Everything in the institutional church is backwards. Prime of place in most meetings is liturgy or worship, or the sermon. This is not the order according to Scripture. The first thing we as Christians are to do when we gather is pray, "First of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all people." (1 Timothy 2:1). This first of all at beginning of Paul's verse in the Greek is, "first, before, principal, most important, from the word πρῶτος, η, ον, Protos, prṓtos (an adjective, derived from 4253 /pró, "before, forward") – first (foremost). 4413 /prṓtos ("first, foremost") is the superlative form of 4253 /pró ("before") meaning "what comes first" (is "number one"). That means the Apostle Paul is urging us to put as paramount, what comes first above everything else is prayer when we gather together. Instead, most churches do not pray at all, worse still prayer is left in form of benediction, "may Lord bless you and keep you.." or an empty prayer of rote, "Our Father in Heaven.." Jesus Christ our Lord and God urged us not to pray repitiously, "And praying, do not use vain repetitions like the pagans, for they think that in their many words they will be heard. Therefore do not be like to them, for your Father knows of what things you have need before your asking Him. Pray then like this: “Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name," (Matthew 6:4-9); notice Jesus says do not use repetitious prayer, and then He share Our Father Prayer, proving it is model or topics or concerns for prayer, thanksgiving, requests, deliverance from evil, and etc.; but not to be prayed like some text out of prayer book! Jesus told us that prayer is powerful and effectual, "when two or more gather in my name I am there in their midst," (Matthew 18:20), and, "Again truly I say to you that if two of you on the earth might agree concerning any matter that they shall ask, it will be done for them by My Father who is in the heavens." (Matthew 18:19).
The Apostle Paul told us by holy Spirit, "Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you," (1 Thessalonians 5:16-18), and pray in the spirit, " For one who speaks in a tongue does not speak to men but to God; for no one understands, but in his spirit he speaks mysteries.So anyone who speaks in tongues should pray also for the ability to interpret what has been said. For if I pray in tongues, my spirit is praying, but I don’t understand what I am saying. but if there is no interpreter, he must keep silent in the church; and let him speak to himself and to God." (1 Corinthians 14:2, 13-17). And yet, prayer is the most neglect practice in the Church. Many churches do not pray, and this lack of supplication has lead to fall of many nations. For in same chapter, Paul urges us to pray first and foremost, and to pray for our leaders, "First of all, then, I urge that entreaties and prayers, petitions and thanksgivings, be made on behalf of all men, for kings and all who are in [authority, so that we may lead a tranquil and quiet life in all godliness and dignity," (1 Timothy 2:1-2). Prayer is power, the LORD Trinity hears our prayers (Revelation 8:4), and it is capable of great things! But as our enemies (spiritually) dedicated five times a day to pray and chant against us and our nations, we refuse ot even offer 5 minutes of prayer together. Once upon a time, in America, entire schools prayed each morning and evening, imagine how many supplications and intercessions were then offered up! But now prayer is outlawed in schools, at least en masse, and the result has been the worse offense being chewing gum in class to now rape and teen pregnancy.
Prayer is the first and foremost thing we should be doing when we gathering together. In fact, we are urged by Apostle who says, "If you cannot get to anything else, then pray." (NASB 1970). Instead, prayer it reserved for last, the dispersion after a sermon. Sadly, one of bad fruits of Martin Luther is that he made the pulpit and sermons priority, when prayer should be. Sermons are good, make no mistake, "All the believers devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching, and to fellowship, and to sharing in meals (including the Lord's Supper), and to prayer," (Acts 2:42), but the order here isn't priority, often the Communion or Lord's Supper is done first or in middle or at end of services. Some churches having caught on to praying, and so host prayer meetings in their homes or at the main church building. This is good, and I urge you if your pastor and church congregation does not have prayer meeting, to start one once a week at a time that permits many of the church to gather. In addition, I urge that if you aren't already an intercessor, to prayerful consider becoming one if it be Christ's will.
We are in dark times, and what we don't need is more programs, we need prayer. It is time to let Prayer have its first and foremost place (protos) with then prophecy, and other practices (see 1 Corinthians 14, whole chapter). For even our Lord Jesus said, "Seek first the Kingdom and His righteousness, and all this will be added to you." (Matthew 6:33). Seeking is praying, and spending time in LORD's presence while you make supplications, intercessions, and listen to His voice! So let us become prayerful again! O Saints, brothers and sisters in Christ! I beseech you all to join the prayer movement according to Scriptures. Do not let these dark times, the devil, and downtrodden feelings prevent you; but being a disciple of Jesus Christ, go into your prayer closet, to your prayer park bench, or wherever you can pray best and begin the battle! Amen.
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