October 2009
Only a prayer meeting!
That is the title of a famous address by C H Spurgeon,
which begins with these words: ‘What a company we have here
tonight! It fills my heart with gladness, and my eyes with tears of
joy, to see so many hundreds of persons gathered together at what is
sometimes wickedly described as ‘only a prayer
meeting’’.
We may never have attended a prayer meeting when literally hundreds of
believers were present, or, if we have, it will no doubt have been only
on very rare occasions. But however many are gathered, or however few,
how vitally important prayer meetings are in the life of the church of
Christ (just as prayer itself is so vital in every Christian’s
life).
A glance at the Acts of the Apostles in the New Testament is sufficient
to remind us that the early church was born in prayer. When the
apostles returned to Jerusalem from the mount of Olives, following the
ascension of the Lord Jesus Christ into heaven, we are told ‘they
went up into an upper room’, where, along with other believers,
they ‘all continued with one accord in prayer and
supplication’ (1:11-14).
Matthias was chosen to take Judas’ place among the apostles at a
prayer meeting (1:24). When the Holy Spirit came at Pentecost it was
when ‘they were all with one accord in one place’ (2:1).
Was that at a prayer meeting as well? And one of the fundamentals which
the early Christians ‘continued steadfastly in’ was
‘prayers’ (2:42).
As Acts unfolds, it is the same story. What a thrilling account we have
of a prayer meeting in chapter 4, following the release of Peter and
John from the council, when those gathered ‘lifted up their voice
to God with one accord’. We are told that ‘when they had
prayed, the place was shaken where they were assembled together; and
they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and they spake the word of
God with boldness’.
Corporate prayer surrounded the choosing of the seven in Acts 6, and
the setting apart of Saul and Barnabas to missionary service in chapter
13. And don’t forget the special prayer meeting in chapter 12,
when Peter was in prison – and how surprised the praying folk
were when their prayer was answered and Peter was released!
All of which leaves this challenge with us, in our day: what place do
prayer meetings have in our churches, and what place do they have in
our lives, hearts and priorities? It is not enough that they be
announced – they need to be attended. The prayer meeting really
is the ‘power house’ and the ‘boiler room’,
under God, in the life of any church. The fact is that you just
can’t beat a good prayer meeting when you can find one. Oh! that
such would be our regular experience – and that we shall not miss
the blessing by not being there!
