Is the practice of praying with other believers antiquated? Are there benefits to the idea of being with other believers to talk to the Lord?
From the first days of the Christian church, scriptures show us that the first followers of Jesus prayed together. Gathering together in a room full of people to pray may seem awkward and uncomfortable to modern society. But we know it was an important practice for the first believers.
In Acts 2:42-42, Luke records that the first believers “devoted” themselves to four things important to the growth of the Jesus movement: the teachings of Jesus, the fellowship of the believers, the breaking of bread (communion), and prayer.
What the scriptures say about praying together.
As modern followers of Jesus, we tend to read the scriptures as if they were written to private individuals. In truth, the scriptures were written, for the most part, to be read publicly to entire churches. Most often, when the biblical authors instructed people to pray, the call to prayer was instruction to the community as a whole.
There are over 650 prayers written in the Bible with 25 of those being the prayers of Jesus. Throughout Luke’s gospel and Acts, Luke points to prayer as the means of receiving power from the Holy Spirit. In fact, Luke seems to indicate that the grand object of prayer is the movement of the Holy Spirit. Here are only a few of the examples:
Jesus prayed before choosing his disciples. Luke 6:12
Jesus prayed before he was arrested. Luke 9:28-36
The apostles prayed before choosing a new apostle. Acts 1:24
The people following Jesus were gathered together and praying just before the Holy Spirit came on the day of Pentecost. Acts 2:1-4
As they were praying, the Holy Spirit set apart Barnabas and Saul for missionary work. Acts 13:1-2
Through prayer, the apostles appointed elders to newly founded churches. Acts 14:23
Benefits of Praying together
1. There’s no more effective way to get past religious masks, church hierarchy, personal conflicts, and social division than to stand at the feet of Jesus together. The presence of Jesus brings everyone together on the same level as servants of the same Lord.
2. Calling upon the Lord together honors Christ by imitating his example as we submit ourselves to unity in his name.
3. Jesus intimated the gathering of people to pray when he taught that where two or three are gathered in his name, he is there in the midst of them. Matthew 18:20. When we gather together in his name, he is with us through the Holy Spirit. When we pray, the Holy Spirit comes in power to do the will of God.
How to Get Started Praying Together
If praying with others is new to you, it can be awkward and uncomfortable. Maybe you want to pray with your spouse, your kids, your coworkers, or members of a faith group but you don’t know how to get started. The best advice to start with is to keep it simple. Begin with baby steps.
1. Keep it short and to the point. Long winded prayers aren’t the same as meaningful and faith filled prayers.
2. You don’t need to make a list. As one person prays what is on their heart, let everyone else pray in agreement as led by the Spirit.
3. Be flexible. Let the group decide what they want. Some people like to pray out loud, others do not. Prayer time can last two minutes or twenty minutes, or longer or shorter. People grow in confidence and comfort when they feel safe, and they know their boundaries are respected.
4. Keep it real. Prayer time can become an exhibition of spirituality, trying to prove how spiritual we are, if we aren’t careful. It can also become empty words of obligation and ritual. Talk to the living Lord about what is going on in your real life.
The Holy Spirit is present when God’s people gather to pray. By inviting His presence, the Spirit is able to guide, comfort, encourage, and lead us in the ways of God. May his presence bear fruit in us as we meet together in the name of Jesus.
“It is in fact the most normal thing in the common Christian life to pray together.”
- Deitrich Bonhoeffer
Copyright @TA Boland 2023
Image: Unsplash
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