One of the primary responsibilities of the church is prayer. Like the umbilical cord ensuring the sustenance of the unborn, so is prayer in relation to God. It is where the church draws her strength from. There are a few lessons we can learn from the early church about this timeless spiritual discipline. Their prayer wore a corporate outlook. When the apostles encountered persecution, they returned to the rest of their company and they all lifted up their voices in supplication to God. The responsibility of praying was not delegated to a segment of the church, all prayed. Prayer is the Old Testament equivalence of burning incense to God. Only the priestly tribe could do that then. But in the New Testament, all believers have been co-opted into what Peter calls the royal priesthood. When prayer becomes the business of everyone, we stand to see more of the power of God at work.

Like the umbilical cord ensuring the sustenance of the unborn, so is prayer in relation to God…When prayer becomes the business of everyone, we stand to see more of the power of God at work…Continuity in prayer breaks down satanic barriers. Importunity brings down the hand of God for deliverance.

Secondly, their prayer was continuous. They prayed without ceasing. We noticed this before the outpouring of the Holy Spirit in the upper room. As soon as they returned to Jerusalem after Jesus ascended, they continued in prayer. They also prayed without ceasing over Peter. Continuity in prayer breaks down satanic barriers. Importunity brings down the hand of God for deliverance. It is not an expression of faith to mention an issue just once in prayer and turn to other matters. If repetition of prayer is an expression of faithlessness, then Jesus was faithless when He prayed for the same issue three times at Gethsemane. The Bible says nothing against repetition, but frowns at vain repetition.