The performance of corporate prayers bears with it immense benefits. Corporate prayers is about two or more persons coming together to offer prayers.
Corporate prayers come in the form of persons praying together as prayer partners to prayers offered during church meetings to prayer ministries and so on.
Personally, one of the benefits I have gotten from corporate prayers is the drive to carryout personal prayers. Corporate prayers spurs me into personal prayers. It creates the needed revival when I notice a decline in my fervour in personal prayers.
Anytime I notice weakness in my personal prayer life one of the corrective measures I implement is to engage in corporate prayers and BOOM I find my steady pedestal mounting up in the place of personal prayers.
Another benefit which can be procured from corporate prayers is the transferring and receiving of grace.
Whenever corporate prayers are offered there is an atmosphere like a chemical reaction which allows the spirit of everyone involved to achieve permeability such that grace can be transferred and received.
From the place of corporate prayers you can receive the grace resident in another person's life as long as the prayers are offered in one accord, with one voice, and in unity.
Diverse encounters and strength is released when we come together to pray. Corporate prayers create a system for obtaining strength and fostering spiritual stabilty.
"Iron sharpeneth iron; so a man sharpeneth the countenance of his friend."– Proverbs 27:17 [KJV]
When we come together to pray, the weak among us receives strength, the one who was on the verge of backsliding is stayed from doing so and we grow in faith.
Without doubt, corporate prayers bears great benefits.
As beneficial and wonderful as corporate prayers can be, it does not substitute the need for personal prayers.
There are certain instructions, commands, and information that God would give you only when you are alone with Him.
God does not release classified information in just any location. There are certain things He would never say to you when you are in a crowd.
To get the perspective of God for your life you would have to seek His face alone. You must know the place of prayer for yourself.
Do not get me wrong. God speaks even in corporate prayers. He just would not always speak to you when you are in a crowd.
One of the problems believers face is that of praying alone. Praying in a group can be sweet whereas praying alone can be the opposite but nevertheless praying alone is of more importance than praying corporately.
It would interest you to know that all the benefits from corporate prayers can only be sustained via personal prayers.
The fire you capture from corporate prayers can only be maintained and kept alive through the performance of personal prayers.
How then can we maintain and utilize effectively the fire of corporate prayers?
The answer lies in just one word;
CONSISTENCY
Yes! Consistency!
David speaking said;
"He who dwells in the secret place of the Most High Shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty" – Psalms 91:1
Corporate prayers fire and fervour can only be maintained when one dwells in the place of personal prayers.
The word dwells means to live or to reside. It is not a one-time action. It is a continuous task.
He who dwells; continually resides in the place of personal prayers.
To keep every benefit you get from corporate prayers you must discipline yourself to continually yield your members to personal prayers.
Apostle Paul admonishes;
"Rejoicing in hope; patient in tribulation; continuing instant in prayer;" – Romans 12:12 [KJV]
"Continue in prayer, and watch in the same with thanksgiving;" – Colossians 4:2 [KJV]
"Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints;" – Ephesians 6:18 [KJV]
In the scripture verses above the theme is not just about praying but of consistency in prayer. Not of a one-time action but of a continuous approach to prayers.
It is only in consistency that we can harness the power of prayer.
Whatsoever you get from corporate prayers would be lost if you refuse to yield your members and give yourself to consistent personal prayers.
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