Continue in Prayer
These all continued with one accord in prayer and supplication, with the women and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with His brothers. Acts 1:14
The prayer of agreement. It is one of the most powerful ways to pray. It is when two or more of God’s people get together and come into agreement on taking hold of God’s will for a situation. In this case, 120 of Jesus’ followers were gathering together daily in the upper room waiting for the promise of the Holy Spirit that Jesus said He would be sending to help them reach the world with His message of love. During this ten-day span, these disciples were meeting and continuing in prayer, preparing for the purpose they were called to go into all the world and tell the good news. At that time, they didn’t know how long it was going to be before the Holy Spirit would come, but by faith, they continued in prayer and supplication as they waited.
Notice, they did not find things to be busy with or go out to pursue a living until the Spirit came. Instead, they were intentionally gathering and praying because they knew Jesus had promised something and they were obedient to stay put until that something happened. What would have happened if they went back to their former life and professions before they started in ministry with Jesus? Would the Holy Spirit still have come? Would He have found them where they were in the fields and fishing boats across the land? Well, He certainly could have, but not likely. The Holy Spirit and His power came as a result of their coming into agreement with each other and also because of their obedience to wait as Jesus told them to. These directions did not necessarily make sense and it is not really comfortable to sit and wait for something when you do not know how long you are going to have to wait. But these disciples were faithful and thank goodness for that. They were endued with power from on high and ushered in the Holy Spirit’s presense to be the foundation of the New Testament church.
So, how does this apply to us today? Let’s start with considering what we are willing to continue in prayer and supplication for? Are we willing to come together with other believers in agreement to pray for the lives of our loved ones, our neighborhoods or our country? What about praying for the people around the world who have dedicated their lives to spreading the message of salvation to a lost and dying world? There is great power in coming together in prayer and many things in the world have changed because of believers calling on the God of heaven for help. We can change our world today, if we begin to make it a priority to call on Him and follow the direction He gives as we agree with others in prayer.
Today I want to encourage you to come into agreement with other believers in prayer. Even if it is just one other person, take time to press into Him and pray the prayer of faith. Pray for lost people, pray for sick people and pray for those who need rescued from the oppression of the enemy. Join together today and begin to form a bond that cannot be broken in the spirit realm. Then continue in prayer and supplication until the promise of our Savior’s return has come.
Today’s scripture reading: Acts 1:12-26
12 Then they returned to Jerusalem from the mount called Olivet, which is near Jerusalem, a Sabbath day’s journey.
13 And when they had entered, they went up into the upper room where they were staying: Peter, James, John, 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 continued with one accord in prayer and supplication, with the women and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with His brothers.
15 And in those days Peter stood up in the midst of the disciples (altogether the number of names was about a hundred and twenty), and said,
16 “Men and brethren, this Scripture had to be fulfilled, which the Holy Spirit spoke before by the mouth of David concerning Judas, who became a guide to those who arrested Jesus;
17 for he was numbered with us and obtained a part in this ministry.”
18 (Now this man purchased a field with the wages of iniquity; and falling headlong, he burst open in the middle and all his entrails gushed out.
19 And it became known to all those dwelling in Jerusalem; so that field is called in their own language, Akel Dama, that is, Field of Blood.)
20 “For it is written in the Book of Psalms: ‘Let his dwelling place be desolate, and let no one live in it’; and, ‘Let another take his office.’
21 “Therefore, of these men who have accompanied us all the time that the Lord Jesus went in and out among us,
22 beginning from the baptism of John to that day when He was taken up from us, one of these must become a witness with us of His resurrection.”
23 And they proposed two: Joseph called Barsabas, who was surnamed Justus, and Matthias.
24 And they prayed and said, “You, O Lord, who know the hearts of all, show which of these two You have chosen
25 to take part in this ministry and apostleship from which Judas by transgression fell, that he might go to his own place.”
26 And they cast their lots, and the lot fell on Matthias. And he was numbered with the eleven apostles.
The Daily Dose 