A Gathered Amen

This month of prayer I’ve begun to freshly look at the book of Acts. One theme that I keep seeing over and over again is the power of agreement, unity, or the church being “in one accord.” The joined Amen of Scripture. Time and again the book of Acts records the church being in “one accord.” The word that is often used means to be of “one mind and one passion.” Implied nearly every time and often outwardly stated is that the church has assembled in one specific place. 

Scripture records times like in Acts 4 that when the church is assembled in one heart and mind in the place of prayer, the building is literally shaken. Furthermore, there are moments in Acts 12 where the church prays, and a jail cell that is holding Peter is shaken and he is freed. The theme continues over and over again when Jesus’ church gathers in His name, His Spirit is present to so often do one thing: anoint the prayers of the Church. 

The gathered Amen has a way of building faith in our hearts individually and corporately. It is in the gathered praying church that prayers become empowered to accomplish something that a prayer by a single person could not.

Acts 2 specifically makes the point to state the disciples were “with one accord in one place” before Holy Spirit came. The result of Holy Spirit coming at Pentecost: is an exploding prayer gathering: tongues and prophetic declaration of Jesus to people of many nations and tongues.

Practically applied, this is where the gathered multi-ethnic church stands as the most powerful voice on the planet. I believe the farther distance one has to travel to reach unity, the greater the release of His glory. It’s as if Heaven rewards in a special way the farther the Church must “travel” to come in unity. 

Could it be that as Jesus’ Bride from every tribe, tongue, and nation comes together to pray, contend, intercede, and declare the purposes of God in a unified voice, she releases Heaven’s power in an unprecedented manner? Could it be so powerful, because in doing so we are bringing Revelation 14.7 into a reality: thus causing Jesus’ command of Matthew 6 to be a reality: Heaven’s will would be Earth’s. 

This upcoming week would you be willing to find your way to one of our morning prayer gatherings? Would you join your voice and heart with mine and this week let’s shake Hampton Roads and along the way let’s recapture the wonder of the gathered multi-ethnic praying church. 

On the phone, over a group text thread, in a small group, over Zoom, or in our church building can you join someone else and declare a unified “Amen!”

– Pastor Joel

“The gathered Amen has a way of building faith in our hearts individually and corporately.”