Their prayer came up to his holy dwelling place

"Their prayer came up to his holy dwelling place, even unto heaven.” —2 Chronicles 30:27

Prayer is the never-failing resort of the Christian in any case, in every plight. When you cannot use your sword you may take to the weapon of all-prayer. Your powder may be damp, your bow-string may be relaxed, but the weapon of all-prayer need never be out of order. Leviathan laughs at the javelin, but he trembles at prayer. Sword and spear need furbishing, but prayer never rusts, and when we think it most blunt it cuts the best. Prayer is an open door which none can shut. Devils may surround you on all sides, but the way upward is always open, and as long as that road is unobstructed, you will not fall into the enemy’s hand. We can never be taken by blockade, escalade, mine, or storm, so long as heavenly succors can come down to us by Jacob’s ladder to relieve us in the time of our necessities. 

Prayer is never out of season: in summer and in winter its merchandise is precious. Prayer gains audience with heaven in the dead of night, in the midst of business, in the heat of noonday, in the shades of evening. In every condition, whether of poverty, or sickness, or obscurity, or slander, or doubt, your covenant God will welcome your prayer and answer it from His holy place. Nor is prayer ever futile. True prayer is evermore true power. You may not always get what you ask, but you shall always have your real wants supplied. When God does not answer His children according to the letter, He does so according to the spirit. If you ask for coarse meal, will you be angered because He gives thee the finest flour? If you seek bodily health, should you complain if instead thereof He makes your sickness turn to the healing of spiritual maladies? Is it not better to have the cross sanctified than removed? This evening, my soul, forget not to offer your petition and request, for the Lord is ready to grant you your desires. —Spurgeon

- Discuss what we learn from the 1st paragraph about prayer. How does it encourage us to be fervent in prayer?

- Discuss the statement in 2nd paragraph (sentences 3 & 4) with application.

Beloved, as we pray for ourselves, our families, and our friends we need to cultivate how to pray more fervently and consistently for the church. For one, we just need to start doing it—and encouraging others to do so. Here are some guidelines to help us pray for the church. Perhaps you could pray two or three of the points below per day for the next week—maybe in your quiet time, maybe at the family dinner table or family prayer time. 

Pray— 

1. That we would be diligent to preserve the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace— to have unity amid our diversity, loving one another as Christ loved us. 

2. That a mindset of discipling would form in which making disciples is viewed as an ordinary part of the Christian life. 

3. That the elders would shepherd the flock of God faithfully, using Scripture to train members to do the work of ministry, to the praise of His glory. 

4. That the deacons would be marked by joyful, sacrificial love that points others to the greatness of our God, giving Him all the glory for what He has done and is continuing to do.

5. That a hunger for studying the gospel would form among members so that they can guide and guard one another in it. 

6. That transparent, meaningful relationships would become common where the one-anothers of the NT are lived out. 

7. That God’s Word is faithfully preached—that it would be rightly divided and Spirit permeated. 

8. That God’s people would walk worthy of their calling, kept from temptation, complacency, idols, and worldliness. 

9. That the church’s songs would teach members to biblically give thanks, confess, lament, and praise. 

10. That the church’s prayers would be infused with biblical motivations, honesty, and humility. 

11. That the Sunday School, Nursery, Youth & Young Adults teachers grow in dedication to God’s Word. 

12. That the church would grow in being distinct from the world in love and holiness, even as it engages those outside. 

13. That believers would share the gospel as God gives opportunity—and see more conversions to the glory of God. 

14. That hopes for political, social change would be outpaced by the hope of heaven. 

15. That giving would be faithful, as well as joyful, consistent, and sacrificial