Family Worship - Prayer/Singing

Living together is in fellowship with one another. It is as family, an eternal family. It is an intimate family who gathers together as a family. We gather together and study the Apostles doctrine, we use that time to fellowship in the collection and in the Lord’s Supper too.

Tonight we are looking at our living together as a family in prayer and in singing.

The collection supplied the needs of the saints, but also increases fellowship between the giver and the receiver.

The Lord’s Supper is a memorial and a communion, not only with God but with each other as we partake together

Prayers and singing two other forms of our worship bring fellowship, intimacy, communion to us as a intimate family.

So as we go through this tonight I hope we can examine on a personal level and on a family level are we utilizing prayer and singing as we should.

I. Fellowship in prayer and song

Prayer; we often turn to prayer in hard times, difficult times and there is illustration of that in the early church. They were quick to “join together” in prayer.

In persecution or threat of persecution (Act4:18-20, 23-24, 29-33)

Acts 4:18–20 NASB95

18 And when they had summoned them, they commanded them not to speak or teach at all in the name of Jesus. 19 But Peter and John answered and said to them, “Whether it is right in the sight of God to give heed to you rather than to God, you be the judge; 20 for we cannot stop speaking about what we have seen and heard.”

Acts 4:23–24 NASB95

23 When they had been released, they went to their own companions and reported all that the chief priests and the elders had said to them. 24 And when they heard this, they lifted their voices to God with one accord and said, “O Lord, it is You who made the heaven and the earth and the sea, and all that is in them,

Acts 4:29–30 NASB95

29 “And now, Lord, take note of their threats, and grant that Your bond-servants may speak Your word with all confidence, 30 while You extend Your hand to heal, and signs and wonders take place through the name of Your holy servant Jesus.”

Acts 4:31–32 NASB95

31 And when they had prayed, the place where they had gathered together was shaken, and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak the word of God with boldness. 32 And the congregation of those who believed were of one heart and soul; and not one of them claimed that anything belonging to him was his own, but all things were common property to them.

Acts 4:33 NASB95

33 And with great power the apostles were giving testimony to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and abundant grace was upon them all.

How about fellowship in singing (Act16:25)?

Acts 16:25 NASB95

25 But about midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns of praise to God, and the prisoners were listening to them;

What were they doing, praying and singing! What was the results, others were listening to them.

Why such a fellowship in prayer and in song? (Php4:6-7; Jm5:16)

Prayer is a great source of strength and peace

Philippians 4:6–7 NASB95

6 Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. 7 And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

It is powerful when we pray together

James 5:16 NASB95

16 Therefore, confess your sins to one another, and pray for one another so that you may be healed. The effective prayer of a righteous man can accomplish much.

There is great value in the family singing together (Jm5:13, Col3:16; Eph5:18-19)

It is great on a personal level as expression of praise

James 5:13 NASB95

13 Is anyone among you suffering? Then he must pray. Is anyone cheerful? He is to sing praises.

Then when we come together it is great way of teaching and admonition.

Colossians 3:16 NASB95

16 Let the word of Christ richly dwell within you, with all wisdom teaching and admonishing one another with psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with thankfulness in your hearts to God.

Col3:16

It is a way of bringing thankfulness to God and being filled with the Spirit

Ephesians 5:18–19 NASB95

18 And do not get drunk with wine, for that is dissipation, but be filled with the Spirit, 19 speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody with your heart to the Lord;

Oh I could move on from here, but I just can’t, I have to expand more about the signing a little more

We give praise in singing (Psm96:1-3)

Psalm 96:1–3 NASB95

1 Sing to the Lord a new song; Sing to the Lord, all the earth. 2 Sing to the Lord, bless His name; Proclaim good tidings of His salvation from day to day. 3 Tell of His glory among the nations, His wonderful deeds among all the peoples.

We sing in proclamation (1Chr16:23)

1 Chronicles 16:23 NASB95

23 Sing to the Lord, all the earth; Proclaim good tidings of His salvation from day to day.

We sing in exaltation (Psm21:13)

Psalm 21:13 NASB95

13 Be exalted, O Lord, in Your strength; We will sing and praise Your power.

We sing in teaching (Psm89:1)

Psalm 89:1 NASB95

1 I will sing of the lovingkindness of the Lord forever; To all generations I will make known Your faithfulness with my mouth.

The church example shows the blessings of prayer and song, personally and as a family, are we? Prayer and singing can strengthen our fellowship. So how can we improve, how can we use prayer and singing to build our fellowship and strengthen our family?

II. How to use prayer and singing to build family

Start personally; know God hears our prayers (Psm65:2)

Psalm 65:2 NASB95

2 O You who hear prayer, To You all men come.

When we know, when we look to God we know He answers prayers (Psm116:1-2)

Psalm 116:1–2 NASB95

1 I love the Lord, because He hears My voice and my supplications. 2 Because He has inclined His ear to me, Therefore I shall call upon Him as long as I live.

I expanded on singing a few minutes ago, let me expound in prayer for a few

Personal prayer

Personally pray for others (Neh1:6)

Nehemiah 1:6 NASB95

6 let Your ear now be attentive and Your eyes open to hear the prayer of Your servant which I am praying before You now, day and night, on behalf of the sons of Israel Your servants, confessing the sins of the sons of Israel which we have sinned against You; I and my father’s house have sinned.

Prayer personally (Psm6:9)

Psalm 6:9 NASB95

9 The Lord has heard my supplication, The Lord receives my prayer.

Pray in repentance (Psm51:1ff)

Psalm 51:1 NASB95

1 Be gracious to me, O God, according to Your lovingkindness; According to the greatness of Your compassion blot out my transgressions.

Pray for deliverance (Psm54:1-2)

Psalm 54:1–2 NASB95

1 Save me, O God, by Your name, And vindicate me by Your power. 2 Hear my prayer, O God; Give ear to the words of my mouth.

Pray for mercy (Psm86:1)

Psalm 86:1 NKJV

1 Bow down Your ear, O Lord, hear me; For I am poor and needy.

Pray as modeled (M6:5-6)

Matthew 6:5 NASB95

5 “When you pray, you are not to be like the hypocrites; for they love to stand and pray in the synagogues and on the street corners so that they may be seen by men. Truly I say to you, they have their reward in full.

Matthew 6:6 NASB95

6 “But you, when you pray, go into your inner room, close your door and pray to your Father who is in secret, and your Father who sees what is done in secret will reward you.

When prayed up personally we can pray together as a community as a family (Act2:42)

Acts 2:42 NASB95

42 They were continually devoting themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer.

Pray with thankfulness and joy (Php1:3-4)

Philippians 1:3–4 NASB95

3 I thank my God in all my remembrance of you, 4 always offering prayer with joy in my every prayer for you all,

Prayer, singing promoting family fellowship but it will take some concerted effort.

Learn to be an active listener when prayers being lifted

When we sing, make a melody with your heart, don’t worry about your lips (Eph5:19)

Proverbs 15:13 NASB95

13 A joyful heart makes a cheerful face, But when the heart is sad, the spirit is broken.

Let the joy of the Lord be seen in you. (Pr15:13)

Proverbs 15:13 NASB95

13 A joyful heart makes a cheerful face, But when the heart is sad, the spirit is broken.

I don’t want to leave anything out

Ephesians 5:19 NASB95

19 speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody with your heart to the Lord;

Going back to being an active listener just for a moment (expand on that so we can say a hearty amen when we make the prayer our own)

Like going to kids, grandkids sporting events you want to get involved, may we get involved in our family worship events too with our singing and our prayers.

Get involved by sitting as family

Let us not miss opportunities as family, living together, fellowshipping together, intimate with each other to sing, to prayer

In the assembly

in special events

in gospel meetings

in home bible studies

in personal devotionals

A good verse to remember (Jm5:13)

James 5:13 NASB95

13 Is anyone among you suffering? Then he must pray. Is anyone cheerful? He is to sing praises.

We do want to do what the Lord commands through His Holy Apostles, right? Then we as a family, living together must pray, must sing!