For use in corporate or private prayer, and/or family devotions………
Our Scripture passage will be Acts 1:12-26:
Dear brothers and sisters,
Let us take notice of how important Corporate Prayer was to the early church. This passage takes place just after the ascension of Jesus Christ, after He had given these early disciples instructions on the Great Commission. Faced with the task of spreading the gospel to the nations, planting churches, and replacing Judas with a qualified Apostle, these men and women came together to pour out their heart to God in prayer.
The way the early church prayed in this passage is an example we ought to follow. They believed that great things happen when God’s people pray! The Great Commission has not ended, and will not end until the Lord returns. And if we are to reach the nations, starting with our own areas which God has placed us in, we need to bathe it all in much prayer. Remember, the sovereignty of God has determined where you live, and this is where He desires you to spread the gospel. And it would be arrogant of us to think we can do it in our own strength. Prayer is vital!
And notice…..they did it in agreement with one another. They were united in their motivation and desire, which was dependence on the Holy Spirit, love for Christ, and trust in God to do His work in and through them. Which ultimately leads to greater communion with God! And they were also united in their purpose, which was to gloryify God in the spread of the gospel. Having this mindset when it comes to our relationship with God will drive us to more more fervent praying for the lost. That mindset is being humble to the fact that we can do nothing without the enabling power of God.
So let us all, together with one accord, pray for the Holy Spirit to go mightily before us as we live as witnesses to the great Name of Jesus Christ.
God bless, Jamie
Acts 1:12-26
12 Then they returned to Jerusalem from the mount called Olivet, which is near Jerusalem, a Sabbath day’s journey away. 13 And when they had entered, they went up to the upper room, where they were staying, Peter and John and James and Andrew, Philip and Thomas, Bartholomew and Matthew, James the son of Alphaeus and Simon the Zealot and Judas the son of James. 14 All these with one accord were devoting themselves to prayer, together with the women and Mary the mother of Jesus, and his brothers.
15 In those days Peter stood up among the brothers (the company of persons was in all about 120) and said, 16 “Brothers, the Scripture had to be fulfilled, which the Holy Spirit spoke beforehand by the mouth of David concerning Judas, who became a guide to those who arrested Jesus. 17 For he was numbered among us and was allotted his share in this ministry.” 18 (Now this man acquired a field with the reward of his wickedness, and falling headlong he burst open in the middle and all his bowels gushed out. 19 And it became known to all the inhabitants of Jerusalem, so that the field was called in their own language Akeldama, that is, Field of Blood.) 20 “For it is written in the Book of Psalms, ‘May his camp become desolate, and let there be no one to dwell in it‘, and ‘Let another take his office.’“
21 So one of the men who have accompanied us during all the time that the Lord Jesus went in and out among us, 22 beginning from the baptism of John until the day when he was taken up from us—one of these men must become with us a witness to his resurrection.” 23 And they put forward two, Joseph called Barsabbas, who was also called Justus, and Matthias. 24 And they prayed and said, “You, Lord, who know the hearts of all, show which one of these two you have chosen 25 to take the place in this ministry and apostleship from which Judas turned aside to go to his own place.” 26 And they cast lots for them, and the lot fell on Matthias, and he was numbered with the eleven apostles.
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Christ Our Precious Pearl 