A CHURCH THAT PRAYS TOGETHER
PART 1
JANUARY 5, 2025
MATTHEW 6:1-13 – “Beware of practicing your righteousness before other people in order to be seen by them, for then you will have no reward from your Father who is in heaven. 2 “Thus, when you give to the needy, sound no trumpet before you, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may be praised by others. Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward. 3 But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, 4 so that your giving may be in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you.
5 “And when you pray, you must not be like the hypocrites. For they love to stand and pray in the synagogues and at the street corners, that they may be seen by others. Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward. 6 But when you pray, go into your room and shut the door and pray to your Father who is in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you.
7 “And when you pray, do not heap up empty phrases as the Gentiles do, for they think that they will be heard for their many words. 8 Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him. 9 Pray then like this:
“Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name.
10 Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.
11 Give us this day our daily bread, 12 and forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors.
13 And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. [For yours is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory forever. Amen.]”
PRAYER
“The thing is, the prayers won’t slow down and linger on the glories of God, his attributes, and his character. They won’t meditate unhurriedly on his Word. They won’t ask hearers to study their own hearts and confess specific sins. They won’t ask God for help to do what only he can do: save the lost, feed the hungry, liberate captives, give wisdom to world leaders, fix broken institutions, sustain persecuted Christians. This is a problem—and it seems many churches simply don’t realize how little they pray together, or how little their prayers reflect the bigheartedness of God.”
John Onwuchekwa (Prayer: How Praying Together Shapes the Church)
“To be a Christian without prayer is no more possible than to be alive without breathing!”
Author unknown
“So we come to one of the crying evils of these times, maybe of all times – little or no praying. Of these two evils, perhaps little praying is worse than no praying. Little praying is a kind of make-believe, a salvo for the conscience, a farce and a delusion. The little estimate we put on prayer is evident from the little time we give to it.”
E.M. Bounds
Scenario #1: A praying church
Scenario #2: An infrequently praying church
Scenario #3: A non-praying church
MATTHEW 6:9-13 –
“Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name.
10 Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.
11 Give us this day our daily bread, 12 and forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors.
13 And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. [For yours is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory forever. Amen.]”
SLIDE #8
“Give US this day OUR daily bread”
“Forgive US OUR debts”
“As WE forgive OUR debtors”
“Lead US not into temptation, but deliver US from evil.”
MATTHEW 6:5-6 – “And when you pray, you must not be like the hypocrites. For they love to stand and pray in the synagogues and at the street corners, that they may be seen by others. Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward. 6 But when you pray, go into your room and shut the door and pray to your Father who is in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you.”
6 Reasons for Corporate Prayer (John Piper):
Corporate prayer displays and spreads God’s glory
2 CORINTHIANS 2:11 – You also must help us by prayer, so that many will give thanks on our behalf for the blessing granted us through the prayers of many.
Corporate prayer brings unity and releases power
Corporate prayer allows for confession and healing
JAMES 5:16 – Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working.
Corporate prayer intensifies camaraderie in Spiritual Warfare
JOHN 15:16-17 – You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit and that your fruit should abide, so that whatever you ask the Father in my name, he may give it to you. 17 These things I command you, so that you will love one another.
Corporate prayer enlarges our vision
Corporate prayer teaches us.
Passion for Corporate Prayer is contagious
JEREMIAH 29:13 – You will seek me and find me, when you seek me with all your heart.
“My people come to watch me burn.”
Charles Spurgeon