TOPIC: CORPORATE PRAYERS
MEMORISE:
“Endeavouring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.” - (Ephesians 4:3)
READ: ACTS 6:1-7 (KJV)
1 And in those days, when the number of the disciples was multiplied, there arose a murmuring of the Grecians against the Hebrews, because their widows were neglected in the daily ministration.
2 Then the twelve called the multitude of the disciples unto them, and said, It is not reason that we should leave the word of God, and serve tables.
3 Wherefore, brethren, look ye out among you seven men of honest report, full of the Holy Ghost and wisdom, whom we may appoint over this business.
4 But we will give ourselves continually to prayer, and to the ministry of the word.
5 And the saying pleased the whole multitude: and they chose Stephen, a man full of faith and of the Holy Ghost, and Philip, and Prochorus, and Nicanor, and Timon, and Parmenas, and Nicolas a proselyte of Antioch:
6 Whom they set before the apostles: and when they had prayed, they laid their hands on them.
7 And the word of God increased; and the number of the disciples multiplied in Jerusalem greatly; and a great company of the priests were obedient to the faith.
MESSAGE:
In Acts 4:21-30, after the apostles were imprisoned and threatened, they returned to their own company, and with one accord, they lifted up their voices to God. The first result of their prayers was that they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to preach the word of God with boldness (Acts 4:31). Another result of their corporate prayers was the grace and power to preach the good news of the death, resurrection, and ascension of Jesus Christ, as we see in Acts 4:33:
And with great power gave the apostles witness of the resurrection of the Lord Jesus: and great grace was upon them all.
Beloved, do you want great boldness to do God's will? Do you want to experience great power and grace? Then, you must live in unity with other believers. Whenever there is peace and unity among believers, God's power is unlimited. In Acts 12:1-5, Herod began to persecute and kill Christians. He first arrested James, the brother of John, and because there was no resistance from the believers, he killed him. Afterwards, he arrested Peter and imprisoned him, planning to kill him after Easter. However, the church gathered together to pray continuously for Peter and did not stop until he was miraculously delivered from Herod (Acts 12:6-11).
We must also live in unity with other believers if we want to experience exponential increase. The devil understands the power of unity in the church; therefore, he constantly tries to do all he can to keep us in disunity by making us fight one another and gossip about ourselves.
In today's Bible reading, when the devil tried to cause disunity in the early church, the apostles quickly appointed faithful men to take care of the people who were complaining. Immediately the apostles solved the problem that threatened to divide the church, the word of God increased, and the number of disciples multiplied. Churches that are not operating in unity will not see the increase of God's word and power among them until they deal with the things causing disunity.
Beloved, do not neglect the times set aside for corporate prayers in your local assembly. The church is a family, and a popular saying goes: the family that prays together stays together. This is true because the Bible says that one shall chase a thousand, but two shall chase tens of thousands.
KEY POINT:
The church that prays together stays together.
BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: MATTHEW 10-11
HYMNAL: 22 - SWEET HOUR OF PRAYER! SWEET HOUR OF PRAYER
1 Sweet hour of prayer! sweet hour of prayer!
that calls me from a world of care,
and bids me at my Father's throne
make all my wants and wishes known.
In seasons of distress and grief,
my soul has often found relief,
and oft escaped the tempter's snare
by thy return, sweet hour of prayer!
2 Sweet hour of prayer! sweet hour of prayer!
the joys I feel, the bliss I share
of those whose anxious spirits burn
with strong desires for thy return!
With such I hasten to the place
where God my Savior shows his face,
and gladly take my station there,
and wait for thee, sweet hour of prayer!
3 Sweet hour of prayer! sweet hour of prayer!
thy wings shall my petition bear
to him whose truth and faithfulness
engage the waiting soul to bless.
And since he bids me seek his face,
believe his word, and trust his grace,
I'll cast on him my every care,
and wait for thee, sweet hour of prayer!
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