[373 words]
How many times have we heard this expression as a prelude to a collective journey of the brethren into the presence of God? I wonder, is it used so much that we forget its importance?
Here are some instances of corporate prayers found in the New Testament.
In Matthew 26 and its parallel accounts we learn of Jesus apparently leading His disciples in prayer to bless the food (also, 1 Cor. 11:24). This is our authority for the prayer we offer before the Lord’s Supper each Sunday.
On the occasion of Matthias’ selection to take Judas’ place with the disciples in Acts 1, we are told in verse 24, “And they prayed.” There is little doubt that one of the eleven led the prayer but the effect was the same as all praying.
After the apostles, Peter and John, were arrested and released for preaching the gospel, they came to the brethren. In Acts 4:24 it is written, “And when they heard this they lifted their voices to God with one accord…” What a thrilling concept that all the brethren’s voices were heard by God as one! We are told that God’s pleasure and power with this action were displayed when “the place where they had gathered together was shaken” (verse 31).
In Acts 20 after Paul bade farewell to the elders of the church at Ephesus, we are told that “he knelt down and prayed with them all” (verse 36).
In the New Testament we are given instruction about leading prayer. A good example of the general outline for a corporate prayer would be the model Jesus gave in Matthew 6:9-13, “Our Father who is in heaven, hallowed be Your name….” Here we see a prayer of praise, surrender, dependency upon God, mercy toward others and spiritual protection.
We are also told that when a prayer is led it must be discernible (1 Cor. 14:15-19) and should be led by a man when in a mixed-gender assembly (1 Tim. 2:8).
The next time you hear or say, “Let us pray,” try not to consider it as just an introduction of what is happening next but a spiritual call to join hearts and minds in the greatest privilege and power offered to mankind. See it as one person leading a group before the very throne of God.
Floyd Kaiser
Southwest church of Christ
Ada, OK