No Prayer, No Power
By Thom Rainer

The early church in Jerusalem was at a crisis point. This time the problem was not an external foe. It was not heretical teaching in the fellowship. It was simply a body of believers that had misplaced priorities. The church was in danger of losing its passion for prayer.

Good question, bad answer

The congregation had a legitimate question. The story is told in Acts 6:1-7. They wanted to know who would take care of the Hellenistic Jewish widows. Who in the church would take care of those widows and get them food every day? Good question. After all, the Hebraic Jewish widows were getting their food. We can’t leave out one group, the church declared, while another group gets its needs met.

It seems, though, that some were suggesting that the apostles should add this duty to their growing list of responsibilities. That was a bad answer. Still, the Twelve handled the situation well. They selected seven men of godly character to lead in this ministry. The widows were fed. The church was pleased. And the number of disciples multiplied greatly. Crisis averted.

Fascinating response

The particularly fascinating response in this passage takes place in Acts 6:4. The apostles said: “But we will devote ourselves to prayer and to the preaching ministry.” They could not, under any circumstances, neglect prayer or the preaching ministry. As important as pastoral care to the widows was, prayer and preaching could not be minimized.

So we leaders in churches around the world have rightly held high the priority of preaching in our churches. That clarion call should never be silent. But it’s the first part of Acts 6:4 that we don’t see often in churches in America today: “But we will devote ourselves to prayer . . .”

Prayerlessness = Powerlessness

Did you get that? The Jerusalem church would not just have a weak prayer meeting. Prayer would not be an addendum to their worship services. Prayer would not be simply preparation for the consumption of food.

* The church would be devoted to prayer.
* The church at Jerusalem had power because they had prayer.

In a study we did several years ago on the most effective evangelistic churches in America, we found one of the highest correlated factors to that effectiveness was a passion for and a devotion to prayer.

It seems like we have little power in our churches today because we have little prayer.

* Not just perfunctory prayer.
* Not just an offertory prayer.
* Not just a hospital prayer.

Powerful churches have a passion for prayer. They are consumed with prayer. They are devoted to prayer.

Gratitude for praying churches

I have been blessed over the past two decades to witness the power of praying churches. They are few in number, but they are great in their witness and ministries. For these churches I am grateful. My own denomination, the Southern Baptist Convention, is struggling. Churches are becoming less evangelistic. Biblical illiteracy is on the rise. Missions’ giving is down.

Sometimes it seems like the only area where we are on the rise is conflict. But I am grateful that our denomination has issued a clarion call for a Great Commission Resurgence. And I am especially grateful that the first priority of this movement is a call to prayer.

When churches pray

We have tried a mountain of methods. We have read thousands of books (including my own). We have declared new programs and ministries. But it seems like we are missing the main thing: We are not focused on the power of prayer.

When churches pray, God hears. When churches pray, the people declare that they are insufficient and God is all-sufficient. When churches pray, the focus moves from self and personal needs to God and His glory. May our churches, like the early church at Jerusalem, be consumed with prayer. Then we just might see a true Great Commission resurgence.

Thom Rainer is the president and CEO of LifeWay Christian Resources, and for 15 years prior to that led a church and denominational consulting firm. He is the author of 21 books. His latest, “Simple Life,” is being released this week by B&H Books.

From: www.churchcentral.com web site. August 2008