Comments on: The Benefits of Praying Aloud: Agreement (Part 1)

By: Fr. Bill

Fr. Bill — Mon, 08 Nov 2010 16:31:47 +0000

Wandering in here late (as usual ) …

So far so good, generally. My quibble relates to “when two or three are gathered together” and the appeal to this statement of our Lord:

It’s a category mistake to apply this statement to group praying. I’m not even sure it’s even appropriate to apply it to any sort of praying at all. Yes, yes, I know this is how it’s commonly been read, even by lights as bright as St. Chrysostom (cf. the Prayer of Chrysostom that conclues Morning Prayer in the Book of Common Prayer). But, the sole items in vv15-19 that can be pressed to indicate that prayer is in view anywhere in these verses is in verse 19: the “ask” and “my Father will do.” And if these details are pertinent, they are so only by assuming that “ask” refers to a petition directed at the Father — a reasonable deduction, but not a necessary one.

Rather, the entire paragraph (vv. 15-19) are treating how to deal with a sinning brother. As such, these verses are directed to Jesus’ disciples, to guide their ruling of the infant Church as His Apostles, and later to guide the Elders of the churches in their discipline of the flock. The promises about binding and loosing relate to disciplinary decisions by the Apostles and, later, the Elders of the Churches. and the “agreement” mentioned in verse 19 must certainly relate to agreement about how or what to be done with respect to the sinning brother, whose transgression has reached the point where it is told to the Church. For a model of this very activity, see the first Jerusalem Council in Acts 15.

None of this (what I’ve urged above) bears negatively on what is urged in the blog about the value of spoken prayer.

Still …

By: Wendy

Wendy — Sat, 15 May 2010 22:29:26 +0000

Often when I pray aloud I find myself saying things that I would have never thought. The mouth speaks what is in the heart, which is the core of who we are. Our minds cannot always comprehend God’s ways because they are finite. I believe He gives us a mouth to declare His truth, and His truth is what sets us free! And, the more we speak the truth of His word over our lives and situations, the more the mind is renewed to believe it!

By: Travis Thomas

Travis Thomas — Mon, 01 Feb 2010 14:40:46 +0000

Very well said, I couldn't agree with you more. Corporate prayer is a necessity as well as individual prayer, in knowing God for ourselves. Praying with other is definitely a boost in the spirit, anytime I'm having trouble with an issue that may seem unbearable I know I need to link up with another believer and pray it through. Any types of prayer backed up by faith and cemented by love is effective, "The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much" (James 5:16). Although we can not simply ask someone to agree in prayer that God manifest himself to us if we are not seeking Him in personal prayer and fellowship. There are some things in personal prayer I have recieved that I don't think I would have in a corporate setting. To stay on point; there is always power in numbers," Where no counsel is, the people fall: but in the multitude of counselors there is safety." (Prov.11:14). There are many scriptures that highlight the bound of unity and the force it brings. My pastor always give the illustration of praying in agreement with other believers like a battering ram in the hands of an army. If each soldier just used individual hammers to knock down the enemies door it would not budge, but when all those individual forces are combined there is power to break the doors and overcome!! With that said, we must take into account its possible for many people to be praying at one time but not accomplishing anything because they are not in agreement. Anyway, great responses and great topic, look forward to part two.

By: Josi

Josi — Sat, 30 Jan 2010 18:09:03 +0000

There is power in the spoken word. Especially when spoken in the name of Christ or at God's command by the power of the Spirit. When God created the world He chose to speak everything into existence. (Gen. 1) Whenever God had a message for His people He didn't think it to them. He sent a prophet to speak His word to them. "Thou therefore gird up thy loins, and arise, and speak unto them all that I command thee…" (Jer. 1:17) And all that the prophets spoke happened at one time or another. The spoken word is far more powerful than the thought word. There is even an instance of a man speaking a foolish vow to the Lord with a consequence. (Judges 11:30-40) The man's reason for keeping his vow was that he had "opened [his] mouth unto the Lord" and he could not go back on his word.

By: Tom

Tom — Fri, 29 Jan 2010 07:25:39 +0000

Right on

By: Tom

Tom — Fri, 29 Jan 2010 07:25:22 +0000

There is a lot to say about confessing "with your mouth, that Jesus is Lord, and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead…"

By: Cynthia

Cynthia — Fri, 29 Jan 2010 01:14:57 +0000

I find that when I pray out loud I can focus on God easier. When my thoughts drift of it is obvious and I can refocus on God. When I pray in my head it is easy for me to get distracted and forget what I was praying about.

I also find it is easier for me to connect with God. I feel like he is really there, and I am not just imagining Him.

Also, life and death are in the power of the tongue. It is good for me to get in the habit of speaking words of life when I talk to God.

By: michelle

michelle — Thu, 28 Jan 2010 00:16:39 +0000

I know when I hear others worshipping the Lord it can change my attitude… when I hear people thanking Him, it can encourage my own thankfulness… when I hear others praying with faith, it increases my faith… so yes, i can say praying in a corporate way or with one certainly has it's benefits… but I also know that when I am alone & I am afraid… outloud or in my head… praying always helps me too…

By: Greg

Greg — Wed, 27 Jan 2010 10:12:10 +0000

Praying is a group is great as long as you can focus on Christ. Praying to be seen as spiritual by your friends is not the way.