Going back to the practice of CORPORATE INTERCESSION and TEACHING THE NEW TESTAMENT that founded the early church is the only antidote for the diseases affecting the anemic church of The Western World. There, bold witnessing in the face of death and persecution was the norm, not the exception... The disease is UNBELIEF in prayer and the Word of God. The remedy is the exact opposite, see below...
THE HOLY SPIRIT WAS POURED OUT IN THE ATMOSPHERE OF CORPORATE INTERCESSION in the Upper Room on The Day of PENTECOST...
"When they arrived, they went to the upper room where they were staying: Peter and John, James and Andrew, Philip and Thomas, Bartholomew and Matthew, James son of Alphaeus, Simon the Zealot, and Judas son of James. WITH ONE ACCORD THEY ALL CONTINUED IN PRAYER, along with the women and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with His brothers." When the day of Pentecost came, the believers were all together in one place. Suddenly a sound like a mighty rushing wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting" (Acts 2:1-2).
THE CHURCH WAS FOUNDED ON THE APOSTLES DOCTRINE (The Teaching of The New Testament), Fellowship, Communion, GENEROSITY and PRAYER (Acts 2:41-45). "Those who embraced his message were baptized, and about three thousand were added to the believers that day. They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. A sense of awe came over everyone, and the apostles performed many wonders and signs. All the believers were together and had everything in common. Selling their possessions and goods, they shared with anyone who was in need."
BOLDNESS TO WITNESS IN THE FACE OF THREATENING WAS COUNTERED BY CORPORATE INTERCESSION (Acts 4:25-30), "When THE BELIEVERS heard this, THEY lifted up their voices to God with one accord. “Sovereign Lord, they said, “You made the heaven and the earth and the sea and everything in them... And now, Lord, consider their threats, and enable Your servants to speak Your word with complete boldness, as You stretch out Your hand to heal and perform signs and wonders through the name of Your holy servant Jesus."
THE APOSTLES KEPT FROM GETTING DIVERTED BY PASTORAL ISSUES THROUGH PRAYER, STUDY AND PREACHING... They appointed Deacons to oversee matters, not left the issues unaddressed, BUT DEVOTED THEMSELVES TO PRAYER AND THE WORD: "'Therefore, brothers, select from among you seven men confirmed to be full of the Spirit and wisdom. We will appoint this responsibility to them and devote ourselves to prayer and the ministry of the word.' This proposal pleased the whole group." (Acts 6:4).
PETER WAS SPARED FROM DEATH BECAUSE OF CORPORATE PRAYER...
"So Peter was kept in prison, but the church was fervently praying to God for him. On the night before Herod was to bring him to trial, Peter was sleeping between two soldiers, bound with two chains, with sentries standing guard at the entrance to the prison. Suddenly an angel of the Lord appeared and a light shone in the cell. He tapped Peter on the side and woke him up, saying, 'Get up quickly.' And the chains fell off his wrists" (Acts 12:5-7).
BARNABAS AND PAUL THE APOSTLE WERE COMMISSIONED IN A CORPORATE WORSHIP SERVICE...
"In the church at Antioch there were prophets and teachers: Barnabas, Simeon called Niger, Lucius of Cyrene, Manaen (a childhood companion of Herod the tetrarch), and Saul. While they were worshiping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, 'Set apart for Me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.' So after they had fasted and prayed, they laid their hands on them and sent them off" (Acts 13:1-3).
THE HOLY SPIRIT WAS POURED OUT ON THE GENTILES IN CORNELIUS' HOUSE WHEN THEY WERE ALL GATHERED TOGETHER IN ONE ACCORD AND CORNELIUS PRAYERS AND GIVING ASCENDED TO HEAVEN TO DISPATCH THE ANGEL THAT SAID TO FETCH PETER TO PREACH THE GOSPEL TO THEM... NO DOUBT CORNELIUS HAD CALLED A PRAYER MEETING SINCE HE WAS SUCH A MAN OF PRAYER...
Acts 10:1-7 "At Caesarea there was a man named Cornelius, a centurion of what was known as the Italian Cohort, 2 a devout man who feared God with all his household, gave alms generously to the people, and prayed continually to God. 3 About the ninth hour of the day[a] he saw clearly in a vision an angel of God come in and say to him, “Cornelius.” 4 And he stared at him in terror and said, “What is it, Lord?” And he said to him, “Your prayers and your alms have ascended as a memorial before God. 5 And now send men to Joppa and bring one Simon who is called Peter. 6 He is lodging with one Simon, a tanner, whose house is by the sea.” 7 When the angel who spoke to him had departed, he called two of his servants and a devout soldier from among those who attended him, 8 and having related everything to them, he sent them to Joppa."
30 And Cornelius said, “Four days ago, about this hour, I was praying in my house at the ninth hour,[d] and behold, a man stood before me in bright clothing 31 and said, ‘Cornelius, your prayer has been heard and your alms have been remembered before God. 32 Send therefore to Joppa and ask for Simon who is called Peter. He is lodging in the house of Simon, a tanner, by the sea.’ 33 So I sent for you at once, and you have been kind enough to come. Now therefore we are all here in the presence of God to hear all that you have been commanded by the Lord.”
GENTILES HEAR ABOUT GOD'S GRACE IN CHRIST
34 So Peter opened his mouth and said: “Truly I understand that God shows no partiality, 35 but in every nation anyone who fears him and does what is right is acceptable to him. 36 As for the word that he sent to Israel, preaching good news of peace through Jesus Christ (he is Lord of all), 37 you yourselves know what happened throughout all Judea, beginning from Galilee after the baptism that John proclaimed: 38 how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power. He went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with him. 39 And we are witnesses of all that he did both in the country of the Jews and in Jerusalem. They put him to death by hanging him on a tree, 40 but God raised him on the third day and made him to appear, 41 not to all the people but to us who had been chosen by God as witnesses, who ate and drank with him after he rose from the dead. 42 And he commanded us to preach to the people and to testify that he is the one appointed by God to be judge of the living and the dead. 43 To him all the prophets bear witness that everyone who believes in him receives forgiveness of sins through his name.”
THE HOLY SPIRIT FALLS ON THE GENTILES AS THEY WERE IN ONE ACCORD JUST LIKE THOSE IN THE UPPER ROOM AT PENTECOST...
44 While Peter was still saying these things, the Holy Spirit fell on all who heard the word. 45 And the believers from among the circumcised who had come with Peter were amazed, because the gift of the Holy Spirit was poured out even on the Gentiles. 46 For they were hearing them speaking in tongues and extolling God. Then Peter declared, 47 “Can anyone withhold water for baptizing these people, who have received the Holy Spirit just as we have?” 48 And he commanded them to be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ. Then they asked him to remain for some days.
PAUL & SILAS RELEASED FROM CHAINS IN PRISON AFTER PRAYING TOGETHER AND SINGING HYMNS TO GOD...
Acts 16:25 But about midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns of praise to God, and the prisoners were listening to them; 26 and suddenly there came a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison house were shaken; and immediately all the doors were opened and everyone’s chains were unfastened. 27 When the jailer awoke and saw the prison doors opened, he drew his sword and was about to kill himself, supposing that the prisoners had escaped. 28 But Paul cried out with a loud voice, saying, “Do not harm yourself, for we are all here!” 29 And he called for lights and rushed in, and trembling with fear he fell down before Paul and Silas, 30 and after he brought them out, he said, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?”
THE RESULT WAS THE JAILER AND HIS WHOLE HOUSEHOLD WERE CONVERTED
31 They said, “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved, you and your household.” 32 And they spoke the word of the Lord to him together with all who were in his house. 33And he took them that very hour of the night and washed their wounds, and immediately he was baptized, he and all his household. 34 And he brought them into his house and set food before them, and rejoiced greatly, having believed in God with his whole household.
PAUL'S INTERCESSION SAVES EVERYONE ON BOARD THE SHIP IN THE STORM
Acts 27:23 Just last night an angel of God, whose I am and whom I serve, stood beside me 24and said, ‘Do not be afraid, Paul; you must stand before Caesar. And look, GOD HAS GRANTED YOU THE LIVES OF ALL WHO SAIL WITH YOU.’ 25 So take courage, men, for I believe God that it will happen just as He told me.… GOD GRANTED SOMETHING FOR WHICH PAUL AND HIS COMPANIONS HAD BEEN ASKING...
The account goes on, but corporate intercession was the norm, not the rarity and accomplished huge results... Wish it were so today... Ask Your Pastor to Call Prayer Meetings and encourage him to pray about more than just "Aunt Sally's Knee" and "Uncle Joe's Job" (There is a place for that in prayer closets) -- PRAY ABOUT THE KINGDOM, PERSECUTED CHRISTIANS, THE CHURCH IN SHAMBLES IN EUROPE AND USA, THE GOVERNMENT, MILITARY & LAW ENFORCEMENT, THE LORD'S PRAYERS, THE APOSTOLIC PRAYERS IN THE NEW TESTAMENT & GREAT AND MIGHTY THINGS WE DO NOT KNOW (Jer 33:3). In Jesus' Name, Amen.
THE HOLY SPIRIT WAS POURED OUT IN THE ATMOSPHERE OF CORPORATE INTERCESSION in the Upper Room on The Day of PENTECOST...
"When they arrived, they went to the upper room where they were staying: Peter and John, James and Andrew, Philip and Thomas, Bartholomew and Matthew, James son of Alphaeus, Simon the Zealot, and Judas son of James. WITH ONE ACCORD THEY ALL CONTINUED IN PRAYER, along with the women and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with His brothers." When the day of Pentecost came, the believers were all together in one place. Suddenly a sound like a mighty rushing wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting" (Acts 2:1-2).
THE CHURCH WAS FOUNDED ON THE APOSTLES DOCTRINE (The Teaching of The New Testament), Fellowship, Communion, GENEROSITY and PRAYER (Acts 2:41-45). "Those who embraced his message were baptized, and about three thousand were added to the believers that day. They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. A sense of awe came over everyone, and the apostles performed many wonders and signs. All the believers were together and had everything in common. Selling their possessions and goods, they shared with anyone who was in need."
BOLDNESS TO WITNESS IN THE FACE OF THREATENING WAS COUNTERED BY CORPORATE INTERCESSION (Acts 4:25-30), "When THE BELIEVERS heard this, THEY lifted up their voices to God with one accord. “Sovereign Lord, they said, “You made the heaven and the earth and the sea and everything in them... And now, Lord, consider their threats, and enable Your servants to speak Your word with complete boldness, as You stretch out Your hand to heal and perform signs and wonders through the name of Your holy servant Jesus."
THE APOSTLES KEPT FROM GETTING DIVERTED BY PASTORAL ISSUES THROUGH PRAYER, STUDY AND PREACHING... They appointed Deacons to oversee matters, not left the issues unaddressed, BUT DEVOTED THEMSELVES TO PRAYER AND THE WORD: "'Therefore, brothers, select from among you seven men confirmed to be full of the Spirit and wisdom. We will appoint this responsibility to them and devote ourselves to prayer and the ministry of the word.' This proposal pleased the whole group." (Acts 6:4).
PETER WAS SPARED FROM DEATH BECAUSE OF CORPORATE PRAYER...
"So Peter was kept in prison, but the church was fervently praying to God for him. On the night before Herod was to bring him to trial, Peter was sleeping between two soldiers, bound with two chains, with sentries standing guard at the entrance to the prison. Suddenly an angel of the Lord appeared and a light shone in the cell. He tapped Peter on the side and woke him up, saying, 'Get up quickly.' And the chains fell off his wrists" (Acts 12:5-7).
BARNABAS AND PAUL THE APOSTLE WERE COMMISSIONED IN A CORPORATE WORSHIP SERVICE...
"In the church at Antioch there were prophets and teachers: Barnabas, Simeon called Niger, Lucius of Cyrene, Manaen (a childhood companion of Herod the tetrarch), and Saul. While they were worshiping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, 'Set apart for Me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.' So after they had fasted and prayed, they laid their hands on them and sent them off" (Acts 13:1-3).
THE HOLY SPIRIT WAS POURED OUT ON THE GENTILES IN CORNELIUS' HOUSE WHEN THEY WERE ALL GATHERED TOGETHER IN ONE ACCORD AND CORNELIUS PRAYERS AND GIVING ASCENDED TO HEAVEN TO DISPATCH THE ANGEL THAT SAID TO FETCH PETER TO PREACH THE GOSPEL TO THEM... NO DOUBT CORNELIUS HAD CALLED A PRAYER MEETING SINCE HE WAS SUCH A MAN OF PRAYER...
Acts 10:1-7 "At Caesarea there was a man named Cornelius, a centurion of what was known as the Italian Cohort, 2 a devout man who feared God with all his household, gave alms generously to the people, and prayed continually to God. 3 About the ninth hour of the day[a] he saw clearly in a vision an angel of God come in and say to him, “Cornelius.” 4 And he stared at him in terror and said, “What is it, Lord?” And he said to him, “Your prayers and your alms have ascended as a memorial before God. 5 And now send men to Joppa and bring one Simon who is called Peter. 6 He is lodging with one Simon, a tanner, whose house is by the sea.” 7 When the angel who spoke to him had departed, he called two of his servants and a devout soldier from among those who attended him, 8 and having related everything to them, he sent them to Joppa."
30 And Cornelius said, “Four days ago, about this hour, I was praying in my house at the ninth hour,[d] and behold, a man stood before me in bright clothing 31 and said, ‘Cornelius, your prayer has been heard and your alms have been remembered before God. 32 Send therefore to Joppa and ask for Simon who is called Peter. He is lodging in the house of Simon, a tanner, by the sea.’ 33 So I sent for you at once, and you have been kind enough to come. Now therefore we are all here in the presence of God to hear all that you have been commanded by the Lord.”
GENTILES HEAR ABOUT GOD'S GRACE IN CHRIST
34 So Peter opened his mouth and said: “Truly I understand that God shows no partiality, 35 but in every nation anyone who fears him and does what is right is acceptable to him. 36 As for the word that he sent to Israel, preaching good news of peace through Jesus Christ (he is Lord of all), 37 you yourselves know what happened throughout all Judea, beginning from Galilee after the baptism that John proclaimed: 38 how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power. He went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with him. 39 And we are witnesses of all that he did both in the country of the Jews and in Jerusalem. They put him to death by hanging him on a tree, 40 but God raised him on the third day and made him to appear, 41 not to all the people but to us who had been chosen by God as witnesses, who ate and drank with him after he rose from the dead. 42 And he commanded us to preach to the people and to testify that he is the one appointed by God to be judge of the living and the dead. 43 To him all the prophets bear witness that everyone who believes in him receives forgiveness of sins through his name.”
THE HOLY SPIRIT FALLS ON THE GENTILES AS THEY WERE IN ONE ACCORD JUST LIKE THOSE IN THE UPPER ROOM AT PENTECOST...
44 While Peter was still saying these things, the Holy Spirit fell on all who heard the word. 45 And the believers from among the circumcised who had come with Peter were amazed, because the gift of the Holy Spirit was poured out even on the Gentiles. 46 For they were hearing them speaking in tongues and extolling God. Then Peter declared, 47 “Can anyone withhold water for baptizing these people, who have received the Holy Spirit just as we have?” 48 And he commanded them to be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ. Then they asked him to remain for some days.
PAUL & SILAS RELEASED FROM CHAINS IN PRISON AFTER PRAYING TOGETHER AND SINGING HYMNS TO GOD...
Acts 16:25 But about midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns of praise to God, and the prisoners were listening to them; 26 and suddenly there came a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison house were shaken; and immediately all the doors were opened and everyone’s chains were unfastened. 27 When the jailer awoke and saw the prison doors opened, he drew his sword and was about to kill himself, supposing that the prisoners had escaped. 28 But Paul cried out with a loud voice, saying, “Do not harm yourself, for we are all here!” 29 And he called for lights and rushed in, and trembling with fear he fell down before Paul and Silas, 30 and after he brought them out, he said, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?”
THE RESULT WAS THE JAILER AND HIS WHOLE HOUSEHOLD WERE CONVERTED
31 They said, “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved, you and your household.” 32 And they spoke the word of the Lord to him together with all who were in his house. 33And he took them that very hour of the night and washed their wounds, and immediately he was baptized, he and all his household. 34 And he brought them into his house and set food before them, and rejoiced greatly, having believed in God with his whole household.
PAUL'S INTERCESSION SAVES EVERYONE ON BOARD THE SHIP IN THE STORM
Acts 27:23 Just last night an angel of God, whose I am and whom I serve, stood beside me 24and said, ‘Do not be afraid, Paul; you must stand before Caesar. And look, GOD HAS GRANTED YOU THE LIVES OF ALL WHO SAIL WITH YOU.’ 25 So take courage, men, for I believe God that it will happen just as He told me.… GOD GRANTED SOMETHING FOR WHICH PAUL AND HIS COMPANIONS HAD BEEN ASKING...
The account goes on, but corporate intercession was the norm, not the rarity and accomplished huge results... Wish it were so today... Ask Your Pastor to Call Prayer Meetings and encourage him to pray about more than just "Aunt Sally's Knee" and "Uncle Joe's Job" (There is a place for that in prayer closets) -- PRAY ABOUT THE KINGDOM, PERSECUTED CHRISTIANS, THE CHURCH IN SHAMBLES IN EUROPE AND USA, THE GOVERNMENT, MILITARY & LAW ENFORCEMENT, THE LORD'S PRAYERS, THE APOSTOLIC PRAYERS IN THE NEW TESTAMENT & GREAT AND MIGHTY THINGS WE DO NOT KNOW (Jer 33:3). In Jesus' Name, Amen.
Let's lift up our fellow members in prayer. 
