Chapter One

THE PRAYER MEETINGS OF THE CHURCH

   In the Old Testament time, God commanded the Israelites to assemble themselves purposely to read the Torah and pray on some appointed days. The Israelites always met on those days for prayers and reading of the Torah. In the New Testament time, our Lord Jesus also commanded us to pray and He initiated the prayer meetings of the saints. The Book of Acts states explicitly that the saints in Jerusalem met purposely to break bread, discuss the Word, and pray.

   The first Church which was the Church in Jerusalem was a praying church. The apostles, the elders, and the general congregation met regularly for prayers. Acts 2:42 reveals that the Church in Jerusalem had many appointed times of meeting purposely for prayers. It states, “They were continually and faithfully devoting themselves to the instruction of the apostles, and … to prayers” (AMP). Moreover, Acts 4:23 to 31 further indicate that the Church in Jerusalem also met and prayed when there were sudden situations that would bring total calamity. It is true that the Church in Jerusalem had many appointed times for prayer, which can be called “Regular Prayer Meetings”; they also met and prayed for the Lord’s help in emergencies, this kind of meeting can also be called “Urgent Prayer Meetings”. These two prayer meetings are needed in the churches. Let us first discuss the matter of regular prayer meetings, and then, urgent prayer meetings.