“And they devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers.” (Acts 2:42 ESV)
The final pillar on which a healthy church rests is prayer. For we seek not only fellowship with one another, but above all with God. Prayer is a powerful means for this. We continue to call upon Him until He comes!
In our prayers, we praise the Lord God. We also bring our gratitude and our needs before Him. Above all, we continually pray for His Spirit and for the swift completion of His Kingdom.
Like reading the Bible, prayer has both a personal and a communal dimension. It is immensely valuable to pour out your heart to God in the quietness of your own time with Him. But it is just as important to pray together with other believers, to entrust one another to our heavenly Father, and to intercede for Christians around the world. In this way, we encourage one another to persevere in prayer.
The various pillars of the church strengthen one another. Praying together promotes unity and mutual connection. The same is true of celebrating the Lord’s Supper. Gathering regularly as a church fosters deeper understanding of “the apostles’ teaching” and spiritual growth. In this way, the church as a whole, and each believer personally, can persevere in faith, hope, and love.
How are these four pillars present in your life? Which one is most important to you, and why is this?