Devoting themselves to prayer

“These all with one mind were continually devoting themselves to prayer,

along with the women, and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with His brothers”

(Acts 1:14).

Our church's motto for the year 2008 is "Devote yourselves to prayer."  The verse that serves as the motto is Acts 1:14.  The background of this verse is when Jesus, after His crucifixion, resurrection, and ascension, returned from the Mount of Olives, also known as Olivet, to Jerusalem where His disciples were staying in the upper room.  About 120 of them gathered together in prayer.  Reflecting on this verse, I have chosen the title "Devote yourselves to prayer" while praying that you and I may live a life of obedience to this word.  In summary, this word can be encapsulated as "Prayer, Expectation, and Waiting."  We need to pray, expect, and wait.

So, how should we pray, what should we expect, and how should we wait?  Let's contemplate on these questions.  How should we pray?

We should pray together.

Certainly, individual prayer is crucial.  However, just as Jesus' disciples, about 120 of them, gathered together in prayer, we too should gather together to pray.  We live in an era where the habit of gathering is often overlooked.  Look at families.  Isn't it challenging for family members to come together in one place for a simple evening meal?  Therefore, for church members to gather together for prayer is indeed a challenge.  That's why the author of Hebrews advises in Hebrews 10:25: "not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching."  Those who see the Day of the Lord's return drawing near with spiritual eyes should have a sense of urgency and strive to gather together in prayer.

Second, we should pray with one accord.

The disciples of Jesus mentioned in Acts 1:14 prayed with one accord.  Therefore, we should also follow their example and come together in unity to pray to God.  This type of prayer is often referred to as united prayer.  How can we pray to God with one accord?  The key is found in Ephesians 4:4-6. To summarize, within the context of "one God, one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one hope, one body, one Spirit," we can pray to God with one accord.  We have become one body in the Triune God, sharing one faith, one baptism, and one hope.  Therefore, we can gather together with one accord to pray to God.  Our hope is to supplicate to God with one accord.

Third, we should hold fast to the promise while praying.

The promise that the disciples of Jesus held onto in today's passage is found in Acts 1:8 - "But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth."  We too should hold fast to the promises that the Lord has given us, and gather together in unity to pray.  We must cling to the promise of the Lord, as in Matthew 16:18, where He says, "And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it."  Together, we should call out to God, holding onto His promises.

As we supplicate to God in this manner, what can we expect from Him?  I have four expectations:

• Receiving the fullness of the Holy Spirit.

We know from Acts 2 that when the early church, about 120 believers, gathered together in unity, holding onto the promise, they received the infilling of the Holy Spirit on the day of Pentecost.

• When this happens, we can anticipate boldly proclaiming the gospel of Jesus Christ.

Just as the early church, filled with the Holy Spirit, boldly preached the gospel even in the face of persecution and adversity, we too hope to be empowered by the Holy Spirit to boldly proclaim the gospel in any circumstance.

• Next, we anticipate the ongoing work of the Lord in adding those who are being saved daily (Acts 2:47).

Rather than ambitiously desiring church growth through human effort, we hope to experience the work of the Lord in growing His church both qualitatively and quantitatively.

• Lastly, we look forward to our church being established as a community of love.

We pray and hope for our church to be established as a community of love, similar to the early church depicted in Acts 2:42-47 and 4:32-35.

                How should we wait?  We should wait with faith, steadfastness, and patience.  Trusting in the Lord's perfect faithfulness, we must patiently watch for how the Lord will answer our prayers.  It is crucial not to forget the importance of patience.  The Lord will respond to our prayers in His perfect timing.

Praying, hoping, and waiting,

James Kim

(While yearning for the work of the Lord in adding those who are being saved)