There are some things in life that I just can’t do by myself. No matter how good a pianist I am, I can’t play a concerto by myself. Or fight cancer. Or build a house. Or start a family. For these, I must cooperate with other people under the coordination of a leader: a conductor, a doctor, a foreman, or a spouse.
Some things are
meant to be done together!
Prayer is one of them. You can learn to pray just like you can learn to play the piano. You can even be the best musician (or prayer warrior) this side of the Mississippi. But you’ll never reach the “big time” – that world-famous orchestra, for example – until you coordinate your talents with others.
I trained to become a pianist. But it wasn’t until I joined a worship team that my talents were used to draw people to God.
I prayer-walked my neighborhood for years with some success, but when I joined forces with other local prayer warriors, a community Bible study was formed.
Here’s the rub:
we’ll never reach revival – God’s “big time” – until we pray together.
There are over 540 references to prayer in the Bible. And although our privilege as God’s children is to converse with Him one-on-one at any time, many more of the Bible’s examples encourage us to
pray together, not alone. Dave Butts, a nationally recognized prayer leader, writes in the
Herald of His Coming: “In the US, the revivals known as the Great Awakenings came in response to Christians gathering for extraordinary prayer… Called “Concerts of Prayer,” God used these times of prayer to bring awakening to His people. (They determined that…) God would not move forward with His plans until Christians agreed with Him and each other about what He was going to do.”* If we want God to give out more, we have to put in more - corporately.
So What is Corporate Prayer?
John Whitsett, Pastor of the Lakeside Community Church in Hastings, Nebraska, wrote his doctoral dissertation on corporate prayer. (You can read it
here; he will also be our special guest on the blog next week). He says:
“One of the biggest misconceptions is that effective corporate prayer is prayer-request based. For corporate prayer to have a sense of life and vitality, much more time needs to be spent on "Kingdom issues" than "personal issues." Here’s how I would illustrate his thoughts. Imagine you are at Symphony Hall, and only one of the 100 musician’s seats on stage is occupied: a clarinetist’s. This clarinet player knows only one song: his own. His repetitive tune is dwarfed by the massive arena in which he plays, and may not even be heard in the far recesses of the hall.
Now imagine that every musician’s seat is filled, and all are playing their own songs, each in a different key. Certainly, the sound level is greater, maybe even deafening, but because there is no coordination or unity, their great noise serves only to drive audiences away.
Only when the entire orchestra submits to the conductor’s direction and choice of music is a desirable result achieved: a harmonious symphony. In other words, at some point we need to move beyond playing our everyday, individual requests for help or blessings, and begin asking God for His Kingdom to come and His will to be done. Like the believers in Acts 4, we need to gather and pray the Word of God, asking that He would “stretch forth His hand” to heal, to do signs and wonders, and to release a boldness on the preaching of His Word.
It’s unified hearts, praying God's Words, that release God’s power on the earth.A Call to Action -
and a Free Resource to Get You Started!
No matter what your gifts are, you have a part to play in God's spiritual symphony of prayer. As God has challenged me, so I want to challenge you. The cacophony of this world is reason enough to coordinate our efforts under one Divine Maestro. Will you join believers around the world who are more committed than ever to corporate prayer? Will you seek God diligently for revival in your city and nation?
If your answer is “YES,” here’s the next step. Download and print the free 2016 Guide to Corporate Prayer (below) I’ve created for you, entitled
“40 Ways to Pray.” It includes ideas about how and where to pray, from national and international conference calls right down to apps for your phone!
Find your passion, get involved, and encourage others to do the same. If you have a minute, send me a note
here to tell me how you're planning to join this worldwide symphony of prayer! I can't wait to hear from you!
Deborah Pray with me: God, I have set corporate prayer aside for too long. Forgive me for my apathy and self-absorption, and show me this week how I can connect with others to pray. I believe that unified prayer is the key to seeing Your Kingdom come on earth, and I commit to pray for revival in my city, state, and nation! Scriptures to Study: Matthew 18:19-20;
Acts 1:14;
2:42;
4:24-31; Psalm 133;
2 Chron. 7:14;
1Corinthians 14.
*Dave Butts: “A New Call for Extraordinary Prayer” Herald of His Coming, Vol. 75 No 1; January 2016. Gospel Revivals, Inc., Seelyville, IN
c. Deborah Perkins / His Inscriptions
Deborah Perkins is the founder of
His Inscriptions, a ministry for Christians who want to know God's Word and hear His voice. Through her website, inspired teaching and a weekly blog, Deborah offers discipleship for those who want to grow their relationship with God. A ministry leader for over 25 years, Deborah is an experienced prophetic counselor, marriage mentor, and prayer warrior. She's also fond of her hubby, 3 sons, and dark chocolate - in that order!
