United Prayer Pt. 1 – Archbishop Dr. Goddy Okafor: God’s heart is that we have agreement and unity in our prayers. 1 Thessalonians 5:11 says, “Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing.” By praying together for common needs, There is a multiplied effect in being together before God.
In Acts 1:14 we read, “they all joined together constantly in prayer” and in 4:14, “they raised their voices together in prayer.” Together is a key that opens the door to the power of God. The King James Bible in Acts 2:1 says, “with one accord.”
What were the results?
It was the filling of the Holy Spirit with boldness. It was freedom, Peter’s miraculous release from prison. Acts 12, It was the corporate prayer of Acts 1:14 that produced the corporate power of Acts 2:42-47. Corporate prayer brings corporate power (Acts 4:14-31).
The key to power in praying together is a single focus.
1 Corinthians 1:10, I appeal to you, brothers and sisters, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree with one another in what you say and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be perfectly united in mind and thought.
We are one body with one voice seeking God together.
Prayer of agreement leads to breakthroughs.
1), It repositions people and their land.
2), When we come together and pray in agreement – in one accord – our prayers are answered. Jesus said, In Matthew 18:19 NKJV – “Again I say to you that if two of you agree on earth concerning anything that they ask, it will be done for them by My Father in heaven.
Agreement Prayer is very beneficial.
No Christian runs well alone. No believer stands alone. No child of God fights alone and lives. Praying with others is a gift God gives us for the benefit of our faith. It enlivens our minds, strengthens our hearts, and empowers our hands. Ecclesiastes 4 12, 12 A person standing alone can be attacked and defeated, but two can stand back-to-back and conquer. Three are even better, for a triple-braided cord is not easily broken.
It unites our hearts as a family. It encourages our faith and helps us avoid temptation of destructive behavior, criticism, gossiping, wickedness, envy , internal conflicts and others. The reason it is so powerful is because we are focused on one thing – praying for Glory Summit.
God didn’t make us to be lone rangers. He saved us into the church. We are born again into His family. He called us out of the kingdom of darkness and into local expressions of the body of Christ. We grow from one level of glory to another.
Praying together fans the flames of joy.
So, what might God do in your church if you committed to praying more together? United Prayer unites us. Jesus teaches us to pray “Our Father” to remind us that the people you love most and those who you can barely stand to be around call on the same God to lead us in life. As the body of Christ, we’re in this together and when we pray, no one is excluded from God’s embrace.
Praying in one accord means agreeing with the Word and agreeing with each other – each one praying in faith and in line with God’s Word. When we are each yielded and submitted to the Holy Spirit – with one heart, one mind, and one purpose – our prayers are more powerful (Rom. 15:6; 2 Cor. 13:11; Philp. 1:27; 2:2; 1 Pet. 3:8).
If we, as the Church, the Body of Christ, join our hearts, faith, and voices together to pray and ask God for anything, we will see God do mighty things (Acts 4:23-33). The great people of the earth today are the people who pray, (not) those who talk about prayer. – S.D.Gordon.
To get nations back on their feet, we must first get down on our knees. – Billy Graham
Prayer is the exercise of drawing on the grace of God.
Prayer is not monologue, but dialogue; God’s voice is its most essential part. Listening to God’s voice is the secret of the assurance that he will listen to mine. – Andrew Murray. Prayer at its highest is a two-way conversation and for me the most important part is listening to God’s replies. – Frank C. Laubach.
If the heart wanders or is distracted, bring it back to the point quite gently and replace it tenderly in its Master’s presence. And even if you did nothing during the whole of your hour but bring your heart back and place it again in our Lord’s presence, though it went away every time you brought it back, your hour will be very well employed. – St. Francis de Sales.
God never gives us discernment or revelation in order that we may hold a committee meeting and discuss or criticize it, but that we may intercede. History is silent about revivals that did not begin with prayer. This kind of prayer is not eloquence, but earnestness; not the definition of helplessness, but the feeling of it; not figures of speech, but earnestness of soul.
Prayer is a surge of the heart, it is a simple look turned toward heaven, it is a cry of desperation as well as recognition and embracing both trial and joy. ”Prayer is the song of the heart. It reaches the ear of God even if it is mingled with the cry and tumult of a thousand men.” – Kahlil Gibran.
Ending your prayer well.
Once you’ve said all that you wanted to say, you can end your prayer by saying, “In the name of Jesus Christ, amen.” We do this because Jesus is the way to connect to our Father in Heaven and all things should be done in His name. And when you hear ‘AMEN’ that means “It’s Done!”.
