A devoted church.

The first church in Jerusalem was devoted to prayer as a way of life and God moved in their midst as a result. (Acts 2: 43).

At one point in his ministry the great preacher, Spurgeon, was distressed by the declining spiritual condition of churches in London. One of the things that was an indication of this decline, in Spurgeon’s mind, was the fact that many churches were meeting as little as twice a week for prayer!
Spurgeon recognized the vital importance of prayer for the success of the local church.

Our church may be suffering because we do not spend enough time doing battle for Christ’s cause, in prayer.

Rom 12: 10 – 12 and 21: 10 Be devoted to one another in brotherly love. Honour one another above yourselves. 11Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervour, serving the Lord. 12Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer.
21Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.

Like it or not, we are engaged in a battle where we must be faithful in prayer, patient in affliction and joyful in hope, because we are devoted to one another. And we are devoted to one another, because we are devoted to Jesus and to the cause of Christ.

A church serving the Lord with spiritual fervour, is a church where people live out Biblical Christianity and not a place where we only speak of it. This can only we accomplished by a praying community of Christ.

May your devoted walk with the Lord be richly blessed.