The Blessings of Praying with Others

Encouraging prayer, God offers open imitation for his people to talk with him anytime about anything encouraging prayer Dr. James Banks, author of the best-selling and many other books on prayer provides weekly biblical insight help you learn to love and valve.

They out encouraging or working blessings, praying with others.

James I'm really glad were talking on the subject today because frankly it's not something you hear every day you write and it really is important, as you may know, I did my doctoral working. United prayer and its role in revival and were in one of those periods were praying together has fallen out of practice in many churches and homes and I really believe that we seen a decline in the influence of Christianity in our culture. Because of that, and if we really learn to pray together.

I think we'll see that change what you think that is the decline I really believe it's because we were trying to do things in our own strength instead of gods you go to many churches today solid churches, well-meaning once you find all kinds of programs, many of them doing a lot good. But if you were to call a prayer meeting. Very few people would show and I like what Jim similar said about this he said prayer is the source of the Christian life.

Otherwise, it's like having the baby in your arms and not dressing her or she is like having a baby in your arms and brushing her up so cute but but she's not breathing.

Nevermind the fairly close stable-child's vitals. So today I want to talk about the blessings that occur when we do pray together whether the church or at home or to put it another way, what we often miss out on when we don't break so I know that churches serve peace church. Durham really has a heart for this is the first and on more than one occasion. So let's talk about that from what it really does and that's all God's work you know many of the people there love to pray together but it's always a work in progress with us to you know we have a lot of room to grow, but we did do it because there's a sense of Jesus presents when we come together and pray that that is really special and so is that some clue to what you would say is the first blessing and praying together EL the first and best, I would say is you know what Jesus promised in Matthew 1820 when he said that where it were two or more are gathered, he's there with them so so really it's Jesus you know he's the first best blessing of praying together.some say that this promise is made in the context of church discipline. In Matthew 1820. Yeah and and it is but we would be mistaken to think it's limited to that in the immediate context. If you look at verse 19 is in the concept of asking God. In other words, praying together but but if you're you were to say, will Jesus only means he'll be there when you're disciplining someone, then I think you're off the mark. Jesus is talking about a much larger principal here and you see it throughout Scripture, especially in the book of acts, so, so, what are some of the other benefits of praying with others.

First, when it comes to mind is his closeness with each other and it's tied together with Jesus presents. Just think of it this way with when you know Jesus is in the room you're going to have to deal with your best pretty quickly if you're harboring something against someone in the room you'll find that you're immediately convicted of that if if you're really praying and and really being honest with them and will immediately begin to work healing and and replace some of those hard feelings would love and you've really seen this at work absolutely. You know I mentioned Jim similar the Brooklyn Tabernacle. It is a great example of this week we take field trips where folks up there to the Tuesday night prayer meetings every so often and the amazing thing is you find this church in the middle Brooklyn filled with very different people. Multiple races multiple backgrounds and incomes and all of that and they get along there. There is a lot of love there. And it's because of this culture of prayer and in the awareness of Jesus presents the focus on him that this happened and there there obviously seeing the benefits. What what are some more than James. When we pray with others builds our faith and it encourages us so you course when I'm assuming when I I say that is is that there's a healthy practice of pray together but you know when you praying with someone and they hear what you're saying and you know they see the faith that God is given you at work. It's a beautiful thing and is sorta like. That's why they called the shield of faith, so when you raise it together in prayer were people can see it you know it helps them be protected by your shield just as well so you know what what what you mentioned that healthy practice.

What what might be the unhealthy practice. Okay, what, when one person monopolizes the time only pray when someone preaches to others instead of talking to God when you're praying you know we preachers are notorious for that we have to unlearn some some bad habits out some water healthy habits you'd suggest replacing mouse always start by praising God and keep it short and and keep it simple believe it was Philip Yancey Jesus teaching on prayer could be summarized in three simple ways. Keep it brief. Keep it simple and keep it up, and I really like that. Why is it that we don't pray together really when we all know it's beneficial because it it isn't easy for us to stop everything and set ourselves aside, you were so busy doing things in our own strength so used to that I think of something GK Chesterton. The Christian faith hasn't been tried and found wanting. It's been found difficult and left untried coming right it is hard at first just in the sense that we have to discipline ourselves to do it because let's face it, we naturally want to do other things right and that's why wanted us to talk about this today because if we sincerely make an effort to do it and give it some time. We won't go back, but what we really want to see is what only God can do.

You know, we can just get people to the throne of grace. That's where the real change happens.

That's where God's Spirit moves in power because remember, Jesus prayed for our unity and he promised that when we pray together will see him do things we could never make So you'd say just to start now. Make the effort. That's right. And on that note, would you close without Jesus, thank you for this wonderful concept of of uniting, as I know you would have us in love with one another in love for you and Lord I pray that you would wet her when her appetite and that you would give us opportunities to join our faith with others and reach out to you and that we would be able to light brighter light coming in to get to know you. In Jesus name I pray, amen and hear more from Pastor James by visiting the website James Banks.org or by visiting these church in Durham, North Carolina. May God bless you and encourage you to pray