DCLM HIGHER EVERYDAY 24 March 2022 — Power of corporate prayers
DCLM Higher Everyday 24 March 2022 Devotional by Pastor W. F. Kumuyi — Power of corporate prayers
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TOPIC: POWER OF CORPORATE PRAYERS
TEXT: ACTS 12:5-11
5 Peter therefore was kept in prison: but prayer was made without ceasing of the church unto God for him.
6 And when Herod would have brought him forth, the same night Peter was sleeping between two soldiers, bound with two chains: and the keepers before the door kept the prison.
7 And, behold, the angel of the Lord came upon him, and a light shined in the prison: and he smote Peter on the side, and raised him up, saying, Arise up quickly. And his chains fell off from his hands.
8 And the angel said unto him, Gird thyself, and bind on thy sandals. And so he did. And he saith unto him, Cast thy garment about thee, and follow me.
10 When they were past the first and the second ward, they came unto the iron gate that leadeth unto the city; which opened to them of his own accord: and they went out, and passed on through one street; and forthwith the angel departed from him.
11 And when Peter was come to himself, he said, Now I know of a surety, that the Lord hath sent his angel, and hath delivered me out of the hand of Herod, and from all the expectation of the people of the Jews.
MEMORY VERSE: “Peter therefore was kept in prison: but prayer was made without ceasing of the church unto God for him” (ACTS 12:5).
MESSAGE
The Bible states that, “The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.” It follows then that the effectual fervent prayers of two or more righteous people will avail even much more. When two or three individuals gather and pray in the name of Christ, it is called corporate prayers.
Both the Old and New Testaments recommend and require that a whole congregation should pray to God on specific subjects. It is a great thing for God’s people to gather together to pray as their prayers will accomplish much.
Following the corporate prayers of Esther, her maidens and the Jews, disaster was averted, and the hunter became the hunted (Esther 4:16). When the king of Nineveh proclaimed a national day of fasting and prayers, there was national revival and reversal of divine judgment (Jonah 3:1-10).
When Daniel mobilized his brethren to join him in prayers, the secret of the Lord was made known to him (Daniel 2:17, 18). In our text today, the effectual, fervent prayer of the Church delivered a minister from death in the hands of King Herod.
QUOTE: A whole congregation should pray.
CHALLENGE: Congregational prayers will accomplish much.
PRAYER: Lord, help me to be a partaker of fervent prayers.
1. Admit that you are a sinner. "For all [humans] have sinned, and comes short of the glory of God....[and] the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord" (Romans 3:23)
2. Repent now. "Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out ...[for] if we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness " (Acts 3:19, 1 John 1:9)
3. Believe that God loves you and Jesus died for you. "God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet Sinners, Christ died for us" (Romans 5:8)
4. Invite Jesus into your life through prayer of faith. Jesus says, "Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me" (Revelation 3:20)
