CORPORATE PRAYER
...EFFECTUAL FERVENT PRAYER...
The Bible is full of examples of people praying together and God being there in the midst of us. Matthew 18:20 “For where two or three gather together as my followers, I am there among them.” We are in a spiritual war (Ephesians 6:12) and it is important for us to fight this war together as a body of believers in prayer.
As Christ ascended to Heaven, he gave instructions on the arrival of the Holy Spirit.
Luke 24:49 “And now I will send the Holy Spirit, just as my Father promised. But stay here in the city until the Holy Spirit comes and fills you with power from heaven.” And in Acts 1:14 they were all in corporate prayer awaiting for his arrival.
PRAYER
In a general sense, the act of asking for a favor, and particularly with earnestness. In worship, a solemn address to the Supreme Being, consisting of adoration, or an expression of God’s glorious perfections, confession of our sins, supplication for mercy and forgiveness, intercession for blessings on others, and thanksgiving, or an expression of gratitude to God for his mercies and benefits.
HOLY SPIRIT
Baptism of the Holy Spirit
Acts 2:1-4
“When the Day of Pentecost had fully come, they were all with one accord in one place. And suddenly there came a sound from heaven, as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled the whole house where they were sitting. Then there appeared to them divided tongues, as of fire, and one sat upon each of them.And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.
WHAT IS THE BAPTISM OF THE HOLY SPIRIT?
It is the Spirit coming in, upon, filling, overwhelming, infusing, anointing, and enduring with full power, and not with just a ‘measure’ as in the Old Testament. It is the Spirit empowering believers to live, speak, work and accomplish God’s will through him in the same degree that was manifested through Christ and the apostles.
Corporate prayer with the Holy Spirit (both in native language and in tongues) is the missing link to the LIFE and community of a believer and it creates the following:
1. Hedge of Protection and Safety
2. Unity, Intimacy and bonding
3. Encouragement, Strength and Faith
4. Produces Love and Humility while reducing hurts, hang-ups and frustrations.
As James 5:16 says “The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much.”, how much more powerful it is when we all unite together and passionately pray.