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Pray with Constancy and Company · Reformed Thinking

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Welcome to Reformed Thinking, the broadcast where we gather to
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consider God's truth from a Reformed perspective.
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And in each episode, we aim to thoughtfully consider various
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aspects of Christian life and theology, always viewing them
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through the lens of scripture and sound doctrine.
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Today we have a special deep dive for you.
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We've been handed, well, quite a stack of sources that really
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unpack the practice of prayer, particularly when believers
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gather together. So our mission today is to pull
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out the most insightful Nuggets, you know, helping you grasp the
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huge value of playing with company.
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We want you to walk away well informed, maybe with a few
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surprising facts, and definitely ready to engage with this topic
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in a fresh way. Indeed, this deep dive really
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zooms in on why prayer is such a core element of Christian
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existence, OK, and how communal prayer, praying together, sort
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of elevates this vital practice. It offers significant benefits
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both to individuals and to communities.
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We'll be looking at biblical patterns and also some practical
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guidance for this spiritual pursuit.
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OK, let's get into this then, because we're talking about
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something absolutely central to our walk with God, aren't we?
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We are. So let's get into the specifics
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of what these sources reveal, starting with private prayer,
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then maybe that idea of prayer throughout the day, and then
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landing on this unique gift of corporate prayer.
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Sounds good. So our sources, they start by
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really setting the stage, They lay down a clear marker.
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Prayer is a central element of the Christian life.
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It's presented not, as you know, an optional extra, but as a
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necessary practice for our spiritual well-being, our very
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breath, you might say, as believers.
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That's a good way to put it. The sources present prayer First
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off as an act of obedience, obedience to God's direct
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command. You can think of it like God
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inviting us into conversation, and This Is Us responding to
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that invitation. But it goes beyond just
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following instructions. It's presented as a crucial way
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we receive God's ongoing grace. Oh, OK, Grace.
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And this grace, our sources really point out, is absolutely
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necessary for our spiritual survival.
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Survival, even. Yes, and for us to truly
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flourish in our faith, it provides the the very spiritual
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food a believer needs to grow and thrive.
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So it's not just about ticking boxes, doing what we're told
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like some kind of spiritual checklist.
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It's also about receiving something from God, a vital
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spiritual input maybe. You've got it.
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The sources are quite clear here.
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Without prayer, a genuine relationship with God just can't
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develop. It'd be like trying to keep up a
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close friendship, you know, with someone you never talk to,
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right? Embossing, share your heart.
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You don't listen to theirs. That connection, it just
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wouldn't get any deeper. Yeah.
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And it's the same with God. A real delight in who God is
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remains distant. Without prayer, we'd only get,
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as the sources say, glimpses from afar.
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Glimpses from afar. Instead of true communion, real
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closeness. So the the end goal, the main
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purpose isn't just getting things from him, it's about
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getting God himself. Putting God, explain that a bit.
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It means drawing near to the Giver, recognizing him as the
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one source of all grace, all joy, all spiritual nourishment.
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It's a relationship where the greatest reward is, well, God
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Himself. Now, when we first think of
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prayer, often the image that pops into mind is private
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prayer, you know, sometimes called closet prayer from
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Jesus's teaching. What do our sources say about
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its specific significance? Private prayer holds a truly
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central, really important role. It's presented as the starting
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point. The Foundation.
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Sort of, yeah. The spiritual bedrock where
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believers develop their own individual patterns and
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practices for secret communion with God.
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Jesus himself gave us a clear instruction for this, didn't He?
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He told us to go into your room and shut the door and pray to
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your Father who is in secret. Matthew 6.6.
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That's the one. And this isn't just a
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suggestion. It highlights a direct divine
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instruction for praying alone. It makes it a cornerstone for
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our individual spiritual development.
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It's where we learn to open our hearts to God without, you know,
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external distractions or anyone else watching.
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So it's a personal space, a really personal practice where
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we get to know God one-on-one. Precisely.
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It functions as a core piece for individual believers.
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It helps establish a unique rhythm of communion with God
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that's entirely personal. It's in this private setting
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that we cultivate that initial spirit of dependence, of trust,
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learning to lean on God for everything.
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It's often where our personal spiritual growth really starts
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to take off, and where we receive God's grace for our
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spiritual survival and, well, thriving.
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Without this individual secret communion, a relationship with
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God might stay kind of superficial, lacking the depth
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and closeness He wants for us. But the sources make it clear,
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don't they, that prayer doesn't just stay confined to those
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private moments. Definitely.
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Not it's not meant to be something we only do behind
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closed doors. Not at all.
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While prayer certainly starts in secret, it's not meant to stay
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only in the closet. God intends for it to expand, to
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extend throughout our entire daily life.
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Well, believers are charged to carry a posture of constant
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prayer in the soul, to integrate a spirit of dependence and trust
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into all our daily tasks, our engagements.
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So. Keeping an awareness of God.
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Exactly. Maintaining an ongoing awareness
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of God's presence and inner readiness to turn to Him no
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matter what we're doing or where we happen to be.
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It's about the the disposition of our heart.
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So it's like those maybe quiet whispers of gratitude or quick
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appeals for help we might offer while driving or standing in
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line somewhere, or even just a quick thank you before a meal,
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even alone. You've captured it well.
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The scriptures tell us again and again to pray without ceasing.
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1st Thessalonians 5.1 snub. Right, and be constant in prayer
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in Romans 12.12, and pray at all times in Ephesians 6.18.
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So many references. It's not a command to be, you
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know, literally in a prayer closet all day long.
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We're talking out loud every second.
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Instead, it speaks to that ongoing awareness of God's
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presence, A readiness to speak with Him in any moment, wherever
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we are. Being ready to consciously turn
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to God in the car, waiting in line, walking down the street,
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buff for a meal, even right in the middle of a difficult
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conversation. As one quote in our sources puts
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it, everywhere God is, prayer is.
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I'd like that. It makes prayer potentially all
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pervasive in our lives because God is everywhere, sustaining
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everything, and always worthy of our attention and our words.
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OK, so we've talked about the personal, private side of prayer
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and how that spirit of prayer can well soak into our daily
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lives, but our soul just point to something really significant
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beyond just individual devotion. They call it the high point of
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all pervasive prayer outside of private devotion.
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Yes, this is where our understanding kind of expands
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into the communal What exactly is this high point?
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This high point it refers specifically to praying together
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with other Christians. Okay, corporate prayer.
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Right often called corporate prayer or playing with company,
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this particular form of prayer stands out as the pinnacle, the
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peak among the various ways we express prayer, the.
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Yeah. It represents A collective
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expression of dependence and trust in God, right?
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A unified turning to Him as a body of believers, right?
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It's seen as the height of spiritual communion in a
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communal setting, bringing unique blessings you just don't
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find in private prayer alone. So if it's the pinnacle, is it,
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would you say even more significant than those quick
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whispered prayers throughout the day we just talked about?
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Well. Yes, in terms of its unique
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communal aspect and the specific value it brings.
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Our sources really point out that while it takes more effort.
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Oh, I bet. More planning, more coordination
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than private prayer. You know, sinking schedules,
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taking initiative, getting past logistical hurdles.
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It is worth every ounce of effort.
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With every. Oz that really highlights its
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unique significance and the remarkable blessings it yields,
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both for a believer spiritual life and for the whole
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community. It's not just a casual thing,
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It's an intentional gathering for a specific weighty and both
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significant purpose, one that God delights to honor.
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It sounds like there's almost a caution here, then, against
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keeping prayer just to ourselves, maybe pushing back
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against that modern tendency to isolate our faith practices.
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There is a very clear encouragement to resist the
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trend towards privatizing prayer.
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Privatizing prayer. Yeah, meaning keeping it
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confined solely to individual practice.
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While private prayer is absolutely essential.
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A healthy prayer life, the sources argue, involves both
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personal prayer, you know, in secret and on the move, and
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corporate prayer. Both hand.
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Exactly. It's not just about asking
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others, hey, can you pray for me?
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Or having them pray about you right, but actually coming
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together to pray with them. Actively together.
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Yes, this collective practice is presented as a vital channel of
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God's ongoing grace for Christian life and communities.
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It produces what the sources call inestimable good.
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Inestimable good meaning. Meaning good, so vast, so rich,
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it's beyond our ability to fully measure.
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It OK so let's look at the biblical basis when we think of
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a model for prayer. Jesus is our ultimate example,
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right? Our sources show that even he,
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being God Incarnate, practiced communal prayer.
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That seems, well, it seems striking.
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It really is, isn't it? The sources clearly show that
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Jesus's prayer life was a powerful example.
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He demonstrated both personal and communal prayer.
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You might think, well, his divine nature would mean he
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didn't need company in prayer, right?
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He could just commune perfectly with the Father on his own.
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Yeah, that seems logical. Yet his life consistently shows
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both private devotion and a pattern of communal prayer.
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His example confirms that this practice isn't just helpful,
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it's an integral part of a God honoring prayer life.
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Even for him. Even for the Son of God himself,
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he said a clear pattern for us. Can you give us some specific
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examples from the gospels where we see Jesus engaging in this
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shared? Sure, Jesus frequently included
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his disciples in his prayer life.
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For instance, Luft 9.28 notes, he took with him Peter and John
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and James and went up on the mountain to pray.
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Right, the Transfiguration prelude.
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Exactly, it wasn't a solo trip. He deliberately brought a group
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and even when it says he was praying alone like in Luke 9.18,
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it adds the disciples were with him.
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Interesting. So alone might not mean totally
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isolated. It suggests his personal prayer
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space often included his close companions, even if maybe they
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were a little way off or just quietly present.
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He rarely completely separated from his men.
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And when he did, the text explicitly says it was to pray.
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Like Matthew 14.23, Mark 1.35, Luke 5.16.
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This is just prayer was a regular thing they did together.
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And then, of course, when his disciples asked him, Lord teach
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us to pray, he gave them what we call the Lord's Prayer, which is
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a distinctly communal prayer, isn't.
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It our father. Exactly.
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Starting with our Father, marked all the way through by we, us
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and our. That structure clearly shows his
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own practice included a shared dimension, setting a pattern for
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his followers to pray as a community.
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And it's fascinating how that practice, praying together with
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his disciples, seems linked to their later boldness.
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Remember in Acts 4, Peter and John the authorities recognized
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they had been with Jesus. Yes, Acts 4.13.
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That connection is explicitly drawn in our sources, and it's a
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vital 1. It suggests something was
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transferred. Well, the disciples subsequent
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boldness in preaching the Gospel, facing opposition, it
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was clearly linked to their close association with Jesus,
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and that association undoubtedly included their shared times of
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prayer. It implies a kind of spiritual
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impartation, A strengthening that happened in those communal
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moments. It shows how much we can be
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shaped and strengthened by those we pray with.
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Especially by the Lord Himself. Absolutely, as we align our
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hearts and voices with Him and with each other.
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So if Jesus modeled it so powerfully, it makes perfect
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sense that the early church, his direct followers, would pick up
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on that. It does.
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What does the book of Acts show us about their commitment to
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corporate prayer? Was it central for them too?
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Oh, absolutely Central. The book of Acts provides a
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rich, almost continuous story of the early church's consistent
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devotion to communal prayer. It's everyone.
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It is explicit at nearly every turn.
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It shows how absolutely core corporate prayer was to their
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existence, their ministry, their expansion across the Roman
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world. The early church's example
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really establishes corporate prayer as essential for
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receiving God's ongoing grace in Christian life and communities,
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and it sets a powerful, repeatable pattern for us today.
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So not just a nice idea, but woven into their fabric.
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Exactly wasn't an optional extra, it was woven into the
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very fabric of their new spiritual community.
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Can you give us some instances from acts that really stand out,
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that illustrate this collective prayer life?
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Sure, right after Christ's ascension, even before
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Pentecost, the very first Christians were Acts 1.1,
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Freeing says, with 1 accord devoting themselves to prayer.
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With one accord unified. Yes.
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Then after the Holy Spirit came at Pentecost, they continued
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steadfastly in the apostles teaching and fellowship, in the
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breaking of bread and the prayers.
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That's Acts 2.42. So the regular discipline.
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It illustrates A unified and persistent approach, a powerful
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picture of collective spiritual life and purpose that defined
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their community right from the start.
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OK. What about when things got
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tough? Well, later when they faced
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persecution and threats from the authorities, Acts 4.24 tells us
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they lifted their voices together to God.
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Together. And the results?
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Immediate and dramatic. The place where they were
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gathered was shaken, and Acts 4.31 says the Holy Spirit filled
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them, empowering them to speak God's Word with great boldness.
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Wow. A direct answer.
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A clear, tangible sign of God's presence and His approval of
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their united petition. And what about in times of, say,
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leadership decisions or big challenges they faced?
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Did corporate prayer play a role there too?
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Absolutely. When the church needed to
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appoint the seven men to serve the Hellenist widows, what did
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they do? Acts 6.6 says they prayed and
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laid hands on them. Seeking God's blessing on the
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ministry. Demonstrating the essential role
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of corporate prayer in commissioning leaders seeking
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God's blessing on their service. Then think about Peter in
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prison. Acts 12.
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Acts 12.5 says earnest prayer for him was made to God by the
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church, not just a few individuals, but the church
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collectively. And when he miraculously
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escaped, where did he go? He found many were gathered
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together and we're praying for him.
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That's Acts 12.12 they. Were still at it.
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It shows the Church's collective intercession during crisis and
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God's powerful response to the United pleas, a direct
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intervention often linked to their collective cry.
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Any other examples? Oh yes.
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Before sending out Paul and Barnabas on their very first
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missionary journey, Acts 13.3 says the church in Antioch acted
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after fasting and praying. Seeking guidance and blessing,
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right? And they also appointed elders
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in every church with prayer and fasting according to Acts 14.23,
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highlighting prayer's central place in establishing
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leadership. So even in the middle of
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distress or really hard circumstances, they kept up this
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collective habit. Yes, even then we see Paul and
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Silas. What were they doing in jail?
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Praying and singing hymns to God.
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It's Acts 16.25. Showing a spirit of worship and
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reliance on God even in suffering, likely together
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comforting each other. And in that emotional goodbye to
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the Ephesian elders in Acts 20, Paul knelt down and prayed with
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them. Acts 20.36.
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He did the same entire in Acts 21.5.
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Kneeling together. These consistent examples just
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show corporate prayer wasn't occasional for them.
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It wasn't just spontaneous. It was central to their common
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life, their ministry, their spiritual strength.
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Their consistent practice really underlines its enduring
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significance for Christian life today.
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It truly was the heartbeat of the early church.
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OK it's abundantly clear then, from Jesus's own life and the
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early church's vibrant practice. Corporate prayer is vital.
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But for us today, you know, in our different contexts, how do
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we actually do it Well, our sources offer some practical
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guidance, right? They don't just leave us
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hanging. They.
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Absolutely do. And it's helpful because while
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there isn't one single rigid pattern for corporate prayer.
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Right context differ. Exactly.
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Practices vary by context, by leadership styles and families,
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churches, communities, their shared history.
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But the sources present 5 councils specifically aimed at
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leading small group prayer. 5 councils OK.
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And these are designed to genuinely enhance the
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experience, make it more fruitful, suggesting that wise
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leaders kind of observe existing habits, gently encourage the
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helpful ones, and compassionately replace the
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unhelpful ones. Guiding principles, not rigid
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rules. Precisely.
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So what's the first council they offer to guide us in this?
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The first one is straightforward but really crucial.
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Make it regular. Regularity.
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OK, this means setting up a planned routine, time and place
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for corporate prayer, integrating it maybe into a
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weekly or biweekly rhythm, rather than letting it be
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sporadic or unplanned. Makes sense?
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Consistency, our sources point out, is key for building any
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spiritual discipline, isn't it? And prayer is no exception.
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True. Without regularity, it's hard
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for momentum to build or for people to consistently show up
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and participate. Why is regularity so important,
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though, especially when our schedules are often so crazy?
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Why not just pray when the Spirit moves us, so to speak?
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Well, the sources suggest something interesting here.
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They suggest making a finite pledge for a specific duration.
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Finite like not forever. Right.
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Say, for a few weeks or a few months, rather than an
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open-ended commitment that goes on indefinitely.
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Why is that better? This approach helps avoid the
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discouragement. They can creep in when those
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indefinite plans kind of fizzle out over time.
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Yeah, which can lead to a sense of failure.
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You know, yeah, I've seen that happen.
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Instead, at the end of that specific period, the group can
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intentionally choose to renew their commitment or maybe
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reconsider the arrangement. It allows for intentionality and
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sustained practice that fits their current season.
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So it builds the habit without feeling like this huge, maybe
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overwhelming forever obligation. Exactly builds a habit without
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it becoming a burden. OK, so consistency gives us the
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rhythm, but how do we ensure the content and the approach of
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those prayers are God centered and well effective?
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The sources must address this too.
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They do. That leads to the second
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Council. Start with Scripture.
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Start with scripture OK. Christian prayer is most
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authentic, most aligned with God's desires.
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When it's a response to God's own self revelation, a response
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you remember the poet George Herbert.
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He famously called prayer God's breath in man returning to his
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birth. Beautiful image.
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It suggests our prayers should be shaped and inspired, but what
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God has already spoken to us in His Word, not just starting with
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our own list of disconnected thoughts or wants.
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I find that idea really compelling, that we're
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responding to God, not just starting the conversation from
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scratch. How does beginning with
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Scripture help make that happen? It's a vital practice.
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It's really fitting to begin corporate prayer times by
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anchoring in God's Word, either by reading a passage out loud or
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maybe referencing a particular scripture that guides the
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group's focus for that time. OK, this acts as a kind of call
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to prayer. Our sources use this lovely
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imagery. Participants inhale the
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Scriptures and exhale in prayer. Inhale Scripture.
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Exhale Prayer. Yeah, we take in God's truth,
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let it saturate our minds and hearts, and then our prayers
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flow out as a natural, spirit LED response.
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This practice helps make sure our prayers align with His will,
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His character. It centers the group on God's
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truth and gives a solid foundation for their collective
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petitions and praises. So we pray more in line with His
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desires, not just our own often limited viewpoints.
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Precisely. OK, this next council sounds
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like it tackles a really common challenge in prayer groups.
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Limit share time. Yes, this one is very practical.
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I can imagine sharing requests sometimes takes over the whole
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meeting. It absolutely can.
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This council means making sure the focus stays firmly on prayer
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itself, rather than just on sharing the requests, right?
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It could be surprisingly easy, as our sources note, to let the
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sharing of requests basically cannibalize the actual praying
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together. Cannibalize.
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Strong word, but probably accurate sometimes.
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So participants should be encouraged to keep introductions
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to prayer requests brief, concise.
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Get to the point, right? After reading the scripture
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passage, the group should move directly into prayer.
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Requests could be shared efficiently just by praying them
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aloud. Include just enough information
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so others understand the gist of the need and can join in
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meaningfully. This helps stop the sharing part
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from dominating the actual prayer time.
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It prioritizes the act of communing with God and keeps the
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session focused on its main communal purpose.
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Respects everyone's time too. So, concise introductions.
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And then what about the prayers themselves?
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Are we aiming for short prayers too?
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That brings us to the 4th Council.
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Encourage brevity and focus. Brevity and focus.
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OK, long, rambling prayers, even if they're well-intentioned, can
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inadvertently, well, try the attention and focus of even the
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most devout prayer warriors, as one source puts it.
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Yeah, I can imagine they can strain everyone's attention.
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And they can also set a kind of inaccessible model for others,
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especially people new to corporate prayer.
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They can make it feel daunting, like they could never pray like
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that. So to foster more engagement,
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wider participation, participants should be urged.
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Offer short focused prayers, maybe just on one specific point
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or request at a time. One point per prayer maybe?
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Yeah, that can work well. Our sources also suggest
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including specific times for just one sentence, praises or
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Thanksgivings. Oh, I like that idea.
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It can encourage more individuals to jump in and
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participate, makes the whole experience more dynamic, less
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reliant on just a few people praying lengthy prayers.
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It creates space for more voices.
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OK, this final Council, pray without show but with others in
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mind. This really gets to the heart of
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why we gather to pray, doesn't it?
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And the attitude we should have. It certainly does.
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It's crucial for individuals to remember that corporate prayer
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is not about impressing other people, right?
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Our sources actually acknowledge that some personalities
22:38
especially need this regular reminder.
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Instead, it's about genuinely gathering with fellow believers
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in praises, confessions, thanksgivings, and requests, all
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directed to God. Authenticity before God is key.
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Paramount but good corporate praying also involves having
22:55
fellow prayers in view, acknowledging that you're
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praying with others, not just sort of praying individually
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among them in a shared room. So it's a collective address.
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What does having fellow prayers in view mean practically?
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Like in the actual words we might use.
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Well, practically it often means prayers are expressed using we,
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us, and our. Like the Lord's Prayer?
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Again, exactly reflecting genuine and appropriate openness
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for the group that's gathered. While you are speaking to God,
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your prayer is also mindful of those present.
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You're seeking to uplift and unite the group in their
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collective address to God. This creates a shared experience
23:33
of worship and petition. It fosters a sense of community,
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mutual participation. It helps everyone feel part of
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that corporate voice before God. Building a sense of shared
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purpose and spiritual closeness. All right, so we've got the why,
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it's central, it's the high point, and we've got the how
23:49
these five councils for doing it well.
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Now for the what do we gain? Our sources call the results of
23:55
corporate prayer inestimable. Good.
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That's such a powerful phrase. What does that really mean?
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This good? That's beyond measure.
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That phrase inestimable good. It means the good is just too
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vast, too significant to fully calculator measure.
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Our sources outline 9 specific benefits, or prophets as they
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call them, highlighting how praying with companies serves as
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this vital channel of God's ongoing grace. 9 specific
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benefits. Yes, and these benefits reach
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deeply into individual believers lives and also strengthen the
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community as a whole, producing good.
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That's well past finding out all that God is doing when we pray
24:34
together. Past finding.
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Out. These are tangible ways God
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works when these people gather to pray and they're far
24:38
reaching. OK, let's dive into these nine,
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the first prophet for added power.
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That sounds incredibly compelling.
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Hence it's something extra happening.
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Indeed, there is an added power, a special kind of impact to
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prayers, when believers unite in faith and make requests to the
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Father with their hearts joined together.
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Where does that idea come from? It's clearly drawn from the
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principle Jesus taught in Matthew 1819.
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If 2 of you agree on earth about anything they ask, it will be
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done for them by my Father in heaven.
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Right, the agreement of two or three.
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Now, the immediate context of the verse right after Matthew
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18.20 is about church discipline, but verse 19 clearly
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points to a unique effectiveness in united prayer.
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So it's not that God hears better if more people shout.
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No, not suggesting that at all. Rather, it speaks to a kind of
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spiritual synergy, a shared conviction that maybe amplifies
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the petition in a way individual prayer, while still vital, might
25:35
not. This collective agreement shows
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God's design for His people to come before Him together,
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honoring His communal people by giving special attention to
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their unified cries. OK, the next prophet from
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multiplied joy. That makes a kind of intuitive
25:48
sense, doesn't it? Sharing something good often
25:50
increases the enjoyment it does. What does it look like in the
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context of prayer? Well, our sources are explicit
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it sharing the joy of prayer double S that joy When we make
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it a regular practice to pray together with fellow believers,
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we tap into a channel of joy we might otherwise neglect a.
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Channel of Joy. Think about it, when you
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celebrate something wonderful, sharing it with others doesn't
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lessen your joy, does it? It usually expands it.
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Right, You want to tell people? Similarly, in prayer, when we
26:20
express gratitude or see answers, sharing that experience
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with the community creates this communal wellspring of gladness.
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This practice not only adds to your own joy, but also adds to
26:30
the joy of others, fostering this cycle of encouragement and
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shared spiritual satisfaction. When we work with others for
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their joy in God, we find our own experience of that joy
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increases too. So this multiplied joy then
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points towards something even bigger, something that extends
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beyond just our personal feelings.
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Yes, exactly. This multiplied joy in God leads
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directly to multiply glory to God.
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Joy leads to glory. How?
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It's based on that biblical idea that God is most glorified when
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his people are most satisfied in Him.
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OK, satisfaction in him glorifies him.
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Right, and if we understand giving thanks to him as part of
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honoring him as God, think Romans 1.21 connecting
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Thanksgiving and honoring God, then Second Corinthians 1.11
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makes this explicit regarding prayer.
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What does it say? Paul writes, You also must help
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us by prayer so that many will give thanks on our behalf for
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the blessing granted us through the prayers of many.
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So the answer granted through many prayers leads to many
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giving thanks. Precisely praying together not
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only adds impact to the request, but it also means more glory for
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the giver when he answers because more voices are raised
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in thankful recognition of His goodness.
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This next one prophet #4 for fruitful ministry and mission.
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This clearly links corporate prayer to action in the world.
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It's not just an inward looking thing.
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That's right, God intends for believers to pray for each
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other's ministries for mission efforts.
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We see that in the epistles. Oh, constantly.
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The Apostle Paul himself modeled this consistently.
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He kept asking churches to pray for his gospel work.
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Can you give examples? Sure.
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Romans 15.30322. Corinthians 1.11.
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Ephesians Six Point Eddie 20 Colossians 4.3 of war, 2
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Thessalonians 3.1. He was clearly more than capable
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of praying these things himself. Right, of course, and doubtless
28:19
he did fervently, but he seemed to anticipate there would be
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greater fruitfulness in the work when others joined him in prayer
28:25
for it. So he expected their prayers to
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make a difference. Yes, it shows a divine design
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for collective intercession and gospel advancement,
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acknowledging that God works, often in extraordinary ways,
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through the unified prayers of his people, to bring about His
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purposes in the world. In a world that often seems so
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divided, benefit #5 for unity among believers sounds
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incredibly timely and powerful. It truly is praying together, as
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described as one of the single most significant actions we can
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take to cultivate unity in the Church.
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How does that work? Well, there's a unity that's
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already ours, isn't it? For those who are in Christ and
29:00
share spiritual life in him. Acts 1.14 said the first
29:04
Christians were with 1 accord devoting themselves to prayer.
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Right Unity enabled the prayer. Exactly.
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It highlights that inherent connection.
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And yet, while we already have the unity of the Spirit, we're
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also commanded to be eager to maintain it.
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That's Ephesians 4.3. So it's both a reality and a
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goal. Precisely so.
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Praying together is both an effect of the unity we already
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share in Christ, and it's a catalyst for deeper, richer
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unity. It acts as a means to grow
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closer to one another as we draw closer to God together.
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It binds hearts. OK, this next one is
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particularly striking to me for answers we otherwise wouldn't
29:40
get. How can that be that some
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answers might actually depend on communal prayer?
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Yeah, that one makes you pause, doesn't it?
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Yeah, but Scripture does seem to imply that some answers to
29:49
prayer may only come when others are involved.
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Like where? The class example is James
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5.1216. It suggests that specific
29:56
prayers, like those offered by the elders of the church for the
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sick, can bring healing and forgiveness that might not be
30:02
obtained otherwise. Recite that passage.
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Sure. Is anyone among you sick?
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Let him call for the elders of the church and let them pray
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over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord.
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And the prayer of faith will save the one who was sick, and
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the Lord will raise him up. And if he's committed sins, he
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will be forgiven. The prayer of faith offered by
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the elders. Right.
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And the anointing with oil, as our sources explain it, it
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symbolizes that the person is being set apart for God's
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special attention and care. It intensifies the communal
30:33
prayer for healing. This shows God's design for
30:36
communal intercession in certain situations where His chosen
30:39
means for certain answers might actually include the collective
30:43
appeal of church leaders or just this simple unified prayer of
30:47
fellow believers. It really makes you consider the
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vital role of others in our petitions before God.
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It does. I can definitely see how praying
30:55
with others would sharpen our own prayer life.
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It's almost like an apprenticeship in spiritual
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conversation, isn't it? The sources affirm that
31:03
wholeheartedly. They state that one of the best
31:05
ways to learn and grow in prayer is simply to pray with others.
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Especially those who are good at it.
31:11
Well, specifically with others whose own prayers have been
31:14
shaped by the Scriptures and who have clearly spent time with
31:17
God, OK, by observing them, by joining with them.
31:20
Believers are shaped shaped by their approach to God, by the
31:24
kinds of things they thank Him for, by how they keep others in
31:28
mind in that corporate setting. You learn by osmosis, almost.
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In a way, yeah. Listening to those around you
31:34
who are, you know, genuinely acquainted with God in prayer
31:37
helps draw others into deeper communion with him through their
31:40
praises and petitions. And beyond what we consciously
31:44
pick up, we're being shaped deep down as we join our hearts and
31:47
voices with others in prayer, learning by example, and by
31:51
doing it together. Praying together also seems like
31:54
it would naturally create unique bonds, a certain kind of
31:57
closeness among believers. Prophet 8 to know each other.
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It absolutely does. Praying together is an excellent
32:03
way to get to know fellow believers on a much deeper level
32:06
than, say, just surface level conversation after church.
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Why is that? Because it's in prayer, in the
32:12
conscious, immediate presence of God, that we're most likely to,
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as one source puts it, let the veneer fall.
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A veneer. The mask.
32:21
Yeah, the protective layer, the carefully constructed persona we
32:24
often present to the world in prayer.
32:27
Hopefully our guard comes down a bit.
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We become more real. We reveal what truly captures
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our hearts, what we genuinely treasure, and that allows others
32:37
to truly discern our relationship with God.
32:40
As the theologian Jack Miller quoted in our Sources wisely put
32:44
it, you can tell if a man or woman is really on speaking
32:48
terms with God. Wow, that's insightful.
32:50
This transparency fosters authentic, heartfelt
32:53
relationships within the community.
32:55
It deepens our bonds and builds true spiritual fellowship.
32:57
OK, saving what our sources suggest is the best for last,
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the 9th and final prophet to know Jesus more.
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This sounds like the, well, the ultimate outcome, tying
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everything together. It certainly is, and it brings
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us right back to that core purpose of prayer we talked
33:10
about at the beginning, getting God himself right.
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See, our individual vision of Christ is inherently limited it,
33:15
isn't it? How so?
33:17
We each perceive different aspects of his glory more
33:20
clearly, maybe because of our personality or experiences, and
33:24
we might be kind of blind to other aspects.
33:27
OK, we have blind spots. Exactly.
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But through praying with others, believers can hear and see
33:33
facets of Jesus that they have not yet perceived.
33:36
Hearing and seeing facets. Yeah, because different
33:38
experiences, different personalities of the group will
33:41
naturally emphasize various aspects of His glory in their
33:44
prayers. This collective perspective, as
33:47
Tim Keller observes in our sources, allows for a fuller,
33:50
more well-rounded understanding of his person and his work.
33:53
So the group sees more than the individual.
33:55
Right. And since the great purpose of
33:57
prayer is not mainly getting things from God, but
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experiencing God, knowing God. Getting God himself.
34:02
This benefit alone can indeed inspire, and really should
34:05
inspire, fervent participation in communal prayer.
34:08
It helps us achieve the very goal of prayer itself.
34:11
So wrapping this up, what does this all mean for us?
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Our deep dive into these sources has clearly revealed that prayer
34:18
isn't just one thing, it's the very heart of the Christian
34:21
life. It flows from that personal,
34:24
private devotion into a spirit of constant awareness throughout
34:28
our day, right? And it culminates or reaches a
34:31
high point in this uniquely powerful and blessed experience
34:35
of praying with company. It is indeed a vital means of
34:39
God's ongoing grace for us, from Jesus own perfect example to the
34:43
early church's consistent practice, and through those five
34:47
practical councils and the nine specific benefits we've just
34:50
walked through. The message is pretty clear,
34:53
isn't it? It seems so.
34:54
Gathering with others to pray brings this immeasurable good,
34:58
and it helps us grasp God Himself more fully as we
35:01
collectively draw near to Him. And thinking about all those
35:03
benefits, you know, the added impact, the multiplied joy, the
35:07
deeper unity, that fuller understanding of Jesus, it
35:11
really makes you wonder, doesn't it?
35:12
It does if God actually designs for some answers, some blessings
35:16
to await the joining of others in prayer.
35:19
What expressions of His grace, what answers, what closeness
35:23
might we be overlooking or even missing out on by neglecting
35:26
this practice of praying with company?
35:28
It's definitely question worth pondering.
35:29
Well, that's it for this deep dive on Reformed thinking.
35:32
Until next time, keep seeking God's truth.