In the book of Acts, the twelfth chapter, Luke records a church that is facing a crisis. King Herod had begun arresting those who belonged to the church in Jerusalem (Acts 12:1). He even had James, the brother of the apostle John, killed (Acts 12:2). Seeing that this pleased the Jews he arrested Peter and held him in prison. What would the church do? They could not rescue Peter by force. Should they flee Jerusalem? Should they just sit and wait? The record states, "earnest prayer for him was made to God by the church" (Acts 12:5). What happens when the church prays?

When the church prays, God sees a united people. Jesus' prayer for the unity of His disciples is well known to us (John 17:20-21). We often lament His prayer because of the division in the religious world round about us, and rightly so, but have you ever stopped to consider the picture that is put forth when a local body of the saints comes together in prayer? Just as our eating of the Lord's Supper together is a representation of our unity in one body (1 Cor. 10:16-17), so also is our uniting together in prayer. In Acts 4, after Peter and John were arrested, threatened, and released, they came to the brethren and reported what had taken place (Acts 4:23). When the church heard it, the Bible says, "they lifted their voices together to God" (Acts 4:24). This is pleasing to God and encouraging to the saints. "Behold, how good and pleasant it is when brothers dwell in unity!" (Psa. 133:1).

When the church prays, God hears the prayers of the righteous. This principle is well known to us. James instructed the saints that when someone is sick, to call for the elders to pray for them and that the prayer of faith would save the one who is sick and that even the confessed sins of the penitent believer would be forgiven (James 5:14-15). How is this possible? "The prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working" (James 5:16). The Bible gives us assurance that when prayer is offered in the prescribed manner, God hears (1 John 5:14-15). If the prayer of just one righteous person has great power, what about the prayer of the saints together?

When the church prays, God acts on behalf of His people. In Acts, the fourth chapter, after the saints had joined together in prayer to God, asking Him to give them courage and power to preach the gospel, the place where they had gathered together was shaken and they went forth and spoke the word with boldness! God heard and acted for His people. In Acts, the twelfth chapter, as the church joined together in prayer on behalf of Peter, God heard and he was rescued by an angel of the Lord (Acts 12:6-17). Granted we should not expect God to answer our petitions today in a miraculous way as then, but He nevertheless still answers them today!

There are many blessings and benefits of being a part of a local group of believers. We draw strength and encouragement from the Lord by coming together to worship and by exhorting one another. As the song says, "Oft we come together, Oft we sing and pray." Let us not neglect the great blessings and privileges that God provides when the church comes together to pray.