When Jesus stated in Luke 19:46 that “my House will be a House of Prayer”, I have found myself asking how Jesus would describe His Houses or churches today. Would He label the majority of our churches as “Houses of Prayer”, “Houses of Praise”, “Houses of Biblical Teaching”? I wonder what a House of Prayer looks like.
When I look at Jesus’ prayer to His Father before His crucifixion and the New Testament churches we read about in Acts, it appears that prayer should be an integral part of our gathering as believers because it appears that UNITY with the Father is important to Him. Here are the Scripture passages that come to mind (underlining is my emphasis):
John 17:11, 20-23- 11 I will remain in the world no longer, but they are still in the world, and I am coming to you. Holy Father, protect them by the power of your name, the name you gave me, so that they may be one as we are one. 20 “My prayer is not for them alone. I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message, 21 that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me. 22 I have given them the glory that you gave me, that they may be one as we are one— 23 I in them and you in me–so that they may be brought to complete unity. Then the world will know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me.
Acts 2:42 -They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer.
Acts 6:1-4 – 1 In those days when the number of disciples was increasing, the Hellenistic Jews among them complained against the Hebraic Jews because their widows were being overlooked in the daily distribution of food. 2 So the Twelve gathered all the disciples together and said, “It would not be right for us to neglect the ministry of the word of God in order to wait on tables. 3 Brothers and sisters, choose seven men from among you who are known to be full of the Spirit and wisdom. We will turn this responsibility over to them 4 and will give our attention to prayer and the ministry of the word.”
There is no doubt in my mind that churches have prayer warriors among them and that many of our leaders who are pastoring or leading ministries have strong prayer ministries. I have the privilege of being a part of dynamic prayer teams behind the scenes. I am just wondering how all members come together as ONE through prayer. How do we obtain UNITY as an end result if we don’t know what our pastors are praying for, or our neighbors in the pew? Matthew 18:19-20 says: 19 “Again, truly 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. 20 For where two or three come together in my name, there am I with them.” It seems that in order get traction on becoming ONE, we need to intentionally pray in agreement as a body of believers on the things that matter to God. Are we really engaging in “corporate prayer” in order to become a “House of Prayer”? Do we really believe His promise in Matthew 18?
I couldn’t sleep last night because this topic of achieving UNITY in the body of Christ through prayer wouldn’t shut off! In fact, a quote from “Servant Leadership” kept floating across my radar screen: “A team cannot succeed if they don’t share the same goal.” Shouldn’t we be praying for the same things as a body? So I just want to share the ideas that I hope were from the Spirit that I just feel I need to share:
- For churches who have multiple services, what if we considered converting one of the services into strictly a prayer service? This would allow anyone in the body of Christ who wants to pray in agreement with the pastor and their staff to join together and pray with a holy boldness to become the House of Prayer He has called us to be. This service should not require “preparation” by the pastor, nor an order of worship, etc. It is just a group of believers who want to achieve unity in the Spirit and let it build. It also allows the pastor and their teams to communicate with the body of Christ what they are actually praying for and let us join them! I picture this as a time for conversational prayer. I think it would also lead us to be much more other-centered in our prayer life. I envision this as a weekly opportunity just like a worship service is a weekly opportunity.
- For churches who have only one service, what if you considered having a Friday evening, or a mid-week meeting that allows the members of your church to come strictly for the purposes of prayer? There may only be two or more at first, but the Lord will honor it and grow it.
- For any of us who are leading any ministry, what if we made prayer time as the entree instead of a side dish? For example, I have a teaching ministry and most people come to my study expecting the bulk of the time to be a bible study. But what if it was a devotional with the bulk of the time being spent in prayer? Or what if I offered another time for the sole purpose of praying in addition to the bible study? I totally believe that supernatural results start to happen when His people pray!!
- I think it would be most interesting if we would journal what we are praying for as a church body and record when and how He answers the prayer and then PRAISE Him for the result! What a powerful testimony we would have to share with others.
- I think it would be powerful to pray for God-sized requests that absolutely, positively cannot be achieved in our strength or abilities. Let’s come together in agreement before the Lord with bold, specific requests. Remember, nothing is impossible for God! (Matt 17:20)
What would be some goals we could be praying about as a body of believers? These are just ideas:
- Perhaps we seek that His kingdom would come and that His will would be done on earth as it is in Heaven. (Jesus taught his disciples to pray this specifically.)
- Perhaps we should pray for obedience to the Great Commission. Jesus gave us a mandate, not a suggestion.
- Perhaps we should pray for obedience in the area of giving. It is saddening to read the statistics among conservative evangelicals who aren’t even close to tithing 10% of their income.
- Perhaps we pray for a strong urgency to become the House of Prayer that He called us to be in the first place.
- Perhaps we pray for God to create an intense desire within every member of the church to serve in and through the church so that all spiritual gifts represented in the body of Christ are activated for His purposes.
- Perhaps we pray against all forms of pride and personal agendas in the church such that humility becomes the attribute of our churches.
- Perhaps we pray on the full spiritual armor of God so that we are most effective partners with God in His kingdom.
- Perhaps we come together for the sole purpose of listening to God’s voice and share what thoughts came to mind and test them with the body of believers to see if a theme emerges.
Corporate prayer is heavy on my heart. I have come to a place in my spiritual walk where it has really struck me that there is way more to the Christian walk than my participation at the individual level. God has called us to pray together because united prayer yields increased power and authority in His kingdom. Because God has really grown me in the area of intercessory prayer over the last two years and has shown me how much more is possible through prayer, I have not only felt so much closer to Him, but I am really hungering to see the larger body of Christ come together on bended knee. I just believe that the power of the Holy Spirit resides in all of His believers, and He is waiting to be UNLEASHED if we would just believe that we could move mountains in His name as ONE in the Spirit who will be brought to complete unity with the help of our Triune God through prayer! I want to partner with a church body who is not afraid to come together and make corporate prayer one of the most regular, central things we do. The natural byproduct will be supernatural results that will only cause us to praise His name even more.
As you contemplate this writing, if you find yourself desiring to ask the Lord to help you be an integral part of a prayer ministry with the right heart, then meditate on the following hymn “Breathe on Me, Breath of God” to get yourself in the right frame of mind: http://www.hymntime.com/tch/ttl/ttl-b.htm and click the title of the song. For those of you who resonate with this writing, let’s have the courage to contact our pastors and staff to see if there is an openness to cultivate corporate prayer and offer to help launch such a prayer time. I would love to hear your thoughts. May God’s blessings abound to you in 2011.
Blessings,
Lee Ann
Lee Ann you speak so much truth. I am so glad to know you and to see how God is using you and how he is growing me through you. May these words you write not fall on deaf ears. Lots of practical ideas which would be easy to incorporate and your list of goals is going right into my prayer notebook as a reminder to pray these things.
We have a prayer room at our church that is open at all times and a group meets there on Friday mornings. Once a month our church engages in Corporate prayer in the sanctuary as a part of the regular service led by one of the pastors. Our small group takes prayer requests but that isn’t the same as praying together for unity. I think I’ll begin by praying that we can become a community who prays together.
Thank you for sharing your insights!
Thanks so much, Shari! I love the fact that once a month a pastor is leading Corporate Prayer open to any members. That would be a great baby step in many churches today.
Shari, I feel most blessed that the Lord has allowed our lives to intersect and to form such a sweet friendship. I so look forward to building this with you. You are a dear sister in Christ, and God is going to continue to do great things through you! Thanks for your word of encouragement. This type of writing may fall on deaf ears and not be as “popular”, but “popular” is not the goal! I always ask the Spirit to give me what He wants me to write, and I only write when I feel His inspiration. I am going to fully trust that the Spirit uses this in an impactful way.
Blessings,
Lee Ann
Bill Childers wrote:
I must disagree with Idea #1: from the worship schedule for most multiworship churches this would prevent the congregation from attending a Sunday school lesson which is an absolute must. The most logical solution appears to be what most churches do is Wednesday night with a greater emphasis on prayer. I do not like the idea of a Sunday worship devoted only to prayer. This voids the opportunity to attend a true worship service or Sunday school.
Sorry for being so traditional,
Uncle Bill
Hi, Uncle Bill:
You are free to disagree, and you don’t have to apologize for being “traditional”! A mid-week meeting was in the line up of suggestions.
I think you make a very valid point on perhaps disrupting SS classes, which is certainly a consideration. I still lean to a more radical statement, if you will, that says “Corporate Prayer is so important that we model it here on Sunday morning” because that is when you have the strongest attendance. A true worship service is one in which God is glorified while worshipping him in spirit and truth, and that can happen in an one-hour corporate prayer time.
Thanks so much for your input and thoughts.
Blessings,
Lee Ann
Bill Childers wrote:
The heart of Christian growth is Bible study and prayer. Is prayer more important than Bible study? One observation would indicate the major of Christians get most, if not all, of their Bible study at Sunday school.
Is “disrupting SS classes” going to give them the benefit of attaining their full measure of Christian? This certainly is contradicted by your more radical statement on corporate prayer which I cannot accept. I fear we are two ships headed to the same port by much different directions.
I’ll stick with a good Sunday service of Bible study, a strong worship service with sound Biblical preaching and prayer and a Wednesday or other night of prayer “where two or more are gathered together in His name.”
Thanks,
Uncle Bill
Dear Uncle Bill,
I think you are misinterpreting my message. First, my suggestion clearly stated that if a church only had one service, then to offer corporate prayer at another time, like a Friday evening or mid-week service. Second, I suggested if a church has multiple services, which presumes the elements of bible study, worship time, etc, then yes, a church can afford to dedicate one of the services to prayer!! Nothing in my writing is suggesting to do away with bible study or preaching at services.
What I am suggesting is that churches should have the courage to model that prayer is AS IMPORTANT as bible study and worship through music, etc when we come together corporately. I believe that many churches are not even offering a time when the WHOLE body of Christ can come together and just have prayer time and seek His will for the church! What that means is that the church is way OUT OF BALANCE with regard to the spiritual disciplines we should be practicing, and yet of all the descriptors Christ gave His church, it was to be a “House of Prayer”.
I am glad this topic is grabbing you because I think all believers should be grappling with “What does a House of Prayer” look like? How does the WHOLE body reach unity with a Triune God if we are not ALL coming together in prayer? I am going to keep wrestling with this. I appreciate your thoughts on it.
Blessings,
Lee Ann
Bill Childers wrote:
Yes, I re-read your treatise and apologize for missing the heart of it but strangling what I thought you said. I agree with your ideas and am sorry for criticizing what “I thought you said but didn’t”. What bothers me, as much if not more, is that many churches are not even offering a time for the WHOLE BODY OF CHRIST to have anything roughing resembling a study of the Bible. But, they sure can tell you how to have “Success in Life”- whatever that has to do with the saving power of our Lord and Savior.
Your aunt and I once visited a church and upon inquiring about the time for Sunday school were asked, “what is Sunday School?”
I rest my case.
In His Name,
Uncle Bill
Deanna Taylor wrote:
Lee Ann,
AMEN SISTER!!! I am 100000000% in agreement. We have not because we ask not. I believe that is why too many Christians are shallow and weak and not deep and strong. How do you know someone unless you both talk and both listen. My sheep hear my voice and they know me.
So great to hear from you. Please call when your in town and we can get together for a visit.
In His Mighty Grip,
Deanna Taylor
Thanks so much, Deanna! Amen right back atcha!! We are way too anemic because we won’t spend time on our knees, and this leads to not appropriating the power of the Holy Spirit to do great and mighty things among us. I would love to have coffee with you. I am in town monthly, and weekends are my best opportunity to get together. I have your number in my cell phone!
Blessings,
Lee Ann
Becky Ball wrote:
Hi Lee Ann,
I just wanted to respond to your most recent blog about “Are We a House of Prayer?”. I wanted to share with you my Catholic faith. It appears to be the answer to all the questions you have just explored, but many if not most people do not realize this. Let me explain.
First of all, when a priest is ordained, he is to say “the Mass” every day. That is his ‘vocation’. Everyone one has a vocation in life. St Theresa the Little Flower always said “every Christian’s vocation is to love”. Mother Teresa of Calcutta would repeat this many times to us in her writings.
There are 4 vocations of love (where we learn to love God and our neighbor by serving Him and them) in the Catholic faith:
1) ordination to the priesthood (they say ‘mass’ everyday – the most sacred prayer of the Church which is called ‘liturgy’ and means ‘the work of the Church”)
2) religious brothers and sisters (monks and nuns who spend hours in prayer each day)
3) married men and women (who are to learn to love each other and teach that love by example to their children)
4) chaste single life (who don’t have families so they are free to go where ever and when ever God calls them to do His work).
No matter our chosen vocation, we are to lead lives of prayer and become holy. Our life should be one continuous prayer to God the Father in Unity with the Holy Spirit through Jesus Christ. This is why Catholics begin their prayers, including the mass with ‘the Sign of the Cross’. We repeat the baptismal formula (I baptize you in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.) in order to remind ourselves and others that we belong to Christ, through His blood, that made us ‘children of God’. Every Catholic is encouraged by the Church to pray daily the “Liturgy of the Hours”. All priests and religious take vows to pray this liturgical prayer daily. All married people and singles are encouraged to pray it as well. Monks and cloistered nuns pray 7 hours, diocesan and ordered priests and religious usually pray 5 of the hours and married people like me can pray 2 or 3 of the hours. Every Catholic is encouraged to do this. Just like in any Christian Church, there are those who are Christian in name only and don’t really know, understand or live the faith. Many Catholics don’t pray this prayer.
In addition to the “liturgy of the hours”, we are encouraged to attend mass. We must attend mass on Sundays and Holy Days of Obligation to follow the 3rd Commandment however we are encouraged to attend daily mass as well. In the mass, we pray the “Liturgy of the Word” and “the Liturgy of the Eucharist”. During the “Liturgy of the Word” we hear from the Old Testament, the Psalms and the New Testament, especially the Gospels. In the “Liturgy of the Eucharist” (the word Eucharist means ‘Thanksgiving’ in Greek) we say with the priest, prayers of unity, thanksgiving and praise to God the Father for all He has done for us especially to thank Him for Christ and for our salvation. Then we receive His body and blood as spiritual food for the journey back to Him. You can read these prayers by looking at any missal in any Catholic church or by going on-line to read the Eucharistic Prayers at the Mass. In the Eucharist Prayers, we pray for those living and dead because we are all ‘the Body of Christ” and death can’t separate us from Christ or each other. We also at every mass have “Prayers of the Faithful” which are intentions of the particular parish or diocese. Every month, Pope Benedict XVI publishes his monthly intentions. They are included in all the Faithfull’s prayers as well. The Catholic Church says “the Mass” it’s highest form of liturgical prayer at every monument of every day throughout the entire world 24/7!!! I’m not aware of any other Christian Church that fulfills the mandate to “pray always” as the Catholic Church does. The liturgy is the work of the Church and we are the Church. Again, many Catholic Christians out of ignorance or laziness or selfishness with their time, do not appreciate the Eucharist, the mass and the graces it gives to us.
When I was diagnosed with cancer this December, I was prayed for by many people on church prayer lines. I received a ‘prayer blanket’ where I was prayed for while it was being made, and continue to be prayed for as I am ‘covered in prayer” at night. The blanket was blessed by the priest before I got it.
Now many people would say, “I hate the Catholic Church” because look at her history!!! Look at her abusive priests!!! Jesus said His Church is a church for sinners. We are to become holy but in the mean time we are still sinners. I am not condoning abuse. I never have and I never will. What some priests and bishops have done in the past is wrong and the Church is doing much to remedy the situation. But that is what needs to be done…remedy the situation. We don’t throw out the baby with the bath water. We don’t throw out the sacraments and the Liturgy of the Mass like Catholic protestors did in the 1500’s. We don’t divide His Church into followers of Luther, Menno or Calvin like St. Paul warned the Corinthians not to do. We work to purify the Church like St. Francis, St. Teresa of Avila and many other Catholic saints have done and continue to do. And don’t fool yourselves, there are many sinners in every other Christian church as well. ” If anyone says he is not a sinner; than he is a liar” and that goes for every protestant church goer as well. Abuse is alive and well but we must always work to become holy as God is holy, and one as God is One. It is the “evil one” that sows division so we can’t do the work that God desires we do!!!!
Here is what I do to pray daily besides saying the ‘Liturgy of the Hours’, praying before meals and bedtime, attending daily mass and hearing and reading the scriptures and frequenting the sacraments. Before I answer the phone, the door, write anything or teach or speak, I say a prayer to the Holy Spirit to give me the best words that He wants me to say or write. We are to do everything, just as the Eucharistic mass prayer says…”with Christ, for Christ, in Christ and through Christ” “because without Him I am nothing but with Him I can do all things through Him who gives me strength”. At mass, during the ‘offertory’ I offer myself to be used as He wants to use me. God has asked me to do some very difficult things for Him, some things I didn’t understand when I was asked to do them and I still don’t but I continue to offer myself anyway. Someone has to do those things that others are afraid to do for Him.
I hope this has made you realize what a gift Christ’s Catholic Church is to the world. ( Bishop Ignatius of Antioch first used the term in 107 AD to refer to the Church Christ founded upon His apostles.) Without His Church, there would be no Christians, no forgiveness and no way to become holy. The Muslims sure don’t understand any of this. I know. Besides reading several books written by Muslims who became Christians, I was an M-2 visitor with a Muslim inmate at HCF for 2 years. We talked about our faiths many times. Their understanding of God is completely different than the loving, humble and forgiving God that Christ revealed to us. I’m so glad I’m a Christian and know the truth about God and His love for me!!! And that is why I love Him….because He loved me first!!!!
In Christ,
Becky Ball
Becky,
Thank you so much for your effort in responding to being a House of Prayer! I would affirm that the Catholic Church is very intentional about prayer and makes it an integral part of how they worship.
There are churches out there, both protestant and Catholic, who do make prayer the central thing they do, so I don’t think any one church is the “gift” to the world. You can read the letters to the seven churches in the book of Revelation (chapters 2 and 3) and see that Christ affirmed the strengths of each church, but exposed the weaknesses of each church and what He had “against them”. The ultimate gift to us was Jesus Christ who died on the cross to pay the penalty of our sins so that we could have eternal life with Him.
I hope you are cancer-free at this point. I did not realize you were diagnosed with it until I got your response. I trust you are doing well! Thanks again for engaging with my writing.
Blessings,
Lee Ann