“If My people, who are called by My name, will humble themselves, and pray and seek My face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land.” –2 Chron. 7:14 (NIV)

In the Old Testament, the prayers of many, praying together consistently emphasize these pleas: that God would act for the sake of his great name, that he would glorify himself, and that he would do this by saving Israel through the judgment of their enemies.  These prayers sometimes included fasting.  The important point is that God answered the prayers of many!

In the New Testament, under a new covenant with God, many praying together is still significant.  Throughout the scriptures, people are taught to pray.  The Lord’s Prayer in Matthew 6 starts with “Our Father”!  “Give US this day our daily bread… Lead US not into temptation… Deliver US from evil…”.  Many praying together…just as Jesus taught…always done in a way that builds up the church (1 Cor. 14:16-17). 

People pray to God because they believe that he is able to forgive their sins, mighty to save, able to change the course of events, and willing to respond to the prayers of his people. These prayers of many, also called corporate prayers, usually call on God to do exactly what he has promised to do. When the Bible records the prayers of the people of God, it records them asking him to do what he has promised to do for the sake of his name. God has always intended for his people to pray for HIS glory and THEIR good.

Whenever God’s people pray together, the prayer of a mediator to which a repenting people can come up under is a clear sign of God’s rich mercy. Christ Jesus, who sacrificed his life for us, is our greatest intercessor (Rom 8:34)!

As part of our group of many praying together at New Cedar Grove, we should listen intently to the person leading prayer, and really pray along.  And if we are leading the prayer, we must not be so vain that we worry too much about our ability to articulate big words.  God hears our prayers, and he is much more concerned with our hearts than our eloquent sounding speech.  The Holy Spirit will help us (Romans 8:26). 

The more you pray, the easier it becomes to talk to God.  Interceding for many people is an important responsibility.  As Christians we may approach God boldly to intercede for others, knowing that Christ’s sacrifice has sufficiently cleared the way to the Father.  But we should always approach God with careful reverence, preparation, study, earnestness, brokenness, and thanksgiving. 

Through the prayers of many together, God’s people will become what God designed—united in Christ.  Praying together, after all, teaches us to be united in faith, united in hope, and united in love. 

Let’s pray…together.