POWER OF UNITED PRAYER


2 Cro. 20:1-23; Act. 12:1-17; 16:25, 26


MEMORY VERSE:”And when they had prayed, the place was shaken where assembled together; and they where all filled with the Holy Ghost, and they spake the word of word of God with boldness” (Act. 4:31)
CENTRAL TRUTH: United, vocal corporate prayers offer us the opportunity of unlocking the store house of God’s infinite grace, power, and blessings upon individuals, families, nation and the church.

INTRODUCTION
God has placed at the disposal of the church awesome power and authority that can be made manifest through corporate praying. A praying church is a powerful church, a growing church and a sign-flowing church. And for our church experience a mighty move of the Holy Spirit, resulting in miracles (salvation, healing and deliverance, spiritual gifts) and other blessings, we should give more time to united, vocal prayers. Every member should see such moments as seasons of blessing, when they must do business with heaven.
1.     THE AWESOME POWER OF CORPERATE PRAYEERS: Acts. 4:23-31

       Corporate prayer with it astonishing power of unity:

·         POWER TO RESIST AND ROOT OUT SATANIC HOST (1 Pet. 5:8,9). Satan is a defeated foe. Whose work were destroyed (1 Jn. 5:8). Through corporate payers, the Holy Spirit empowers us to break his hold on individuals, families, community and God’s work.
·         POWER TO TRANSCEND THE LAWS OF NATURE (Jos. 10:12,13): corporate prayer is God’s own way of bringing His miracle power to bear on human needs, when we pray for difficult problem situations, God overrides His usual way of working (the natural law) by special expression of His will to give us miracles.
·         POWER TO OBTAIN ANGELIC ASSISTANCE (Heb. 1:14): services of angels are often invisible but brought to bear on our physical situation. On request, God can detail His angel to protest us from danger (Gen, 32:1; 2 Kings 6:17): bring messages tom us (1 kings 2:9 -13; Acts 10 :17); renew physical strength (Luke 22:43).
·         POWER TO MOVE MOUNTAINS (Matt. 17:20; 21:21,23): Basically, mountains typify strength and stability: at other times, they symbolize difficulties, problems and hindrances. Corporate prayers has potentials to remove mountains hindering us and change mountains into high ways to blessings (Zech. 4:6,7; Isa. 49:11; 40:3-5).
·         POWER TO BLESS: when we can mediate blessings – healings, deliverance, salvation through united prayers, we can go through life blessing others through intercessory prayers for them (Gal. 6:10). Prayer is God’s gift of power to bless others.
·         AMAZING AUTHORITY (Jn. 14:12-14; 16:23,24): Using the name of Jesus expresses His sovereign authority, victory won at Calvary and suggests the availability of angelic host, who incidentally are subject to Him.


2.      POSSIBILITIES OF UNITED PRAYERS: Ps. 2:3; Matt. 16:19
       There are so many areas of our lives, nation and church ministry that need a touch of God’s power through corporate prayer.
                             i.            GROWTH OF CHRIST’S CHURCH (Matt. 16:18)
v  Leadership: increased, anointing, vision, divine guidance, protection, good health and provision etc.
v  Laity: spiritual, physical and material growth.
v  Special groups: children, youths, women, choir, etc.
v  Open doors and breakthroughs in Church ministry, divine connections etc.
                              ii.            REVIVAL FOR CHRIST’S CHURCH ( Ps. 85:6, Hab. 3:1,2)
v   Hunger for purity of heart and holiness of life; increased, fervent prayer/supplication; brighter vision for heaven, zeal for evangelism and fruitful soul winning; more laborers for the harvest, etc.
                            iii.            CHURCH PROGRAMMES AND PROJECTS: ( Acts 13:1-3)
We need regularly and perseveringly take every church programme and project to the throne of  grace: weekly meeting, crusaded, camp meeting, church building, etc.
                            iv.            HARVEST OF SOUL (Jn. 4:35; 1 Tim. 2:104; 2 Pet. 2:9).
 Release of sinners from satanic bondage; breaking of power and dominion of sin in the unsaved; Holy Spirit conviction and revelation of God’s boundless love to the unsaved; soul salvation and assurance, etc.
                              v.             DEVINE INTERVENTION IN THE AFFAIRS OF THE CHURCH MEMBERS
Marriage and family problems/needs; stubborn sicknesses and infirmities; materials needs; open door progress, success and prosperity in life and business.
                            vi.            RESTRAINT AND DEFEAT OF SATAN (1Jn. 5:8,9; James 4:70). Frustration of all the tokens, manipulations, conspiracies of Satan and his agents , against the church and its members, cancellation of all the activities of satanic agents, etc.
                          vii.            NATION: Economy, Politics, Leaders, Security, etc.

3.      BLESSINGS OF CORPORATE PRAYERS:
       We have the authority of the name of Jesus and the power of indwelling Spirit tom pray effectively and affect necessary changes in the affairs of man and the church to the glory of God.
Ø  God’s mercy (Exo. 32:9-14). Evil is evaded
Ø  Salvation of sinners (Rom. 9:1-3; 10:1)
Ø  Edification of the body of Christ.
Ø  Revival and Renewal
Ø  Healing/Deliverance (James 5:14-16; 1 Sam. 7:5-12; 42:8-10)
QUESTION FOR DISCUSSION
1.      What do you understand by corporate prayer?
2.      Explain the church’s power in prayer
3.      How can united prayer affect: (a) The Church (b) Individual (c) Nation?
4.      What are the blessings of corporate prayer?
My name is Ubong Kingsley Nsini. I am a preacher in Bible Christian Evangelical Church Inc. I am called by God to preach His good news and to help other preachers spread the good news all over the world.

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