Together in Prayer

Can you imagine being part of the prayer meeting in Acts chapter four? Look with me at this marvelous event.

ACTS 4:23-31

On their release, Peter and John went back to their own people and reported all that the chief priests and elders had said o them.

When they heard this, they raised their voices together in prayer to God. "Sovereign Lord," they said, "You made the heaven and the earth and the sea and everything in them. You spoke by the Holy Spirit through the mouth of your servant, our father David:

'Why do the nations rage

and the peoples plot in vain?

The kings of the earth take their stand

and the rulers gather together against the Lord

and against his Anointed One.

Indeed Herod and Pontius Pilate met together with the gentiles and the people of Israel in this city to conspire against your holy servant Jesus, whom you anointed. They did what your power and will had decided before should happen. Now, Lord, consider their threats and enable your servants to speak your word with great boldness. Stretch out your hand to heal and perform miraculous signs and wonders through the name of your holy servant Jesus."

After they prayed, the place where they were meeting was shaken. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke the word boldly.

These people prayed like this because:

1. They came together in a common Passion.

The word translated, "together" is " (homothumadon." It is often translated, "in one accord." Jokes about Honda's in the Bible not withstanding, the word can be literally translated, "one passion." The church was consumed with a passion for righteousness. They burned for the truth of Scripture and the sovereignty of God. They were committed to the Lord Jesus, and risked their lives to boldly proclaim His Name. And they were desperate for God to work mightily in their city and our world. Their common passion brought their hearts together in prayer.

2. They prayed together with a common Voice.

How did they pray such a specific prayer together? I was not there so I am not absolutely sure. However, I have an idea about how they prayed. I think they prayed off each other. Peter may have begun by crying out, "Sovereign Lord." And James chimed in, "You made the heavens!" John added, "and the earth!" Someone else said, "and the sea!" and another, "and everything in them!"

In a moment I am going to lead you in an exercise of prayer where you will each pray off what the person next to you says. I will have you break up into groups of four and pray around your circle. I want you to listen carefully to what the others in your group are praying and then pray whatever God lays on your heart as they pray.

3. They prayed together in a Common Spirit.

There must be at least one more factor in any powerful prayer meeting. The Holy Spirit does what Jesus promised that He would do. Do you believe what Jesus said that the Holy Spirit is present in the lives of others in the church? The Bible says He is in us. God will be speaking through others in the body when you pray. Sometimes I think we ought to have recorders in our prayer meetings writing down what God is saying to the church in prayer. God is present with us right now. He will speak to you through the prayers of those around you in the body.

Okay, stand up and get together in groups of four. Would you look around and make sure there are not groups of two or six. As much as possible get into groups of four.

You can let God speak to you as the others pray? Now, I know some of us are nervously thinking about what you were going to pray when your turn comes to pray. But this time I want you not to think at all about what you are going to pray until the person before you is praying. Then pray whatever God brings to your mind when that person prays. Some of you are thinking, "What if I can't think of anything to pray when my turn comes?" That is okay. It will not hurt the group to be silent for a moment. And the person next to you will catch on in time and continue the prayer.

Whoever prays first begin with praise. And we would like each of you to lift praises at least one time around the circle. Then pray anything that God lays on your heart. You can pray scriptures. You can make specific requests. After you have gone around several times forget the order and just pray spontaneously as God moves your heart.

I would like to make a few more suggestions. Do not bow your heads, pray louder than you would if you were alone. Other people need to hear you pray.

There is no need to pray long. When you are in a prayer meeting and someone prays for twenty minutes, what happens? First, everyone thinks that person is really spiritual? And the wrong person is glorified. Also if you are not standing, someone will fall asleep. Finally, all the rest of us will be intimidated and think we cannot pray good enough to pray in public. So, pray short and loud, and trust God to give what else He wants you to pray to the next person.

After they prayed, the place where they were meeting was shaken. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke the word boldly.