Devotional - June 3, 2004

The book of Acts gives us detailed information as to the beginning of what we know as the church. This is not an organization of people or a society for the preservation of the memory of Jesus as some would have us believe. Instead, it's a living dynamic organism that's composed of those who have professed faith in Jesus Christ and live by His power to do His will.

The first chapter begins with Jesus ascending into heaven and ends with the selection of Matthias as replacement for Judas among the group of apostles. Of significance to me is the two middle verses (Vs. 13-14) that reveal the source of the apostle's power. When they left the Mount of Olives where Jesus gave them his last words on earth, they all went to the place where they had been staying and had a long prayer meeting together.

Corporate prayer is the time when we as God's people come together for an extended period of time to spend it with the Lord and each other. It's not a preaching opportunity, a Bible study or a corporate worship service but instead a time when God's people come together to lift a chorus of praise and adoration to God.

Prayer meetings provide the opportunity for God's people to deal with private sin, confess corporate sin, pray for one another and settle differences with each other that could otherwise negatively affect the overall work of the church. That being the case, it's no surprise that the churches that neglect corporate prayer are also congregations that are weak and ineffective in ministry.

Recently I heard a pastor say in a sermon that he considered his opportunity to preach as a higher calling than witnessing to the lost. Although I feel this pastor has a high regard for prayer, I couldn't help but wonder where prayer ranked among the other two "desires."

May we learn a lesson from the first church and take to heart their testimony that elevated the importance of corporate prayer above both preaching and witnessing. For without the power that comes as a result of confession, restoration and intercession, doesn't prayer become a programmatic ritual that's only used when we need to bless something else we consider more important?

1 Developed from Read the Bible Thru ( 2Sa. 20:14-22:20 Ac. 1:1-26 Ps. 121:1-8 Pr. 16:18 )
2. Scripture comes from the Holy Bible, New International Version; (c)1978 by New York International Bible Society