THE PRAYER LIFE OF A FLEDGLING CHURCH
In this article from the series, ”Lessons Learned in the Cauldron of Church Planting”, Vince shares his thoughts on the role of prayer in establishing a young church.
Prayer meetings – a given in church life?
One of the challenges we face in church planting is working out how to approach the question of prayer in the church. Preconceived ideas about a weekly church prayer meeting, or glib slogans like “Prayer is the engine room of the church”, don’t make this task easy, because the pressure of expectation can turn the prayer meeting into an obligation, regardless of the spiritual quality of the prayer. The underlying thought is that God can’t bless the church and no souls will be saved without the weekly church prayer meeting.
To be quite honest with you, I have struggled with this very question as, over the years, I have been involved in many church prayer meetings and have often come away rather frustrated. Some I’ve attended had more preaching about prayer than actual praying; other times more testimonies than prayer and, at other times again, more silence than corporate praying. There is nothing more difficult to lead than a prayer meeting where no one prays out loud.
My approach to the prayer life of a young church
Before unfolding my approach to the prayer life of a church in the planting phase, let me make a few general remarks. But first, a question: “Does prayer produce faith or does faith produce prayer?” It is my understanding, from the body of New Testament teaching, that God responds first and foremost to faith…faith in His Word.
Prayer without strong faith in the promises of God is powerless. This was the problem with the vain repetitions of the prayers of the heathen that Jesus spoke about: people who thought they would be heard “for their many words.” (Matthew 6:7). Hebrews tells us that “Without faith it is impossible to please God.” (Hebrews 11:6). So let me suggest that faith has to be our priority in approaching God and serving Him.
Shouldn’t we pray for people to be saved?
My second remark will get some reactions from some, I’m sure! There is a strong belief in Christian circles that people get saved because we have prayed for them. As this belief needs to be in harmony with New Testament teaching, I decided to do a careful study to see how much it could be biblically substantiated.
Would you believe that I could not find one verse in the Christian Scriptures that instructed us to pray for the salvation of others?
The only two things Paul asked Christians to pray for in relation to the Gospel were for himself, as the preacher, and for an open door for the Word (see Ephesians 6:18,19; Colossians 4:3). Then 1 Corinthians 1:21 shed much light on the subject for me: “…it pleased God through the foolishness of the message preached, to save those who believe”. God saves people, not through prayer, but through the preaching of the message of the Gospel.
However, let me add that, if the Holy Spirit lays it on your heart to pray for the salvation of a loved one, then that is what you should do, of course!
I believe in the importance of prayer!
Before you react too much and stop reading, let me reassure you that I believe in the importance of prayer, and I spend extended time in prayer every day! I do understand that some mothers have prayed for their children for many years and God, in His mercy, responded to their faith expressed in prayer. However, it is important, in establishing a church, that we build on Biblical truth.
Small group prayer or combined weekly prayer meetings?
Now back to the weekly church prayer meeting. In a church, there are many ways we can pray together: some churches encourage prayer partners, others bring together just those with a burden for intercession, though this is probably out of reach when a congregation is small. Prayer is conducted in “connect groups” or in a pre-service prayer meeting. Prayers can be offered up to God when a team meets, whether it be the worship team, the kids’ church leaders or the youth committee.
While we encourage prayer in each of these settings, I favour calling the church together for a limited time: for example, four Wednesday evenings, when the need in the church arises. I have at times called for 3 days of prayer and fasting at the beginning of the year as we anticipate all that God will do in the coming year.
Since the COVID pandemic, we have learned to meet for online prayer meetings, especially in big cities where the traffic is heavy mid-week.
Personal prayer is the priority
Having expressed all of the above, I come back to the absolute priority of personal prayer. Jesus told us where to go to pray, what to do with the door, who is there waiting for us to pray to and what will happen as a result: “And when you pray, go into your room and, when you have shut the door, pray to your Father who is in the secret place, and your Father who sees in secret will reward you openly.” (Matthew 6:7)
The secret to powerful times when we pray together is simply that there is a coming together of people who have learned to pray in the secret place. In the building of a young church, praying people will be rewarded openly.
So let me take this opportunity to encourage you all to recommit to daily personal prayer times, not just reading the Bible or devotionals, but simply coming into communion with the God who saved you and who will one day welcome you into His glory.
