The Power of Corporate Prayer

When Jesus taught His disciples to pray He began His prayer “Our Father,” not, “My Father.”

Jesus teaches us to pray in private, “But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father.” (Matthew 6:6a) But He also teaches us that there is power when we unite in prayer.

“Again I say to you that if two of you agree on earth concerning anything that they ask, it will be done for them by My Father in heaven. For where two or three are gathered together in My name, I am there in the midst of them.” (Matthew 18:19-20)

The power of the church is found in the prayers of the saints, not just the individual prayers, but corporately and united.

We see this same scenario in our need to confess our sins, that while we are told God is faithful and just to forgives us when we confess, 1 John 1:9, but it’s when we do it with one another, that is where additional power lies in the healing it brings.

“Confess your trespasses to one another, and pray for one another, that you may be healed.” (James 5:16a)

There is power in corporate and united prayer.

This is what the Apostle Paul knew and understood. We can see this as He continually sought the church’s prayer for His ministry.

“Now I beg you, brethren, through the Lord Jesus Christ, and through the love of the Spirit, that you strive together with me in prayers to God for me, that I may be delivered from those in Judea who do not believe, and that my service for Jerusalem may be acceptable to the saints.” (Romans 15:30-31)

(See also 2 Corinthians 1:10-22; Philippians 1:19, 2 Thessalonians 3:1-2)

Paul counted on the prayers of those within the church for God to provide for His mission and ministry.

It’s through our united and corporate prayers that we will see God’s kingdom come on earth as it is in heaven.