CORPORATE PRAYER

07/14/2024

"Then Daniel went to his house, and made the decision known to Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah, his companions, that they might seek mercies from the God of heaven concerning this secret, so that Daniel and his companions might not perish with the rest of the wise men of Babylon." (Daniel 2:17-18)

One time, King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon had a dream for which he requested an interpretation. The issue was that the king refused to reveal the contents of his dream to anyone. He then issued a decree to kill every wise man, including astrologers, rulers, and a group called the Chaldeans, who could not tell him his dream and its interpretation.

The Bible says, "The Chaldeans answered the king, and said, “There is not a man on earth who can tell the king’s matter; therefore no king, lord, or ruler has ever asked such things of any magician, astrologer, or Chaldean" (Daniel 2:10). There are utterly impossible situations and solutions that extend beyond what is humanly knowable. Some in the medical profession attest to the fact that there are certain rare illnesses with no known cure and that these illnesses may show up unannounced in the most unexpected places, casting a sentence of death on people. 

Enraged by the response of the Chaldeans, Nebuchadnezzar asked his commander of the king's guard to begin the executions. Now Daniel, having asked the king for a stay of execution in order to get the right answer, the Bible says,  "Then Daniel went to his house, and made the decision known to Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah, his companions, that they might seek mercies from the God of heaven concerning this secret, so that Daniel and his companions might not perish with the rest of the wise men of Babylon." (Daniel 2:17-18).

This is where many Christians miss it. They encounter an issue, threat, diagnosis, or a state of confusion that has a corporate implication or that the Lord has instructed should be brought to the house, instead of returning to the company of believers to seek the Lord about it, they act as lone rangers.

One time, the Bible says, "Then Jews from Antioch and Iconium came there; and having persuaded the multitudes, they stoned Paul and dragged him out of the city, supposing him to be dead" (Acts 14:19). Hear me, mobs do not stone a person and that person survives let alone an apostle like Paul. You may not realize it but that was spiritual warfare turned physical. Demons incited that mob to kill Paul. How did the church respond?  Picture this, the Bible says, "However, when the disciples gathered around him, he rose up and went into the city. And the next day he departed with Barnabas to Derbe" (Acts 14:20). They gathered and he rose up. They didn't gather like a social club to exchange ideas. They gathered to pray and Paul rose up.

Corporate prayer is how we get things that haven't yet taken flight in our lives and ministries to take flight. Understand that prosecuting spiritual warfare is a "We" activity and not a "you" or "I" one. Ephesians 6:12 does not say, "I wrestle not..." It says, "...we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places" (Ephesians 6:12).

And if you are reading this by providence, and you do not have a church body to which you belong, you are in the most dangerous place to be as a believer in Jesus Christ. There are no lone rangers in the Body of Christ. You need a pastor and a body of believers that you worship and pray with daily.  Ask the Lord to lead you today to join a church. And if He has asked you to just us reach out immediately and learn about our weekday corporate prayer. 

Remember, the war that we wage in the spirit realm is a corporate one. 

Have a protected day!

Faith-Filled Confession

I am alert to the terms of prayer engagement as it pertains to doing it within a company of believers. We set down conspiracies of darkness and foil every advantage of the enemy in the lives of those loved by, associated with, and called alongside us. In Jesus' name. Amen

One-Year Bible Reading Plan: Psalm 13-16; Acts 18