The Praying Community
Acts 4:23-31
When they had been released, they went to their own companions and reported all that the
chief priests and the elders had said to them. And when they heard this, they lifted their voices to God with one accord and said, “O Lord, it is You who MADE THE HEAVEN AND THE EARTH AND THE SEA, AND ALL THAT IS IN THEM, who by
the Holy Spirit, through the mouth of our father David Your servant, said, ‘WHY DID THE GENTILES RAGE, AND THE PEOPLES DEVISE FUTILE THINGS? ‘THE KINGS OF THE EARTH TOOK THEIR STAND, AND THE RULERS WERE GATHERED TOGETHER AGAINST THE LORD AND AGAINST HIS CHRIST.’ For truly in this city there were
gathered together against Your holy servant Jesus, whom You anointed, both Herod and Pontius Pilate, along with the Gentiles and the peoples of Israel, to do whatever Your hand and Your purpose predestined to occur. And now, Lord, take note of their threats, and grant that Your bond-servants may speak Your word with all confidence, while You extend Your hand to heal, and signs and wonders take place through the name of Your holy servant Jesus.” And when they had prayed, the place where they had gathered together was shaken, and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak the word of God with boldness.
A model for community prayer:
Pray with one voice. We must learn to pray in unity. Jesus teaches, “If two or three of you agree on earth about anything that they may ask, it shall be done for them by My Father who is in heaven” (Matthew 18:19).
Pray to glorify God. The Church recalled the wondrous acts of God before they called upon Him to answer their prayer.
Recount the situation. Express what the circumstances are requiring this prayer.
State the problem. But do not dwell on it.
State the desire the community is bringing before God.
Why should we pray together?
We are called by Jesus to be in unity. Jesus prays, “I do not ask on behalf of these alone, but for those also who believe in Me through their word; that they may all be one; even as Thou, Father, art in Me, and I in Thee, that they also may be in Us; that the world may believe that Thou didst send Me. And the glory which Thou hast given Me I have given to them; that they may be one, just as we are one; I in them, and Thou in Me, that they may be perfected in unity that the world may know that Thou didst send Me, and didst love them, even as Thou didst love Me” (John 17:20-23).
We are called to be unified in prayer and the entire life of the Church.
Paul, writing to the church in Corinth, admonishes, “By the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you all agree, and there be no divisions among you, but you be made complete in the same mind and in the same judgment” (1 Corinthians 1:10).
The results of praying in unity.
Prayers are answered.
The very foundations of this sinful world will be shaken and torn down!
The people will be filled with the Holy Spirit as they have never known before. Perhaps it is more correct to say the people of the church will free the Holy Spirit to work through them more powerfully.
The Church will speak God’s word courageously. Our courage comes from God.What do you suppose might happen if Christians actually took God’s word seriously and actually lived it daily? My guess is our world would be far different than it is right now. Paul, writing to Timothy, encourages him to intercede, plead for, pray for, and give thanks for all people including the political and societal leaders. The purpose under-girding this urging of Paul is to glorify God as those whom Timothy, and presumably his church, pray for daily, as the people in the community come to believe in Jesus unto salvation.
Herein lies the problem for all of us fallen sinful people: We don’t want to pray for those we do not like or care for; we do not want to pray for the leaders of governments, especially for those we disagree with or did not vote for or those who we deem to be enemies of our nation. Yet, Paul writes the reason we pray for the leaders of all types is that we may lead a quiet, tranquil life, in all godliness, and with dignity.
Paul goes further and asserts our prayers will be used by God to bring people to the knowledge of His Son, Jesus, so those whom we prayed for may receive God’s gift of grace and enjoy the blessings of salvation. Paul is not writing anything new. Jesus declares those who follow Him are the salt of the earth and the light of the world and should “Let your light shine before men in such a way that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven” (Matthew 5:16).
It is God’s desire, not God’s will, that all people will come to the knowledge of the truth which is Jesus is the only way of salvation. Our message to the world, in word and deed, must always point other people, even those we do not like or those we disagree with, to God through Jesus. Remember, Jesus commands we are to pray for our enemies and those who persecute us for our faith.
This is all very hard to do. What Scripture commands is counter-intuitive to the ways of the fallen human condition. But do it we must for it is a command of God.
Please Pray This Week . . .
- Outreach to Happy Feet Soccer Program
- Youth Yard Sale on November 2
- For our nation’s elections to be fair, honest, transparent, and peaceful
