Sermons

Corporate Prayer
Acts 1-5

Last Sunday morning, while I was putting in my contact lenses, the thought came into my mind that today we should have a Corporate Prayer Sunday – a Sunday which we devote to praying together for God to work powerfully in 2010.

At first this got me all excited, but then I had my doubts.  I started thinking that people are here for a sermon; people are not here to get into small groups and pray together.  But the more I thought and prayed about it, the more convinced I was that this was what Jesus wanted us to do.

And one reason is because all through the book of Acts we see a pattern of corporate prayer, followed by a significant outpouring of God’s Spirit.  Let’s take a look at this so you can see it.  Turn to Acts 1:14.  If you need a Bible, go ahead and raise your hand and we’ll bring one to you.  Acts 1 is on page 907 in the Bibles we are passing out.

In Acts 1:14 we see corporate prayer:

All these with one accord were devoting themselves to prayer, together with the women and Mary the mother of Jesus, and his brothers.

And as a result, God poured His Spirit upon all of them, Peter stood up to preach, and look at the result in ch.2 v.41 --

So those who received his word were baptized, and there were added that day about three thousand souls.

In Acts 2:42 we see corporate prayer, along with other practices:

And they devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers.

And what happened?  In ch.3 Peter healed a lame man, preached to a crowd of people, and we see the result in chapter 4:4 –

But many of those who had heard the word believed, and the number of the men came to about five thousand.

At the end of ch.4 we see corporate prayer.  Look at what they prayed in vv.29-30 --

29 And now, Lord, look upon their threats and grant to your servants to continue to speak your word with all boldness, ³⁰ while you stretch out your hand to heal, and signs and wonders are performed through the name of your holy servant Jesus.”

And what happened?  Look at 5:14 --

And more than ever believers were added to the Lord, multitudes of both men and women…

Do you see the pattern?  When God’s people pray together – God pours out His Spirit – the church is strengthened – and people are saved.  That’s what happened in Acts, and I am confident that if we will pray together – God will do the same here in San Jose. 

This morning I’d like us to focus our prayers on the three rhythms we’ve been talking about.  Starting with faith in Jesus – where we each are trusting Jesus to fulfill His promises to forgive us, change us, love us, guide us, and satisfy us.

Then as we do that, faith will flow out in Christ-centered community in our homes and home groups.  So husbands and wives are loving each other and praying together and building each other in faith.  And in our home groups every day we’re connecting with each other to build each other up in the faith. 

And as we do that – our faith in Jesus will grow even stronger – and we’ll feel the tragedy of those who don’t have the joy of knowing Jesus now and who face punishment forever.  So every day we take some step to advance Jesus’ mission – helping someone come to faith in Jesus.

And we are praying that the result of that is that our home groups will grow stronger in faith in Jesus and love for each other – and as a result each of our home groups will see people come to faith in Jesus and be drawn into the community of the home group – and as a result we’ll see new leaders raised up and new home groups planted throughout the south bay – and prayerfully see new churches planted.  I’m praying that each of our home groups can send out new home groups, and that in 2010 or maybe 2011 we’ll be able to plant our first daughter church.

But this will only happen if God pours out His Spirit.  But God promises to pour out His Spirit in response to prayer – especially corporate prayer.  So let’s do that now. 

Go ahead and stand up and rearrange your chairs into circles of 6 to 10 people.  Those of you whom I’ve asked to lead – go ahead and help that happen. 

All set?  OK – we’re going to break this up into three topics.  First, we’re going to pray for God to strengthen our faith in Jesus; then we’re going to pray for God to strengthen Christ-centered community in our homes and home groups; then we’re going to pray for God to advance His mission through us in our neighborhoods and city. 

So first we’ll start with Faith.  I’ll take the lead and open up this topic.  Then we’ll pray for that topic in our groups.  Many of you lead out.  And maybe instead of praying one long prayer, pray many short prayers – so others have a chance to pray as well. 

Then we’ll move to Christ-centered Community.  I asked Jan to lead out on that topic.  Then we’ll pray for that in our groups.

And then we’ll move to praying for the Mission.  I asked .... to lead out on that topic.