THE POWER OF CORPORATE PRAYER

Acts Chapter 1 tells us that after Jesus ascends to Heaven the disciples return to Jerusalem and enter into the upper room. Verse 14 is powerful, as the word tells us that "these all continued with one accord in prayer and supplication". A mystery is revealed here as this being "in one accord" results in moving the hand of God. In the original Greek this "once accord" (homothumadon) means being unanimous, having mutual consent, being in agreement, having group unity, having one mind and purpose. The disciples had an intellectual unanimity, an emotional rapport, and volitional agreement in the newly founded church. It is defined as harmony leading to action, (Strong’s #3361).

The Bible tells us in Acts 2:1, "When the Day of Pentecost had fully come, they were all with one accord in one place." The result was the coming of the Holy Spirit, the gift of the Comforter promised to us Acts 1:4 - 8.
As we gather together to pray for anyone or anything, this same power is available to us. It certainly didn't stop there. When we listen carefully to the heeding and promptings of the Holy Spirit as to what to pray, we remember Isaiah 55:11 "So shall MY Word be that goes forth from MY mouth; it shall not return to ME void, but it shall accomplish what I please, and it shall prosper in the thing for which I sent it." There is a great mystery here as well. It is ALWAYS good to pray the word of God. By doing so, we are always sure that we are praying the "will of God.”

When we join as one with the Holy Spirit in intercession the Lord will move us to enter into depths of prayer beyond our natural understandings and the results will be answered prayers. We will see prayers answered in an accelerated and supernatural way that could only be our Lord. Matthew 7: 7 - 8 tells us "Ask and it will be given unto you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened up to you. For everyone who asks receives, he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door shall be opened." This is prayer!An important component of prayer is FAITH. We are to believe the word of God as we pray it. Mathew 21:22 tells us " If you believe, you will receive whatever you ask for in prayer." 1 John 5; 14 – 15 states, "This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to HIS will, HE hears us. And if we know that HE hears us - whatever we ask - we know that we have what we asked of HIM." And in Jeremiah 29:12 it states, "Then you will call upon ME and come and pray to ME, and I will listen to you."

Another confirming Scripture about praying the word of God is found in John 15:7: "If you remain in ME and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish and it will be given you." When we praying HIS word the result is sure: IT WILL BE GIVEN {TO US}!

Recently many of the Prison Ministry Intercessors for Faith Seeds Ministry gathered for "one purpose" for a prison ministry campaign in Southern California. We prayed with "once accord” concerning the prisoners. We praised HIM using HIS word in Psalm 107:14, that HE wills to "bring the prisoners out of darkness and the deepest gloom and breaks away their chains". We praised HIM and prayed Psalm 146:7, Praise you Lord for "upholding the cause of the oppressed as YOU Lord sets prisoners free.” The result of these and other prayers was spiritual freedom. Many gave their lives to Christ and many rededicated their lives to Jesus Christ. Many asked for prayer. As we received the prayer requests and presented them to the throne room of our Father, we praised HIM with ONE VOICE for one accord, one purpose as HE promises us in Isaiah 65:24 that "BEFORE THEY CALL I WILL
ANSWER, WHILE THEY ARE STILL SPEAKING I WILL HEAR."

Praise be to our Lord, that HE already answers before we call. That IS THE POWER OF CORPORATE PRAYER.
When Peter was freed from prison, Acts 12 tells us that "constant prayer was offered to God for him by the Church." Acts 12:12 tells us that "many were gathered together praying." The result: Peter knocking at their door as they corporately met. There was answered prayer right before their very eyes! Acts 13:1 - 14:28 tells us all about corporate prayer that birthed forth "signs and wonders." As people praised, worshipped and sought the Lord, there were healings.

Enjoy the power of corporate prayer!