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Pastor Lee Cummings

Radiant Church

“Let the fires go out in the boiler room of the church and the place will still look smart and clean, but it will be cold. The prayer room is the boiler room for its spiritual life.”
Leonard Ravenhill

Acts 4:23-33 ESV
When they were released, they went to their friends and reported what the chief priests and the elders had said to them. And when they heard it, they lifted their voices together to God and said, “Sovereign Lord, who made the heaven and the earth and the sea and everything in them, who through the mouth of our father David, your servant, said by the Holy Spirit, “‘Why did the Gentiles rage, and the peoples plot in vain? The kings of the earth set themselves, and the rulers were gathered together, against the Lord and against his Anointed’— for truly in this city there were gathered together against your holy servant Jesus, whom you anointed, both Herod and Pontius Pilate, along with the Gentiles and the peoples of Israel, to do whatever your hand and your plan had predestined to take place. And now, Lord, look upon their threats and grant to your servants to continue to speak your word with all boldness, while you stretch out your hand to heal, and signs and wonders are performed through the name of your holy servant Jesus.” And when they had prayed, the place in which they were gathered together was shaken, and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and continued to speak the word of God with boldness. Now the full number of those who believed were of one heart and soul, and no one said that any of the things that belonged to him was his own, but they had everything in common. And with great power the apostles were giving their testimony to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and great grace was upon them all.

What Happens when the Church Prays?

1. Prayer Shakes Us

A. God wants His Church unshaken by the things happening around us in this world, but shaken to our core by His holiness in the place of prayer

Isaiah 6:1-5
In the year that king Uzziah died I saw the LORD sitting upon a throne, high and lifted up; and the train of his robe filled the temple. Above him stood the seraphim. Each had six wings; with two he covered his face, and with two he covered his feet and with two he flew. And one called to another and said; “Holy, holy, holy is the Lord of hosts: the whole earth is full of his glory!” And the foundations of the thresholds shook at the voice of him who called and the house was filled with smoke. And I said “woe is me! For I am lost: For I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of a people with unclean lips...”

2. Prayer Emboldens Us

A. We need the power of the Holy Spirit in the days in which we live

B. How do you find boldness to preach Jesus in a world that is antagonistic towards the gospel? A life of prayer. Personal and Corporate

3. Prayer Unifies Us

A. UNIFIES us with each other

B. UNIFIES us with Heaven

Isaiah 56:7
these I will bring to my holy mountain, and make them joyful in my house of prayer; their burnt offerings and their sacrifice, will be accepted on my altar; for my house shall be called a house of prayer for all peoples.”

4. PRAYER DETONATES THROUGH US

A. “Great Power” “healing, signs and wonders”

B. There is a correlation between praying churches in a nation, and the amount of miracles that occur as the gospel goes forth with boldness.

5. PRAYER CHANGES CITIES

The Fulton Street, New York City Prayer Revival

1. Began in the North Dutch Reformed Church (just down from the World Trade Center)
2. Jeremiah Calvin Lanphier - 48 year old businessman.
3. First meeting was held September 23, 1857
4. First person was 1/2 hour late. 5 denominations present
5. By the end of March, over 6,000 met daily . 150 prayer meetings across NYC
6. Across America, match was struck and a flame was lit — prayer.
7. Between 1858-1859. Almost 1M received Christ (out of 30M)

What Could Happen If WE became a People of Prayer Across America?