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

The Book of Acts is one of the most fascinating studies of the efficacy of prayer in all of Scripture. Luke's account of the birth and growth of the early church gives us insight on what was to become a priority in their development; what worked and what didn't. One of the activities that worked was prayer . . . continual prayer, a lesson I fear that has been lost in much of today's church. 

Before his ascension, Jesus promised His followers that they would be empowered with a supernatural gift unlike anything they had ever experienced, a gift from the Holy Spirit that would enable them to do even greater works than when He was with them (John 14:12-17). All they were told to do was wait - it was on the way. He called it being, "baptized with the Holy Spirit," and as He was ascending into heaven Jesus reminded them once again of a power that would enable them to "tell people about Me everywhere" (Acts 1:4-11). 

Can you imagine what their discussions were like as they immediately returned to Jerusalem and gathered together in "the upper room" to pray? What would the power be like? How would it come? When would it come? What would it be like? Having no answers but our Lord's promise . . . THEY PRAYED CONTINUALLY.

The Bible says that as they prayed they were "all of one mind" (Acts 1:14). That phrase literally means, "to be in unanimous consent together, to be in one accord." It's interesting that the same idea is used six other times in the book of Acts, all having to do with unanimity and prayer (2:1, 2:46, 4:24, 5:12; 8:6; 15:25).

Please notice that this was no ordinary Jewish prayer meeting. Had it been, there would have been no women present. When my wife and I made our first trip to Israel, we went to pray at the Western Wall. We both had to enter through separate gates, into areas that were divided by a partition. Here, however, we see three distinct groups represented; the apostles, the women, including the mother of Jesus, and his brothers. This would become a hallmark of the new church of Jesus Christ: all believers would praise, worship, celebrate communion, and be taught the Scriptures together (Acts 2:42).  

Does group prayer like this work outside of the powerful examples that we see in Scripture? Perhaps this illustration will answer that question: 

When David Livingstone (1813-1873), known as "Africa's greatest missionary," first began his ministry in the inner parts of Africa, some of the native tribes opposed him. One particular warlike tribe said they were going to kill him and everyone in his party. One afternoon as they were setting up camp, word was out that these warriors had been tracking him all day, and they were outside the camp and they were going to attack and kill everyone when it got dark. Making reference to that evening he wrote these words in his journal on January 14, 1856:

"It is evening. I feel much turmoil and fear in the prospect of having all of my plans knocked on the head by savages who are just now outside the camp." Those who studied his handwriting said you could even see the fear in the way he wrote the letters. He wrote, "But Jesus said, 'All power is given unto me in heaven and earth, and lo, I am with you always, even unto the ends of the earth.'" Livingstone wrote, "This is the word of a gentleman of most strict and sacred honor, so that's the end of my fear. I feel quiet and calm now."

They didn't attack that night. Later the tribe was brought to faith in Christ. A couple of years later, David Livingstone asked the chief of the tribe, 

"Do you remember the night you were tracking my party?" 

"Yes." 

"We had heard rumors you were going to attack us." 

The chief said, "That's right, we were ready to attack the camp that night and kill you and everyone else." 

David Livingstone then asked, "Why didn't you attack?" 

The chief said, "When we got close to the camp, we looked and saw 47 warriors surrounding your camp with swords in their hands." 

David Livingstone was baffled. They didn't have any guards, any warriors. 

Later when he was on furlough in Scotland, he shared this story at a church that was supporting him. A man came up to him afterwards with his prayer journal. He said, "Look, I wrote it down, January 14, 1856, was that the night?" David Livingstone said, "Yes." The man said, "That night a group of men came to pray for you. We prayed for your protection. I wrote it down. There were 47 men praying that night for you."*

So, does God respond when the church comes together, "with one mind . . . continually devoting themselves to prayer"? What do you think? Is your church willing to do it on a regular basis?  If not, are you the one God would use to start it?

British pastor and evangelist F. B. Meyer believed that "the greatest tragedy of life is not unanswered prayer, but unoffered prayer."

*From a sermon by Bob Joyce, "Putting Your Heart Where Your Money Is," 8/4/2011. Posted by Sermon Central.com