THE POWER OF UNIFIED PRAYER

Acts 2:1 – And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place.

From my perspective just before there is a fresh move of the Spirit there tends to be upheaval in the world and in the church. In my fifty years of Christianity I have participated in two clear outpourings of the Holy Spirit. The first one was the Jesus Movement and the Charismatic Renewal which came after the Viet Nam War and the rebellious peace movement in the 1960’s. The second outpouring was the outpouring of glory and unspeakable joy in the 1990’s. The church was trying to recover from the public scandals of famous preachers in the 1980’s, we needed a good dose of joy. Today we have recently endured several years of the Covid epidemic and a political divide in America that we haven’t seen since the Civil War over 150 years ago. The church itself has experienced dissension and an unsettledness which tends to quench the spiritual power and influence of the church.

In times like this the Lord will pour out His Spirit of prayer on His people. Prayer leads to awakening and restores the unity of God’s people. Here is how Arthur Wallis describes the blessing of unified prayer.

“Having likened the blessedness of this unity to oil and dew, the psalmist concludes, “For there [where brethren dwell together in unity] the LORD commanded the blessing, even life for evermore.” Once this unity is effected in prayer, the blessing is assured. Of the hundred and twenty in the Upper Room we read, “These all with one accord continued steadfastly in prayer” (Acts 1:14). Through patient and steadfast waiting upon God, they were brought to that symphony of prayer which knew no discordant note and which brought from heaven the first great outpouring. When again believers “with one accord continue steadfastly in prayer” for such a visitation, the Spirit will surely be poured out again. The Lord has not withdrawn His promise. “If two of you shall agree . . . , it shall be done.” This unity is the crown of spiritual preparation. When the saints pray as one, revival is nigh, even at the doors.”

Today we hear the sound of corporate prayer and worship breaking out across America. Young people are being stirred by the Lord to gather and seek His face. When you see a movement marked by corporate prayer know that awakening and harvest will surely follow. So maybe the division and discord we have all seen will birth a hunger in us to seek the Lord with those of like and precious faith.