HAVING AN EFFECTIVE PRAYER MEETING
“Peter therefore was kept in prison: but prayer was made without ceasing of the church unto God for him.”
(Acts 12:5)
The early Christian churches resorted to prayer meetings as a means of facing challenges and getting help from God. This is clearly shown to us in the accounts given in the book of the Acts. In chapter 12, we learn how the Jerusalem church got Simon Peter out of jail through prayer meetings. In verse 5 of that chapter, there is a description of this effort which has opened the eyes of many believers over the years in regard to how we can have effective prayer meetings. Since it will be important for the churches to conduct prayer meetings before and during October 18 to seek the power of the Spirit for evangelism, it is important for us to take another look at this verse. What kind of praying got the Apostle Peter out of the prison?
1. It was intense praying: “without ceasing.” The Greek word translated by these words can mean stretched out over a period of time or stretched out in the sense of fervent. It makes a difference to God that we are serious about obtaining what we need. Remember that it was the “fervent” prayers of Elijah offered “earnestly” that prevented rainfall in Israel for three and a half years, according to James 5:17-18. Remember also the intensity of the prayers of David recorded in the Book of Psalms. Let us also remember the importance of “importunity” (persistence) in the matter of praying for the ministry of the Spirit, according to the teaching of our Lord in Luke 11:1-13. Our prayer meetings ought to be characterized by earnest, intense prayers.
2. It was united praying: “of the church.” The term “church” in the Bible does not refer to a denomination or to the building in which a Christian congregation meets. It means the congregation itself. When the members of the church get together to pray, there is special power in their prayers. We learn this from the words of the Lord Jesus in Matthew 18. Don’t forget His promises in verses 18-20. Don’t forget either that when an individual prays out loud in a prayer meeting, he is leading the group in prayer. So he needs to speak loudly enough for all to hear so that they can join him in praying, and he should pray briefly enough so that the others do not become distracted. In a good prayer meeting, it is best not to “pray around.” Instead, those led by the Holy Spirit to lead the congregation to the Throne should confine each of their turns in voicing prayers to about one paragraph and usually to one subject or request at a time. And people should be permitted to lead more than once, not in any certain order, but as God leads. The meeting should sound like a real conversation with Christ. Note in Romans 8:26-27, Ephesians 6:18, and Jude 20-21, that the Holy Spirit is the One Who will make praying what it ought to be, if He is permitted to have control.
3. It was sincere praying: “unto God.” Folks at a prayer meeting should really be talking to God. This is what Jesus was saying in Matthew 6 when He warned us against praying like hypocrites (to be heard by men) or like the heathen (using memorized phrases and sentences). Jesus said that we should pray like children asking their father for something (verses 5-9). Baptist people need to learn again how to pray from the heart, as if they are talking to God and not repeating a religious chant.
4. It was specific praying: “for him.” The prayers in those prayer meetings were not the empty general prayers that characterize many of our church services. They called on God for particular action. They asked Him to save Peter’s life, to get him out of jail. Many people think that praying out loud is supposed to be some kind of spiritual oration that makes some mighty fine points, but asks for nothing. But this is not how Jesus taught us to pray (See Luke 11:9-13 again). The Bible says, “Let your requests be made known unto God” (Philippians 4:6). May our prayer meetings be characterized by bold, confident, and specific petitioning of God, led by the Holy Spirit!
The churches of Jesus Christ can again be powerful, triumphant, and glorious institutions if they will again do their work through a vital faith in their God. Faith in God will translate into faith in prayer. And faith in prayer will restore our faith in prayer meetings. Let us evangelize our communities as the first churches evangelized theirs, energized by effective prayer meetings.