Why Should We Pray Together
Matt Redstone
Prayer Changes Everything • Sermon • Submitted • Presented • 30:11
0 ratings
· 3 viewsPRAYER! It is one of the most important disciplines in a believer's life, yet it is often the most misunderstood! That is why we are taking an entire series, devoted to addressing what prayer is and why it is so important. You are invited to come with questions, and we hope to answer them all by the time we are done!
Files
Notes
Transcript
Intro
Intro
since the start of the year, we’ve been in the series, Prayer Changes Everything. We’ve looked at how praise is an important part of prayer. We look at why God doesn’t always answer our prayers, or why He might delay in answering prayer. We looked at why prayer a necessary part of our life and growth as a believer
up to this point, the material has focused on our personal prayer life. The vast majority of the praying we are going to be doing is private prayer, so it needs the most attention.
This morning, we are going to look at why we need to pray together as the church. I think there is a misunderstanding of prayer in regards to individual and group prayer, so I want to clear that up, and encourage us to pray together more often!
1. God wants his people to be together
1. God wants his people to be together
In the New Testament, there are three metaphors used to describe the church
the head and the body
the vine and branches
the cornernstone and the temple
all three of these metaphors draw out that we need to be connected to Jesus, but some of that connection happens in the context of the faith community, ie the church
the fact that we need to be together should not really surprise us as we see community at work in God Himself through the Trinity
as image bearers of God, it is in our design to enjoy the same community that God experiences and enjoys with Himself all the time
but it is not just about being in community. Every vision of heaven we read about in scripture paints a picture of saints gathered together, worshiping and praising God. When the followers of Jesus come together, we should get a little taste of what heaven is going to be like. The saints, gathered together, using their gifts to glory of our heavenly Father.
God wants His people to be together
2. The early church loved praying together
2. The early church loved praying together
In Acts 1, the church was all together praying when the Holy Spirit fell
in Acts 2 and 3, we read that the early church was defined by its devotion to constantly praying together
in Acts 4, we read about how the church would pray together whenever they faced problems
when they needed direction, the church would gather for the Lord’s leading
over and over again, Scripture points to the fact that the early church loved to pray together, and they prayed about everything together
Wait, didn’t Jesus say...
Wait, didn’t Jesus say...
But when you pray, go away by yourself, shut the door behind you, and pray to your Father in private. Then your Father, who sees everything, will reward you.
blank
this seems like a contradiction, doesn’t it? If Jesus taught the disciples to go away by themselves and pray, why were they always together in prayer?
when Jesus told His followers to go away and pray by themselves, He was comparing it with the hypocrites practice of using prayer to draw attention to themselves
that is very different from what we see the disciples doing in Acts. We see a group of believers earnestly seeking God’s will and direction. There wasn’t one person or group being elevated. They were united as a whole, seeking God’s favor. The two are very different. In fact, as we are going to see, there is something significant about praying together
Why do we pray together?
Why do we pray together?
1. God commanded it
1. God commanded it
I could stop the list right there. God told us we were to pray together, and so we should pray together
He said to them, “The Scriptures declare, ‘My Temple will be called a house of prayer,’ but you have turned it into a den of thieves!”
blank
we are the temple of the Holy Spirit, and as such we are called a house of prayer
2. Jesus shows us when we gather for prayer
2. Jesus shows us when we gather for prayer
For where two or three gather together as my followers, I am there among them.”
blank
Jesus said that when we go off by ourselves to pray, God sees what is done in secret, however when we gather to pray, Jesus Himself comes and among the believers
so God told us to and Jesus joins us when we pray together. Those are two really good reasons for us to be gathered together for prayer
3. Prayer is often answered while believers are gathered together for prayer
3. Prayer is often answered while believers are gathered together for prayer
4. Big requests require much corporate prayer
4. Big requests require much corporate prayer
in Acts 12 we read about how prayer is answered when the body prays together. A little context with the story, the apostle James has just been killed and King Herod has imprisoned Peter, looking to keep the favor of the religious leadership
that night, an angel came, opened the doors of the prison and walked Peter out of the prison. This is where we pick up the story
When he realized this, he went to the home of Mary, the mother of John Mark, where many were gathered for prayer.
He knocked at the door in the gate, and a servant girl named Rhoda came to open it.
When she recognized Peter’s voice, she was so overjoyed that, instead of opening the door, she ran back inside and told everyone, “Peter is standing at the door!”
“You’re out of your mind!” they said. When she insisted, they decided, “It must be his angel.”
blank
Peter was slated to be executed, and as the leader of the church, the people were desperate for his release. In fact, they were so focused on praying that Peter would be rescued from prison, they didn’t believe it when their prayers were answered
they were ready to pray all night if it was necessary
5. Praying together encourages us to start praying, keep praying, and make prayer a priority
5. Praying together encourages us to start praying, keep praying, and make prayer a priority
when we pray together and we see prayer answered, it fuels that fire within us to keep praying, to keep seeking God in the thing that are going on in life.
Let us think of ways to motivate one another to acts of love and good works.
And let us not neglect our meeting together, as some people do, but encourage one another, especially now that the day of his return is drawing near.
blank
when we pray together and see the way God is moving, the way He answers our prayers, it should create a desire within is to pray together more.
maybe, just maybe, the reason we don’t see more answered prayers is because we do not prayer together enough
6. Praying together unifies us in the Spirit
6. Praying together unifies us in the Spirit
throughout Acts, we read that the church was united in purpose, and that unity is only possible when we pray together, seeking the will of the God together
Make every effort to keep yourselves united in the Spirit, binding yourselves together with peace.
blank
Not only is unity in the Spirit a good reason for the church to pray together, I would say this is good reason that you should with as a couple and as a family. There is a spiritual unity that happens when we pray together, and it is that unity that will carry through the trials and struggles we face in our lives.
In order for our relationships to remain strong and healthy, it is imperative that we pray together
It’s not just prayer
It’s not just prayer
As we look into our faith, it becomes apparent that every aspect of our spiritual health is dependent on participating as a group. Our gifts, our worship, our service, all of it is magnified when we do it together.
blank
Which brings us to communion. In 1 Corinthians 11, the apostle Paul starts by saying, “When you meet together...” Communion is the reminder that Jesus died for each us individually and collectively. Jesus’ sacrifice was for both the parts and whole. Each of you are saved by the declaration of Jesus as Lord and Savior, but our community is saved because of what Jesus did for the church.
At your tables is communion. As we close, I turn communion over to you. Following Paul’s instruction in 1 Corinthians 11, I want you to prepare your heart and minds to take communion in a worthy manner. Then, before you break bread, share something Jesus has done in your life recently that you are greatful for. After you take communion, pray for each other.