Prayer meeting for Gospel mission
Scripture: Luke 24:44-49, Acts 1: 12-14, 2:1-4, 14
We take up again our consideration of the Saviour's command to His disciples on the eve of the greatest mission ever launched.
We thought of the fact that the disciples were utterly unready for this great enterprise and the Lord knew it but set them on the path to being made ready.
They were to 'tarry' before Him in prayer, Luke 24:49.
We will take the matter a little further tonight.
We noted how that we must beware of distractions. That happened to the disciples. Peter took it on himself to initiate an election to replace Judas. Let us ever note that nothing came of this act! The man chosen, doubtless a good man, is never mentioned again after Acts 1:26.
When they did get down to prayer please note its character:
1. It was informed prayer. They knew what they were to seek in prayer. "Tarry . . . . until ye be endued with power from on high."
2. It was intense prayer. Acts 1:14. "Supplication." See Luke 2:37 for an example of this intensity.
3. It was persistent prayer. "Continued." There were 10 days between the Saviour's ascension and Pentecost. I am sure after the diversion cause by the 'election', the rest of the time was devoted to prayer. 10 days from Tuesday evening will take us until this day next week. Can we maintain a spirit of prayer until then. If we did, I have no doubt that we would see a mighty answer!
"Little Prayer, Little Blessing!
Some Prayer, Some Blessing!
Much Prayer, Much Blessing!"
4. It was united prayer. "With one accord . . . And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place," 1:14, 2:1. May God unite our hearts in this matter!
5. It was expectant prayer. "They were all with one accord in one place." They were still there 10 days later for they expected the Lord to answer them. May the Lord give us this confident expectancy!
"And this is the confidence that we have in him, that, if we ask any thing according to his will, he heareth us: and if we know that he hear us, whatsoever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we desired of him," 1 John 5:14-15.