This week we continue in our 9-week series entitled ’Praying Together’; this series is loosely based upon the book and course, ‘The Prayers of many’ by Mike Betts. During this series, we want to learn about the importance of corporate prayer.
‘‘Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their labor: If either of them falls down, one can help the other up. But pity anyone who falls and has no one to help them up. Also, if two lie down together, they will keep warm. But how can one keep warm alone? Though one may be overpowered, two can defend themselves. A cord of three strands is not quickly broken.’ (Ecclesiastes 4:9-12)
Summary: Proximity to other believers is a key to sustaining spiritual passion.
You can watch this devotional at:
If you were to remove a log from a blazing fire, it would soon lose its heat. If you were to try to light a fire with too much space between the pieces of fuel, you wouldn’t be able to. Likewise if any individual to maintain his or her ‘fire for God’, we need to pray with others. Proximity to other believers is a key to sustaining spiritual passion.
Our reading today from Ecclesiastes speaks of the principle of mutual support. What the Bible calls fellowship is good for work, for helping those who fall down to bet back up, to keep warm and for defence. Like a rope of three strands, people with close, spiritual relationships are not quickly broken!
Fellowship (Koinonia), which includes praying together, is one of the means that God gives to us in order to remain vibrant and encouraged. When we come together, the fire that God has put inside of us, helps others to burn more brightly. On other occasions, it may be we that need to borrow heat from others. Paul speaks of the way that meeting together builds us up:
‘What then shall we say, brothers and sisters? When you come together, each of you has a hymn, or a word of instruction, a revelation, a tongue or an interpretation. Everything must be done so that the church may be built up.’ (1 Corinthians 14:26)
It’s easy to treat our church community as optional. We can be lured into thinking that we are strong and don’t need others. We can fall into the trap of thinking that others don’t need us and that our lack of involvement is a personal matter without ramification on others. The truth is, you need to build and be built up; we all need to receive and give the fire that God puts in us.
RESPONSE - MEET TOGETHER NO MATTER WHAT!
No matter your mood or circumstances, meet with others to worship and pray. If we want to be built up and to help to build others up, we must believe that meeting with others is God’s gift to us. Proximity to other believers is a key to sustaining spiritual passion.
COMMUNITY GROUP NOTES AND STUDY
1. NOTICES
It might be good to begin with notices. Please share from this week’s Church News.
2. ICEBREAKER
What has God been speaking to you about from His Word this week?
3. STUDY AND PRAY TOGETHER
During this series, we will be using the 'Prayers of Many' course by Mike Betts.
I encourage you to buy a copy of the book from: https://prayersofmany.org/book#buybook
If you need assistance in buying a book please send an email to the church office and we will happily purchase you a copy.
Please download the course handbook from:
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