Corporate Prayer

One of the most overlooked aspects of prayer and fellowship in Christianity today is that of corporate prayer.

The fact that corporate prayer is overlooked and ignored in the church age impacts the witnessing of the church in this country and the world.

Church age believers are commanded in Scripture to be dedicated and devoted to two different dimensions of prayer: individual prayer and corporate prayer.

Since we are individual members of one body (1 Cor. 12:27; Rom. 12:4), we should pray as such.

As members of the body of Christ, we are not only to meet together to hear and study the Word, but we are also to pray together.

The early church made it a priority to meet not only to hear the Word of God, for fellowship, and for the Lord’s Supper, but also for prayer as a corporate unit.

Hebrews 10:25 not forsaking our own assembling together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another; and all the more as you see the day drawing near. (NASB95)

Acts 1:13 When they [disciples of the Lord] had entered the city, they went up to the upper room where they were staying; that is, Peter and John and James and Andrew, Philip and Thomas, Bartholomew and Matthew, James the son of Alphaeus, and Simon the Zealot, and Judas the son of James. 14 These all with one mind were continually devoting themselves to prayer, along with the women, and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with His brothers. (NASB95)

Corporate prayer produced a deeper spirit of fellowship, unity, and sharing among members of the Apostolic church.

The aftermath of these prayer meetings proved that the Holy Spirit was active in responding to the corporate prayer of God’s people.

The Apostolic First-Century church exercised corporate prayer as an expression of fellowship and unity.

The early church prayed together in John and Mark’s house for Peter, when he was in prison, and the Lord answered their prayer by delivering Peter from both prison and death (Acts 12:1-11).

The church at Antioch fasted and prayed together before sending out Barnabas and Paul (Acts 13:1-3; 14:23).

It was at a prayer meeting in Philippi that God opened Lydia’s heart (Acts 16:13) and, at another prayer meeting in Philippi, that He opened the prison doors (Acts 16:25).

Paul prayed together with the pastors at Ephesus before leaving them (Acts 20:36; 21:5).

According to Acts 2:42, the early church demonstrated their unity before the world by meeting together and being dedicated and devoted to the apostle’s teaching and commands to fellowship, observe the Lord’s Supper, and pray.

Corporate prayer, therefore, was one of the chief purposes for the early Apostolic church to gather together.

We should, then, follow their example.

Acts 2:46 Day by day continuing with one mind in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, they were taking their meals together with gladness and sincerity of heart, 47 praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord was adding to their number day by day those who were being saved. (NASB95)

There are four essential corporate functions of a spiritual church.

They include: (1) the teaching of the Word of God, (2) fellowship among believers, (3) observing the Lord’s Supper and taking meals together, and (4) corporate prayer.

Some characteristics of a spiritual church, such as the early Apostolic church, include believers being zealous, visible, joyful, unselfish, gracious, unified, powerful, and prayerful.

Believers of the Apostolic church were not satisfied meeting once, or even twice, a week.

Acts 2:46 tells us they met “daily,” and they cared for each other “daily” according to Acts 6:1-7 and Acts 2:47 also tells us they won souls “daily,” they searched the Scriptures “daily” according to Acts 17:11, and they increased in number “daily” according to Acts 16:5 and Acts 2:47.

Acts 2:42 makes clear that corporate prayer was an essential part of fellowship, which we noted involves companionship, which would include communicating on a spiritual level through a mutual sharing of the viewpoint and thinking of Christ and the ministries and gifts of the various members of the body of Christ.

Like fellowship, companionship has two directions: vertical and horizontal.

The vertical is our communion and fellowship with the Lord (1 Jo 1:1-4) while the horizontal is our communion and fellowship with the body of Christ (Acts 2:42-47).

Horizontal companionship, therefore, includes: (1) assembling together as a whole body (Acts 2:42; Heb 10:25), (2) assembling in smaller groups (Mat 18:20), (3) meeting together one-on-one (1 The 5:11), (4) sharing and communicating truth together and building up one another (Rom 1:11-12; Col 3:15-16), (5) sharing together in worship, including for the Lord’s Supper, (1 Co 10:16) in the singing of hymns, psalms, and spiritual songs, (Eph 5:19; Col 3:16), in the ministry of the Word (Luke 19:47-48; Acts 20:20; 2 Ti 2:2; 1 Pe 4:10-11), and in corporate prayer (Acts 2:42; 12; Phi 1:19).

The Apostle Paul had great confidence in the power of corporate prayer since he relied on corporate prayer from the churches to help his ministry (cf. Rom. 15:30-32; 2 Cor. 1:8-11; Phil. 1:19; Eph. 6:19-20; 2 Thess. 3:1-2).

It is a consistent teaching of Scripture that, when a number of Christians unite in prayer for a given person or objective, special spiritual power is brought into operation, for their gathering demonstrates a unity that God delights to see and acknowledge.

Did not the Lord Jesus pray in John 17:11, “I am no longer in the world; and yet they themselves are in the world, and I come to You. Holy Father, keep them in Your name, the name which You have given Me, that they may be one even as We are.” (NASB95)

Further evidence of the power of corporate prayer is revealed in Acts 4:24, when the chief priests and elders held Peter and John because of having proclaimed the name of Christ in the healing of a sick man.

Acts 4:24 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. 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.” (NASB95)

“They lifted their voices to God with one accord,” in Acts 4:24 indicates, that prayer thrives where there is a spirit of unity and love and fellowship.

Notice that Peter and John recalled to their thinking the majesty and power of the God to whom they were praying and, thus, quoted Psalm 124:8, “Our help is in the name of the LORD, who made heaven and earth.”

They considered the activity of God in creation, and thus strengthened their faith and confidence.

Acts 4:25 “who by the Holy Spirit, through the mouth of our father David Your servant, said, ‘WHY DID THE GENTILES RAGE, AND THE PEOPLES DEVISE FUTILE THINGS? 26 THE KINGS OF THE EARTH TOOK THEIR STAND, AND THE RULERS WERE GATHERED TOGETHER AGAINST THE LORD AND AGAINST HIS CHRIST.’ 27 For truly in this city there were gathered together against Your holy servant Jesus, whom You anointed, both Herod and Pontius Pilate, along with the Gentiles and the peoples of Israel, 28 to do whatever Your hand and Your purpose predestined to occur.” (NASB95)

In Acts 4:25-28, the early Apostolic church acknowledged the sovereignty of God over all the nations and confidently expected Him to intervene in their crisis.

The term “sovereignty” indicates God’s complete power over all creation, so that He exercises His will absolutely, without any necessary conditioning by a finite will or wills.

Acts 4:29 “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.” (NASB95)

In Acts 4:29-30, the early Apostolic church offered up specific detailed requests to the Father by mentioning the threats of the civil authorities.

They requested that the communicators of the Word be given boldness and confidence to proclaim the Word and they requested healing to be done in the name of the Lord Jesus and, thus, for His glory.

Notice that the church did not pray for a change in their circumstances, nor did they pray their enemies be removed from office but rather, they asked the Father to empower them to make the best of their circumstances and to accomplish what He had already “predestined to occur” (Acts 4:28).

Acts 4:31 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. (NASB95)

Notice that the church did not ask for protection, but for power or in other words, they did not ask for fire from heaven to destroy their enemies, but for power from heaven to proclaim the Gospel of Jesus Christ and heal the sick, which would bring the Lord Jesus Christ and the Father glory.

Their great desire was for boldness in the face of opposition.

This prayer in Acts 4, therefore, is a prayer of faith, conducted corporately.

Matthew 21:22 “And all things you ask in prayer, believing, you will receive.” (NASB95)