This week, we will finish our nine-week series, 'Praying Together,' exploring the great power of communal prayer. Based loosely upon Mike Betts' book and course, 'The Prayers of Many,' our series aims to deepen our understanding and practice of praying together as a community.
‘“I have posted watchmen on your walls, Jerusalem; they will never be silent day or night. You who call on the Lord, give yourselves no rest, and give him no rest till he establishes Jerusalem and makes her the praise of the earth.” (Isaiah 62:6-7)
Summary: We are called to be ‘watchmen’ - those who protect and grow the church through faithful prayer.
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This is a vivid picture of praying for God’s people. God revealed that He had raised up prayer warriors who would persist in prayer until God’s people are raised up before the nations. Like a city would have watchmen looking out for danger, so the church is protected and flourishes through prayer.
You and I are called to be watchmen. We protect and grow the church through praying together. This text challenges us as to whether we will faithfully pray for the church. Will we sacrificially pray personally and together for the church to be protected and become healthy and glorious?
Through persistent prayer together the church is to become ‘the praise of the earth’. God’s people are to become visible to the communities around them. Through the love and holiness of God’s people, we are to be a light in the world. Jesus speaks of it like this:
“You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.” (Matthew 5:14-16)
Our ‘good deeds’ are to glorify God. If we will become ‘watchmen’ and pray together persistently, this will become a reality.
RESPONSE
We are called to be ‘watchmen’ - those who protect and grow the church through persistent prayer. Do we hear God’s call to us to persistent prayer for the church? Do we see the link between prayer and the church becoming healthy and effective in mission? This is a call to more prayer and I invite you to do what you can to give yourself no rest for sake of God’s people and God’s glory.
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 and how has this helped you / affected your life?
3. STUDY AND PRAY TOGETHER
Please read Mark 11:15-17
What have you been most inspired or challenged about during this Praying Together series?
What would it look like for a local church to be a house of prayer for all nations?
How can we each play our part in building a church community that has prayer at the heart of all that we do?
SIV - Pray together as we seek to be witnesses in the communities that God has put us into.
Pray together - Spend some time in prayer together. Ask the Spirit to guide you and pray and you feel led.