I. Pray

II. Introduction:

On Sunday nights we gather as a Church to pray together corporately. Basically what we do is spend about 30 to 45 minutes taking requests and sharing with one another and then we move into a time of open prayer with an occasional song mixed in. This meeting has been taking place in this Church for a couple of years now. It has been held at different places and has involved different people. Yet, throughout this time there has been a constant group that meets together. So, as we have asked with other activities we participate in as a Church, it is appropriate for us to ask, 'What is the purpose behind our corporate prayer times?' Or possibly a better way to ask the question is 'Why should a believer pray corporately?' This is the question that we want to address this morning.

III. The first reason we should pray corporately is that there is a biblical call to do so.

A. The first couple of passages I want us to look at deal with the practice of the early Church. In Acts 2:42, 4:23-31, we see the clear example of the early Church gathering to pray together corporately. As we have talked about before from this passage in Acts 2, Luke identifies what the early Church did as they met together. One of the activities that he mentions is prayer. Thus, we will do well to join ourselves with their practice of corporate prayer as the early Church did. We will look more at Acts 4 in a moment.

B. The second passages I want us to consider are Romans 15:30-33 and Ephesians 6:16-20. In these passages we see Paul asking for prayer from the churches for his ministry. Paul understands his needs and he writes to the churches asking, even pleading, with them to pray for his ministry. Likewise, as churches we need to pray for the ministries in our local Community and for the ministries taking place all over the world. One of the things the elders have tried to do is to encourage us to pray for other churches. On Sunday nights we try to make a point to pray for churches that we are somehow aware of. And it is our hope that other churches will pray for us as well. What is it that we need to pray for the churches? We must pray that the Lord will grant them boldness in speaking the gospel faithfully throughout the world. This is what we see the believer praying for in Acts 4 and it is what Paul is asking prayer for in these two passages. Thus, as the Church, we need to pray for churches and ministries throughout the world.

C. Another passage that calls believers to pray for one another is James 5:13-18. James tells those who are in need to ask the Church to pray for them. He specifically mentions the elders in the passage, but I think in verse 16 there is more of a general call for us all to join in with the elders in praying for one another. Thus, as we have needs, we are to call for the Church to pray for us. There are two exhortations involved in this. First, we are to pray for one another. Yet, if we are to do that faithfully, then it means that we are to share with one another our needs. I think this is the second exhortation from the text. Both of these exhortations can be difficult at times, yet, we still need to be faithful in sharing our needs and praying for one another.

D. One last passage I want to mention is Matthew 18:20. This verse is often quoted when someone is talking about corporate prayer. At times it is claimed from this verse that there is 'special power from God' when two or three gather together to pray. Yet, I think we need to understand this verse in its context. In Matthew 18:15-20 (and even the whole chapter), Jesus is dealing specifically with the idea of Church discipline. In fact, it is this passage that we look to when considering the steps to take in Church discipline. This is what we see in verses 15-17. Thus, I think the comfort that Christ is offering in v. 19-20 deals specifically with the Church being aware that in difficult matters, such as Church discipline, the Lord will be with us. And this is indeed a great and needed comfort for the Church. I do not think that what is intended here is for believers to take this as some sort of way we unleash the power of God by performing this ritual of corporate prayer. Jesus is not giving us the magic formula of corporate prayer here. Rather, He is comforting the Church by assuring us that in difficult times (and all times) He will be with us. Thus, we need to be careful in how we understand this passage.

IV. Another reason we should pray corporately is because of what we believe about God and about prayer (Acts 4:23f). In thinking about this I want to look at Acts 4:23-31 a little closer. I think we can identify some important truths about corporate prayer from this passage.

A. First, we see that God is sovereignly in control of all things. The believers affirm this in the first thing that they say in their prayer (Acts 4:24, 28). They go to God because He is the One who is in control of all things. Thus, we pray because we recognize that we can do nothing apart from God and His grace. We pray to him because we truly believe that He is in control of everything. This is a clear way in which our theology forms our practice.

B. Second, we must be clear that God's sovereignty does not relieve us of our responsibility to pray. Again, consider the believers in Acts 4. Even though they acknowledged God's sovereignty, this did not cause them to cease in their prayers. Rather their belief in God's sovereignty caused them to come boldly before God, asking for His strength and wisdom (Acts 4:29-30). The believers understood the importance and privilege of prayer. They realized that prayer is one of God's appointed means to accomplish His sovereign plan. Thus, they joyfully took their responsibility to pray seriously.

C. Thus, God's sovereignty and control serve to motivate us and give us hope in our praying to God. Many will argue that emphasizing God's sovereignty is such a way will only discourage people from praying. Yet, this is certainly not true of the early Church. They acknowledged God's sovereignty and they prayed passionately. In fact, it seems from this passage that God's sovereign control was the very basis and motivation for their prayers. So, it should be with us. Our belief in God's sovereign plan and His appointed means of prayer should motivate us to pray fervently and passionately, as we see modeled in the early Church.

D. One last point to make that we see from the larger context of this passage is that God sovereignly moves His people to pray and then blesses these prayers with abundance. In this passage, we see the believers gathering together to pray for great boldness in sharing the gospel to those around them. As we continue reading through the book of Acts, we see that God answers their prayers and uses them greatly in expanding His kingdom. This should be an encouragement to us as we gather to pray.

V. One last reason I want to mention is that God has moved powerfully historically by first calling His people to pray.

A. This is what we have just said about the situation in Acts. God moves the people to pray, they pray, and God blesses the Church and the gospel expands. This pattern has been repeated throughout the history of the Church. In the great revivals of the past, such as the Great Awakening and others, God has first called His people together to pray and as they are obedient to pray He pours forth His Spirit and many are converted.

B. Therefore, we do claim that there is great power in corporate prayer. Yet, the power is in the praying (more specifically in the One to whom we are praying) and not necessarily the gathering. It seems that often God will call His people to humbly pray before He works mightily in their midst (Whitney, 172). It is not as if we gather together and force God's hand. Rather, it is that God gathers His people together and puts it in their hearts to pray that they may be involved in what He is about to do. Therefore, may we long for God to put it in our hearts to pray that He would indeed send a great revival in our day.

VI. Why pray corporately at Cornerstone?

My first answer to that question is to simply refer to everything that we have already said. The call of Scripture, what we believe about God and prayer, and what we have seen in the history of the Church, should all motivate us to want to gather with the local Body here at Cornerstone to pray. Also, as we discussed last week, our corporate prayer times are a great opportunity for fellowship and encouragement. As we saw from the James text, we need to pray for one another and share with one another our struggles and needs. Sunday night prayer really provides us with time to be obedient to these exhortations from that text. My last reason is to simply say that Sunday night prayer is a great strength for/at this Church. I would fight for this chance to pray with these people. Since I began attending this Church three years ago, I have always considered it a great privilege to be able to gather with these people and pray on Sundays. Thus, I challenge you to be involved as well.

VII. Close in prayer

Corporate Prayer