God pours out his strength and power when we come together to pray.
A great example is the young church in Jerusalem in Acts 4:23-33. The church is facing persecution with Peter and John hauled before the Jewish authorities for condemnation for talking about Jesus.
After Peter and John return to their people, the group breaks out in united prayer.
What they ask for is astounding - they ask for boldness in preaching the good news about Jesus despite persecution. And God responds with a resounding "Yes!" They go out preaching boldly.
I have just looked at a brief seven-minute YouTube video featuring famed Christian authors Francis Chan and David Platt talking about praying together and sharing the gospel.
Chan points to that incident as he talks about encouraging each other through prayer, asking the Holy Spirit to embolden us to talk about Jesus with those who don't know him.
He says that, for the last two years, he has been gathering together with others in a team that shares the gospel in the streets of San Francisco. They meet for prayer beforehand - and they bolster each other's courage.
Chan and Platt admit they are like the rest of us - fearful of rejection. But they speak of the joy of talking about Jesus with people who are receptive.
For Chan, a key is praying with others and urging each other on to speak about Jesus.
Along with that incident in Acts, he notes that the apostle Paul asks the readers of his letters to pray for him that he may be courageous in talking about the Lord.
In the end, it is God speaking through us. The Holy Spirit gives us the words to speak and the opportunities to share.
If we obey the promptings of the Spirit, God will work. And we will be joyful because God has worked through us.
In a sense, we are stronger as we work together - and pray together.
This thought encourages me - fearful as I am. I need the support of others through prayer.
Here is the video by Francis Chan and David Platt:
A great example is the young church in Jerusalem in Acts 4:23-33. The church is facing persecution with Peter and John hauled before the Jewish authorities for condemnation for talking about Jesus.
After Peter and John return to their people, the group breaks out in united prayer.
What they ask for is astounding - they ask for boldness in preaching the good news about Jesus despite persecution. And God responds with a resounding "Yes!" They go out preaching boldly.
I have just looked at a brief seven-minute YouTube video featuring famed Christian authors Francis Chan and David Platt talking about praying together and sharing the gospel.
Chan points to that incident as he talks about encouraging each other through prayer, asking the Holy Spirit to embolden us to talk about Jesus with those who don't know him.
He says that, for the last two years, he has been gathering together with others in a team that shares the gospel in the streets of San Francisco. They meet for prayer beforehand - and they bolster each other's courage.
Chan and Platt admit they are like the rest of us - fearful of rejection. But they speak of the joy of talking about Jesus with people who are receptive.
For Chan, a key is praying with others and urging each other on to speak about Jesus.
Along with that incident in Acts, he notes that the apostle Paul asks the readers of his letters to pray for him that he may be courageous in talking about the Lord.
In the end, it is God speaking through us. The Holy Spirit gives us the words to speak and the opportunities to share.
If we obey the promptings of the Spirit, God will work. And we will be joyful because God has worked through us.
In a sense, we are stronger as we work together - and pray together.
This thought encourages me - fearful as I am. I need the support of others through prayer.
Here is the video by Francis Chan and David Platt:
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