THE LAMP DEVOTION
THURSDAY OCTOBER 17
THE POWER OF CORPORATE PRAYER
Acts 12:5-7
At the very basic level, the Christian life is highly individualistic. Everyone must accept Jesus as his Lord and Savior to be saved. No one can do that on anyone’s behalf. However, no Christian is intended to live by himself. The same God who saves people as individuals decided that all His children must belong to a universal family called the church. The universal family is too big to be one physical entity, so we have congregations scattered all over the globe.
God expects each of us to actively participate in a congregation or the gathering of believers in a specified location or community. God loves it when we pray to Him as individuals, but at the same time He wants us to pray as a family. That is affirmed by Jesus’ teaching that where two or three are gathered in His name, He is there in their midst. He also said if two of you agree concerning anything our heavenly Father will honor that request.
Today’s passage is an example of the church coming together to pray for one of their own who was in danger of being persecuted or even killed. God performed a miracle to affirm His belief in the church praying as a corporate body.
Prayer
1. Thank God for instituting the corporate body called the church and making you a part of it.
2. Pray that you will be committed to your local congregation and be part of corporate prayer.
3. Father, please help me respond to the privilege of becoming a part of a praying church.
Declarations
I declare that I am a Christian as an individual, but I do not live my Christian life as an individual. I belong to the local congregation. I am committed to its programs and activities. I am committed particularly to the corporate prayer of the church. I declare by the grace of God that when we have to pray as a group, I shall not be found wanting.
Author: Archbishop Nicholas Duncan-Williams
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THURSDAY OCTOBER 17
THE POWER OF CORPORATE PRAYER
Acts 12:5-7
5 Peter was therefore kept in prison, but constant prayer was offered to God for him by the church. 6 And when Herod was about to bring him out, that night Peter was sleeping, bound with two chains between two soldiers; and the guards before the door were keeping the prison. 7 Now behold, an angel of the Lord stood by him, and a light shone in the prison; and he struck Peter on the side and raised him up, saying, “Arise quickly!” And his chains fell off his hands
At the very basic level, the Christian life is highly individualistic. Everyone must accept Jesus as his Lord and Savior to be saved. No one can do that on anyone’s behalf. However, no Christian is intended to live by himself. The same God who saves people as individuals decided that all His children must belong to a universal family called the church. The universal family is too big to be one physical entity, so we have congregations scattered all over the globe.
God expects each of us to actively participate in a congregation or the gathering of believers in a specified location or community. God loves it when we pray to Him as individuals, but at the same time He wants us to pray as a family. That is affirmed by Jesus’ teaching that where two or three are gathered in His name, He is there in their midst. He also said if two of you agree concerning anything our heavenly Father will honor that request.
Today’s passage is an example of the church coming together to pray for one of their own who was in danger of being persecuted or even killed. God performed a miracle to affirm His belief in the church praying as a corporate body.
Prayer
1. Thank God for instituting the corporate body called the church and making you a part of it.
2. Pray that you will be committed to your local congregation and be part of corporate prayer.
3. Father, please help me respond to the privilege of becoming a part of a praying church.
Declarations
I declare that I am a Christian as an individual, but I do not live my Christian life as an individual. I belong to the local congregation. I am committed to its programs and activities. I am committed particularly to the corporate prayer of the church. I declare by the grace of God that when we have to pray as a group, I shall not be found wanting.
Author: Archbishop Nicholas Duncan-Williams
JOIN @Gospel_1_channel
JOIN @Gospel_1_channel
JOIN @Gospel_1_channel
JOIN & SHARE