January 8, 2006
"The Power of a Praying Church"
The Power of A Praying Church—Part 1
Acts 2:42-47
Prayer Principle: True prayer seeks God.
"For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart. I will be found by you," declares the LORD...
—Jeremiah 29:11-14
"Prayer is prompted by the heart of God."
Prayer Principle: When God gets ready to move among His people, He always stirs them to prayer.
Yet a time is coming and has now come when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for they are the kind of worshipers the Father seeks.
—John 4:23
"God is seeking you to call upon Him."
"I revealed myself to those who did not ask for me; I was found by those who did not seek me. To a nation that did not call on my name I said, 'Here am I, here am I.'"
—Isaiah 65:1
Read: Revelation 3:20
Seven characteristics of a praying church:
1. A praying church prays together.
They devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer.
—Acts 2:42-47
2. A praying church is filled with power and
3.
A praying church is a worshiping church.
Everyone was filled with awe, and many wonders and miraculous signs were done by the apostles.
—Acts 2:43
"Never think that God cannot work through you."
4. A praying church is prompted to acts of kindness.
All the believers were together and had everything in common. Selling their possessions and goods, they gave to anyone as he had need.
—Acts 2:44-45
"God does extraordinary things through ordinary people."
God chose you, and we keep praying that God will make you worthy of being his people. We pray for God's power to help you do all the good things that you hope to do and that your faith makes you want to do. Then, because God and our Lord Jesus Christ are so kind, you will bring honor to the name of our Lord Jesus, and he will bring honor to you.
—2 Thessalonians 1:11-12 (CEV)
5. A praying church enjoys one another.
Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts...
—Acts 2:46
"Prayer unites peoples' hearts."
6. A praying church sees lives transformed and
7. A praying church
is attractive to outsiders.
...praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.
—Acts 2:47
"When a church prayes, people come to Christ."
Lifework
Prayer is to be a priority of the church. Prayer must become a top priority in our church.
It is written, He said to them, "My house will be a house of prayer."
—Luke 19:46
I believe God is stirring our hearts to prayer. I believe he wants to accomplish greater things through us. In the coming weeks we will discover that training in prayer is key to the growth and discipleship of any believer.
Question: Where are you setting aside a priority of time to pray with others in your church family?
Prayer: Dear Father, let us feel the stirring of our hearts and let us hear the calling of your voice, that we might come and pray to you. Draw us close that we might know your heart and walk in the center of your purpose for ourselves and for our church. We pray this in Jesus' name. Amen.
The Church That Prays
Personal and Small Group Study
Getting Started
- What expressions of religion did you grow up with in your home as a child? Were people outwardly spiritual or private about spiritual matters?
- What are a few things that are part of your daily routine? How do these daily routines help you accomplish the important tasks of your week?
Digging Deeper: Read Acts 2:40-47
- What are the key things the early church devoted themselves to? Define each element.
- How large was this early church? The Contemporary English version says they were like one big family. How could all of these people get that close to one another?
- What part did worship play in their experience? What prompted their worship?
- How does this group of believers experience God in their midst?
- How did these believers show their care for one another?
- What effect did the fellowship of believers have on the people who lived around them? Why do you think that was?
Applying It To My Life
- What part of worship does prayer play in your life?
- How is your church experience like or unlike the fellowship here in Acts?
- What could you do to make your church more like this early church?
- How will this example affect the way you pray for your church?