The Power of Three - more about prayer triplets.

This sermon advocates the need for prayer triplets  as a part of our regular prayer discipline. 

It is based on Exodus 17 and Ephesians 6: 10 - 20. It emphasises the need for prayer triplets and explains them.

It is based on the very first battle that Israel fought after the Exodus at Rephidim. Much of this I learned years ago at Bible College from the Rev. Bob Dunnett, former vice-Principal and a Canon of Birmingham Cathedral. For clarification that is Birmingham, England.

The PowerPoint has been amended, so the MP3 recording doesn't quite match. We had some technical glitches during the service, but we got nearly everyone praying in triplets as a "taster".

Birmingham Cathedral -St Phillip's

The sermon is part of a series on prayer and part of our preparation for a Mission during Holy Week at Holy Trinity West Bromwich and in partnership with Asian Calvary Church .

Despite the little loud-speaker symbol there is no sound, for some reason Skydrive won't allow it.

If you want to hear the MP3 recording, click on the quaver. However, I cannot do both at once and I doubt that you will be able to either.

Praying together - an introduction to the benefits of a prayer triplet.

Back in the Old Testament/Tenach there is a set of Psalms known as the Psalms of Ascent (Psalms 120 - 134/135). These Psalms were sung by Jews when they made the pilgrimage to Jerusalem at the appointed Feast e.g. Passover. They might also have been sung by the Choirs of the Temple on the steps

At Jerusalem, they would make sacrifices and once a year on the Day of Atonement the High Priest would enter the Holy of Holies and the Presence of  the Lord. It was to be hoped that he would survive this encounter and pronounce God's blessings on the nation for another year. He alone had this dangerous privilege and only if all the sacrifices were acceptable to God would he live.

But, almost at the end of the Psalms of Ascent there is a very interesting claim. Psalm 133 suggests something far more amazing than being able to enter the Presence once a year.

133 Behold, how good and pleasant it is
    when brothers dwell in unity!
² It is like the precious oil on the head,
    running down on the beard,
on the beard of Aaron,
    running down on the collar of his robes!
³ It is like the dew of Hermon,
    which falls on the mountains of Zion!
For there the Lord has commanded the blessing,
    life for evermore.

ESV

Unity amongst brothers is like being anointed High Priest, and not just any High Priest but the very first Levitical priest/cohen,  Aaron. Then we are told that it is like the dew on Mt. Hermon where the LORD has commanded the blessing of life for evermore.

Unity amongst brethren confers an anointing which grants the privilege to enter the Presence and the blessing of Eternal Life, which has to be in the Presence of the LORD.

This is mind-boggling stuff, but the New Testament develops this to a whole new level.

Jesus gives His disciples the following promise: For where two or three are gathered in my name, there am I among them ( Matthew 28:20)

Jesus is claiming to be God, as only God can do this, to wit: grant entry into the Presence. His Name is The Name (Ha Shem) that can grant this privilege. He can only do this if He is God and there is an acceptable sacrifice that allows this to happen.  The acceptable sacrifice is His death on the Cross and the veil of the Temple was torn from top to bottom.

Now any two or three believers, met in His name, any where at any time can gain access to the Presence of the LORD  because He has promised to come to them. The God of the Bible (Old and New) is the God who comes seeking us. The true believer has access to the Throne of God and more than that is seated with Christ. 

Ephesians 2:6 and raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus,

Jesus does not refuse the Christian praying alone, indeed He encourages us to pray. However, corporate prayer has a blessing of its own. In fact, it has many blessings, but they all flow from this special anointing and blessing that David sang about and that Jesus gained for us.

Corporate prayer is not simply a lot of people listening to one person pray. That can be corporate, but it can also be a lot of people listening to one person say words. Corporate prayer is where all share in prayer.

If you are like me, praying on your own can be difficult. Life has far too many distractions and disturbances. Corporate prayer in small groups helps to strengthen private prayer.  It is also a place where we can gain the confidence to pray publicly, where we can learn to use the gifts of the Spirit and where we can grow in fellowship and in Christ. 

I would urge all Christians to find two or three others that they trust and join in a prayer triplet on, at least, a weekly basis. It does wonders for your spiritual life and growth and you will rejoice in some amazing answers to prayer. I know this because I have been able to put it into practice at several periods throughout my life and when I have not been able to do this I have lost out in consequence.

There is much more to write about prayer triplets, which is why this is described as an introduction. In due course, I hope that you will become better acquainted with the prayer triplet.

Every blessing in Christ Jesus.

Great song, right sentiment but singing about it isn't enough. Prayer with Jesus is the Way into the Presence.