Help please on Prayer subject

Over the last year, I came across many who see pray as imporatant but not praying together as much. There is this missing fellowship. I was wondering if you all could help by posting any thing on this subject of why or how or the must of praying together. I think there is missunderstanding. Maybe different places in the bible. How is it biblical that a Church be praying together? whats the difference of praying to open and close and for others, there is prayer. So it is not like there is no prayer? Why pray? How do you encourage others to pray toegther?

Thanks
charlene

"Our Father" can only be done as a corporate prayer so quote that.

Charlene, you ask a great question. Still, you need to ask more questions. Like - what kind of prayer does God hear? What prayers please him? Prayer in itself means nothing. It can be nothing more than ritual, or a works doctrine: - that is that assumption that if I pray hard enough and long enough, God should approve of me.

Countless have been praying corporately over the centuries. Prayer has always been a part of church life and church liturgy. However, the activity of prayer can be merely repetitive chants, wrong desires, and can even invite wrong sprits – in spite of the fine-sounding Christianeze language.

There are risks in being too zealous to round up people to pray, or of assuming that the more pray-ers in a group, the likelier God will answer. Really, it is best to let God stir hearts to pray - rather than do that yourself.

I highly recommend this book: [url=http://www.amazon.com/Rees-Howells-Intercessor-Norman-Grubb/dp/0875081886]Rees Howells: Intercessor [/url]. As you see here, you can purchase if for next to nothing. I say, Go for it! Rees Howells is an outstanding example of one who lived a life of prayer. As a young believer he decided to join no church except one where God answered their prayers. A lot of churches could not claim that. Howells was one who heard God; he didn’t just talk TO God – and the effect of his prayer relationship with God was………. well, you’ll have to read the book to find out. It’s a fabulous testimony – that has historical significance!

Also, Charlene, I’m sure that a Bible study on the various prayers in the Bible would be enriching for you.

Diane

When speaking of individual prayer, we can look at Matthew 6v6 where it mentions about praying in secret.

Concerning corporate prayer, we can turn to the book of Acts and see several instances of corporate prayer. Acts 4v31, Acts 12v12, Acts 13v3, Acts 16v13, and other scriptures in Acts also. I don't want to be tedious.

Some of the scriptures in Acts also speak of fasting.

Now I'll give my opinion on the matter.

Corporate prayer is neglected because individual prayer is neglected.

The prayer meeting is the most neglected meeting in the church. It's no secret.

But, what we read in scripture tells us that we should pray together.

As for encouraging people to pray together, that's all we can do. Encourage them to do it and see what happens.

Others will give their own thoughts on this.

God bless.

Seven days without prayer makes one weak!!
Prayer is so necessary, so vital to our
growth and development and our walk in the
Lord!! How does one grow without the daily
bread and spiritual milk of prayer?? How
does one walk without the direction and
guidance of prayer??

The Book by Rees Howell is outstanding, as well as this book written by an unknown man named G.C. Bevington. The book is entitled "Remarkable Miracles" and is available [url=http://www.amazon.com/Remarkable-Miracles-C-G-Bevington/dp/0882707035/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1212504901&sr=8-1]here[/url].

He was one of the first students of "God's Bible School" in Cincinnati Ohio and two of his teachers were a very young Oswald Chambers and A.M. Hills both contributors here on SI...

There are some things that come in corporate prayer that you can never attain in the prayer closet. I pray what Jesus did in these men's lives will encourage you to seek Him with all your heart...

thanks all that you have all posted..
Charlene