INTRO

Today’s topic: Prayer in the Life of the Church

Synopsis

The prayer life of the NT provides a pattern from which the modern church can learn, both in terms of the importance of prayer, and also matters for prayer.

Prayer was at the centre of the life of the early church

They prayed when they met together.

THE PRAYERS

“And they devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers.” (Acts 2:42, ESV)

What’s important about Acts 2:42 is that the early church was a church that dedicated time and effort in prayer.

What is an interesting detail is the fact that “they devoted themselves to the...prayers.”

“they” in english grammar speaks to more than one.

It speaks to a group.

Throughout this sermon series we have talked about the importance in:

The Apostles’ Teaching - sound doctrine through the Gospel of Jesus Christ!

The Fellowship - the importance of communion, coming together, the brother/sisterhood.

The Breaking of Bread - is dovetailed to the fellowship but reveals the intimacy we have with each other because of what Christ accomplished for us!

It’s in the remembrance of what Christ did for us that we can enjoy such fellowship with each other.

The Prayers - coming together to seek the LORD was important and vital in the early Church.

How much now?

The commonality we see in all of this is that they were together!

There was this strong force within the Church because of their unity!

Today, as we talk about Prayer, keep in mind that it was done within the unity of the Church!

Quickly, prayer is the greatest opportunity we have as a group of people on the face of this world!

As Christians, we have access to the Presence of the Almighty God through prayer!

Prayer is meant to be intimate.

Prayer is meant for us to communicate to the Lord.

The early Church understood the importance of prayer because it was embedded in them through the rich Jewish history they carried:

Abraham prayed!

Isaac prayed!

Jacob prayed!

Moses prayed!

Samuel prayed!

David prayed!

Jeremiah prayed!

Daniel prayed!

Now, as believers of Jesus the Messiah, He too left behind an example for the Church:

Jesus prayed!

THEY PRAYED TOGETHER!

This reveals the heart of the LORD:

“that they may all be one, just as you, Father, are in me, and I in you, that they also may be in us, so that the world may believe that you have sent me.” (John 17:21, ESV)

This was a command of the LORD to the Apostles after His resurrection:

“And while staying with them he ordered them not to depart from Jerusalem, but to wait for the promise of the Father, which, he said, “you heard from me;” (Acts 1:4, ESV)

“And behold, I am sending the promise of my Father upon you. But stay in the city until you are clothed with power from on high.”” (Luke 24:49, ESV)

The obedience of the Apostles’ was so important.

It was the catalyst for the churches growth.

Based on their obedience they were setting up the framework of how the church was to live.

The apostles’ revealed an important attribute that ought to be reflected in our modern churches:

“All these with one accord were devoting themselves to prayer, together with the women and Mary the mother of Jesus, and his brothers.” (Acts 1:14, ESV)

PRAYING TOGETHER…WITH ONE ACCORD!

This phrase in the original language conveys the idea of the church coming together “with one mind”, “unanimously”.

You can see this not only in Acts 1:14, but also in Acts 2:46; 4:31-32; 5:12

“And day by day, attending the temple together and breaking bread in their homes, they received their food with glad and generous hearts,” (Acts 2:46, ESV)

“And when they had prayed, the place in which they were gathered together was shaken, and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and continued to speak the word of God with boldness. Now the full number of those who believed were of one heart and soul, and no one said that any of the things that belonged to him was his own, but they had everything in common.” (Acts 4:31–32, ESV)

“Now many signs and wonders were regularly done among the people by the hands of the apostles. And they were all together in Solomon’s Portico.” (Acts 5:12, ESV)

I believe Luke was truly trying to emphasize the importance of unity within the early Church.

Acts 1:14 - “...with one accord were devoting themselves to prayer, together with...”

Acts 2:46 - “...attending the temple together...”

Acts 4:24 - “...they lifted their voices together to God ...”

Acts 4:31 - "...when they had prayed,...in which they were gathered together...”

These passages teach us “the exemplary harmony of Christians,” 1

1 Horst Robert Balz and Gerhard Schneider, Exegetical Dictionary of the New Testament (Grand Rapids, Mich.: Eerdmans, 1990–), 511.

THE BENEFITS OF UNITY!

Look at the benefit of the early Churches unity:

Acts 1:14 - Those in unity were able to benefit of the outpouring of the Holy Spirit in Acts 2!

Acts 2:46 - “...they received their food with glad and generous hearts,”

There was genuine joy amongst the unity!

There was no lack amongst the unity!

Acts 4:24 - There was a celebration in the midst of persecution.

Praying together revealed they had the right perspective even in the midst of their trials.

They had the right reaction!

Acts 4:31-32 - There was a powerful move of the Holy Spirit in the midst of the Church.

The Spirit of God provided what they were asking of Him:

Boldness to Preach!

UNITY IS EVERYTHING!

Think about the effectiveness of when we come together to pray...in unity!

Think of the potential of the outpouring of the Holy Spirit in our meeting today.

Think of what comes with that truth!

I believe the Word of God is true, and the Scriptures declare that where the Spirit of the Lord is...there is FREEDOM (2 Cor. 3:17)!

Also, the Apostle Paul exhorts the church to be filled with the Holy Spirit and not be drunk in debauchery (Eph. 5:18).

Giving no space to the enemy (Eph. 4:27).

Instead, “addressing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody to the Lord with your heart, giving thanks always and for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, submitting to one another out of reverence for Christ (Eph. 5:19-21).”

UNITY IS EVERYTHING!

Think about the joy that the early church experienced together!

I believe the fruit of genuine unity amongst the church is joy!

It is not difficult to give and share amongst each other because that is the fruit of unity in the Spirit (Phil. 2:1-2)!

UNITY IS EVERYTHING!

Despite the persecution the Church went through, they were able to celebrate and pray together!

Think about the encouragement one gave to another.

There is something about the strength and courage one gets from another that helps pass it onwards.

The confidence that can be stirred in the hearts of the people when together we are gathered ready to call on the Lord in prayer in the face of trials and persecution!

UNITY IS EVERYTHING!

In the midst of their gathering and praying together they were all filled with the Holy Spirit!

There was a powerful move!

They were full of boldness!

If there is something we need in this generation is the people of God full of boldness and power of the Holy Spirit!

Look at the early Church experienced through the Unity in Prayer!

The Apostle Paul says it well to the Church at Rome, and it applies to the Church at Northwest:

“that together you may with one voice glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.” (Romans 15:6, ESV)