You may recall in Part One I referred to Matthew 21:13. It was during an event of cleansing the temple after which Jesus made a sharp judging statement concerning things that were in His house that should not be there, while at the same time speaking of what was missing from His house that must be there! “My house shall be called the house of prayer; but ye have made it a den of thieves.”
I inferred that because of the presence of the Holy Spirit, both the church and the individual believer has been invited and expected to be a House of Prayer.
In this segment, I want to give a biblical snapshot of the Power of a House of Prayer.
One of the most “awe-inspiring” verses of Scripture is Acts 4:31.
“And 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.”
This verse contains a natural outline for thought and study. Let us look at it a moment:
I. “. . . when they had prayed!”
This reveals that the whole church gathered together with a strong desire to pray! Every believer had a sense of responsibility, a sense of ownership in the crisis. “When they prayed” speaks of a corporate meeting . . . a gathering . . . a whole church involvement!
This picture of the early church, in prayer together, is an indictment against the majority of today’s churches! The first church was a praying church, and beloved, we today are not! We must turn to, or return to, what we were intended.
II. “. . . the place where they were assembled together was shaken!”
The power of God revealed or displayed as church members prayed together, in one accord, with the lifting of their voices! There is no doubt that the place they were shook. Nevertheless, I have yet to hear of churches today shaking because of the church’s prayer gathering. However beloved, would it not be awesome if the Spirit of Prayer shook the church members in the spirit?
III. “. . . and, they were all filled with the Spirit!”
Corporate prayer has the potential of refreshing and refueling the people of God with the Holy Spirit! The level of individual spiritual maturity has little to do with this biblical principle; it is the “one accord.” The church was together in mind, purpose, and spirit—unity! In that position as a spiritual unit, they all will be filled with the Spirit!
Every true believer in Jesus Christ has the Holy Spirit living within. “In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that Holy Spirit of promise, Which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of his glory.” (Ephesians 1:13-14) However, Christians are commanded — be filled with, submitted to, and walk in the Spirit, as opposed to following our sinful, worldly flesh.
The command, “be filled with the Spirit” is not only expected of certain or special believers. It is a command every follower of Jesus Christ is to obey! In addition, the Greek tense used in Ephesians 5:18 is the command to ‘keep on’ being filled with God’s Spirit. This is not a one-time experience but a moment-by-moment, daily way of living, submitting to, and walking in, the Spirit.
By our understanding the Spirit, and how He operates, we take our prayer directly into the flow of God’s desired activity! —The Holy Spirit reveals God and His Word to us! –He prays for us! –He guides our praying!
IV. “. . . and they spoke the Word with boldness!”
When all things were in place: “Assembled together” “Praying in one accord” “Filled with the Spirit” Boldness was the result!
What does the church need today? —BOLDNESS to do the work of the KINGDOM of GOD! —Church, ‘be’ the HOUSE of PRAYER! —Beloved believer, ‘be’ the House of Prayer! Pray On!