On the first day of this month, we learned the key of prayer. The emphasis was to shape every fear and worry into prayer. We learned that on an individual basis. There is a corporate dimension to this subject as well. A primary responsibility of the church is prayer. This is where the church draws her strength from. When Peter was detained in prison, the church took to praying. A few lessons can be learned from the prayer that the saints offered. Their prayer was corporate. 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. (1 Peter 2:9). 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.”
Their prayer was continuous. They prayed without break, just like they did before the baptism of the Holy Spirit in the upper room. As soon as they returned to Jerusalem after Jesus ascended, they continued in prayer. 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.