Why should we pray together as a group of Christians? I have access to God on my own, and I have a mountain moving faith; why should I take the time to join with a group of people I really don't know that well, and pray together?
PERSPECTIVE - The first prayer Jesus taught us was "Our Father, who art in heaven....". He came to earth to die for us to have a personal relationship with God through him, so he easily could have said "My Father, who art in heaven...", instead he taught us to pray from a corporate perspective. "Give US this day our daily bread....", "Forgive US our trespasses...."
If the prayer Jesus taught us to pray was from a corporate perspective, not a singular me, myself and I, then we should endeavor to pray corporately, regardless of how we feel about it, or our comfort zones.
PURPOSE - Why would Jesus teach us to pray together corporately, and not singularly? Just before he was arrested to be crucified, this was one of the prayers he made
“I do not pray for these alone, but also for those who will believe in Me through their word; that they all may be one, as You, Father, are in Me, and I in You; that they also may be one in Us, that the world may believe that You sent Me" - John 17:20&21
The primary reason for praying together is oneness, just as Jesus and the Father are one. And through this oneness, the world would believe that God sent Jesus. The reason why the body of Christ seems so disjointed and ineffective is the apparent avoidance of becoming one. We claim to want to move as one, yet somehow conveniently avoid every inconvenience required to become one body. Distractions and excuses are our lifestyle.
Another purpose of corporate prayer is found in V22 of the same chapter
"And the glory which You gave Me I have given them, that they may be one just as We are one"
The glory that was on Jesus while he walked the face of the earth (and we all know the glory of God was on him powerfully), has been given to us as a body. When we come together in oneness, that glory is manifested. And the primary purpose of this glory is so we would be one. Miracles, breakthrough, etc all happen thanks to the glory, but that is not the primary purpose of it on us as a corporate body.
EFEECTS - We are all familiar with the Pentecost story of how the apostles were in a room praying together, and the Holy Ghost fell down on them endowing them with great power (Acts 2:1-4). But what many don't realize is that this event would never have happened is Acts 1:14 hadn't taken place
"These all continued with one accord in prayer and supplication, with the women and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with His brothers"
They CONTINUED to pray as one. It was a habit, a routine, a lifestyle. They prayed corporately as one regularly, and this set the precedence for the power of the Holy Ghost to fall mightily on them. If they hadn't formed the routine or habit of regularly praying together corporately, the event at Pentecost wouldn't have happened.
Another place that shows the effect of praying as one is Acts 16:25&26. It says Paul and Silas were locked up in a jail, and they were singing and praying. The other prisoners didn't join in the praying, they silently listened. Yet when the deliverance came, the gates were flung open, and the chains of EVERYONE (both those praying, and those just silently listening and watching) were broken. Hallelujah!
Corporately praying together manifests the glory of Jesus in a level that you can't experience in your private one on one time with God. And when this glory manifests in power, it brings a divine intervention in the lives of everyone participating - the ones with super faith, the ones with not so super faith, the ones who were actively praying, and the ones who were not so actively praying. As long as you were a participant of the corporate prayer by faith, you are a prime candidate to receive a divine intervention and breakthrough in your life.
There is something about a group prayer that is doubly inspiring. Something amazing transforms me when praying in a group that I don't experience when praying alone. This is particularly during very bleak an dismal times. My level of hope is heightened I suppose. I cannot really explain it. My grandfather would have said it's the Holy Spirit moving through everyone that makes it feel like fire in me. Maybe that's it. That's the cause of that divine intervention.
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