling challenge to move to the next level in our Christian walk. It is powerful because it is personal. Michael has been a part of every major event in my life and the life of my family through his consistent prayer for us. This book and Michaels example have made a significant impact in my life.

Charles S. Lowery Lowery

Institute of Excellence

If you want to know how to get from where you are to where you want to be, the book you hold in your hand will show you the way. Discover the intimacy of speaking to the King in the Kings own language as Michael Catt teaches you how to pray the Word in a powerful and effective way. When you do, your life will never be the same!

Kerry Shook, Senior Pastor

Woodlands Church, The Woodlands, Texas

Get hold of prayer and experience a depth with God youve never known before. Dig into Michael Catts powerful work and be amazed at what God can do in you.

James MacDonald, Senior Pastor

Harvest Bible Chapel, Rolling Meadows, Illinois

THE POWER OF PERSISTENCE

Copyright 2009 by Michael Catt

All Rights Reserved

978-0-8054-4868-9

B&H Publishing Group

Nashville, Tennessee

www.BHPublishingGroup.com

Dewey Decimal Classification: 248.32

Prayer / Spiritual Life

Unless otherwise noted, all Scriptures are taken from the Holman Christian Standard Bible (HCSB), copyright 1999, 2000, 2002, 2003 by Holman Bible Publishers. Other translations used include the New International Version (NIV) Copyright 1973, 1978, 1984 International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved. New King James Version (NKJV) Copyright 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved. The King James Version (kjv).

Quotations at the beginning of each chapter and other uncited quotes are taken from John Blanchards The Complete Gathered Gold (Webster, NY: Evangelical Press, 2006).

Printed in the United States

TABLE OF CONTENTS

DEDICATION

DON AND LIBBY MILLER: Prayer warriors who first introduced me to the necessity of an intercessory prayer ministry in the local church. They have traveled this nation for decades teaching churches to pray. No one taught me more about the church being a house of prayer than Don. Meeting them in 1985 was a divine appointment.

ROGER AND LINDA BRELAND: Friends for nearly forty years. They have prayed for me, my family, and my ministry like no others. Linda is the greatest prayer warrior I have ever met. Their lives are a testimony to the power of prayer and faith.

JAMES MILLER: My youth minister growing up who started youth prayer meetings during the days of the Jesus Movement. We didnt have a budget, camps, or retreats, but we learned that prayer is the key to God working among His people.

FOREWORD

Is your spiritual address in Jerusalem, or in Athens? And in which city is the church located where you worship and serve?

Christians who live in Athens spend their time doing nothing but talking about and listening to the latest ideas (Acts 17:21 NIV). These religious novelties entertain them for a short time, but they dont produce the kind of ministry that glorifies Jesus Christ and transforms lives. Religious entertainment may build a crowd, but that isnt the same as spiritual edification that builds a church.

Mature Christians know the difference. Believers who live in Jerusalem follow the time-honored biblical discipline of giving their attention to prayer and the ministry of the word (Acts 6:4 NIV). The first Christians didnt have to search around for some new thing, because they got it right the first timeprayer and the ministry of the word. The Athens approach may look attractive, but the Jerusalem approach is spiritually effective, and it produces fruit that lasts. I urge, then, first of all, that requests, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for everyone, wrote Paul (1 Tim. 2:1 NIV). Prayer first! This is not an option; its an obligation.

During my years of itinerant ministry, I have found here and there pastors and churches who prefer the apostolic approach to the Athenian approachand Sherwood Baptist Church in Albany, Georgia, is one of those churches. When I have stood before that congregation to share the Word, I have sensed the Holy Spirit at work because the congregation and staff had prayed. Their senior pastor, Michael Catt, as well as the church staff and officers, agree with Paul that prayer and the preaching of the Word of God must have priority.

In this book Pastor Catt builds a biblical base for praying churches and praying church leaders, a case it is impossible to refute. It warmed and stirred my heart to read these chapters, and I trust you will have the same experience. I suggest you share this book with some of your friends. This might give birth to a vibrant prayer group in your neighborhood or church. For the person who knows to do good and doesnt do it, it is a sin (James 4:17).

God bless you in exercising your prayer privileges as a citizen of that glorious heavenly Jerusalem (Heb. 12:1824).

Warren W. Wiersbe

INTRODUCTION

When we work, we work. But when we pray, God works.

Everything good in my life and in the life of the church I pastor, I attribute to praying people. Every blessing has come from a prayer environment. Every time Ive seen Satan win the day, I know weve let our prayer guard down. And every time weve moved forward as a church family, it has been on our knees.