"Now I beg you, brethren, through the Lord Jesus Christ,
and through the love of the Spirit,
that you strive together with me in prayers to God for me..."
(Romans 15:30, NKJV)
MORNING DEVOTION- "O God, thou art my God; early will I seek thee..." (Psalm 63:1)
Scripture Reading: 1 Kings 18:20-39
When the Psalmist would offer praise to God it was rarely a private matter, instead he expressed his praise to God in public, and would call all those in the temple who hear to join in the celebration of praise for God's goodness, blessing, and deliverance. "Sing to the LORD, you saints of His; praise His holy name" (Psalm 30:4). While our personal prayer time should be spent in a private place where we can experience quiet, uninterrupted time with the Lord each day (reference Matthew 6:6), there are also times when it is beneficial and necessary to pray corporately, in public, with other believers.
In our Scripture reading, Elijah had received a word from the Lord revealing His intentions to show Himself anew to the people. "After a long time, in the third year, the word of the LORD came to Elijah" (1 Kings 18:1a). It has been said, that when God is about to move in an extraordinary way He moves the hearts of His people to respond with united, fervent prayer. In Elijah's day, God summoned all the people from all over Israel to Mount Carmel to show them that He is the One, True, Living God, and the only One worthy of their worship. The stage was being set for a showdown of prayer. The prophets of Baal shouted and danced for hours, they even cut themselves and bled, in a vain attempt to capture the attention of their false gods, but to no avail. However, when it was Elijah's turn to pray, he simply "stepped forward and prayed" (v. 36). In the presence of all of the people, who were weary and exhausted from making a public spectacle of themselves, Elijah stepped forward in faith, trusting in the promises of God's word; just as David had confidently done years earlier as he walked across that battlefield in the presence of thousands of doubtful soldiers, to take his stand against the opposing giant on behalf of God (reference 1 Samuel 17:40-47).
God calls us out of our daily private places of prayer to publicly proclaim the confidence, trust, and faith we have found in Him as we unite with other believers in times corporate prayer, so that our brothers and sisters in Christ will be encouraged, strengthened, refreshed, and revived to continue to walk by faith and boldly proclaim His gospel message. "Hear me, O LORD, hear me, that this people may know that You are the LORD God, and that You have turned their hearts back to You again" (1 Kings 18:37).
Heavenly Father,
We praise You for those opportunities
You give us to join You on the front line of
the battlefield with Your army of prayer warriors.
Help us to be useful reinforcements who
You can use to encourage and strengthen Your faithful,
and sometimes weary, saints who may need a word of refreshment
as they face the day to day struggles in this spiritual war.
May those who are watching catch a glimpse of
the powerful and mighty way You act on behalf of
those who love You and who have been called
according to Your purpose.
In Jesus' Name. Amen.
When we are faithful to meet the Lord in the hidden and secret place of prayer we have no reason to fear when we are given an opportunity to pray publicly. There is no better training ground for prayer than the schoolroom of prayer our faithful Teacher provides for us when we meet with Him for private lessons in our prayer closet. We have a divine opportunity to implement all that we have learned by taking advantage of every opportunity to pray with others the Lord has placed in our circle of influence. Take time this week to schedule time to pray with your spouse, your children, and with a friend; and purpose to attend the next prayer meeting at your church (you might be surprised to find out how few do). Every time we pray together corporately we gain strength and achieve unity for the Body of Christ. Seize opportunities during these 40 days to take part in a prayer group, or, as the Holy Spirit leads, start your own. The success of all that we do for the Kingdom of God depends on how faithful, or unfaithful, we have been in prayer. When we link arms together, and commit to praying with one another, there is greater accountability, agreement, and encouragement in the Body.
AFTERNOON DEVOTION -"Evening, and morning, and noon, will I pray, and cry aloud: and He shall hear my voice" (Psalm 55:17, KJV).
Scripture Reading: Matthew 18:19-20
It is a wonderful gift to spend time in the presence of God in our private prayer closets. What victories we have achieved in prayer that no one, save God, Himself, has the knowledge of. Nothing quite compares to those quiet moments of deep fellowship and private conversation with our Lord. It is vitally important for the health of our own spiritual life to cultivate our private prayers lives, but the Lord also gives His Church a great honor to pray with fellow believers so we can experience health and healing for the whole Body, and experience the greater power that comes from unified prayer. "Again I say to you, that if two of you shall agree on earth as touching any thing that they shall ask, it shall be done for them of My Father which is in heaven" (v.19, KJV). Our prayers have the ability to access great power from God, but agreement and harmony with our brothers and sisters in Christ is essential to laying hold of that power. We need only look to Job to understand that restoration and blessing is dependent upon our ability to lay aside our offenses and to pray earnestly and honestly for those who have offended us (reference Job 42:7-12). "After Job prayed for his friends, the LORD made him prosperous again and gave him twice as much as he had before" (v. 10).
As we meditate on our Scripture reading this morning we find that agreement in prayer is necessary, and assembly in prayer is indispensable. "For where two or three are gathered together in My name, there am I in the midst of them" (Matthew 18:20, KJV). The Lord directs us to gather together in His name. It is in the assembling together that the church is made visible in the world. Regardless of whether our assemblies are great or small, we have the promised guarantee of His presence. The presence of Christ is among us, because He dwells within us by His Spirit. We are His sanctuary, no matter where we are. When we come together in visible union the presence of Christ is made manifest. It only takes a harmonious few, who are sincere and devoted worshipers of Christ, to usher in the presence and power of God.
The unbelieving of the world can storm the streets with their picket signs and petitions in an attempt to have their voices heard by man, but when the children of God come before the throne of grace in agreement and unity, our voices are heard in heaven. We have the audience of God Most High, and we have the promise of His presence and the assurance that an even mightier work is being done on our behalf; for our good and for God's glory. The Lord loves to work on behalf of His children, and is delighted when we are unified in prayer for His purposes to be fulfilled (reference Romans 8:28). "On Him we have set our hope that He will continue to deliver us, as you help us by your prayers. Then many will give thanks on our behalf for the gracious favor granted us in answer to the prayers of many" (2 Corinthians 1:11).
Heavenly Father,
There are small fires kindling all over
this nation as Your servants faithfully gather in prayer.
Stir the hearts of all Your children to gather
closer to Your holy flame so this country
can be set on fire for Christ, and the good news of
Your salvation can spread throughout the world.
In Jesus' Name. Amen
We have been endowed with divine power from on high to help others, and to meet their needs in an extraordinary way the world has no knowledge or understanding of. When we, as believers, come together in a united concert of prayer, we stand in one accord, agreeing and believing that God has heard our prayers, and that He has already answered, and is providing the means to pour out His mercy and grace on those we've prayed for. May we make the most of every opportunity in our churches, in our schools, in our work places, and in our neighborhoods to gather together in corporate prayer. Let us be willing to take a step of faith and begin to gather in prayer; and not despise the day of small beginnings, but accept that in the eyes of God an assembly of two honors Him as much as two thousand.
An Important Invitation for Corporate Prayer:Please encourage your pastor and church body to participate in theCall2Fallon Sunday, June 28, 2015. An estimated two million believers from all 50 states will be joining together during their worship services to spend at least 5 minutes on their knees in a united concert of prayer for our nation. Please visit the Call2Fall website for more information about this important prayer assembly and to access FREE tools, resources, and videos to help guide your congregation in this vital time of prayer for the church and for our nation as we are about to observe the annual celebration our nation's independence from Great Britain and our declaration our dependence upon God on July 4th. Visit the Call2Fall website and let them know that you and your church are participating!
EVENING MEDITATION -"...and on His law he meditates day and night" (Ps. 1:2)
Scripture Reading: Acts 2:42
The early church was devoted to the work of the Lord. Their devotion was evident in the high priority they placed on prayer, both private as well as public. As the Body of Christ, we, the church, are the visible representation of Christ in the world. Jesus revealed through His example that His work on earth was accomplished as a result of the time He devoted to prayer. If we are to continue His work of advancing His kingdom in this world we must make every effort to follow in His footsteps and give the utmost attention to prayer that He, and the first church, did. There is no greater need in the church today than for prayer. Our ability to fulfill the great commission is absolutely dependent upon the fervent and faithful prayers of God's people. Paul, who was the greatest evangelist in history, asked for prayer on every occasion, because he knew that the mission he was given by God couldn't be fulfilled without the fervent prayers of the saints on his behalf. Through their faithful prayers, God met his needs, delivered him from extraordinary difficulties, and helped him endure and overcome great persecution (reference Romans 15:30-32). May we carry the flaming torch of prayer on behalf of all ministers and missionaries, asking daily for their protection and provision, so the gospel will continue to be heard in every corner of the world to the glory and praise of God. .
Heavenly Father,
We lift up our pastors today
asking that You fill them with Your Holy Spirit
and give them Your word
to speak to our hearts.
Protect their time each day, and throughout the week so
they can give priority attention to prayer and the ministry of the Word.
Surround our pastor with other pastors so they
can be strengthened in prayer and united in purpose.
Bless and strengthen all the other leaders and ministers in
our churches so we can be kingdom focused
and enabled to fulfill Your great commission right here
in our own community. Stoke the fire of the prayer altar
in Your Church so the people of
our communities
will be drawn in to Your glorious light and life.
In Jesus' Name. Amen.
There are many ministers and missionaries in this nation and around the world who desperately need our prayers. Many of our brothers and sisters are suffering intense opposition and persecution in some of the most hostile countries around the globe, yet they remain faithful to the call of Christ upon their lives. As you join in corporate prayer with other believers, lift up the various ministries and mission organizations the Lord burdens your heart with. "So Peter was in prison, but the church was earnestly praying to God for him" (Acts 12:5). Just as the prison doors were opened wide for Peter while the early church was gathered together in fervent prayer, we also have the same authority and power to pray open the doors of opportunity, and cast mountainous obstacles out of the way, so faithful ministers around the world today can experience the encouragement, provision, and freedom to fulfill the ministry they have been called to advance the kingdom of God in this world. Let us do our part, so they can continue to do theirs. We are partners in the gospel of Jesus Christ, and we wield the greatest power for the Kingdom when we pray - together! "I thank my God every time I remember you, I always pray with joy because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now, being confident of this, that He who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus" (Philippians 1:3-6)
