Tag: Prayer Meetings

21 Days of Prayer (Day #7)

by Dale, posted in 21 Days of Prayer, Christian Living, Church, Prayer, Uncategorized

We will never see much change for the better in our churches in general till the prayer meeting occupies a higher place in the esteem of Christians (Charles Spurgeon). 

Every Sunday, while Spurgeon preached, hundreds of believers interceded for him in the “furnace room” while he delivered God’s Word. Spurgeon credited the success of his pulpit ministry to all who passionately prayed with believing hearts while he preached.

My heart has always been encouraged by reading and studying the prayer meetings in the early church as recorded in the book of Acts.

Peter and John were jailed for preaching the resurrection of Jesus Christ (4:1-3) and many believed (4:4).  Upon further declaration of the preeminence of Christ and being threatened to not preach in Jesus’ name, they were released (4:8-22).

Where did Peter and John go?  They didn’t go home for a vacation.  They didn’t go to a weekly therapy session. They didn’t share their treatment on Facebook.  They went straight to a prayer meeting!  Read about it in 4:23-30.

Now take note of 4:31, And when they had prayed, the place where they were assembled together was shaken; and they were filled with the Holy Spirit, and they spoke the Word of God with boldness.

What place does prayer occupy in your life in reference to the Sunday ministry at BCBC? 

When’s the last time you gathered in corporate prayer then saw a move of God to follow?

Are you willing to gather with other believers in faith-believing prayer for the lost souls of men, for the work of repentance in the hearts of unbelievers and believers, for the work of the Spirit to draw men to Christ, for the place to be shaken, for the Word of God to be proclaimed with boldness, for a mighty move of God?

Sunday’s coming.  Will you pray?  Will you join us at 8:30 a.m. for believing prayer?  Will you pray during the morning gathering? Will you pray with others?  Will you be willing to gather a group together and have a prayer meeting before heading home for the day?

Spurgeon is right, We will never see much change for the better in our churches in general till the prayer meeting occupies a higher place in the esteem of Christians.

Five Reasons to Attend & Participate in Weekly Prayer Meetings

by Dale, posted in Church, Prayer, Renewal, Uncategorized

In a day when church attendance is waning in America, there is a gathering each week that can be a powerhouse of God’s working and a refreshing, reviving time of community.

In days of old, this gathering was simply known as Prayer Meeting. That designation is still in vogue today but not as frequent. And, even though the gathering may be called a prayer meeting, little to no time is given to prayer.

Without sounding legalistic or making you feel guilty, let me share some reasons why believers should be involved in a weekly prayer gathering.

Prayer connects us with the character of God.

The Lord’s model prayer begins with the words, Our Father in Heaven, hallowed be Your name (Matthew 6:9). Albert Mohler, in his book, The Prayer That Turns the World Upside Down, gives us good insight to God’s name being hallowed, “When Jesus petitions God to hallow his name, he is asking that God act in such a way that he visibly demonstrates his holiness and his glory”

How absolutely awesome to see God display His character to His church through prayer and in His response to our supplications!

Prayer connects us with answers from God.

How many times have you quoted Jeremiah 33:3, Call to Me, and I will answer you, and show you great and mighty things, which you do not know. Or 1 John 5:14-15, And this is the confidence that we have toward him, that if we ask anything according to his will he hears us. And if we know that he hears us in whatever we ask, we know that we have the requests that we have asked of him.

God’s answers are always right. They are always the best for us. They always bring Him glory. They always transcend the work of man!

How absolutely awesome to see God answer the prayers of His people!!

Prayer connects us to the body of Christ.

There are two passages of Scripture that resonates in my heart concerning the early church. Acts 2:42 says, And they continued steadfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, in the breaking of bread, and in prayers. Then in Acts 12:5, we find these words, Peter was therefore kept in prison, but constant prayer was offered to God for him by the church.

The richest fellowship a body of believers can experience is when they are gathered around the Throne of Grace (Hebrews 4:16). Intercessory prayer unifies the body in marvelous ways around the person of Christ, the glory of God, and the helplessness of man. David Mathis has written an excellent post on this point. https://www.desiringgod.org/articles/nine-profits-of-praying-with-company

Prayer connects us to the Person of prayer.

Jesus Christ is the ultimate example of prayer (Luke 5:16; 6:12; 22:42). Prayer draws the church into the influence of the preeminent One, the Lord Jesus Christ. Prayer leads the church to follow the Chief Shepherd (1 Peter 5:4) and Head of the Church (Ephesians 5:23).

Prayer connects us to eternity.

The Church is involved in the gospel ministry of the Great Commission (Matthew 28:18-20). The eternal destination of every individual around the world is one second away from reality. The Church needs to gather to pray for lost souls with a passion and a purpose (1 Timothy 2:1-8).

The old hymn, Brethren, We Have Met to Worship says it well:Brethren, see poor sinners round you slumb’ring on the brink of woe;
Death is coming, hell is moving, can you bear to let them go?
See our fathers and our mothers, and our children sinking down;
Brethren, pray, and holy manna will be showered all around.

Furthermore, we desire that God’s will be done here on earth as it is in heaven and for His kingdom to come (Matthew 6:10). That’s an eternal viewpoint in prayer!

“Four things let us ever keep in mind: God hears prayer, God heeds prayer, God answers prayer and God delivers by prayer.” (E. M. Bounds)

Will you be willing to make the connections this week in your local church prayer gatherings?

Praise the Lord for the Interruption!

by Dale, posted in Christian Living, Church, Prayer, Prayer Advances, Revival, Uncategorized

Men's Prayer Advance 1
Men’s Prayer Advance 2018, Roanoke, VA

Sunday evening while we were worshiping the Lord in song as a church family, I received a text from a dear church member whose husband was in the hospital in severe pain. As soon as the song was finished, we took the opportunity to pray for this dear man and his wife.

During my visit in the hospital today, I expressed my appreciation for her taking the time to send a text so we could pray.  Immediately she apologized with a bit of embarrassment for the interruption.

At that moment, the Lord brought something to my mind which I shared with them.  Prayer never interrupts our Heavenly Father. Prayer never interrupts the Throne of Grace (Hebrews 4:16).  Prayer never interrupts the work of God.  Prayer never hinders the goings on in Heaven.  Therefore, why should stopping to pray be an interruption in our church services.  We have, I’m afraid, come to the place that in too many of our church services/gatherings our formalism has drowned out the Holy Spirit’s leading to change the service order so we can pray.

When I shared these thoughts with this dear lady and her husband, he without hesitation declared, “AMEN!”

Our churches would be so much better off, enjoying the presence of God, seeing His power at work, watching souls come to Christ, believers being revived, and enjoying the blessings of unity around the Throne of Grace if we prayed more (Psalm 85:6; Acts 2:42; 12:5; 16:16; Ephesians 6:18; 1 Timothy 2:1).

Prayer is never an interruption!

Thirsty & Crying

by Dale, posted in Church, Prayer, Uncategorized

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Why is it that when you call for a prayer meeting, born again believers run the other way?  Why is it that if you schedule, let’s say, a fall leaf trip excursion, folks are willing to gather at 7:00 a.m., but if you call for a prayer meeting on Sunday mornings at 8:30 a.m., a handful show up?  Why are believers afraid of entering the secret place of the Most High God (Psalm 91:1)?

To run from prayer is to run from God.  Oh, how He longs to hear the cries of His people!  How He longs for us to commune and listen to Him!  Oh, how He longs for us to look to Him for His powerful, life-altering, God-glorifying answers to our supplications!   How He longs to enjoy fellowship with us; that’s why Christ died for every one of us.

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Is your soul really thirsty and crying out for God?  Matthew Henry said, “God is more willing to be prayed to, and more ready to hear prayer, than we are to pray.”

The eyes of the Lord are on the righteous, and His ears are open to their cry. The righteous cry out, and the Lord hears, and delivers them out of all their troubles (Psalm 34:15, 17).

As the deer pants for the water brooks, so pants my soul for You, O God (Psalm 42:1).

O God, You are my God; early will I seek You; my soul thirsts for You; my flesh longs for You in a dry and thirsty land where there is no water (Psalm 63:1).

And they continued steadfastly (to give constant attention to) . . .in prayers (Acts 2:42).