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THE IMPORTANCE OF CORPORATE PRAYER

By Richard Krejcir

Into Thy Word -

I. The Importance of Prayer with Others

A. Taught by Jesus and the Apostles.

  • We are to pray "Our Father" (Matt. 6: 9) as well as "Father" (Luke II: 2).
  • His special presence promised (Matt. 18:19-20).
  • Taught by the apostles

B. Practiced by Jesus and the Apostles.

  • Luke 22:39-45, Acts 1:14 ("with one accord devoted themselves," "joined together constantly"), 2:42,3:1,4:23,24,31,6:4, 12:5, 12,13:1-3, 26:36-38, 21:5, etc.
  • The apostles' plea for prayer -- Romans 15:30,2 Cor. 1:11, Eph. 6:

19-20, Phil. 1:19, Col. 11:3, 2 Thess. 3:1, etc.

III. Some Personal Benefits of Praying Together

A. Through Association we learn and grow (Luke 11:1-2).

B. Through Stimulation of sharing, prayer, doing we venture more.

C. Through Validation of answers to prayer we believe God for more.

D. Through Sharing of faith and life we understand more about God, ourselves, and how we should pray.

IV. The Special Word of Jesus Concerning United Prayer (Matt. 18:19-20)

A. The incredible scope of the promise, "Anything!" (Emphatic)

B. Where the prayer is answered "on earth"--right here !

C. The context of the promise: Matt. 18:1-35. Concerns relationships.

1. Right attitude toward oneself (1-5).

2. Right attitude toward "little ones" : children, the weak, the helpless, "little people" (5-14) .

3. Right attitude toward those offending us (15-35). Key to the whole passage.

D. Those addressed by the promise: Disciples (Matt. 17:22). (Not the multitude of listeners.)

E. The promise is directed:

1. To those gathered in Christ's name. (John 14:12-14,16:23-24, Acts 3:1-16, etc.)

2. To those guided by His Word and will. Willing to follow" before they knew where He was going. with Him, for Him, under Him, obedient servants!

3. To those agreed with Christ and one A symphony harmonizing together another under baton of the Maestro.

4. To those receiving with confidence His promise to hear and respond (Mark 11:20-25).

IV. Some Suggestions for Prayer Together: Conversational Prayer

(See Rosalind Rinker, Prayer: Conversing with God.)

Traditional Prayer: Monologue Impersonal Language of the head Guarded, formal, unrevealing Without personal confession Insensitive to others Involves only the one No acceptance or forgiveness given or received

Conversational Prayer: Dialogue Personal "I" "my", J Language of the heart Open, honest, simple With personal confession Sensitive to others Involves all Acceptance and forgiveness given and received

 

Developed by Robert B. Munger

 

 

 




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