My dear readers,

The Place of Prayer and the Prayer Meeting in the Ministry of the Church

(Dr SH Tow, message at Sunset Gospel Hour, 15 Jan 2012)

Prayer occupies a crucial and central role in the life of the Church. It is by prayer that God the Father sends His Spirit for the work of the Church. Remember that the Holy Spirit is the Spirit of Jesus even though they are two distinct Persons in the triune Godhead. (Jn 14:18 – "I will not leave you comfortless: I will come to you.") Without Jesus and His Spirit we can do nothing (Jn 15:5)! We simply suffer great loss! We are not even believers! How important, then in all our Gospel work that we constantly pray for the Holy Spirit’s filling!

That the Prayer Meeting – the gathering of Christians in one location to pray for specific needs – is to become an abiding feature of the New Testament Church about to be born is clearly documented in the Acts of the Apostles. This new element in the ministry of the Church, since the days of the infant Church has become a vital component of the Gospel ministry: we neglect it to our loss.

The Prayer Meeting was part of the New Testament Church from the beginning, and it is our pattern for today. We shall now see from the record of Acts of the Apostles how the Church Prayer Meeting becomes a vital part of the Church.

1. The very first Prayer Meeting

In Acts 1:4 our Lord, before His ascension, commanded the disciples "...that they should not depart from Jerusalem, but wait for the promise of the Father", even for the descent of the Holy Spirit Comforter. So the group gathered in an upper room (Acts 1:13) and "... continued with one accord in prayer and supplication..." (Acts 1:14). In answer to their prayer, the Holy Ghost came in mighty power upon the gathered disciples "... all with one accord in one place ..." (Acts 2:1, 4). This happened just prior to the birth of the local church in Acts 2!

The result of this initial Prayer Meeting was: the Apostles were "men made new" – transformed. No more fearful and disunited, they stood united, ready to face any foe! The first prayer meeting was held in Acts 2:42 along with all the key elements that must be found in every biblical church. The people of God led by the apostles gathered for the first worship service of the local church. Prayer as a gathering of God’s people was one of the key indispensable elements of New Testament worship. This is the continuation of the Old Testament national worship!

2. The second Prayer Meeting

The healing of the man "lame from his mother’s womb" (Acts 3:2) by Peter and John and the electrifying effect this had on the community is fully recorded in Acts 3 and 4. The temple authorities were so upset, they arrested the two Apostles, but some 5,000 believers had swelled the ranks of the believers! (Acts 4:3, 4). This must have caused the authorities to pause and think. Seeing they could do nothing against the Apostles in the face of the miraculous healing, the authorities released the two men.

Meanwhile, "their own company" of believers (who would have gathered in prayer) were overjoyed when Peter and John were freed. These "..., they lifted up their voice to God with one accord ...And when they had prayed, the place was shaken ..." (Acts 4:20, 31). "... they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and they spake the word of God with boldness" (Acts 4:31).

3. A third Prayer Meeting

This does not mean that this was the third since Pentecost! Far from it, for by now the Prayer Meeting would have become part of the life of the New Testament Church.

But this was the third mentioned in the Acts of the Apostles. The wicked King Herod had arrested Peter just " ... because he saw it pleased the Jews ..." (Acts 12:3).

The response to Peter’s imprisonment was the "Prayer Meeting!" (Acts 12:5). The result: God’s angel came to Peter’s rescue! (Acts 12:7-11).

The "Prayer Meeting" is no "secret weapon" but readily and instantly available to Churches everywhere. Many Churches, poorly instructed, fail to utilize this powerful means of grace. Many members have this fixation, "It’s only a prayer meeting!" and so lose much blessing by staying away.

Conclusion: If you care for the Church and the work of the Lord, especially in the perilous end times, come! Let’s make our Prayer Meeting a "power house of Holy Spirit action" – for God’s glory!

God bless you dear readers.

Yours faithfully in the Saviour’s Service,

Dr SH Tow, Sr Pastor