Wednesday, 30 April 2025
THE POWER OF CORPORATE PRAYER
For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places (Ephesians 6:12).
Some years ago, there was a deliberate attempt by global powers, backed by demonic forces, to assert dominion over the cities, schools, and even the churches. It was an unprecedented global situation with the world shut down. There was a visible absence of life on the streets: the cars were gone, the pedestrians disappeared, and the freedom of normal life had been stripped away.
These evil forces showed no regard for human life, willing to sacrifice and manipulate in their pursuit of their agenda. But I knew the power of the Church—the Body of Christ—is far greater than any force they could muster. All we needed to do was to pray and praise God, and we did. We stood together in prayer and took decisive actions as we sought to reclaim our streets, cities and communities from the forces that were trying to exert control. And glory to God, we had the victory!
Why is this so important? When your local assembly or your church pastor calls for prayer and fasting, don’t ignore these calls; there’s a lot we can achieve together as the Body of Christ! We read of how the collective prayer of the church empowered them to boldly proclaim the message of Christ in Acts 4:31: “And when they had prayed, the place was shaken where they were assembled together; and they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and they spake the word of God with boldness.”
We find another notable instance in Acts 12:5-16, where the church prayed earnestly for Peter while he was imprisoned. Their prayers were answered when an angel of the Lord miraculously freed him from prison. Hallelujah!
You should be excited every time you have the opportunity to pray with other Christians. At such times, we exercise the power of the Church as we take our stand and refuse to allow the enemy to take what belongs to us. Rather, we turn things around in the nations by declaring their restoration in the Name of Jesus.
PRAYER: Dear Father, thank you for the power of communal prayer, and for the authority you've given us through Christ Jesus to stand against every principality and power of darkness. We resist every demonic agenda over the nations, through wars, kidnappings, killings and injustice; we speak life, restoration and victory over our cities and nations, declaring peace within our borders, in Jesus’ Name. Amen.
FURTHER STUDY:
James 5:16 AMPC; Matthew 18:18-20; Acts 12:1-5
1-YEAR BIBLE READING PLAN: Luke 23:50-24:1-12 & 2 Samuel 7-8
2-YEAR BIBLE READING PLAN: Mark 6:30-44 & Numbers 3