Page 47 - Pastoral Ministries -Student Textbook

Different modes of prayer
Basically, there are only two biblical modes of prayer. That is private prayer and corporate prayer. The Bible is
filled with large portions of scripture where we find individuals, couples, cities, armies, nations and even
continents praying to God.

For example, Acts 2:42 records that the disciples continued steadfastly in the apostles doctrine and fellowship,
and in breaking of bread, and in prayer. Acts 1:14 also records that all the disciples continued in one accord in
prayer and supplication, with the women and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with his brethren. Acts 12:5-18
records that Peter was kept in prison, but the church was earnestly praying to God for him.

In the Old Testament Joel 1:14 gives us another example where the elders and all the inhabitants of the land are
called to assemble and cry out to the Lord in prayer. Jeremiah also records that in the twenty and fourth day of
the month the children of Israel were assembled with fasting and with sackcloth, and with earth upon them
(Jeremiah 9:1-38). Esther kind of nails it together when she asked Mordecai to gather together all the Jews that
were present in Shushan and fast for her while she did the same (Esther 4:16).

I would also like to make it clear that our situations and circumstances can greatly affect our way of praying, not
necessarily the mode, but the how of prayer. Sometimes it’s the environment in which we have been brought
up, sometimes its personality and sometimes it’s just our emotions because we are human. For instance, Jesus
in John eleven was deeply moved by the death of his dear friend Lazarus that he wept and after he had prayed,
he cried out with a loud voice saying, “Lazarus come out!” Elijah the prophet at some point was so afraid of
Jezebel that he prayed for God to take his life (1 Kings 19:4).

Jonah is another witness who prayed that the Lord would take his life (Jonah 4:3) after he relented from bringing
calamity on Nineveh. Elisha the prophet was grieved by the boys out of the town of Bethel that he called a curse
on them and suddenly two bears came out of the woods and mauled forty-two of them (2 Kings 2:23). Samson
after having his eyes gorged out cried out to the Lord that he would for one last time give him strength to
avenge for at least one of his eyes.

Corporate prayer

Corporate prayer is an important part of the life of the church, along with worship, sound doctrine, communion,
and fellowship. The early church met regularly to learn the doctrine of the apostles, break bread, and pray
together (Acts 2:42). When we pray together with other believers, the effects can be very positive. Corporate
prayer edifies and unifies us as we share our common faith. The same Holy Spirit who dwells within each
believer causes our hearts to rejoice as we hear praises to our Lord and Savior, knitting us together in a unique
bond of fellowship found nowhere else in life.

To those who may be alone and struggling with life’s burdens, hearing others lift them up to the throne of grace
can be a great encouragement. It also builds in us love and concern for others as we intercede for them. At the
same time, corporate prayer will only be a reflection of the hearts of the individuals who participate. We are to
come to God in humility (James 4:10), truth (Psalm 145:18), obedience (1 John 3:21-22), with thanksgiving
(Philippians 4:6) and confidence (Hebrews 4:16). Sadly, corporate prayer can also become a platform for those
whose words are directed not to God, but to their hearers. Jesus warned against such behavior in Matthew 6:5-
8 where he exhorts us not to be showy, long-winded, or hypocritical in our prayers, but to pray secretly in our
own rooms in order to avoid the temptation of using prayer hypocritically.

There is nothing in Scripture to suggest that corporate prayers are “more powerful” than individual prayers in
the sense of moving the hand of God. Far too many Christians equate prayer with “getting things from God,”
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