And when they had prayed, the place where they were assembled together was shaken; and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit, and they spoke the word of God with boldness.

Great and mighty things happen when believers join as a body of Christ. The blueprint for healthy and powerful Christian activity is found in Acts 2:42—the disciples continued in the reading and studying of God’s word, fellowshipping, partaking in communion regularly, and praying together. Four simple activities of faith were discovered in the upper room meeting as they waited for what was next following the death, resurrection, and ascension of the Lord into heaven.

Faith activated brings open doors of power, and as read in our verse of the day, there is power in prayer, and I believe prayer often has a greater effect when believers pray together. When I pray alone, it is good and blessed and so needed, but I also know the enemy likes to attack in my prayer time alone, especially when I am greatly troubled or desperate over an issue.

During the attack, my faith will respond in prayer with something like this: “Oh, I know the Lord can do anything and answer any prayer—but He just doesn’t want to answer mine for whatever reason.” Can any of you relate? This is why it is also important to pray together as a body of Christ; praying together can repel the enemy as hearts of believers are twined together in one accord in prayer.

The context and testimony of our verse speak to the amazing and powerful things that happen when praying together. In prior chapters, we read that 120 were gathered in the upper room. Peter goes forth and preaches as the beginning of the New Testament Church is ushered in.

The Day of Pentecost arrives, and the disciples are gathered again in prayer, and the power bomb of the Holy Spirit falls upon them. They go forth in the discipline of Acts 2:42. As we get to Acts 4, we have the amazing testimony of the power going forth from an amazing prayer meeting.

As the disciples have gathered, they are praying for boldness to combat the persecution. They are not praying for deliverance from the persecution, but for more boldness—divine enabling, not a divine escape.

Today, Christians need the same power of boldness. We are called to be at peace with men, but we are not called to blend in and be silent in the shadows. We are to be bold for God. The disciples were gathered in fellowship, praying, and a mighty earthquake came and shook the place of the gathering, and all were filled with a new boldness. God answered their collective prayers, and they shared the good news.

God is still answering prayers today in great and mighty ways as His people faithfully gather together. Miracles, healings, words of wisdom and knowledge, the gifts of the Holy Spirit pour through people when gathered together. Prayers are answered! Beloved, let us not forsake the gathering of ourselves together when so much from God, and of God, can happen during such times.

By Pastor David Massie, Bible League International partner, California U.S.