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[Act 1:13-14 NASB] 13 When they had entered [the city,] they went up to the upper room where they were staying; that is, Peter and John and James and Andrew, Philip and Thomas, Bartholomew and Matthew, James [the son] of Alphaeus, and Simon the Zealot, and Judas [the] [son] of James. 14 These all with one mind were continually devoting themselves to prayer, along with [the] women, and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with His brothers.
Will You Pray With Me?
Corporate prayer (praying together as a church) is an important and neglected part of many Christians life. When we study the book of Acts, we stumble upon a shocking reality of the infant church. We look back at the power and miracles that were done. We see the explosive growth amidst such formidable opposition. Many of us long for that to be seen in our days. The Holy Spirit seems to be freely working in the church among the leaders and the laity of those days. Was this only a temporary phenomenon to get the church off the ground, or was it to be an ongoing environment throughout the church age? I passionately believe that the power and effectiveness we read about in the book of Acts is to be continued until Jesus raptures the church!
The Norm
Corporate prayer was the norm for the church in Acts and should also be for the church of today. You will find that Acts records the church going from one corporate prayer meeting to another. Acts 1:14, tells us that were praying together just before the outpouring the Holy Spirit in Acts 2. Acts 4 records the church praying together as a response to persecution, and God responds by shaking the ground. Acts 6 records the church praying together in response to the structure and ministry of the church. Acts 12 records the church praying together for the miraculous release of Peter. Acts 13 records the church praying about who should be sent out as missionaries. Acts 16 records a corporate prayer (Paul and Silas) praying and praising God Who supernaturally released them from prison. Most of the major miracles in Acts were a response from God to the corporate prayer of the church. God responds when we pray together.
100 Days/Miles This Summer
This summer, we are praying together. It is going to take different forms. First, we are asking people to commit to an unbroken prayer life for 100 days from now until Labor Day Sunday, September 1. Secondly, we are asking people to walk their neighborhood and pray — one mile a day for 100 days or 100 miles to September 1. Thirdly, we are having the church building open for prayer. Beginning the week of Monday, June 3rd the building will be open Mondays at 7 AM, Wednesdays at 6:30 PM, and Thursdays at noon. Some of these times will have a leader leading in prayer while other times, the sanctuary will be open for people to come and pray. We have unique prayer guides that we are asking people to use as part of their prayer. These prayer guides will allow us to “pray together” even if we are not always in the same location, we will be praying along the same lines.
Please take advantage of these times of prayer. For a gift of any size, we will have exclusive T-shirts available for those who commit to prayer walk their neighborhoods. Expect God to respond in miraculous ways today as He did then.
We are believing to connect 1000 people to Jesus Christ and His Church.
We have tools for you.
Evangelism How-To Pamphlet
Surrendered Follow-up Cards
For more go to http://evangelnorth.net/surrendered/
Also, get your “How can I PRAY for you?” shirts here.
We love you. We are looking forward to seeing you at Evangel North Church Sunday 9 AM & 11 AM, and Wednesday at 7 PM.
Also new service: Saturdays 6 PM, at Evangel World Prayer Center (6900 Billtown Road).
Pastors John & Erin Carmichael
Evangel North Church – A multi-generational multi-ethnic church reaching a region with the Gospel of Jesus Christ by the power of the Holy Spirit and the love of God.
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