Praying Together

Recently, during our Wednesday night Bible Study, I preached a series of messages on prayer. This series was in response to some questions about prayer that the men in our church were struggling with. One of the questions involved praying together corporately. As a result of my searching, I realized that there does not seem to be much written about corporate prayer that is practical in nature. I hope this blog will help believers to think more deeply about how to practice corporate prayer and encourage more of it.

The fact that believers should pray together can be demonstrated in many ways, but Paul’s command that men everywhere should pray seems to suggest corporate prayer (1 Tim. 2:8). The apostolic church modeled it (Acts 2:42, 4:23ff). Finally, the Lord’s Prayer uses no singular pronouns in its petitions (Matt. 6:9-13). Thus, corporate prayer is commanded and modeled by both the early church and the Lord’s Prayer.

Praying together of course means more than just being present in the same space. We should pray together with the same purpose. The phrase “in one accord” (Acts 1:14; 2:1, 46; 4:24) points to this truth. “In one accord” means literally with the same passion, with one mind, purpose, or impulse. [1] To pray together in one accord means to share the same purpose. While there may be other minor purposes that believers can unite around, the overarching purpose for which we do everything including prayer and under which all minor purposes are subsumed is God’s glory. Praying together necessitates sharing the same purpose especially the glory of God.

So how do we accomplish this in a practical way? First, we should actively think and listen while others are praying. This can be accomplished by saying, “amen”[2]or “Yes, Lord” either in one’s heart or audibly. JI Packer warns, “When another person is praying aloud, the temptation is to do no more than passively listen, but the proper task is actively to think and pray in our heart along with the leader, making the petitions our own as we hear them spoken. To form and maintain this habit takes effort, but we are not joining in according to the will of God, save as we labor to do this.” [3] Another writer comments, “[A] biblical theology of prayer teach[es] we who sit in the church pew, or folding chair, or stadium seating, or couch…to listen intently to the person leading prayer, while repeating to God, ‘Yes, yes, that person speaks for me and all those around me.’”[4]

Secondly, we can also use the same words, i.e., praying pre-written prayers (the Lord’s Prayer, other scriptural prayers, or hymns). Most Christian seem to be opposed to this thinking that only spontaneous prayers are truly spiritual; however, this cannot be proven either biblically or historically. The Bible nowhere forbids praying form prayers. In fact, Luke’s version of the Lord’s Prayer seems to using the Lord’s Prayer in this manner: “When you pray, say.”[5] In addition, the church has traditionally used the Lord’s Prayer as form prayer. Certainly, there have been abuses with repeating the Lord’s Prayer and other written prayers, but we should not allow the abuse of a healthy practice to discourage from the practice altogether.

Not only can the Lord’s Prayer be used in this manner, but there are other biblical prayers believers should make use of by making the words our own. For example, Psalm 51 can be used as prayer of confession, and Habakkuk 3:2 is an excellent prayer for revival.

The Bible directs believers to practice corporate prayer with the same purpose, the glory of God. I have suggested two ways believers can practically accomplish this by actively participating when others pray and often by using the same words in prayer. Please, visit the links cited in the notes, and feel free to offer any feedback. The above ideas are my initial thoughts on a subject upon which I would like to expand my thinking.

Pastor Jeremy Lee

Twining Baptist Church

[1] BAGD
[2] See 1 Cor. 14:16 where this is not commanded, but it is the practice of the church, which Paul is affirming.
[3] Paker, JI and Carol Nystrom. Praying Finding Our Way through Duty to Delight (IVP 2006) pg. 256 italics mine
[4] Hamilton, James M. Jr. and Jonathan Leeman. A Biblical Theology of Corporate Prayer. available @ http://www.9marks.org/partner/Article_Display_Page/0,,PTID314526%7CCHID598014%7CCIID2386892,00.html
[5] Luke 11:2 NKJV

Other links:

Dunlop, Jamie and Papu Sandhu. Corporate Prayer: God’s Power Creates Unity “Living as a Church”—Class 4 available @ http://www.9marks.org/CC/article/0,,PTID314526%7CCHID598014%7CCIID2414278,00.html

Luther, Martin. Larger Catechism available @ http://www.ccel.org/ccel/luther/large_cat/files/large_catechism17.htm

Reciting the Prayer Jesus taught His disciples and creeds

"And when you pray, do not use vain repetitions as the heathen do. For they think that they will be heard for their many words. Therefore do not be like them. For your Father knows the things you have need of before you ask Him. In this manner, therefore, pray:

Our Father in heaven,
Hallowed be Your name.
Your kingdom come.
Your will be done
On earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our
daily bread.
And forgive us our debts,
As we forgive our debtors.
And do not lead us into temptation,
But deliver us from the evil one.
For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen."
(Matthew 6:7-13 NKJV)

Here it is “do not use vain repetitions”. Well at least don’t be repetitive. This is why we don’t recite the prayer Jesus taught His disciples to pray in our worship services. These words will become commonplace and we have been warned about being repetitious. We will not recite this portion of Scripture. Could it be it sounds too high church?

Sometimes we recite the Psalms, or read the dark black and the lighter words from the back of the hymnal, this is fine. As for Matthew 6:7-13 no way! Christian assemblies who don’t recite Matthew 6:7-13 interestingly don’t usually recite the Creeds either.

I wonder what’s the real objection for not praying the prayer Jesus taught His disciples, or the Creeds? It’s not the prayer nor the creeds; it must be the person reciting. He is in disagreement with the statements below evidently.

The Apostles Creed

I believe in God, the Father Almighty, the Maker of heaven and
earth.

And in Jesus Christ, His only Son, our Lord: Who was conceived by the Holy Ghost, born of the virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, dead, and buried; He descended into hell. [See Calvin] The third day He arose again from the dead; He ascended into heaven, and sitteth on the right hand of God the Father Almighty; from thence he shall come to judge the quick and the dead.

I believe in the Holy Ghost; the holy catholic church; the communion of saints; the forgiveness of sins; the resurrection of the body; and the life everlasting. Amen.

The following is used by permission of David Dee, pastor of Christ our Life Church, Curran, Michigan.This is a part of the constitution of this assembly of believers and is directly quoted from it. Here is the prayer Jesus taught his disciples to pray:

As we go throughout our life as a Christian on Earth in this present World, wanting and needing to know and experience the character and capabilities of God in our moment by moment walk with Him as our Creator, Lord and savior;-remember that Jesus has taught us to pray in such a way so that as we “hallow” our Heavenly Father’s Name, we will always be able to trust and rest in the “fullness” of the true and real “meaning” of all that God is, and all that God does, in our life as His Child!

In this manner, therefore, pray: Our Father in heaven, (Matthew 6:9-13 NKJV) "Jehova-Nissi” The-Lord-Is-My-Banner (Exodus 17:15)

Hallowed be Your name. (God’s character is holy).

Your kindom come. “Jehovah-shammah” The-Lord-is-There (Ezekiel 48:35)

Your will be done On earth as it is in heaven. “Jehovah-shalom” The-Lord-is-Peace (Judges 6:24)

Give us this day our daily bread. “Jehovah-Jireh” The-Lord-Will-Provide (Genesis 22:14)

And forgive us our debts, As we forgive our debtors. “Jehovah-Rapha” The-Lord-Who-Heals (Exodus 15:26)

And do not lead us into temptation, “Jehovah-ra “Ah” The-Lord-Is-My-Shepherd (Psalms 23:1)

But deliver us from the evil one. “Jehovah-Tsidqenuw” The-Lord-Our-Righteousness (Jeremiah 23:6)

For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen. God’s capabilities are kingly, [God is the King of kings, and the Lord of lords]; - and, God’s capabilities are all powerful, and infinitely glorious.

Now folks, really what is the problem? The prayer Jesus taught His disciples to pray is not the problem.

The argument that either is vain or repetitious is unacceptable, remembering: For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart (Heb. 4:12).

"Your word I have hidden in my heart, That I might not sin against You" (Psa. 119:11).

Really, this is about the dumbest statement of a Christian “I have repeated it so often it (the Word) has become commonplace and has lost it’s meaning.” If anyone feels reading Scripture repeatedly looses it’s power and effectiveness check out Hebrews 4:12 and Psalms 119:11.

In public worship, please, find another argument for omitting the prayer Jesus taught His disciples to pray and the lack of reciting the Creeds.

Ken Clouse

Prayer for God’s Kingdom

“Your kingdom come. Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven”
Matthew 6:10

The Lord teaches us in this prayer to pray for several things. In this particular petition, he instructs us to pray that his kingdom comes. The phrase “the kingdom of God” has more than one referent. Many immediately think of the kingdom of God as the time when Christ will literally rule on earth for 1,000 years. To pray for God’s kingdom to come then means to pray that the end of time will come so that Christ will establish his rule on earth. Therefore, all will live obedience to God’s will. As Christians, we all long for this day when all that is wrong will be set right. We long for the day when all people will live in obedience to Christ. Pray that God’s kingdom will come.

However, this is not the only meaning of this phrase in Scripture. “The Kingdom of God” also refers to the realm of salvation or all saved persons. Consequently, Christ is also teaching us to pray that more persons will be saved. The result of their salvation will be that they submit to the Lordship of Christ. As a result, his faithful followers will do God’s will both on earth and heaven.

Spurgeon points out that this petition is prior to the petition for “our daily bread” suggesting that the prayer for God’s kingdom should be our priority. He warns us, “Do not let your prayers only concern your own sins, your own wants, your own imperfections, and your own trials. Climb the starry ladder and come to Christ Himself. Then as you draw near to the blood-sprinkled mercy seat, offer this prayer continually, ‘Lord, extend the Kingdom of Your dear Son’.”[1]

There are many petitions one could include under the umbrella of God’s Kingdom. The Westminster Larger Catechism suggets the following: “pray, that the kingdom of sin and Satan may be destroyed, the gospel propagated throughout the world, … the church [will be] furnished with all gospel-officers and ordinances … that the ordinances of Christ may be purely dispensed, and made effectual to… the confirming, comforting, and building up of those that are already converted: that Christ would rule in our hearts here, and hasten the time of his second coming, and our reigning with him forever…”[2]

We should not be so narrowly focused on God’s future kingdom that we overlook the present aspect of God’s kingdom when we pray. We should pray for the extending of the Kingdom through the preaching of the gospel, the strengthing of churches, and that Christ will rule in believers' hearts. May God grant our petition and cause his will to be done on earth as it is in heaven.

Pastor Jeremy Lee
Twining Baptist Church

[1] Spurgeon, Charles. Evening by Evening. (Whittaker House. 1984). Pg.95
[2] Westminster Larger Catechism available at http://www.reformed.org/documents/index.html