DIXON

The most important meeting ever held on earth is a prayer meeting, for when God's people meet together to pray, whether they be few or many, they "move the arm that rules the universe", look up Matt. 6:6; 18:19-20 and John 14:12-14. By a prayer meeting, we mean any gathering of God's children that is called for the express purpose of unitedly laying hold of Almighty God in prayer for the accomplishment of His will and purpose through His Church. Unfortunately, God's people do not always recognize the importance, the privilege and the possibilities of prayer, and in consequence of this prayer meetings are frequently very poorly attended. It was very different in the early Church, for though, in the Book of Acts, we read of a number of individuals praying "private prayers", look up and consider these in Acts 7:59; Acts 8:22; Acts 9:11; Acts 9:40; Acts 10:4; Acts 10:9; and Acts 28:8; we also have the record of a number of occasions where there were "united prayers", in other words, where prayer meetings were held. Who should attend the prayer meeting?

1. Servants of the Lord were at the Prayer Meeting.

In Acts 1:13 we have a beautiful picture of a mixed group of Christians met together for the express purpose of praying together. Many of those present had been with our Lord throughout His ministry, and they had heard His teaching, and had seen Him die and rise again. They had also received His commission, look up Matt. 28:19 and Acts 1:8, and doubtless it was this in particular that sent them to their knees. Look through the list and you will see that all the apostles were present at this prayer meeting, compare Luke 6:13-16 with Acts 1:13! Thus, we learn that it is the privilege of all who love the Lord to attend the prayer meeting.

2. The Women were present at the Prayer Meeting.

In Acts 1:14 we are told that "the women, and Mary the mother of Jesus" were present. What an immense debt we owe to the faithful women in our churches! And what a blessing it is for any church to have in its membership women who have a burden for prayer and who know how to pray! If the scriptures really teach that women are always to keep silence in the church, even in a meeting for prayer, there would be a great deal of silence in some prayer meetings! Notice that Mary, the mother of Jesus, was at the prayer meeting. She was a greatly honored woman, but she was a sinner saved by grace, like the others, and she quietly took her place with the others in the prayer meeting.

3. The Men were at the Prayer Meeting.

In Acts 1:14, we read that "His brethren" were present to pray, that is, the Lord's own brothers. A great miracle had taken place in their hearts, as we learn by a comparison of John 7:5 and Acts 1:14, With all due respect to the women, let it be said that it is a wonderful thing when the men meet for prayer. Is there anything more thrilling than a band of men praying? Look up 1 Samuel 10:26.

4. Young Converts should attend the Prayer Meeting.

In Acts 2:41-42 we read that those who had been so wonderfully converted on the Day of Pentecost met together and joined "in prayers"; and in Acts 3:8 we read of one man who started his new life of faith in the Lord by joining Peter and John "in the temple" . . "at the hour of prayer", verse 1. It is good for the young Christians to attend the prayer meeting, for there, faith gets confirmed, utterance is given, and the right friends are made.

5. Those in the forefront of the battle were at the Prayer Meeting.

In Acts 3:1 we read that Peter and John "went up together into the temple at the hour of prayer", three o'clock in the afternoon! They had seen about 3,000 people converted, and this was all the more reason why they needed to attend the prayer meeting, as their Master did after periods of special service, look up Luke 5:15-16. Those who have special responsibilities in God's work need to he at the prayer meeting; they need the fellowship of God's people and the enabling which the Lord gives in answer to believing prayer, look up Isa. 40:28-31.

6. Workers in the thick of the conflict need to go to the Prayer Meeting.

In Acts 4:23-24 we read of the release of Peter and John from prison. Immediately they joined their brothers and sisters in Christ, and what a time of prayer they had! As we learn from Acts 4:23-31. There was recognition by all that they were engaged in a fierce spiritual conflict, as we are, look up Eph. 6:12; but in the Lord's Name, victory was theirs, as in His Name it will always be ours, look up Rev. 12:11.

7. Ministering brethren should attend the Prayer Meeting.

In Acts 6:4, the little word "we" suggests not only private prayer but praying together, united prayer. Notice the order of things here: they prayed before they preached; they went in to God before they went out to men, prayer first, preaching afterwards. Some of us need to learn this lesson.

8. God's people should attend the Prayer Meeting in times of special crisis and need.

In the work of every church and missionary society there are such times, and we learn from Acts 12:1, 5 and 12, that when James had been beheaded and Peter's life was in the balance the Church met for prayer. And God wonderfully answered the prayers of His people, even though they were slow to believe it, look at Acts 12:5-17!

9. Key workers in the Church should attend the Prayer Meeting to pray for missionary candidates to be selected and sent forth.

We read of this very thing happening in Acts 13:1-4, and after all, they were only acting and praying in accordance with the Lord's own word in Matt. 9:3548, and especially verse 35. United prayer is the Lord of the Harvest's prescribed method for securing workers in His harvest field.

10. Believers when away from home should attend the Prayer Meeting.

In Acts 16:13 and 16 we learn that Paul and Silas attended the prayer meeting at Philippi, in the open air and by the riverside, and with what wonderful results! See verses 14 and 15.

11. Suffering Saints should be at the Prayer Meeting.

Read the tremendous account of the escapades of Paul and Silas, in Acts 16:12-25, and notice particularly verses 13, 16 and 25. There are many in prison today for Christ's sake. Doubtless they pray much, but we can and should pray for and with them, look up 2 Cor. 1:11.

12. Brothers and sisters who are saying "goodbye" should be at the Prayer Meeting.

We read about this happening in Acts 20:36, when Paul bade farewell to his friends at Ephesus.

The prayer meeting is the most important meeting ever held on earth. Some, because of circumstances beyond their control, cannot attend the prayer meeting, but what would happen if all who could come did come?