Why Church Prayer Meetings? (Part 1)

The first meeting we had when we started 41 years ago was the Prayer Meeting. It is not mere exaggeration or religious humility but a statement of fact to say that we are where we are today, have what we have acquired today and grown to this level today, all because of the corporate prayer of the church. Every service is important, but none more important and imperative than our Prayer Meeting.

Our Wednesday Prayer Meeting was and still is not the most well attended service. The focus is to pray and to receive prayer. Through the years l have taken comfort in the words of the mercurial English revivalist, Leonard Ravenhill when he wrote,

“The Cinderella of the Church today is the prayer meeting. This handmaid of the Lord is unloved and unwooed because she is not dripping with pearls of intellectualism, nor glamorous with the silks of philosophy, neither is she enchanting with the tiara of psychology. She wears the homespun of sincerity and humility and so is not afraid to kneel!”

The Church and nation cannot just depend on gifted men and women to pray. Our destiny depends on the praying Church. Jesus said, “My house will be called a house of prayer for all nations.” Matthew 21:13

The Church was born when our Master demanded them to “wait” for power although they were exposed to all His life teachings, miracles and exposure to His divinity. “Behold, I send the Promise of My Father upon you; but tarry in the city of Jerusalem until you are endued with power from on high.” Luke 24:49. The modern church has no such privilege, so can we do any less? The mighty Holy Spirit baptism came upon the believers while they we gathered to pray. “These all continued with one accord in prayer and supplication, with the women and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with His brothers”. Acts 1:24

We have need of so much help – more technology structures, programs, gifted ministers, mobilization of members, selling of merchandise, etc. We boast of so much energy, social and cultural acceptance and relevance, influence with the elite of society, etc. – all these we strive to get with the hope of extending the Kingdom.

But where is the raw and supernatural power of the Holy Spirit that He gives it only by His grace when His people ask in faith through prayer?

Where are the testimonies of changed lives who became flaming evangelists, soul winners and church planters instead of the perpetual need to cater for the worldliness and spiritual immaturity? The Bible calls it, “And I, brethren, could not speak to you as to spiritual men, but as to men of flesh, as to infants in Christ. I gave you milk to drink, not solid food; for you were not yet able to receive it. Indeed, even now you are not yet able, for you are still fleshly…” 1 Cor. 3:1-3

Where are the signs and wonders that follows a believer? Mark 16:17-18

We boast about bigger and better facilities but is it for new souls or building better aquariums to attract other believers because we claim to be more effective in our ministry.

All these are not wrong, but salvation of the lost, revival of the believers and maturity of the saints is not the result of any form of power but spiritual power alone. “That which is born of the flesh is flesh and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit” John 3:6.

A spiritual church is a result of spiritual power. Worldly and carnal ways can only produce worldly and carnal believers. Speaking about soul winning, a wise Pastor taught me many years ago saying, “when a person is born wrongly, he will never grow rightly” When a person comes to our church because of carnal reasons, they will continue to grow in “religious carnality”.

We need spiritual power. Decide today to attend and participate in the Wednesday Prayer Meeting. Hearing others pray will inspire your faith and equip you to pray.

Serving You,

Pastor Ong & Pastor Nancy.