Prayer Town and the Disciples of Christ*

      While traveling this past week, I saw a sign for a place called "Prayer Town." The caption on the sign asked, "What do you see?" The sign sat in the middle of a desolate desert wilderness. "Prayer Town" is associated with a group called The Disciples of Christ, a praying group. This led me to consider what role of prayer should play in our lives.

     The first mention of the word "prayer" in scripture is found in 2 Samuel 7. The prophet Nathan received the word of the LORD concerning King David after David told Nathan of his desire to build a house for the LORD and His ark. This word from the LORD dealt with David's reign as king, Israel's appointed place of dwelling forever, and David's descendant that would rule after him who will build the house of the LORD: "He shall build a house for my name, and I will stablish the throne of his kingdom for ever...and thine house and thy kingdom shall be stablished for ever before thee: thy throne shall be stablished for ever.' According to these words, and according to all this vision, so did Nathan speak to David." (v. 8-17, excerpt).

     Overcome by the prophetic word given to him from the LORD: "Then went king David in, and sat before the LORD, and he said, Who am I, O LORD God? and what is my house, that thou hast brought me hitherto?...And now, O LORD God, the word that thou hast spoken concerning thy servant, and concerning his house, establish it for ever, and do as thou hast said....For thou, O LORD of hosts, God of Israel, hast revealed to thy servant, saying, I will build thee a house: therefore hath thy servant found in his heart to pray this prayer unto thee...thou, O LORD God, hast spoken it: and with thy blessing let the house of thy servant be blessed for ever." (v. 18-29, excerpt).

     This teaches us that prayer is two-way. Just as we speak to God in prayer, He also speaks to us. Sometimes we treat prayer as just making our wishes known to God and we do not hear God speaking to us.

     Paul, as an appointed apostle of God, wrote concerning prayer, and what he wrote is very important for us at this time of the inauguration of a new president in this nation. Paul wrote to Timothy: "I exhort therefore that, first of all, supplication, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men; For kings, and for all that are in authority; that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty. For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour; who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth. For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus...I will therefore that men pray every where, lifting up holy hands, without wrath and doubting." (1 Tim. 2:1-8).

     Pray for all in authority rather than just choosing sides. Rather than being divided, this is a unifying position for the Church as we recognize God's desire that all men be saved. We have always prayed for our political leaders at Everlasting Covenant, regardless of their political party. Paul also calls us to pray everywhere.

     The apostle James wrote of the importance of prayer in a believer's life: "Is any among you afflicted? let him pray. Is any merry? let him sing songs. Is any sick among you? let him call for the elders of the church; and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the LORD. And the prayer of faith shall save the sick, and the Lord shall raise him up; and if he have committed sins, they shall be forgiven him. Confess your faults one to another, and pray for one another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much." (James 5:13-16). 

     "Pray" or "prayer" is mentioned seven times in these verses from James. Is our prayer like this - in faith and according to the Word of God?

     The prophet Isaiah received the Word of the LORD in which He called His house "a house of prayer for all people." The LORD promised not only to gather Israel but "others" to Him. (Isa. 56:7-8). Again, the LORD does not desire any to perish but to be joined to Him. Jesus confirmed the prayerful purpose of the house of God when He entered the temple in Jerusalem and overturned the money changers' tables and chased them out of the temple. He declared what God had said, "My house shall be a house of prayer. (Mt. 21:12-16). The religious leaders were offended that Jesus had done this. Religious hierarchy sometimes rejects moves of the Spirit out of jealousy.

     Jesus further encouraged us to pray with endurance as He told the parable of the widow and the unjust judge. The unjust judge who feared neither man nor God gave the widow the justice she sought against an adversary so that she wouldn't weary him with continued requests. Jesus said: "And shall not God avenge his own elect, which cry day and night unto him, though he bear long with them? I tell you that he will avenge them speedily. Nevertheless when the Son of man cometh, shall he find faith on the earth?" (Lk. 18:1-8). Our prayers are to be offered in faith. Don't grow weary.

     King Herod sought to vex the church of believers in order to please the religious leaders of the Jews. It is important to note the truth: the religious leadership did not represent the minds and hearts of all of the Jewish people. In his attack against the church, Herod had Peter thrown into prison: "Peter therefore was kept in prison: but prayer was made without ceasing of the church unto God for him." (Acts 12:1-5)). As a result of this constant prayer, God sent the angel of the Lord to remove Peter from prison. Light shown in the prison, chains fell off of Peters hands, the iron gate opened, and Peter and the angel went out. (v. 6-11). If the church prayed without ceasing today, what all would the Lord do? (see also 1 Thess. 5:17, 2 Tim. 1:3).

     Jesus defined what it means to be one of His disciples, since we are also discussing "The Disciples of Christ" in our title: "...If ye continue in my word, then ye are my disciples indeed; And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free...Verily, verily, I say unto you, Whosoever committeth sin is the servant of sin." (Jn. 8:30-34). To be disciples indeed - keeping His Word in prayer. Jesus is the high priest of our profession (homologia - speaking the same as). We speak the same Word as Christ in our prayers.

     Jesus also said this about discipleship: "A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another. By this all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love for one another." (Jn. 13:34-35). God loves us enough to correct us and to lead us away from harmful sin and error. In the same way, we are to love one another. Love and pray in truth.

     To be a disciple, we must also remain in Christ, as Jesus said: "Abide in me and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me....If a man abide not in me, he is cast forth as a branch, and is withered; and men gather them, and cast them into the fire, and they are burned. If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you. Herein is my Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit; so shall ye be my disciples. As the Father loved me, so have I loved you: continue ye in my love. If ye keep my commandments, ye shall abide in my love; even as I have kept my Father's commandments, and abide in his love. These things have I spoken unto you, that my joy might remain in you, and that your joy might be full." (Jn. 15:4-11).

     By abiding in Jesus' words, ask what you will in prayer without ceasing, bear fruit, and be His disciples.

     *Based upon Dr. Kenneth E. Stevenson, Jr.'s 1/19/25 message to the church. If you would like to hear the complete message, you can find it on Dr. Stevenson's Facebook page. Dr. Stevenson's video messages are also found on You Tube at Kenneth Stevenson. To contact or support this ministry, or to request prayer, you can write to PO Box 154221, Waco, TX, 76705. To find out more about the Shroud of Turin, and to receive a free e-book now available in several languages, go to http://www.theshroudofturin.org/freebook.