Do Not Neglect Prayer
Private praying is the strength of the body of believers
Now it happened that as he was praying alone the disciples were with him; and he asked them, "Who do the people say that I am?" - Luke 9:18 RSV
And after he had dismissed the crowds, he went up on the mountain by himself to pray. When evening came, he was there alone, - Matthew 14:23 RSV
And after he had taken leave of them, he went up on the mountain to pray. - Mark 6:46 RSV
In these days he went out to the mountain to pray; and all night he continued in prayer to God. - Luke 6:12 RSV
How many times do we read Jesus went to pray, often alone, then going somewhere to minister to people? He spent all night in prayer, alone with the Father, then the next morning chose the 12.
And when it was day, he called his disciples, and chose from them twelve, whom he named apostles; - Luke 6:13 RSV
How much and how often His private prayer preceded His public ministry.
And Jesus says to us “When you pray…” so do we pray in private, in our prayer closet?
If we neglect personal praying in private, then we suffer the loss of personal fellowship with our Lord. This leads us to minister or serve primarily in the strength of our self rather than in the strength of His might.
Thus the church suffers loss of strength. Let us turn first to the Lord in private prayer, then go to the work. The work may be intercession, it may be visiting the sick or preaching the Gospel, it may be any of the activities of the Church business, it may be praying in a prayer group - but first must be our private prayer.
Let us start on our knees, then roll up our sleeves!
But also does The Church neglect to pray. Simple surveys and asking around reveal to us how few churches have regular prayer meetings or preaching and teaching on the subject of prayer, both private and corporate.
Again, we contend a prayerless church is a powerless church. It may have all the visible attributes of a growing fellowship, but is it really? Does it preach with power and teach with truth and wisdom? Are members truly growing more mature in all the will of God?
Perhaps we have lost our first love, or we are neither cold nor hot. Spurgeon would admonish us, or encourage us, do not neglect private prayer and let the locusts eat the strength of the people of God. The very strength of The Church is found in prayer.
Praying For the People of God from the Word of God
Philippians 1:9-11 — ask the Father in Jesus name to fill those in the household of faith with knowledge of His will in all wisdom and understanding. Let our walk be worthy of Him, may our work be fruitful and let us increase our knowing Him; be strengthened with His might.