As we consider the subject of the prayer meeting, let us notice Acts 2:4242And they continued stedfastly in the apostles' doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers. (Acts 2:42): "They continued steadfastly in the apostles' doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers." I believe that is collective prayer, assembly prayer. Another example is found in the 12th chapter and verse 5, "Peter therefore was kept in prison: but prayer was made without ceasing of the church unto God for him." There we have assembly prayer. In verse 12, there is a practical carrying out of that. "When he [Peter] had considered the thing, he came to the house of Mary the mother of John, whose surname was Mark; where many were gathered together praying." Notice that it says many were gathered together praying.
The Presence of the Lord in the Prayer Meeting
The Lord's presence is promised to the two and three gathered together unto His name. What a blessed provision that is for a day of ruin! Just a small handful gathered together unto His name are promised the presence of the Lord in connection, not only with the discipline of the assembly, but also with the prayer of the assembly. Let us read in connection with that from Matt. 18, those well-known verses 19 and 20: "Again I say unto you, That if two of you shall agree on earth as touching anything that they shall ask, it shall be done for them of My Father which is in heaven. For where two or three are gathered together in [unto] My name, there am I in the midst of them." What a blessed promise and what an encouragement for us as we come together in the assembly prayer meeting! May we not neglect that meeting. May we, as our brethren in the early days of the Church's history, continue steadfastly in assembly prayer.
Freely Addressing God
Prayer, I believe, is freely addressing God as we get in 1 Tim. 4:55For it is sanctified by the word of God and prayer. (1 Timothy 4:5), "It [what we eat] is sanctified by the Word of God and prayer." What a blessed privilege we have to come into the presence of God and to address Him freely. In what? Confession! Oh, how it becomes us in view of our condition. We ought not to forget how things have deteriorated since the early days. We ought to be on our faces in the spirit of Daniel, Ezra and others and own before God the confusion of face that belongs to us; recognizing the sin and the failure that has come in, we ought to confess and own it to God. Then we can thank and praise Him for what He is and for what He has done, and, of course, present our needs to Him. We are a dependent people; we are a needy people and we ought to express that in our prayers, especially in our assembly prayers together.
Attitude and Form of Speech
In searching through the Word of God, I do not find that any special tone of voice, any intonation is required for acceptable prayer. I don't find any special vocabulary required for prayer except what is required by reverence. I believe that we have a mistaken thought that there is a special tone of voice that we need when we pray, and we have moved away from the thought of freely addressing God.
When we come together, we usually commence our meetings with a hymn. I believe this is orderly. I used to wonder where that custom came from, and then I read in Psa. 100, "Come before His presence with singing....enter into... His courts with praise." I believe that it is a godly way of doing things. But I want to say here that we are together to pray, not for a song service or a hymn sing, nor to preach. We are not together to read, but to pray. So when we come together and a hymn is given out, it should be a hymn that would be suitable to the thoughts we have been considering here.
Specific Needs
We ought to promptly present specific and special matters for the exercise of the assembly, requesting the prayers of the assembly. This ought to be done briefly and clearly with a specific request to be presented to the Lord.
We should not take so much time in presenting matters to the assembly for prayer that there is insufficient time to pray. We ought to be before the Lord as to what we mention for prayer and be specific about the need. As an example of this, the Apostle says, "Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit," and he doesn't stop there but goes on to say, "and for me, that utterance may be given unto me, that I may open my mouth boldly." So it is well to be specific in the things we ask for.
The reading of Scripture in the prayer meeting has the particular purpose of encouraging us in our prayers, helping us to have the Lord's mind about the requests, helping us to see the Lord's care and love for us.
Physical Attitude During Prayer
When it is evident that there are no further requests on the hearts of the brethren, let us get down on our knees promptly. First of all, consider our physical posture: standing, kneeling, falling on our faces in the dust go along with prayer and are suitable attitudes. There are occasions when it is suitable and pleasing to the Lord to fall actually, physically on our faces before Him and put our faces literally in the dust. I believe real tears are becoming, real tears from a heart that feels with God the needs of His beloved people.
Most of us find it helpful to close our eyes when we pray. But I would point out, lest we be critical of others, that we read, "These words spake Jesus, and lifted up His eyes to heaven." I recall several brethren in my experience who followed that practice, and I enjoyed their prayers and never thought they were mindful of anything but the blessedness of the Lord Jesus at the right hand of God as they lifted their eyes to Him.
Amen is Our Assent
Assembly prayer is not personal prayer, but collective prayer. This is something that is very important. When we pray in the prayer meeting, we are there to pray in behalf of the assembly. In connection with that, let us not forget that our "Amen" is our assent to a brother's prayer. I believe this is the primary thought in the expression, "If two of you shall agree." I don't think it means that two brothers have to mention the same thing in prayer. I see nothing wrong with two brothers mentioning the same thing in prayer, but I believe that "if two of you shall agree" is accomplished when we say "Amen" at the end of a prayer. The amen should be audible and unanimous. We read twelve times in Deut. 27 that all the people shall say, Amen. Brothers and sisters together, unitedly give the assembly's assent to a public prayer.
Last summer I made a trip to South America and it was my great joy to notice that our beloved brethren heartily and unanimously and together say Amen at the end of a prayer. What an encouragement that is! In connection with that, the one who prays on behalf of the assembly should pray in a voice loud enough to be heard throughout the room. How can I say Amen to a prayer that I cannot hear? Unheard prayers cause drowsiness and inattentiveness.
Now I want to say a word about long pauses between prayers. They are neither necessary nor do they indicate the urgency of fervent prayer to the Lord. We ought to use our time when we are there to pray together, to call out to God in behalf of the assembly. It is true that sometimes a pause is of the Lord, but more often it is weakness on our part. Do I need to add here that preaching at our brethren, or reciting doctrine to God, in prayer is not becoming to one leading the assembly in prayer. "God is in heaven, and thou upon earth: therefore let thy words be few." God does delight to hear us speak well of His Son. Fervent supplication is what we need, not eloquence.
To Whom do we Address Prayer?
Normally we address prayer to God the Father in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ in the power of the Holy Spirit. There are also times when addressing the Lord Jesus is appropriate. He is the Head of the assembly which is His Body and, as such, we look to Him for direction in assembly matters. Also He is Lord of the harvest and, as such, we supplicate the Lord of the harvest that He would send forth laborers into the harvest and provide for them and help them and encourage them. Then again, He is the One who lived here to the glory of God. He is able to understand us when we cry to Him in the circumstances of the pathway. Stephen is an example, "Lord, lay not this sin to their charge." Also, "Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.”
Let us not, however, confound the Persons of the Godhead. To thank God the Father for dying for us on the cross is unintelligent. God the Father sent the Son; the Lord Jesus came here and died for us. We can understand that, can't we? I believe that praying in the Holy Spirit will do that. While we are on that subject, Scripture does not allow the idea of prayer to the Holy Spirit. Of course, He is fully and equally God with the Father and the Son. But I don't find any example or precept of prayer to the Holy Spirit. We pray in and by the Holy Spirit.
Men and Women's Part in Prayer
Now what about the sisters? They don't pray audibly. We will refer to 1 Tim. 2:88I will therefore that men pray every where, lifting up holy hands, without wrath and doubting. (1 Timothy 2:8), "I will therefore that men [literally, the men] pray every where." The word "men" is in contrast to "women" in verse 9 if you read it carefully, so the men pray audibly. However, the sisters' presence is important; they are a part of the assembly. Look at Acts 1:1414These all continued with one accord in prayer and supplication, with the women, and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with his brethren. (Acts 1:14) "with the women," and you will get the principle. The Holy Spirit is present and He gathers up the exercises of the assembly and presents them to God through the mouth of the one who prays out loud. More than once I've been encouraged to have a sister tell me that I had expressed in audible prayer exactly what had been on her heart.
Oh, beloved brethren, together let us seek to make our prayer meetings the vital part of the assembly life that they are intended to be. "Continue in prayer, and watch thereunto."
R. K. Gorgas