Agreeing Together in Prayer - Six Ways the Prayer Meeting Blesses the Church

Agreeing Together in Prayer

Six Ways the Prayer Meeting Can Bless the Church

When we study the early church, we see that they had two types of prayer. One type was that of the ministry of preaching God’s Word. The second type was the church prayer meeting. As Jesus ascended into heaven, He commanded the church in Jerusalem to wait for the coming of the Holy Spirit to empower them. They remained together in prayer for ten days in an upper room. The early church did not know exactly what God wanted, but He directed them in prayer. The early church was declaring their dependence on God for direction as well as empowering.?

When Pentecost came, there were 120 persons praying together when the Holy Spirit manifested Himself with the sound of a rushing wind, with the appearance of tongues of fire over the heads of those assembled, and the sound of many known languages praising God together. Peter’s Pentecostal sermon was preaching the Word of God and 3000 were saved, baptized, and added to the church. We find both types of services mentioned in Acts 2:41-46?42. And they continued steadfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers.??They were to pray in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ (see Ephesians 5:20) Both types of services were present from the earliest times of the church.

1. Prayer can unify the church:?

We can always come to God our Father in prayer for our personal needs, and to intercede for the needs of others. But there appears to be a special power when believers unite in one accord in prayer. This helps us focus on what God hopes to accomplish in our midst and to help us avoid self-focused and self-centered prayer. Notice the promise of Jesus Christ concerning united prayer:?Matthew 5:19 Again I say unto you, That if two of you shall agree on earth as touching anything that they shall ask, it shall be done for them of my Father which is in heaven. 20. For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them.?Of course, as God, Jesus is omnipresent. But He is present in a special way when churches and members bind themselves together in unified prayer. How many church divisions and splits could be avoided if we truly pray together.

2. The church is given the responsibility of world evangelism. We must pray to God.

Five times Jesus Christ gave this command between His resurrection and His ascension 40 days later. This task was overwhelming when given and is still so today. What church would not like more workers? During His ministry on earth, the Lord Jesus Christ said:?Matthew 9:36-38 But when he saw the multitudes, he was moved with compassion on them, because they fainted, and were scattered abroad, as sheep having no shepherd. 37. Then saith he unto his disciples, The harvest truly is plenteous, but the laborers are few; 38. Pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he will send forth laborers into his harvest.

3. Unified prayer within the church can enlarge our vision of God.?

Peter and John were brought before the Jewish rulers, the Sanhedrin, after they had healed a lame man. They were arrested overnight and then interrogated about how this man was healed, and Peter boldly proclaimed:?Acts 4:8-10 Then Peter, filled with the Holy Ghost, said unto them, Ye rulers of the people, and elders of Israel, 9. If we this day be examined of the good deed done to the impotent man, by what means he is made whole; 10. Be it known unto you all, and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom ye crucified, whom God raised from the dead, even by him doth this man stand here before you whole.?The Sanhedrin was furious and commanded them no longer to speak about Jesus Christ and the resurrection. Peter answers back:?Acts 4:19. But Peter and John answered and said unto them, Whether it be right in the sight of God to hearken unto you more than unto God, judge ye. 20. For we cannot but speak the things which we have seen and heard.

How did the church respond??Acts 4:23 And being let go, they went to their own company, and reported all that the chief priests and elders said unto them. 24. And when they had heard that, they lifted up their voice in God with one accord, and said, Lord, thou art God, which hast made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and all that in them is. 26. Who by the mouth of thy servant David hast said, Why did the heathen rage, and the people imagine vain things? 37. For of a truth against thy holy child Jesus, whom thou hast anointed, both Herod, and Pontius Pilate, with the Gentiles, and the people of Israel, were gathered together, 28. For to do whatsoever thy hand and thy counsel determined before to be done. 29. And now, Lord, behold their threatenings, and grant unto thy servants that with all boldness they may speak thy word, 30. By stretching forth thine hand to heal; and that signs and wonders may be done by the name of thy holy child Jesus. 31. And when they had prayed, the place was shaken where they were assembled together, and they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and they spake the word of God with boldness.?The church had an enlarged vision of God, His power, and the truth of His Word, applying Psalm 2 to this situation!?

4. We can seek God’s protection through prayer:

Jesus is at Gethsemane, praying as He faced the cross. His disciples kept falling asleep.?Matthew 26:41 Watch and pray, that ye enter not into temptation: the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.?Peter slept rather than praying, and did fall into temptation, denying the Lord Jesus Christ three times. We can ask for God’s protection against sins and temptations through prayer.

5. We can face great trials through prayer:

Herod Agrippa killed James, brother of John, with the sword, and imprisoned Peter and planned his execution as well.?Acts 12:5 Peter therefore was kept in prison: but prayer was made without ceasing of the church unto God for him.?Humanly it was impossible for Peter to get out of prison. He was chained to two soldiers, and two soldiers were at the door of his cell. There was an inner door and an outer door further, and then the main door to get out of the prison. But God sent and angel to release Peter, much to the consternation of those who jailed him.

6. We can pray for open doors for preaching the gospel:

God can open doors which no man can close. If He opens them, it is our responsibility to walk through them. If they are closed, then let us pray to Him.?Colossians 4:2 Continue in prayer, and watch in the same with thanksgiving. 3. Withal praying also for us, that God would open unto us a door of utterance, to speak the mystery of Christ, for which I am also in bonds. 4. That I may make it manifest, as I ought to speak.??There may be adversaries – then we need more prayer.?I Corinthians 16:9 for a great door and effectual is opened unto me, and there are many adversaries.?

How often church members skip the church prayer meeting. After all, it is only a prayer meeting! Or worse, how often the church eliminates the prayer meeting from their services. After all, everyone is busy, and we have to set priorities… Exactly. Perhaps that is why our churches are weak, powerless, and ripped apart with divisions. Let us remember the priorities of the church of Jerusalem when faced with a crisis which could have totally divided the church. They set other godly men filled with wisdom and the Holy Spirit to care for the widows but they refused to neglect their primary duties of prayer (notice it is mentioned first) and the ministry of the Word.?

The apostles got their priorities right. Is that true of our churches today? Do we need God’s power and direction? Do we need God’s wisdom, and cleansing from our sins? Let us not neglect prayer both privately and corporately. #prayermeeting #powerinprayer #unityinprayer