Why Do We Pray in the Worship Assembly?
From the very beginning of the church, prayer was ever-present (Acts 1:23-26; 2:42). Prayer is the practice of every Christian. This is also one of the five elements of worship in which we participate every first day of the week. Paul wrote to Timothy on how to conduct himself in the church (cf. 1 Tim 3:15). This included instruction on prayer within the assembly. God’s Word teaches us that men are to lead in prayer within our assemblies and everywhere. The Spirit said, “I will, therefore, that men pray everywhere, lifting up holy hands, without wrath and doubting.” 1 Timothy 2:8. This is not to devalue women but simply means that God has given us the pattern that men preside over mixed assemblies (cf. 2 Tim 2:9-15). However, this is not isolated to the assembly on the first day of the week. We also would point to the fact that men lead in prayer everywhere, this teaches us if a man is present, it is his obligation to pray.
Who All Is Worshiping In Prayer?
Does this mean that a sister is not partaking in this act of worship? Absolutely not! To say such would imply that any man in the audience was not partaking in this act of worship because he was not the one voicing the word. If this were the case, no individual other than the preacher would be partaking in the preaching part of worship. Every Christian is to remember that the purpose of worship is to give glory to God, and we give glory to God when we are intently listening and reading along with the preaching point of the sermon. Similarly, we do such when we pray. We all join in prayer when we clear our minds, focus our attention on the prayer, and, in agreement, confidently say amen (so be it). When we pray during the assembly, we must recognize this is the only time in which the entire congregation is together in the same location throughout the week. Sure, we may have different classes, or other opportunities, but we can not all be present due to certain circumstances. The Spirit though calls us together on the first day of the week (cf. Acts 20:7; Hebrews 10:24-25). When we are together, we pray together.
How Do God’s People Pray?
Take the time and consider how the brethren prayed in Acts 4:23-31.
And being let go, they came to their own company, and reported all that the chief priests and the elders had said unto them. And they, when they heard it, lifted up their voice to God with one accord, and said, O Lord, thou that didst make the heaven and the earth and the sea, and all that in them is: who by the Holy Spirit, by the mouth of our father David thy servant, didst say, Why did the Gentiles rage, And the peoples imagine vain things? The kings of the earth set themselves in array, And the rulers were gathered together, Against the Lord, and against his Anointed: for of a truth in this city against thy holy Servant Jesus, whom thou didst anoint, both Herod and Pontius Pilate, with the Gentiles and the peoples of Israel, were gathered together, to do whatsoever thy hand and thy council foreordained to come to pass. And now, Lord, look upon their threatenings: and grant unto thy servants to speak thy word with all boldness, while thy stretchest forth thy hand to heal; and that signs and wonders may be done through the name of thy holy Servant Jesus. And when they had prayed, the place was shaken wherein they were gathered together; and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit, and they spake the word of God with boldness.
You may have noticed the unity in prayer; the brethren prayed with one accord. Were all of these saints praying audibly? No, I do not think so. To lift up their voice with one accord simply means they had agreement, they were committed to the things prayed in. They prayed for steadfastness and boldness. The church of Christ must be united and strengthened by prayer. As with the other acts of worship, we engage in this when we come together.
What Kind of Men Lead in Prayer in the Worship Assembly?
In the worship assembly, the required men are those who can lift up holy hands without wrath and dissension. This is not a posture, but rather it illustrates something about the kind of men who lead in prayer. The type of man God desires to lead the congregation in prayer is one living a holy and righteous life. A man whose attendance, habits, divisiveness, and wrath are questionable should not be in this position to lead in the assembly. We are not saying that a man is sinlessly perfect that leads in prayer, but rather a man who is not producing the fruit of the Spirit is obvious and can hinder our worship.
Prayer is not isolated to the first day of the week. Remember all men pray everywhere. All of us pray personally. Our Lord gave a great example in that He often withdrew to pray alone at times. May we remember our need to talk to the Father incessantly. Take the time today to contemplate the following questions. How important is prayer in my daily walk? Am I praying without ceasing? (cf. 1 Thess. 5:17) Am I devoted to prayer? (cf. Col 4:2) Do I mean what I pray and do I pray what I mean? If the answer is no to any of these, I urge you to correct that now. God desires this relationship with you; go ahead and talk to Him.
Grace and Peace,
R.D. Beavers
