Christians Pray Together

Prayer meeting last week and this week. I would like them to continue.

My vision is that we would have evening service at 6 and prayer meeting at 7; we’re not there yet.

Luke 22:39–46 ESV

39 And he came out and went, as was his custom, to the Mount of Olives, and the disciples followed him. 40 And when he came to the place, he said to them, “Pray that you may not enter into temptation.” 41 And he withdrew from them about a stone’s throw, and knelt down and prayed, 42 saying, “Father, if you are willing, remove this cup from me. Nevertheless, not my will, but yours, be done.” 43 And there appeared to him an angel from heaven, strengthening him. 44 And being in agony he prayed more earnestly; and his sweat became like great drops of blood falling down to the ground. 45 And when he rose from prayer, he came to the disciples and found them sleeping for sorrow, 46 and he said to them, “Why are you sleeping? Rise and pray that you may not enter into temptation.”

We are at a place in our church were we have been enjoying seeing the Lord move, but that will soon make us lazy. Right now we must be more committed to prayer than ever, because the attack is coming.

As the engine never moves until the fire is kindled, so preaching, with all its machinery, perfection and polish, is at a dead standstill, as far as spiritual results are concerned, till prayer has kindled and created the steam.

Edward McKendree Bounds

Jesus prayed to be ready for tribulation.

Job 1:1–5 ESV

1 There was a man in the land of Uz whose name was Job, and that man was blameless and upright, one who feared God and turned away from evil. 2 There were born to him seven sons and three daughters. 3 He possessed 7,000 sheep, 3,000 camels, 500 yoke of oxen, and 500 female donkeys, and very many servants, so that this man was the greatest of all the people of the east. 4 His sons used to go and hold a feast in the house of each one on his day, and they would send and invite their three sisters to eat and drink with them. 5 And when the days of the feast had run their course, Job would send and consecrate them, and he would rise early in the morning and offer burnt offerings according to the number of them all. For Job said, “It may be that my children have sinned, and cursed God in their hearts.” Thus Job did continually.

Job loses his oxen and donkeys and the servants plowing the fields, his sheep and shepherds, and his children. His response?

Job 1:20–22 ESV

20 Then Job arose and tore his robe and shaved his head and fell on the ground and worshiped. 21 And he said, “Naked I came from my mother’s womb, and naked shall I return. The Lord gave, and the Lord has taken away; blessed be the name of the Lord.” 22 In all this Job did not sin or charge God with wrong.

Then his health is attacked:

Job 2:7–8 ESV

7 So Satan went out from the presence of the Lord and struck Job with loathsome sores from the sole of his foot to the crown of his head. 8 And he took a piece of broken pottery with which to scrape himself while he sat in the ashes.

And his response:

Job 2:9–10 ESV

9 Then his wife said to him, “Do you still hold fast your integrity? Curse God and die.” 10 But he said to her, “You speak as one of the foolish women would speak. Shall we receive good from God, and shall we not receive evil?” In all this Job did not sin with his lips.

Jesus prayed to resist temptation.

In Daniel 6 we see the bureaucrats of King Darius’s administration recognize they will never unseat Daniel because they would never find any ground for complaint or fault. Daniel was a man of prayer.

ASIDE: It’s an election week and you should pray for our leaders, be they republican, democrat, or otherwise. But remember, God’s punishment on godless nations is godless leaders. True God-fearing leaders are never put in place because they’re popular, they’re put in place because of their consistent righteousness. Look at Daniel and his friends, look at Joseph, look at David, look at Nehemiah… all throughout the scriptures you see this pattern. So pray that those who win elections this week would receive the Gospel, and pray that they would have righteous men and women within their administrations that rise up to positions of significance because of their steady commitment to righteousness.

Back to Daniel, he was a man of prayer. What’s the temptation when:

Dan 1 - having the finest, richest foods presented to you every day?

Dan 2 - you hear the king is going to obliterate you and your peers?

Dan 3 - a death sentenced is levied for anyone who doesn’t worship a golden image?

Dan 4 - you have to tell your boss bad news?

Dan 5 - your enemies defile the holy things meant to glorify God and then have the audacity to ask a favor of you?

How do you resist these temptations? Consistent prayer.

Daniel 6:10 ESV

10 When Daniel knew that the document had been signed, he went to his house where he had windows in his upper chamber open toward Jerusalem. He got down on his knees three times a day and prayed and gave thanks before his God, as he had done previously.

Jesus prayed to rally the troops

Consider the story of Gideon in Judges 7.

Judges 7:1–3 ESV

1 Then Jerubbaal (that is, Gideon) and all the people who were with him rose early and encamped beside the spring of Harod. And the camp of Midian was north of them, by the hill of Moreh, in the valley. 2 The Lord said to Gideon, “The people with you are too many for me to give the Midianites into their hand, lest Israel boast over me, saying, ‘My own hand has saved me.’ 3 Now therefore proclaim in the ears of the people, saying, ‘Whoever is fearful and trembling, let him return home and hurry away from Mount Gilead.’ ” Then 22,000 of the people returned, and 10,000 remained.

32,000 men to 10,000

Judges 7:4 ESV

4 And the Lord said to Gideon, “The people are still too many. Take them down to the water, and I will test them for you there, and anyone of whom I say to you, ‘This one shall go with you,’ shall go with you, and anyone of whom I say to you, ‘This one shall not go with you,’ shall not go.”

10,000 men to 300

A strong voice of leadership from a man of God shows up and 32,000 men turn up in obedience. Why would God turn away people who are listening?

Two reasons:

That God would get the glory Judges 7:2 “2 The Lord said to Gideon, “The people with you are too many for me to give the Midianites into their hand, lest Israel boast over me, saying, ‘My own hand has saved me.’”

31,700 men were self-serving in their obedience. (Prepared to do battle vs along for the ride)

What were or Lord’s final instructions as the crowd of wicked men came to arrest Him and put Him to death on the cross? PRAY that you may not enter into temptation.

Our prayer must be a priority.

Sunday morning shows how popular the church is; Sunday night shows how popular the preacher is; prayer meeting shows how popular God is.

Any hypocrite comes on a Sunday, but they do not, to my knowledge, all of them come on Monday to the prayer-meeting, nor all to the week-night service on a Thursday. I am pretty certain of this, though some of them may. Week-night meetings and services are a powerful test. Joining The Church, Volume 60, Sermon #3411 - 2 Corinthians 8:5

Charles Spurgeon

Prayer should be how we prepare for the attack to come.

Prayer should be how we purify ourselves before our Lord.

Prayer should be how we pull together.