wheel

Solomon, the wise writes, "Two are better than one; because they have a good reward for their labour. For if they fall, the one will lift up his fellow: but woe to him that is alone when he falleth; for he hath not another to help him up. Again, if two lie together, then they have heat: but how can one be warm alone? And if one prevail against him, two shall withstand him; and a threefold cord is not quickly broken. (Ecclesiastes 4: 9 - 12)". Christian walk with God is characterized by fellowship with the community of saved children of God. The very first encounter of the early church with the Holy Spirit happened when they gathered as a congregation of 120 at the upper room (Acts 2: 1). Subsequently, Acts 4: 31 reads, "And when they had prayed, the place in which they were gathered together was shaken, and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and continued to speak the word of God with boldness". This happened soon after the first miracle by the disciples Peter and John after Jesus' ascension when the beggar born lame was healed at the temple gate. Many gathered on hearing the miraculous escape of the disciples from the prison and began to praise God for His marvellous works, and pleaded God to empower the disciples keeping in mind the threats and oppositions schemed by the Jewish rulers. For they decided, "we will give ourselves continually to prayer, and to the ministry of the word. (Acts 6: 4)". To this group who prayed together, God answered, and the Scripture says, "And the word of God increased; and the number of the disciples multiplied in Jerusalem greatly; and a great company of the priests were obedient to the faith. (Acts 6: 7)."

The early church encountered opposition to the Truth of the Gospel time and over again. In Acts 12 we read about a group of believers locking themselves behind and fervently praying for the Lord to deliver Peter who was imprisoned for the sake of the Gospel. They were praying earnestly and were shocked to see that God had answered to their prayers so early that they couldn't believe their eyes. James 5: 14 - 16 says, "Is any sick among you? Let him call for the elders of the church; and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord: And the prayer of faith shall save the sick, and the Lord shall raise him up; and if he have committed sins, they shall be forgiven him.  Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much". Praying for one another as a group brings deliverance both to the one who is prayed for, as well as to all the others who are united in prayer. Likewise, sharing each other's burdens by taking them to God in prayer as a group is more effective, for when we intercede for others, we fulfil the law of Christ. This is what Paul writes to the Galatians in Galatians 6: 2, "Bear ye one another's burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ".

Praying together as a group brings forth encouragement, repentance leading towards confession, sanctification which leads towards unification with God, and a sense of love among the believers in Christ, as an epitome of togetherness and the body of Christ working together in fulfilling the eternal will of the Lord. Jesus said in Matthew 18: 20, "For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them". Gathering together to gossip and blame others or God himself will never bring a change in any existing scenario, rather, gathering together in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ to pray and intercede, works wonders beyond what human brains could fathom. In 2 Corinthians 4: 15 Paul writes, "For all things are for your sakes, that the abundant grace might through the thanksgiving of many redound to the glory of God". Therefore, when we gather together in the name of Jesus and begin to thank God for all His goodness, mercies, love, concern, rebuking and his leadings in our lives, grace abounds amidst us. Evidently, the Lord who is enthroned amidst the praises of His people (Psalm 22: 3) listens to our plea and manifests His might for His glory!

King David sings, "Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity! (Psalm 133: 1)". How true indeed! Sustaining one another in prayer and lifting him up is the divine way of manifesting Christ's love to a fellow believer, just the way Christ lifted us up from the miry clay while we were still lost away from Him. Let's remember to pray for the sick, weak, lost and dying souls in our group prayers. In addition, let's pray for the ministers of God, authorities of our nation and for the various churches for the glory of God.

Â