Corporate Prayer

"Thus says the Lord GOD: “I will also let the house of Israel inquire of Me to do this for them: I will increase their men like a flock." Ezek 36:37



We are encouraged to pray all through scripture. Sometimes we are encouraged to pray in secret and other times to pray corporately and in open. We see in Acts 2:46 a fantastic example of the first century church meeting together daily and openly in the temple or in an open public place.

As the National Day of Prayer approaches I want to remind you to set aside the time to pray in your community for our nation. To find a local gathering near you visit their site at http://nationaldayofprayer.org

Read these words of Charles Spurgeon on the heart of God for Corporate Prayer. -- Todd

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It is my duty and my privilege to acknowledge the power of united prayer. It has pleased God to make prayer the abounding and rejoicing river through which most of our choice mercies flow to us. It is written on each of the mercies of the covenant, "I will yet for this be inquired of by the house of Israel, to do it for them" Ezek 36:37.There are mercies that come unsought, for God has been found by those who did not seek Him. But there are other favors that are bestowed only on those who ask and therefore receive, who seek and therefore find, who knock and therefore gain an entrance.

Why God is pleased to command us to pray at all is not difficult to discover. In prayer, the creature acknowledges his creator with reverence, and confesses Him to be the Giver of every good and perfect gift (James 1:17).

Prayer is in itself, apart from the answer that it brings, a great benefit to the Christian. As the runner gains strength for the race by daily exercise, so we acquire energy for the great race of life by the sacred labor of prayer. Prayer plumes the wings of God's young eaglets, so that they may learn to mount above the clouds. Prayer clothes God's warriors and sends them forth to combat with their muscles firm. An earnest pleader comes out of his prayer closet rejoicing like a strong man ready to run his race. Prayer clothes the believer with the attributes of Deity, girds human weakness with divine strength, turns human folly into heavenly wisdom, and gives to troubled mortals the serenity of the immortal God. Thank You, Lord.

Just as many mercies are conveyed from heaven in the ship of prayer, so there are many choice, special favors that can only be brought to us by the fleets of unified prayer. God will give to his lonely Elijahs and Daniels many good things, but if "two of you shall agree on earth as touching any thing that they shall ask" Matt18:19,there is no limit to God's bountiful answers. Peter might never have been freed from prison if the whole church had not prayed unceasingly for him. Pentecost might never have come if all the disciples had not been "with one accord in one place" Acts 2:1, waiting for the descent of the tongues of fire.

See, then, dear friends, what union and communion there are among the people of God, since there are certain mercies that are only bestowed when the saints unitedly pray. How we ought to feel this bond of union and pray for one another! How as often as the church meets together for prayer and supplication, we should all make it our bound duty to be there! -- Charles Spurgeon