Mission of Intercession – Not Intermission

“… give our attention to prayer and the ministry of the word.” Acts 6:4

The early church in Jerusalem had miraculous growth.  Remember, the church grew by about 3,000 on her first day (Acts 2:41).  With the continued growth came a need for the Apostles (the Twelve) to attain help overseeing and serving the people.  This duty required that they be “full of the Spirit and wisdom” (Acts 2:3); thus, the Twelve delegated a portion of their ministry and authority over the church to well qualified, Spirit filled servants of the Lord.  The Church grew as more people were born again in Christ (nope, no switching churches or denominations); and enabled leaders were birthed from within.

So, what was the key to Apostolic leadership?  What was the key to evangelism?  What was the key to Chruch growth?  What was the key to retaining people and growing leadership in the body?  What is the key to the same questions for today?

 

1.  The growing body of believers “devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer” (Acts 2:42).  Note when the church was devoted to the apostles teaching and prayer; with fellowship in the middle, great things happened.    

2.  The Apostles wanted to give their “attention to prayer and the ministry of the word” (v 6:4). 

Common to Acts 2 and 6 was prayer.  The results of disciples being taught and Spirit lead by Apostles reveals a common thread to church health and growth:  PRAYER. 

Indeed, Jesus prayed all night before his atoning death for us.  His prayer was intercession for His disciples, and as He added, “My prayer is not for them alone. I pray also for those who will believe in me” (John 17:20)—those “who will believe,” that’s you and me today!  Jesus and the Apostles engaged in prayer, intercessory prayer.  Intercessory prayer was for the past, it is for this moment, and it is for God’s “kingdom come” and that His “will be done on earth as it is in heaven” (Matt 6:10).

In the early church, interceding in prayer for the leadership and body had a glorious result:  “Everyone was filled with awe, and many wonders and miraculous signs were done by the apostles” (2:43).  Why would you expect any less today, for this very moment?  Today, as with the early church, intercessory prayer is needed.  In prayer, intercede for the church, the leadership and body; and for empty souls needing Christ’s filling.  The result:  Everyone will be filled with awe, and see many wonders and miraculous signs.

Interceding for you,

Owen <><