This
foursome of qualities is described like this: "And they devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and the
fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers."[2]
In our case, I am emphasizing the Spirit’s work of making churches “devoted to the prayers”, or “devoted to prayer”.
When
Luke wrote about the early church being devoted to prayer, he was talking about
a church made up of the eleven apostles,[3]
just over a hundred disciples who had come out of Jesus' ministry,[4] and
three thousand-plus brand new converts.[5]
Although these converts were religious Jews, those who were worshipers of God
in the Jewish religion, they were still brand new in the faith in Jesus Christ.
Paul
affirms this quality of devotion to prayer later on in the life of the church
when he wrote, “Continue
steadfastly in prayer, being watchful in it with thanksgiving.”[6] He also kept the church pointed in the right direction
regarding where devotion to prayer comes from. It came from the filling of the
Spirit in the first place, and it is maintained by being “filled with the Spirit”,[7] as
an expression of living worthy of the calling we have received in Jesus Christ.[8]
My
pastoral-point is that being "devoted" to prayer is not a sign of maturity,
but a sign of life in the Spirit. Immature believers who are devoted to prayer
simply pray immature prayers (which are a delight to the Lord the way we
delight to hear the voices of the little children talking to us about things
they think, and feel, and wonder). Mature believers who are devoted to prayer
pray mature prayers. Devotion to prayer should be like a family gathering, with
everyone in the family free to contribute to the conversation with the Father,
through the name of the Son, in fellowship with the Holy Spirit.
While
devotion to prayer is primarily a corporate experience, we must encourage
devotion to prayer among all believers, including those who are unable to
attend prayer gatherings because of health-related issues. We must let shut-ins
know that their place in prayer at home is just as important as the place
of those who are able to come together. We can share prayer-needs with them so
that when God answers prayers, everyone knows he was hearing us as his body,
not just hearing certain members of the body.
At
the same time, we must encourage all those who are able to gather for prayer
that each person’s place in our "coming together" is just as
important as everyone else's place. We can all be devoted to prayer together
even when we cannot all be together for prayer. And, we can all contribute to
prayer from whatever maturity-levels, or life-experiences we are in at the
time. The Spirit-filled church is devoted to prayer, simple as that.
When
I see how many things are going on in, around, and among God’s people, and how
many things God is speaking about through his word, I want to make sure that no
one misses out on our dependence on God in prayer, and that no church group
misses out on the blessing of all those who could be there in prayer.
The
bottom line is that, devotion to prayer is of the greatest importance. And,
if any of us don't feel the least bit devoted to prayer... then join
with your church family and make that the first thing you pray about!
From
my heart,
Monte
© 2014 Monte Vigh ~
Box 517, Merritt, BC, V1K 1B8 ~ in2freedom@gmail.com
Unless otherwise
noted, Scriptures are from the English Standard Version (The Holy Bible,
English Standard Version Copyright © 2001 by Crossway
Bibles, a division of Good News Publishers.)
[1] Acts 2 describes the
church’s first experience with the filling of the Holy Spirit.
[2] Acts 2:42
[3] We can read of Judas’s
demise in Acts 1:15-19 and Matthew 27:3-10.
[4] “In
those days Peter stood up among the brothers (the company of persons was in all
about 120)” (Acts
1:15)
[5] “So
those who received his word were baptized, and there were added that day about
three thousand souls.” (Acts 2:41)
[6] Colossians 4:2
[7] Ephesians 5:18
[8] Ephesians 4:1
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