Musing – Why Does the Bible Recommend Praying in Groups?

 

Prayer Musing – Why Does the Bible Recommend Praying in Groups?

Advantages of Group Prayer over Private Prayer – Praying together in groups increases trust and closeness with spouse, with family and with our Brothers & Sisters in the LORD:   Intimacy is built on trust, and trust is built on how we respond to being vulnerable with each other.  Praying together helps us show and receive trust that strengthens the bonds of intimacy in our relationships.  Prayer changes things.   It also changes people!

Even if participants in Group or Public Praying are hesitant at first, it can still be a blessing and encouragement to fellow Christians.  In a small group of two or three, prayer blesses and encourages; but it also binds Christians together more closely.  It causes them to be more open and even accountable to one another.  What church couldn’t use more encouragement, openness and accountability?

Group Prayer has unique benefits – What happens when Christians are in one accord?  “They all joined together constantly in prayer, along with the women and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with his brothers.” Acts 1:14 NIV   What would happen if today’s Christian Churches were “all joined together constantly in prayer”?   The Holy Spirit came at Pentecost and the Church was birthed.  “When the day of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place.  Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting.  They saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them.  All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit…” Acts 2:1-4 NIV

Deuteronomy 32:30 says that when one joins to another in prayer the second one not just doubles the efficiency but the LORD makes it 10 times effective!   “How could one man chase a thousand, or two put ten thousand to flight…”   Christians are to grow in their faith by being in a community of believers. "Lone Ranger Christians" are out of place in both the body of Christ and in a local body of believers.  

We in the body of Christ complement one another.  Paul's analogy compares our bodies to the body of Christ by demonstrating the need for the multiple functions of body’s parts.  The analogy starts with 1 Corinth.12:12 “The body is a unit, though it is made up of many parts; and though all its parts are many, they form one body.  So it is with Christ.” and v.27 “Now you are the body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it.”

We are called to pray with and for one another – “Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed.”  James 5:16

The great theological book of Hebrews warns us “Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching.”  Heb.10:25  Do we need to “encourage one another?   Do we “see the Day approaching”?

Classic Group Prayer Examples – Jesus told us to join with others in prayer.  “Again, I tell you that if two of you on earth agree about anything you ask for, it will be done for you by my Father in heaven.” Matt.18:19 

In the familiar 2 Chronicles 7:14, the LORD told Solomon what to do if there is trouble in the land.  Call for unified prayer and “if my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land.”  Not just a someone; but ALL people called by His name (who call themselves “Christ-ians”).

Points to ponder

What church couldn’t use more encouragement, openness and accountability?

Does the “Normalcy Bias” and need for a “Great Awakening” call for Group Prayers?

Are you/we involved in Group Prayer like those that started the prior “Great Awakenings”?*

When will serious Group Prayer begin?    When will the need be recognized!!!

“For where two or three are gathered together in My name, I am there in the midst of them.” Matt.18:20

Yosef   a.k.a.  Joe Brusherd                                      October 5, 2021
Author: “Hebraic Insights – Messages exploring the Hebrew roots of our faith”
“Biblical Marriage (by Yosef)”     Weekly “Hebraic Musings”      http://insightsbyyosef.blogspot.com/

*    The Power of Group Prayer played a big role in the “Second Great Awakening”.  In New York City alone 10,000 people gathered together daily, even left work to pray; happening nation-wide.