I’m going to swim against the stream this morning.
I want to take you in a direction that left to ourselves, we simply wouldn’t follow, and might even consider quite odd. But please, hear me out.
        Maybe even test drive it. Can you do that?

I’m going to suggest we do something rather risky, somewhat intimate, involving sticking our noses in each others’ business.

Which I know is tough. There are a few things that have built a head of steam counter to what I want to suggest.
        First is the great Canadian attitude of "Whatever... Ho hum." Hard to get us too excited about much of anything. We’re a nation of folks who’d rather sit back than sit up; hang loose rather than risk all.
        Second obstacle to what I’m going to suggest is the tradition out of which our nation has been built. We’re a nation of pioneers and immigrants. A few people spread out over many miles and some rather tough conditions. Some having to carve a farm or some sort of existence out of the bush. Others arriving at Pier 21 with $2 in their pockets, hungry mouths to feed and nothing but their own ingenuity to make something happen. Meaning we’re a nation of pretty self-reliant people.
        And self-reliant people aren’t much to snooping into the affairs of others; keep to your own kind of folk.
        Finally – I’m convinced that all of this has been given a huge push recently by the electronic media tidal wave that has drowned our nation. People spending hours on the internet; communicating via email and chat rooms while huddled in the private of their den. No more face to face.

All of that spells trouble to this.....
        We’re devoting a huge chunk of time to taking in, learning about, and hopefully deepening our practice of some of the Bible’s teaching on prayer.
        Last week’s topic was the authority with which we pray – what is it that makes our prayers effective; gives them power; makes them more than hot air?
        The answer was – it is our status of being children of God. Our home base is heaven. And the power base from which we pray is heavenly power.

Today’s teaching comes from watching a group of early Christians at work in this whole prayer business – what did they do, and how did they do it?
Read with Edda, please, as we look at:

Theme words are these:
        "They all joined together constantly in prayer, along with the women and Mary the Mother of Jesus, and with his brothers."

Joined.... Praying...... together.

Oh, man. I can hear the questions and objections coming already.
        - Pray... with others? Naw, that’s getting too personal. I prefer to keep that kind of stuff to myself. What goes on between me and God is private business. None of your concern. Thanks, anyway.
        - Pray... with others? What a nuisance. All that coordinating, and accommodating of other people. Far easier to just do it myself in my space at my own time.
        - Pray... with others? What’s wrong with my own prayers. Isn’t that good enough?

Let’s acknowledge one thing right off the top – there is lots of room in the world of prayer for personal, private prayer; for the one-on-one encounters between a believer and the Lord.
        God makes all kinds of time and space for me to experience private praise time. He opens the door wide for me to wrestle through personal moments of pouring out the troubles and temptations that have worked me over. The Heavenly Father is very ready to hear the prayers that I raise up on behalf of people in need.

The Bible gives examples of private prayer, in no one less than the person of our Saviour. Several references show him going up into the hills, or away to a lonely place in order to pray..... away from the crowds, and even his disciples.
        On the night before his execution, Jesus went into a garden and left his disciples to the side while heading some distance off in order to be alone – just Him and His heavenly Father.
        After the conversion of the apostle Paul, he spent some days alone, fasting and praying. Then it was off to the desert for 3 years to meditate and grow in faith — solitary time.

HOWEVER –

Real though these experiences are, valid though they may be, they are not the whole story. They’re part of the package; a segment of the picture.
        ONLY a part, a segment.

There is a place and time to pray alone.
And there is place and time where God wills that we pray...... together.

I mentioned Jesus and prayer. There were private prayer times. But there were also times when he prayed with others, with his disciples – when, for example, he took his leadership team and went up on a mountain to have focussed prayer time with them (Luke 9).
        They prayed..... together.

The early church understood that. Jesus had told them to wait for power.
        They could have reminisced.... and probably did.
        They could have studied the old testament scriptures.... and probably did.
        They could have gone to worship at the Temple..... and probably did.
However, out of all the things they did while waiting, what the Bible chooses to highlight for us is – "They all joined together constantly in prayer...." (Ac 1.14).

I began this talk by reflecting on the inertia we face in Canada pushing us to do our own thing, alone. The Lone Canadian. That’s sort of our national theme.
        The bible’s major theme and direction, though, is exactly the opposite of that. It focusses on living together, working together, serving together, playing together, worshipping together......... and praying together.

There is a tidal wave of scriptural teaching and direction calling believers to live together as Christians.
        "Solitary Christian" is really to be an oxymoron – two words that don’t belong together, that don’t fit...... some would say like "military intelligence, short sermon, or low fat cream cheese."

Follow along and I’ll show you what I mean.
Beginning with Matthew 18. If you want to write in a title for that chapter, something that summarizes the theme of the whole thing, it would be something like – "Living Together."
        - not pushing yourself to the front of the line at the expense of another.
        - encouraging others in life and faith, rather than tripping them up.
        - looking out for the wandering ones, and working hard to bring them back.
        - doing your level best to repair broken bridges between yourself and others.
        - forgiving those who have wronged you.

In that context come these words:
        Again, I tell you that if two of you on earth agree about anything you ask for, it will be done for you by my Father in heaven. For where two or three come together in my name, there am I with them. (v.19-20)
Effectiveness in prayer that comes from praying........together.
        While there is room, precedent and encouragement to pray on our own, there is some sort of special heavenly weight, special holy significance given by the Son of God to Christians who gather together in prayer.
                It seems to be prayer that is racheted up a level.
                        "Turbo" prayer.

In John 17 Jesus prays for believers, "Father may they be one."
Romans 12 teaches - you belong together, live together.
1 Corinthians 12 says - you are part of one body; you need each other.
Ephesians 4 reminds us - you are one community; work together!
Remember last summer - our series on "One Another...."??
        No surprise, then, that when we come into the topic of prayer that we hear words to the effect -
                you belong together...... pray together.

Want more?
Hebrews 10:25 "Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another – and all the more as you see the Day approaching."
        Hear the little voice inside saying - "I can do it myself!!" ??
        Christian - you’re not meant to do it alone. You don’t have to do it alone.

"Let us not give up meeting together...."
        Can you guess what the context is in which these words are found?
Hebrews 10 talks about coming near to God; entering His holy presence; being with Him, close to Him, around Him.
                        ...... Sounds an awful lot like prayer, doesn’t it?
                                        "Let us not give up meeting together..."

Jesus has carved open a path through the jungle of life, through the tangle of our broken, pain-filled, uncertain world – carved open a path right into heaven.
        Walk that path, together.
        Pray...... together.
And then hear these words from Jesus, as He was speaking about the place where God’s people assemble, in the house of God.
        Jesus said, "My house will be called a house of prayer...." (Mt 21.13)
        Gathering as church, and gathering for prayer go together.
                Which is why those early Christians waited for the gift of the Holy Spirit, and spent their time together...... praying.

Which is also why those same Christians came together, even under remarkably dangerous conditions, to pray. Peter had been arrested and sentenced to death. The government felt itself on a roll and was ready to arrest and kill more. Safest thing would have been for believers to scatter. Harder to find that way.
        But they gather, says Acts 12, in one central place.
        And they pray!

All of which is the what – do it – pray together.
But why? Explain it, a bit anyway.
            Let me say just two things.

Beginning by doubling back to last week and Ephesians 6. Recall v.12:

"For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms."

You and I, as up front, unashamed followers of Jesus Christ as caught up in that battle. By wearing the name of Jesus we become targets of the evil one. By falling in line as soldiers for the Lord, we are called to march to Jesus’ drum.

That’ll mean conflict.
        That’ll mean challenge.
        That’ll mean confrontation with evil.

As we said last week, Ephesians 6 paints a picture of you and I as believer soldiers. It describes the armour we wear to protect ourselves. It describes weapons we use to beat back the enemy. And then it describes the strategy we’re to use in our war with the demon world --
        Remember what it was?
                PRAY.

Now - about being a soldier, how would you like to be part of an army unit where most of your work was done on your own. No protection. No help. No first aid. You’re on your own, babe. Just you and whatever the enemy throws against you.
        Would you sign up?

You’re a Christian soldier. Called to the warfare of prayer.
But don’t get caught out in the battle alone. You stand a far better chance of getting wounded, or killed. Instead -- Work together.
        Pray...... Together.

One final point -
        There are two huge themes in the New Testament. One I’ve already described: Unity among believers; being together – one.
        The other huge theme is oneness of believers with Jesus. We are joined with Him. Absolutely amazing. As close as husband and wife.

We live out the wonder of unity among believers by spending time with each other – fellowship, worship, service. Being together as the family of faith, as church.

We live out the wonder of being united with Jesus, in particular, through the wonder of prayer. Intimate, person to person, communion with Him.

What brings all of this together in a complete way is.......
        Can you see it??.......
        Praying..... together.
                In obedience to scripture.
                Never mind how Canadian culture may try to shape us.

So –
        - When you get a call to meet as a Fellowship Group, make sure to take time to pray together: with each other, and for each other.
        - When you meet as committees, take time to pray for what you are doing --- before you do it. And, take time to pray for each other!!
        - When you worship, make sure to pay attention and join in the times of communal prayer – even if doing it quietly.
        - When items come up in your life — of joy or of struggle — take advantage of the prayer teams we have available. Share the burden. Spread the joy.
        - And take the prayer corner segment of your bulletin home. Even if you’re not physically in the same place at the same time, join together with other believers to agree in prayer — hearts joined over the distances in a spiritual coming together.

As you do, be aware of the natural shyness and hesitancy towards all of this– the Canadian thing.
        Also, be very aware that forces of darkness will be pushing as many buttons in your mind and heart as they can, trying to keep you from getting involved. Because when you do, it means trouble for them.

And finally, like so much of Christian living, recognize that it comes down to a matter of decision, practice, and faithful habit formation.

So make the choice.
And pray..... together.