T.I.P. - Together in Prayer

This past Thursday night I was able to join a few guys from the church and go to a Broncos game. There is nothing better than watching the harmony of team work.

I am not an avid sports person, but I know when I watch any kind of sport, I would rather see a team working in unison to defeat their opponent rather than just a star player doing his thing.

The same goes for the beauty of music in unison! Having traveled in a chorale when in College - there was something powerful about many beautiful voices coming together in harmony to create an amazing sound with build and dynamics. If one was off, they all sounded wrong as those wrong notes or loudness, or even tone could offset the entire dynamic.

An orchestra carries the same beauty and challenges - when in perfect harmony and unity the sound is amazing!

That same picture of tuning, starting softly and setting the stage for build and triumph can be seen when the BODY OF CHRIST PRAYS TOGETHER!!!!

Just like a team or choir or orchestra HITS THE MARK and you feel the victory or climax of the music - there is a place when believers HIT THE MARK in prayer together making a great crescendo to the FATHER in intercession!

This is God’s design for the CHURCH - for us to come TOGETHER IN PRAYER!!! Harmonizing in intercession before the Father, through the Son and in the power of the Holy Spirit!

CHARLES FINNEY SAID:

“Nothing tends more to cement the hearts of Christians than praying together. Never do they love one another so well as when they witness the outpouring of each other’s hearts in prayer.”

The Greek word for that moment is PAGA - it means hitting the mark!

As a church we need those PAGA moments of hitting the mark in prayer!!! It is essential to our life and existence and PURPOSE in the KINGDOM OF GOD!!!

Together

In

Prayer

TIP - we can tip the scales in our community and world and MAKE A DIFFERENCE!!!

Acts 2:1–8 NLT

1 On the day of Pentecost all the believers were meeting together in one place. 2 Suddenly, there was a sound from heaven like the roaring of a mighty windstorm, and it filled the house where they were sitting. 3 Then, what looked like flames or tongues of fire appeared and settled on each of them. 4 And everyone present was filled with the Holy Spirit and began speaking in other languages, as the Holy Spirit gave them this ability. 5 At that time there were devout Jews from every nation living in Jerusalem. 6 When they heard the loud noise, everyone came running, and they were bewildered to hear their own languages being spoken by the believers. 7 They were completely amazed. “How can this be?” they exclaimed. “These people are all from Galilee, 8 and yet we hear them speaking in our own native languages!

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Acts 2:41 NLT

41 Those who believed what Peter said were baptized and added to the church that day—about 3,000 in all.

This is an example of a powerful prayer meeting....

Acts 4:23–31 NLT

23 As soon as they were freed, Peter and John returned to the other believers and told them what the leading priests and elders had said. 24 When they heard the report, all the believers lifted their voices together in prayer to God: “O Sovereign Lord, Creator of heaven and earth, the sea, and everything in them— 25 you spoke long ago by the Holy Spirit through our ancestor David, your servant, saying, ‘Why were the nations so angry? Why did they waste their time with futile plans? 26 The kings of the earth prepared for battle; the rulers gathered together against the Lord and against his Messiah.’ 27 “In fact, this has happened here in this very city! For Herod Antipas, Pontius Pilate the governor, the Gentiles, and the people of Israel were all united against Jesus, your holy servant, whom you anointed. 28 But everything they did was determined beforehand according to your will. 29 And now, O Lord, hear their threats, and give us, your servants, great boldness in preaching your word. 30 Stretch out your hand with healing power; may miraculous signs and wonders be done through the name of your holy servant Jesus.” 31 After this prayer, the meeting place shook, and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit. Then they preached the word of God with boldness.

Acts 4.23-

Another powerful meeting of prayer...

1. Together

This is a critical element - TOGETHER!!!!

Matthew 18:20 NLT

20 For where two or three gather together as my followers, I am there among them.”

Psalm 133:1 NLT

1 How wonderful and pleasant it is when brothers live together in harmony!

Coming together in unity is of mighty importance to the church.

Our lives were intended to be together - not apart.

When you absent yourself from the body of Christ - you are weaker. Together we are stronger. Together in prayer - the presence of God comes in to create a habitation.

Ecclesiastes 4:12 NLT

12 A person standing alone can be attacked and defeated, but two can stand back-to-back and conquer. Three are even better, for a triple-braided cord is not easily broken.

This is the same principle that applies when we PRAY TOGETHER!!!

Our union creates a dwelling place for the presence of God to inhabit.

Our society is way too isolated these days - everyone doing everything on their own, independent.

Much of this is because there is no agreement or harmony - we would rather be renegades or rogue - MAVERICKS!!!

In the Kingdom of God - we are called to TOGETHERNESS!!!

Yes, can we pray effectively on our own at home --- YES! PERSONAL COMMUNION WITH CHRIST!

There is a CALL for us however, to come TOGETHER to CREATE a SYMPHONY of PRAYER that has a different purpose - a purpose of PAGA - or hitting that mark together.

Being TOGETHER creates a spiritual bond amongst us - it knits are hearts as ONE VOICE rather than many MAVERICKS. AN ARMY of BELIEVERS who are MIGHTY!!!!

TOGETHER IMPLIES A CONNECTION!!! A FORCE THAT IS BOUND in STRENGTH

2. In

There are 11 entries to define “IN” in the Webster’s dictionary! Each of them is usually conjoining something or placing together.

As an adverb - it is a part of belonging, being inside of incorporated....

It places people/ things somewhere...

the In group or crowd

in - a part of the organization

It is an inclusive term! Putting something as a part of something.

Once again, every believer needs to not just serve Jesus alone! We are called to be IN the church. (Meaning body of Christ, not building)

How can we be “IN” if we are not gathered together!

Hebrews 10:25 NLT

25 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.

I firmly believe the Holy Spirit spoke these words to the CONTEMPORARY CHURCH OF TODAY thousands of years ago knowing how isolated and apart we would become.

IT is wonderful when we are IN FELLOWSHIP with each other --- but there is a necessity for us to be IN FELLOWSHIP WITH GOD together!!!

Gathered together IN ONE PLACE FOR ONE PURPOSE!!!

verse 4 said they were all together in one place… when the HOLY SPIRIT FELL

Being IN PRAYER - is being A PART OF THE MOST IMPORTANT THING A CHRISTIAN CAN BE

It is being IN

- IN COMMUNION WITH THE FATHER!!!

- COMMUNITY WITH THE FATHER AS THE CHURCH

- IN COMMUNICATION WITH THE FATHER

- IN COMMUNITY WITH THE FATHER AS THE CHURCH

It is not just about being IN a service, but having that greater depth of relationship together with Christ - where we are accomplishing things together.

If we are not in - we are out....

God does not desire any of those who are In Christ to be OUTSIDE the fellowship of believers or the WORK OF THE BELIEVERS IN THE CHURCH....

IN denotes BELONGING --- WE BELONG WITH EACH OTHER IN PRAYER

3. Prayer

What is it we are together for?

What are we IN together?

PRAYER!!!!

What is prayer?

- It is having conversation or communication with God

- it is interceding for the needs of others and the church

- it is binding our hearts to the will of the FATHER

PETITIONING GOD WITH OUR NEEDS AND HEARING HIS VOICE FOR THE ANSWERS AND DIRECTION to ALIGN OUR HEARTS WITH HIS WILL

HOW CAN A CHURCH BE HIS BODY --- WITHOUT BEING TOGETHER IN THIS PURPOSE????

IT is not about figuring things on our own and showing up and saying I have the answer - but COLLECTIVELY HITTING THAT MARK of CONNECTING WITH GOD!!!

These are the moments the SPIRIT COMES DOWN WITH POWER!!!!

THESE are the MOMENTS the SPIRIT is RELEASED to do POWERFUL THINGS IN PEOPLE’s LIVES (salvation, healing, deliverance)

Sometimes our PRAYER is tuning up, sometimes it is playing softly, sometimes it is GRAND PROCLAMATION - but the COMMUNICATION WITH THE FATHER NEEDS TO BE THERE!!!

Acts 1 NLT

1 In my first book I told you, Theophilus, about everything Jesus began to do and teach 2 until the day he was taken up to heaven after giving his chosen apostles further instructions through the Holy Spirit. 3 During the forty days after he suffered and died, he appeared to the apostles from time to time, and he proved to them in many ways that he was actually alive. And he talked to them about the Kingdom of God. 4 Once when he was eating with them, he commanded them, “Do not leave Jerusalem until the Father sends you the gift he promised, as I told you before. 5 John baptized with water, but in just a few days you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.” 6 So when the apostles were with Jesus, they kept asking him, “Lord, has the time come for you to free Israel and restore our kingdom?” 7 He replied, “The Father alone has the authority to set those dates and times, and they are not for you to know. 8 But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you. And you will be my witnesses, telling people about me everywhere—in Jerusalem, throughout Judea, in Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” 9 After saying this, he was taken up into a cloud while they were watching, and they could no longer see him. 10 As they strained to see him rising into heaven, two white-robed men suddenly stood among them. 11 “Men of Galilee,” they said, “why are you standing here staring into heaven? Jesus has been taken from you into heaven, but someday he will return from heaven in the same way you saw him go!” 12 Then the apostles returned to Jerusalem from the Mount of Olives, a distance of half a mile. 13 When they arrived, they went to the upstairs room of the house where they were staying. Here are the names of those who were present: Peter, John, James, Andrew, Philip, Thomas, Bartholomew, Matthew, James (son of Alphaeus), Simon (the zealot), and Judas (son of James). 14 They all met together and were constantly united in prayer, along with Mary the mother of Jesus, several other women, and the brothers of Jesus. 15 During this time, when about 120 believers were together in one place, Peter stood up and addressed them. 16 “Brothers,” he said, “the Scriptures had to be fulfilled concerning Judas, who guided those who arrested Jesus. This was predicted long ago by the Holy Spirit, speaking through King David. 17 Judas was one of us and shared in the ministry with us.” 18 (Judas had bought a field with the money he received for his treachery. Falling headfirst there, his body split open, spilling out all his intestines. 19 The news of his death spread to all the people of Jerusalem, and they gave the place the Aramaic name Akeldama, which means “Field of Blood.”) 20 Peter continued, “This was written in the book of Psalms, where it says, ‘Let his home become desolate, with no one living in it.’ It also says, ‘Let someone else take his position.’ 21 “So now we must choose a replacement for Judas from among the men who were with us the entire time we were traveling with the Lord Jesus— 22 from the time he was baptized by John until the day he was taken from us. Whoever is chosen will join us as a witness of Jesus’ resurrection.” 23 So they nominated two men: Joseph called Barsabbas (also known as Justus) and Matthias. 24 Then they all prayed, “O Lord, you know every heart. Show us which of these men you have chosen 25 as an apostle to replace Judas in this ministry, for he has deserted us and gone where he belongs.” 26 Then they cast lots, and Matthias was selected to become an apostle with the other eleven.

Acts 1:14 NLT

14 They all met together and were constantly united in prayer, along with Mary the mother of Jesus, several other women, and the brothers of Jesus.

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Colossians 4:2 NLT

2 Devote yourselves to prayer with an alert mind and a thankful heart.

Acts 3:1 NLT

1 Peter and John went to the Temple one afternoon to take part in the three o’clock prayer service.

PRAYER WAS A PART OF THE EARLY CHURCH ---

PRAYER NEEDS TO BE A PART OF THE CONTEMPORARY CHURCH

We like to praise, but not pray, we like to fellowship but not pray, we like to do things but not pray

1 Timothy 2:8 NLT

8 In every place of worship, I want men to pray with holy hands lifted up to God, free from anger and controversy.

PRAYER MOVES THE HAND OF GOD - AND IT IS NOT OPTIONAL for the PEOPLE OF GOD!!!

PRAYER MOVES THE HAND OF GOD

We need to gather for prayer as a church - we only call ourselves together for corporate prayer once a month - it should be the most crowded time in our meeting together!!

CONCLUSION

The enemy does EVERYTHING to keep the church from praying together.

SCHEDULE CONFLICTS, exhaustion from a long day at work, sickness, whatever the devil can do to give us an excuse not to come together to pray --- HE WILL DO!

WHY? He is afraid of our being TOGETHER IN PRAYER!

BECAUSE THE DEVIL KNOWS ---- WE WILL MAKE A DIFFERENCE!!!

The real way to make a difference in our world, our families, our community is to be TOGETHER IN PRAYER!!!

The real way to be stagnate, ineffective, and spinning our wheels is to NOT PRAY TOGETHER!

I am very serious about this today - I have never heard of a church that made the sacrifice to PRAY TOGETHER that did not see results in their midst!!!

We are the body of Christ, not Mavericks in Christ --- and our most important engagement is to SEEK THE LORD TOGETHER so we may HIT THE MARK in finding and receiving His WILL for us!