Personal prayer and corporate prayer in church

A praying community

Very interesting talk in church today.

Acts 4:23-31 (NIV)
On their release, Peter and John went back to their own people and reported all that the chief priests and elders had said to them. [24] When they heard this, they raised their voices together in prayer to God. "Sovereign Lord," they said, "you made the heaven and the earth and the sea, and everything in them. [25] You spoke by the Holy Spirit through the mouth of your servant, our father David: " `Why do the nations rage and the peoples plot in vain? [26] The kings of the earth take their stand and the rulers gather together against the Lord and against his Anointed One. ' [27] Indeed Herod and Pontius Pilate met together with the Gentiles and the people of Israel in this city to conspire against your holy servant Jesus, whom you anointed. [28] They did what your power and will had decided beforehand should happen. [29] Now, Lord, consider their threats and enable your servants to speak your word with great boldness. [30] Stretch out your hand to heal and perform miraculous signs and wonders through the name of your holy servant Jesus." [31] After they prayed, the place where they were meeting was shaken. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke the word of God boldly.

What makes us distinctive from other caring clubs and societies? How is the church different from other charitable groups.

Prayer

What is prayer?

We often say simply "talking to God" and we think there are lots of rules we need to follow. We may have lots of rules that we impose on ourselves. We think we have to say the correct words in a special way for God to hear us.

God's desire is for us to be in relationship. We may feel that we are bad at praying because we don't do enough. It is encouraging to think that even just thinking about God brings us into His presence.

Why does God want us to pray?

Simply because God loves us.

Even though we often feel we can't pray well enough or we are not worthy enough to pray.

God just wants us to spend time talking and praying to Him. He longs and desires for us to spend time with Him.

What about corporate prayer?

In the Bible there is an expectation that believers will pray together. How much time should we spend in corporate prayer?

Do we pray before our services, for people involved, committing all we will do? Do we pray for understanding and vision for the church's future.

Acts 4:23 (NIV)
On their release, Peter and John went back to their own people and reported all that the chief priests and elders had said to them.

On release they went back and told the church what happened.

Then ..

Acts 4:24 (NIV)
When they heard this, they raised their voices together in prayer to God. "Sovereign Lord," they said, "you made the heaven and the earth and the sea, and everything in them.

They prayed reminding themselves of who they are praying to. We need to open the door to God through prayer. We come to God with empty hands just as we are with all that we are.

Prayer by full immersion. We should be prepared to go out into the full depth of God's presence. Prayer is an everyday thing and a part of our daily lives. It's not about rules, technique or technology. Prayer requires perseverance and determination and a skill that we will grow in. When God feels far away that's only our perception. 

We should remind ourselves of who God is and what He can do.

Acts 4:24-28 (NIV)
When they heard this, they raised their voices together in prayer to God. "Sovereign Lord," they said, "you made the heaven and the earth and the sea, and everything in them. [25] You spoke by the Holy Spirit through the mouth of your servant, our father David: " `Why do the nations rage and the peoples plot in vain? [26] The kings of the earth take their stand and the rulers gather together against the Lord and against his Anointed One. ' [27] Indeed Herod and Pontius Pilate met together with the Gentiles and the people of Israel in this city to conspire against your holy servant Jesus, whom you anointed. [28] They did what your power and will had decided beforehand should happen.

They prayed for boldness to speak.

Acts 4:29-30 (NIV)
Now, Lord, consider their threats and enable your servants to speak your word with great boldness. [30] Stretch out your hand to heal and perform miraculous signs and wonders through the name of your holy servant Jesus."

God wants to transform us and this starts in prayer.

God longs for us to ask.