Bible Digging

A monthly Bible study feature

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August 2, 2008

The Prayer Meeting

They continued stedfastly... in prayers. Peter and John went up together to the temple at the hour of prayer. They raised their voice to God with one accord. — Acts 2:42; 3:1; 4:24

The practice of the early Christians was to persevere in the apostles' doctrine, fellowship, the breaking of bread, and prayer. They knew that, where two or three are gathered together unto the name of the Lord, He promised His presence, so they prayed.

Sadly, this is not often the case today. Sunday meetings are well attended, but prayer meetings are often poorly attended!

We live in a time quite different from the early Church, but does that mean God does not want to do great things for us? I believe He does. In Acts 4, after two disciples had been arrested, threatened, and then released, they went to their fellow believers and prayed:

"Lord, look on their threats, and grant to Your servants that with all boldness they may speak Your word, by stretching out Your hand to heal, and that signs and wonders may be done through the name of Your holy servant Jesus." -Acts 4:29-30 It was their desire that God would work in a mighty way, obvious to all, and thus bring glory to His name.

Oh, that with meeting halls filled we would pray with sincerity, laboring earnestly and unitedly in prayer, wholeheartedly imploring God together. Then, as the Lord answers, how encouraged we would be! We would speak about the things we had seen and heard, thus glorifying God even further. It would give us impetus to pray more.

What a wonderful testimony this would be to the unsaved of the power of God---something different, something special, something attractive. Is this lacking in your place of fellowship? Is this lacking in your life? Then why not start now?

— Albert Blok