Prayer "chains" and prayer "meetings"... and "intercessory" prayer among the church body are all well intended, but there is really no scriptural basis for this.  It does benefit the Church body, however, as it brings everyone into an attitude of prayer, which is really good.  ....But often the understanding is that the more people that we have praying for a particular issue, the more likely God is to hear our petition.  It's like we think that the more we bombard heaven with prayer requests, the more likely God is to give in to our demands....  The truth is that we cannot wear God down with our multiple petitions...

 

     Often our prayers are based on Old Testament traditions, Old Testament examples.  But we need to understand that we now have a New Covenant....  Old Testament saints did not have Jesus....  They were always in a position of being an offense to God because of their sin nature.  There is a huge difference between Old Testament and New Testament prayers.  In the Old Covenant, it was impossible to have a heart change.  ....The entire nation of Israel had to come to  repentance... (over and over and over...)  And when the Hebrews would invade a land, God told them to kill everything... men, women, children and animals.... because there was no hope for a spiritual change.  It was like amputating an arm to save a body....  The human race was desolate and without hope,...until Jesus.  He changed everything.

 

     In the New Covenant, it is now possible for everyone to have a heart change.  There is hope for all... The Grace of God was exhibited through Jesus...  He is the only avenue to restoration with God.

 

     Most prayer today is Old Testament based.  We must understand, now, that we have Jesus to stand in for us in our hour of need.  That's the reason we are instructed to pray in His Name.  Power is released in His Name, so that whatsoever we ask in His Name, it will be done so "that the Father may be glorified in the Son." (John 14:13).

    Luke 11:9 does not tell us that we need "prayer chains" to pray and for thousands to intercede,...over and over again, but it does say that you knock and it shall be opened unto you. (Luke 11:10)  Jesus is not saying to knock, and knock ...and knock some more... and to keep on knocking and ....maybe He will grow weary and open the door.  It's always opened, immediately, and everyone receives.  Jesus is making this point: You do it!  He will respond with Love. (1John 4:8)