Elder Chew Chong Kiat

THE BENEFITS OF & HINDRANCES
TO PRAYER MEETING

Thank God for raising CPBPC from a small band to what it is today and for keeping it through almost 39 years since her founding in July 1978. It is of the Lord’s mercies and to His own glory alone that we remain as His witnesses on this earth in this part of Singapore. Our founding father appointed Tuesday as the day that the church gathers to pray since its beginning and she has never failed to do so week after week except on public holidays. God has kept Calvary Pandan and granted the increase according to the prayers made to Him.

To what purpose and gain is there to gather as a church to pray? I will list a few for our encouragement.

1) Praying Together Increases Our Experience of Oneness as a Household of God. The old adage is true that "The family that prays together stays together". Likewise for the household of God. When we care for one another by praying for one another, we experience oneness as a family caring for one another as we look to our gracious Father in heaven for His grace to help in our time of need. And when God grants the desires of our hearts’ cry, O what joy and affirmation to our hearts of the love of God our Father! And we are so much more encouraged to pray!

2) Praying Together Brings Blessings & Joy. God promised special blessings to saints gathered to pray in agreement for anything which is according to His will. When one saint pray earnestly before the throne of God, God hears because of His love for this child of His who cries to Him. How much more will it move the heart of the God of love and mercies to hear another of his dear children enjoining in earnest prayer for the same. It pleases God more to answer that prayer for it will bring about more joy amongst His children. Joh 16:24 Hitherto have ye asked nothing in my name: ask, and ye shall receive, that your joy may be full.

3) Praying Together Generates A Heart of Devotion in Others. The fervent prayer of a righteous man can encourage the hearts of those who pray together with him. We learn to pray better when we hear the prayers of others. Our spirits are lifted up to trust and hope in God. When we are sad and beset with cares, our spirit which is like a flickering wick that is almost extinguished may begin to burn brightly once again. Let us unite in fervent and earnest prayer to God.

But alas, there are also many things that will hinder God’s people from coming together to pray.

1) Schism & Disunity Hinders Praying Together. The church that is fragmented by partisan spirit or by unforgiveness cannot come together as one to pray. If they cannot agree with one another on what they should pray for, how should God answer their prayers? Psalm 66:18 If I regard iniquity in my heart, the Lord will not hear me: So the Word of God teaches that we should be reconciled to one another before we come to Him.

2) Disinterest Hinders Praying Together. Although some are prevented from coming to pray because of sickness and others by call of unavoidable duties, many do not come because of lack of concern. They need to have their conscience awakened by the Spirit of God for the neglect of this duty, to come and pray for their brethren and for the church as God has commanded. Upholding one another in prayer is an expression of love. Neglect shows a lack of love. How guilty we are when we forget and fail to pray for someone in need till we see the person again! The best expression for the love of the Kingdom of God is to come and pray together for the Kingdom of God and for the will of God to be done on earth as it is in heaven. We need to know that it is also our privilege to serve God as an intercessor. The great Apostle Paul, though so mightily used of God, had oft requested for prayers for his work. He knew that God works through the prayers of His people and it was not his talent or greatness that accomplished the work for God. 1Thess 5:25, Brethren, pray for us. And again in 2Thess 3:1 and Heb 13:18, just to name a few. How many are the ministries and mission work that need your prayers. Won’t you come and pray?

3) Long Prayers Hinders the Prayer Meeting. Spurgeon puts it this way: "It is dreadful to hear a brother pray us into a good frame, and then, by his long prayer, pray us out of it again!" Some tend to preach or to teach when they pray. God forbid that we should turn our prayers to one another when praying is always to God! Prayers need not be long for God to hear. He knows what we need even before we open our mouths (Mt 6:8). Let our requests be made known unto God in prayer and supplication (Phi 4:6). We need not introduce and explain to God our situation, for He knows it all. Let’s pray direct and earnest requests to God with faith, for He is able to do all things and He cares for us. It is not how much we say that ensures we are heard. If we feel keenly our need and how we must tell him, for He is able and willing to aid us, we will pray aright.

4) Lack of Action Hinders the Prayer Meeting. How oft we erred in only praying and not doing all we can. We should not "help" God like Abraham and Sarah did when God promised a son to them. Yet, it is wrong for us to do nothing when God commands us to do so. It is good to pray for the salvation of loved ones and friends, but we should not neglect to witness to them. We should pray for our missionaries and their work, but we can surely do more than pray. We can encourage them in word and in deeds. Besides praying for the sick, we can also show our love in kind. How the family of God will be blessed if we pray for one another and love one another in deed and in truth. 1Jo 3:16, Hereby perceive we the love [of God], because he laid down his life for us: and we ought to lay down [our] lives for the brethren. 17 But whoso hath this world's good, and seeth his brother have need, and shutteth up his bowels [of compassion] from him, how dwelleth the love of God in him? 18 My little children, let us not love in word, neither in tongue; but in deed and in truth.