An Unempty Church

Last Thursday morning our church was a bee hive of activity.  The final cleaning before the dedication of our remodeling project was well under way with four worker bees scrubbing away. Another two were buzzingly rehanging plaques in a lovely arrangement, two two were returning the Ladies classroom to it’s previous order, while the nursery was retrieving its goodies from that temporary quarters.  Most of the cleaning crew left on vacation and missed out on their own work Sunday morning!  But the rest of us rejoiced in the newness.

While part of this was going on, there were two people in the front of the sanctuary, taking a moment’s respite to pray.

For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them. (Matthew 18:20 KJV)

Not only in His name, but in His house.  I know these two, and their prayers are not confined to His house.  Nor do they require companionship to speak to their Lord in prayer.  What they do realize, though, is His commitment to be in the midst of them when they are two, together.

Christ prayed alone more often than not.  There are examples in the Gospels over and over again where He left companions and prayed, even at the last in Gethsemane:  And he went a little further, and fell on his face, and prayed, saying, O my Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me: nevertheless not as I will, but as thou wilt. (Matthew 26:39 KJV)

Jesus not only gave examples of prayer, but suggested a place:  But thou, when thou prayest, enter into thy closet, and when thou hast shut thy door, pray to thy Father which is in secret; and thy Father which seeth in secret shall reward thee openly. (Matthew 6:6 KJV)

Yet, when He is in the midst of us, as we gather in His name, we are wont to speak with Him.  We should prepare ourselves, too:  And when ye stand praying, forgive, if ye have ought against any: that your Father also which is in heaven may forgive you your trespasses. (Mark 11:25 KJV)

The verse before this speaks of receiving our desires.  It will seem to many that it is not a valid promise – they have asked, and not received their desires. There are two things we must remember:

Delight thyself also in the LORD; and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart. (Psalms 37:4 KJV)

and, the close of Jesus’ prayer in Gethsemane:

… thy will be done. (Matthew 26:42 KJV)

When God is our heart’s delight, He is also our desires and His will is the most important thing in our lives.

Our strongest desire will be to love Him with all our heart, soul and mind.  That desire will be fulfilled and we will know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose. (Romans 8:28 KJV)

So, find yourself a prayer partner, whether it be for a few moments or longer opportunities.  Gather those who will sit in the midst of their Lord’s love, for the time is closer today than ever before and we know not what tomorrow brings.

Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching. (Hebrews 10:25 KJV)