United Prayer Works

It all started in a small upper room,

with humble, fervent prayer

threatened by the authorities

and banned from preaching,

the church prayed that the two men witnessed

with power and grace.

And people prayed everywhere in one accord

in repentance with confession and humility.

And the lives of people were changed.

Two men started out on a missionary journey

that would turn the world as they knew it upside down.

And the message went out to the world beyond.

Corporate prayer helped a prisoner escape.

A king requested that his people fast and pray

and the enemy was defeated.

A battle won without the need to fight.

Through a faithful servant
and a young queen's faith and courage,

a people were saved.

Stories in the Bible showing
the power of united prayer.

As I read the book of Acts,

it's really a book about believers
coming together to pray,

and a prayer-answering God.

Personal prayer is important.

Secret prayer is the life of the soul.

But we know that there has never been
a revival anywhere on this planet

that wasn't preceded by united and
continuous prayer.

Our Lord on one occasion says where
two or more of you agree

on touching anything that is according
to My will, it will be done.

So there is a synergy that happens

when we hook up together and unite
our voices in crying out to God.

As the spirit of prophecy tells us,

prayer is the key that unlocks the storehouse
of heaven's treasury and blessings.

Some of Ellen White's counsel and statements
on united prayer are powerful as well.

She says in one place that when she was
writing to the Farnsworths, I believe it was,

she says there's more power in united prayer

than even in private prayer.

Then she says, why is that?

It's because the unity of heart of the believers.

It's like God gets really excited

when we're really of one accord

when we unite together just like they did in Acts.

Another statement she says,

at the sound of fervent prayer,
Satan's whole host trembles.

Jesus knows that the habit of praying
with others

helps to rid our lives of the
self-centeredness of our prayers

when we pray by ourselves.

So when the Bible talks about
continue earnestly in prayer,

that's not just an individual activity.

It's a call to the church as a community
to call out to God.

Not to change God's mind,

but that we come into alignment with God's will

and actually I think he uses us as part
of the answers to those prayers.

As you look at the book of Acts,

united prayer brought God's people together.

In Acts chapter 1 and verse 14 and 15,

the entire church met together and prayed.

They knew that the task before them
was too great.

They knew the challenge was too immense.

They knew there was no way they could
carry the gospel to the world.

But yet as they prayed,
God did something miraculous.

He poured out His Holy Spirit on the
day of Pentacost

and three thousand were baptized.

You know when you read the text there,

one of the things that jumps out at me is
the simple English phrase -

they were in one accord.

Pentacost was just an extraordinary event.

It came after the culmination of Christ's
ministry on this earth.

And it looked as though everything was
completely dashed and destroyed.

When Christ was hanging on that cross

and then of course the resurrection took place.

And He appeared to His disciples

which gave them a completely
different perspective

on what their ministry was all about.

Our blessed Lord told his disciples
to tarry in Jerusalem united in prayer.

And that was one of the prerequisites

for bringing that rushing mighty wind

and the presence of the Holy Spirit
on the day of Pentacost.

It was the time of Passover

and we were in an upper room
in Jerusalem.

We were all praying in one accord.

We were praying for repentance
and humility,

and we were confessing our sins.

We were also seeking the Lord's vision,
power and the Holy Spirit.

There was an incredible feeling of oneness

as we prayed earnestly together.

Suddenly there was the sound of a
violent wind

that filled the whole room where
we were sitting.

Then tongues of fire came down

and this fire rested on people.

All the people in the room
were filled with the Holy Spirit.

Now remember that at the time
of the Passover,

people came from many countries to worship.

Now suddenly they could hear the gospel

each in their own language.

As a result of this, three thousand people

were added to the believers in one day.

The people devoted themselves
to the apostles' teaching and the fellowship.

To the breaking of bread and of prayer.

Every day they would meet together
in the temple courts.

In their homes, they broke bread
and ate together.

And the number of those being saved
grew daily.

And we believe something like this

is going to happen in the last days as well.

But I think only as a church and
as a people

we get together in one accord

and in fervent prayer, will we -

till we do that, we won't see that happen.

And really what happened at Pentacost

is going to be again duplicated
by the Lord

in an even greater fashion

as the three angels' messages go forward

as the fourth angel of Revelation 18
has proclaimed

and as the final loud cry is heralded
all over the world.

And it's going to be people who have
submitted to the Lord,

confessed their sins,

and then the Holy Spirit can fall

and can use us in a mighty way.

Well I think in the book of Acts, Acts chapter 6

it seemed like a good problem.

The church was growing exponentially.

But in the midst of that, there's this food distribution challenge.

The church was undergoing
practical challenges.

The Hellenistic Jews were complaining
against the Hebraic Jews

because the former's widows were
being overlooked

in the daily distribution of food.

The apostles decided that they needed

to focus on the ministry of prayer
and the word.

And so they requested for seven deacons

to be chosen for these other
practical tasks.

The apostles asked us as a group

to chose seven men who were known

to be full of the Spirit and have wisdom.

This proposal from the apostles

pleased our whole group.

So we went about selecting the seven men.

Once the men were selected,

they were presented to the apostles.

The apostles laid their hands on them
and prayed for them.

With prayer as a priority,
the church would never fail.

After this, the number of disciples
increased rapidly.

And a large number of priests
became obedient to the work.

So I think we find a case study there

that says when we face challenges,

let's use wisdom, let's use our training

but let's also recognize that we have

a prayer-answering God who will
give us wisdom.

I've seen this over and over and over.

Churches with big problems

have solved them when they come
together to pray.

Peter and John were called in

by the chief priests and elders about
their preaching.

They tried to defend their actions,

but the leaders were very hard on them.

They were commanded not to speak

or teach in the name of Jesus.

After further threats, they let them go.

Peter and John went back to their own people

and reported all that the chief priests and
elders had said.

When we heard all this we immediately
raised our voices in prayer to God.

The entire group prayed for Peter and John.

We prayed for God to give boldness
to these two humble servants.

Such intense prayer I had not experienced
for a long time.

After we had prayed, suddenly the whole
place was shaken.

People were filled with the Holy Spirit

and Peter and John went out

and gave witness with great power and grace.

They witnessed throughout the land

about the resurrection of their Saviour.

So I think Peter and John
drew great strength

both from knowing they were praying

but also from the power that's unleashed

when people pray for us.

There's a peace.

There's a power from God

that comes into us when that prayer
is being answered by many believers.

Then Esther sent this reply to Mordecai.

Go and gather all the Jews
who are in Susa together

and pray and fast for me.

Do not eat or drink anything for three days
and nights.

I and my maidens will fast as you do.

After that, I will go to the king

even though it is against the law.

And if I perish, I perish.

(music)

We look back at Esther now

and we think what a gutsy girl.

You know, what a woman of faith.

But she was probably just as terrified

as any of us might have been.

It was a very desperate situation.

You the old saying, there's no such thing

as atheists in foxholes.

And I think this was a case where they knew

without divine intervention,

without divine intervention,
all was going to be lost.

But she was wise enough
to say to her uncle, Mordecai

I will fast and pray.

And I will have my people
here in the palace fast and pray.

But I want all of God's people
to fast and pray.

I think we miss out a lot

on the unleashing of God's power

in this world by not fasting.

And it doesn't have to mean you
have to go totally without food

but some form - giving up something

we really love every day

and uniting that together with prayer

and praying with others, it does something,

moves in this great controversy.

It's very easy at times to forget

just how dependant we are upon God.

And as Dwight Nelson likes to remind us

pray desperate prayers.

And Esther was desperate.

Pray urgent prayers.

And pray prayers of expectancy.

And think her prayers encompassed all three.

If you look at the book of Acts,

prayer was very united.

Take, for example, Peter and Cornelius.

Cornelius, a Jew - a Gentile. Peter, a Jew.

And Jews and Gentiles would not possibly
come together

in any intimate talking

or visiting in one another's homes

or eating together.

This was the Holy Spirit breaking
down some walls.

A Gentile of the Italian band, Cornelius,
was praying.

It was no accident. He was praying.

Peter on the rooftop, praying.

And he prayed so long that he fell asleep.

Peter has this dream of the sheet
coming down

with all these various animals in it.

And God says, Peter, rise and eat.

And Peter says, I've never eaten snakes

and crocodiles and rodents.

The vision of course was not about

clean or unclean foods.

The vision was about respect
for other cultures.

Respect for other people.

And God sent visions, epiphanies, to
both of them

that broke down the walls

that divided them.

And Peter declared, God has shown me

that He is no respecter of persons.

As both of them prayed, Jew and Gentile,

their prayers ascended to heaven

and met at the throne of God.

(music)

It was around noon when Peter went
up to the roof to pray.

It was here that Peter had a vision

about a large sheet containing a mix
of unclean animals

representing God's affirmation

of the diversity of peoples

in the growing church.

We had heard that Peter was staying

at the house of Simon the tanner,

and were instructed by Cornelius,
the centurion, to go out and find him.

While Peter was still thinking
about the vision,

the Holy Spirit told him to go downstairs

because three men were looking for him.

Peter went down and told the men

that he was the one they were looking for.

(music)

We then told Peter

that Cornelius, the centurion,

had been told by an angel

that Peter would come

and see him at his house.

So, unbeknown to Peter,

Cornelius was already expecting his visit
to Caesarea.

What happened here was quite unusual.

Just the fact that Peter entered the house.

Remember that it was against the law

for a Jew to associate with or
visit a Gentile.

Cornelius told Peter how three days earlier

he had been praying in his house

when an angel had appeared before him.

Peter shared with Cornelius

his new understanding that God

does not show favouritism

and is the Lord of all.

This was a real turning point.

From this point on,

the gospel was given among
other people groups.

And it all started out with prayer
and fasting

and a vision.

Cultures were bridged.

Barriers were broken down.

Hearts were united.

And they became one in Jesus Christ.

And the gospel was open to the Gentiles.

What does united prayer

do for breaking down cultures?

When we are kneeling together

different cultures, different backgrounds,

different sociological backgrounds,

different educational backgrounds,

different racial complexion.

When we are kneeling together

our hearts are united as one in Jesus Christ.

I look in Acts chapter 13,

where the church in Antioch

is sending out Paul and Barnabas.

And they hands on them.

And they pray for the blessing of the
Holy Spirit.

The laying on of hands was the
setting aside in Acts 13

of Paul and Barnabas for
ministry in mission.

They were going to launch their
missionary journeys.

I don't think there's anything magical
about the hands.

I think it's a symbol.

Like water is with baptism

or the unleavened bread and the
unfermented grape juice

are in the communion service.

When the church comes unitedly,

and lays hands on an individual,

they are praying for that individual,

setting them aside for a specific task
of witness and ministry.

As the prophets and teachers
of the early church

were fasting and praying,

the Holy Spirit called Paul and Barnabas

to go on their first mission journey.

The church prayed together before sending
them out.

Hands were laid on them and we
prayed earnestly.

As a united church, we prayed for their safety

and that God would grant them

the right words to speak to the multitudes

We prayed that our missionaries would
be successful

in spreading the gospel.

Paul and Barnabas travelled to
several places.

In Cyprus, they proclaimed the word of God

in the Jewish synagogues.

In ? Antioch the whole city gathered to
hear the word of the Lord.

When the Gentiles heard their messages,
they believed.

The word of the Lord spread throughout
the entire region

and the disciples were filled with joy
and the Holy Spirit.

Paul and Barnabas appointed elders
in every church

and prayed with fasting commending
them to the Lord.

They gathered the church together

and reported all that God had done
through them

and how He had opened a door of faith
to the Gentiles.

As a praying community,

when we lay hands upon those that we're
praying for

it represents the hand of God.

Kneeling around that person,

setting them aside for that task,

we're asking the Holy Spirit to come

to empower them, to strengthen them

for the task that God has given them
through the church.

I remember a story where Paul was -

he encountered a beautiful woman.

Her name was Lydia. And she was praying.

And, I don't know, that might have been
beside a river, for all I know.

It may have been beside a well.

Maybe it was in the middle of a market.

You know, at their time. Wherever it was.

God was able to reach her heart

and the Bible tells us that she accepted

the message of the gospel and she
was baptized.

We were a group of women outside
the city gate

by the river at a place of prayer.

Lydia, a dealer in purple cloth,

from Thyatira was also there.

Two men came along and started to speak
to us,

and asked to join us in prayer.

We knew that they were Paul and Silas.

The Lord opened Lydia's heart to heed
Paul's message.

She and all the members of her household
were baptized.

Another day Paul and Silas were on their
way to a place of prayer.

They were met by a female slave

who had a spirit in her that could predict
the future.

She earned a lot of money for her owners
by fortune telling.

She followed us and shouted at us.

This was disrupting and so Paul ordered
the spirit out of her.

When her owners realized that their chance
of making money was gone,

they dragged Paul and Silas to
the authorities

and they were put in prison.

At around midnight, these two very
positive prisoners

named Paul and Silas were praying

and singing hymns to God.

The rest of us were listening to them.

Suddenly there was a violent earthquake

and the prison shook.

All the prison doors flew open

and everyone's chains came loose.

The jailer woke up, saw all the doors open

and drew his sword to kill himself.

He thought all the prisoners had escaped.

But Paul assured him and shouted

that he should not harm himself.

The jailer ? rushed in and lay
in front of them, trembling.

The jailer accepted Jesus Christ

and his whole family was baptized.

So prayer can happen anywhere.

For Hope Channel, you know I anchor
a program -

I co-anchor a program called Let's Pray.

And so here we are in a television studio

with lights and cameras and action

and yet we are a very much in the manner
of prayer.

And we have seen God, we have seen

amazing answers to prayer from the studio.

So it can happen anywhere.

One friend of mine has said

that we must pray with such specificity

we will know when God answers our prayers.

In Acts chapter 12, Peter is in prison.

He is scheduled for execution.

He's chained between soldiers.

Herod has decreed that he will die.

As Peter's in prison, the entire church,

I like that, the entire church is praying

for Peter in prison.

Right before that, James was, you know,

taken to prison but was killed.

And I think the people got
really concerned

that they may now lose Peter

when he was hauled off to jail.

And that caused them to get worried

so they got together and really prayed
all night long.

King Herod had arrested some who belonged
to the church

and was planning to persecute them.

When Herod had James put to death
with a sword,

and saw how the Jews had approved of this,

he seized Peter also.

Peter was guarded by four squads

of four soldiers each.

We were very concerned for his safety.

And the church prayed earnestly for him.

The night before Herod was going to
bring him to trial,

Peter was sleeping between two soldiers

bound by chains and centuries stood guard
at the entrance.

Suddenly an angel of the Lord appeared

and light shone into his cell.

The angel struck Peter on the side to
wake him up

and the chains fell off his wrist.

As he was instructed, Peter followed the
angel out of the prison

past all of the guards to the
gate of the city.

Many people had been praying together

in the house of Mary, the mother of John.

As the servant in the house, I heard
knocking on the door.

With caution, I went to open the door

and to my surprise, there stood Peter.

We had just been praying earnestly for him
in prison.

Once again, united prayer had worked

and the word of God continued to spread
and flourish.

No one who was at that prayer meeting
that night

would ever forget that they have a God

answering prayer after that night.

Everywhere those people went

for the rest of their lives, they told
that story,

which is part of the reason we know
it today,

they told that story with great power

because it was utterly convincing to them

of not only God's willingness to help,

but God's ability to do it on a grand and
surprising scale.

Here were three big, huge nations

converging on his little dinky kingdom
of Judah

and from a human standpoint,
it was wipeout.

Jehosophat says some very honest things

about the ones praying.

We don't know what to do.

We're weak.

We're helpless against this great number
that's come against us.

But he says some very honest things
about who God is too.

God, You are capable. You are willing.

You are able and we are ready.

All of which prepared God's people
for His deliverance.