“They continued steadfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread and in prayers” (Acts 2:42).
Such was the happy condition of things in the freshness of the early history of the Church of God. Centuries of its chequered story have rolled by, and today we are undoubtedly in its very closing phase upon earth; soon, we believe, to be brought to a close for believers by the second coming of our Lord to translate His Church to glory “in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump” (1 Cor. 15:52).
Scripture warns us what to expect at a time like the present. This is indicated in the Spirit’s address to the assembly in Laodicea; the last of the seven churches in Asia to be so addressed (Rev. 3:14-22). This address applied to the assembly then in Laodicea, and is likewise prophetic of what will obtain in the last days.
The Laodicean assembly was marked by the most appalling self-complacency, of such a nature as to completely blind them to their actual state before God. Their boast was “I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing.” And what was the answer of Him, who walked in the midst of the seven golden candlesticks, whose eyes were as a flame of fire? Listen to His devastating words, “Thou … knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked.” No wonder that such a condition drew from His lips the words, “I will spue thee out of My mouth.”
When we look around at the conditions prevailing today, we see Christendom characterized by just this same complacency and lukewarmness. This being so, is it not incumbent upon every true believer to listen earnestly to “what the Spirit says to the churches” (Rev. 2:7, 11, 17, 29; 3:6, 13, 22)? Seven times over are we exhorted to be overcomers by the grace of God in the power of the Spirit of God. Things are not what they were. There is much room for godly exercise before the Lord.
We make bold to say that one of the prime causes of spiritual feebleness, either in our private lives as believers, or as gathered in assemblies, is prayerlessness. There is the root of much of the sad state of things spiritually. We heard of a Christian who visited an assembly where about four hundred were at the breaking of bread. He was asked how many were in fellowship? His answer was, “Exactly twenty-seven.” He had attended the assembly prayer meeting, and this was the number present. Tragic, was it not? A visitor was being shown over a large building in which Christians held their meetings. Being of a practical turn of mind, he asked how such a large place was heated. In reply he was shown a room where a number of Christians were on bended knee in earnest prayer to God. He was told this was where spiritual warmth was generated. Sad indeed, when this is lacking.
It will be helpful, if we consider briefly the whole setting of the Scripture, that heads this article, in relation to prayer. To pray aright needs spiritual education, which the Holy Spirit can alone furnish. Prayer may be offered in much ignorance of God and His ways. Our text most notably links up prayer with the apostles’ doctrine. The apostles declared, “We will give ourselves continually to prayer and to the ministry of the word” (Acts 6:4).
It has been foolishly urged, that it does not matter what we believe, that what matters is conduct. But that is not so. We are governed by what we believe. The Apostle Paul could say, “Thou hast fully known my doctrine, manner of life” (2 Tim. 3:10). In the Scripture that heads this article, we find the apostles’ doctrine leading to Christian conduct and fellowship.
What then was the apostles’ doctrine in which the early believers continued so steadfastly? It is found in the apostolic, inspired writings. If every Christian answered to the apostolic teaching, what a mighty change would occur in Christendom! To note only one thing, that obtains in Christendom today, viz., the dividing of believers into two classes: (1) of priests as a distinct class in contra-distinction to (2) laymen. For this assumption, there is no Scriptural warrant whatsoever. Scripture affirms without reservation the priesthood of all believers. We read, “Ye also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ” (1 Peter 2:5). Again, all believers join in saying, “Unto Him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in His own blood, and has made us kings and priests to God and His Father; to Him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen” (Rev. 1:5-6). Again we read, “Blessed and holy is He that has part in the first resurrection: on such the second death has no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with Him a thousand years” (Rev. 20:6). The setting aside of a special class as priests is to limit the action of the Spirit of God to one class, and plainly contradicts the Scripture, “But all these works that one and the selfsame Spirit, dividing to EVERY man severally as HE will” (1 Cor. 12:11).
The early saints “continued steadfastly… in breaking of bread and in prayers.” What a rebuke to many of us. We too often go by fits and starts, sometimes on the mountain top of spiritual exaltation, and sometimes in the valley of spiritual sloth and lukewarmness. And those, who resent plain speaking, are just the people who need it; for earnest souls will ever welcome being brought face to face with facts, and will seek to adjust themselves by the help of the Holy Spirit to the needful exhortations of Scripture.
These early Christians “continued steadfastly … in breaking of bread.” If we have a circumference of Christian privileges, surely the very central place must be given to “the breaking of bread.” Our Scripture gives it great prominence. The way in which it was instituted by the Lord Himself, “the same night in which He was betrayed” (1 Cor. 11:23); the simple unritualistic emblems on the table, the loaf speaking of our Lord’s body, given in sacrifice for us; the cup speaking of His precious blood shed for us, all this makes a great appeal to the affection of the Lord’s people. Our Lord, realizing the broken state that Christian testimony would arrive at, assures us that “where two or three are gathered together in My name, there am I in the midst of them” (Matt. 18:20). This shows how much our Lord desires our remembrance. When so gathered, we find ourselves in our Lord’s presence, and by the Spirit’s leading we remember our Lord in His death, to whom and to which we owe everything.
Finally Scripture leads to what is most important. The early disciples “continued steadfastly … in prayers.” Note very carefully this significant ending. It does not say, that they continued steadfastly … in breaking of bread and in Bible readings. No, it says, “In breaking of bread and in prayers.” We surely ought to have full fellowship with Bible readings. Happy is it to see saints studying the word of God together! God bless the Bible readings! But it is worthy of special note to see the significant way our Scripture ends, emphasising the great place prayer has in the Christian economy.
As to private prayer we get the exhortation, “Pray without ceasing” (1 Thess. 5:17). Again, “Be careful for nothing; but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which passes all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus” (Phil. 4:6-7). Even the very food we eat is “sanctified by the word of God and prayer” (1 Tim. 4:5). That is why we should gratefully acknowledge the food given to us, and ask God’s blessing upon it. Saints are exhorted that, “first of all, supplications, 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” (1 Tim. 2:1-2).
This verse—Acts 2:42—refers to assembly prayer. There we are privileged to join with our fellow-Christians to pray, not so much for our personal and private and family needs, but rather for the Lord’s interests in this world. What manifold needs there are! The needs of the gospel of the grace of God, the need for the ministry of the word among the saints, the state of the world, the condition of the church, and much more beside.
Each individual saint can be a help to the prayer meeting or a hindrance. To be in the Spirit, and give utterance to petitions under the Spirit’s leading will bring real help to the prayer meeting. How many prayers we have listened to which were but a weariness to the flesh. We have heard prayers when we wondered whenever would the good brother come to a finish. The longest prayer recorded in the Bible, that of King Solomon’s at the dedication of the Temple at Jerusalem, a very special occasion (2 Chr. 6:14-42), only takes six or seven minutes to read. Lengthy prayers often kill a prayer meeting. Prayers composed of exposition of Scripture are surely out of place. God is not to be informed what is the meaning of His own inspired word. We heard of a very famous preacher in America, who was said to have given utterance to “the most eloquent prayer ever offered to a Boston audience.” What a rebuke! We pray to God. The wise man said, “God is in heaven, and thou upon earth: therefore let thy words be few” (Ecc. 5:2).
God be thanked for the faithful few, who regularly meet for prayer, counting on the Lord’s presence, vouchsafed even to two or three. Let them pray on, for God answers prayer. There may yet be a fresh interest in the prayer meeting. There may yet be felt a fresh breath of the Spirit of God in their midst. Pray on! Pray on!! Pray on!!!
“Revive Thy work, O Lord:
Exalt Thy precious name;
And by the Holy Ghost our love
For Thee and Thine inflame.
Revive Thy work, O Lord:
And give refreshing showers,
The glory shall be all Thine own,
The blessing, Lord, be ours.”