I'd like to give you all a warm welcome to our worship here this evening. Let us ask the Lord's blessing in prayer. Let us pray. O Lord God of heaven and of earth, we ask thy blessing upon our gathering for worship this evening. Do help us, Lord, as we come before thee, as we read thy word and as thy word is proclaimed. Do grant us thy felt presence and do meet the needs of each of thy people. And Lord, answer the prayers of those that have been offered up before our gathering. We ask these things through our Lord Jesus Christ. Amen. Hymn: 383 Tune: Crediton 120 Let us read together from the Holy Word of God, the Acts of the Apostles and Chapter 12. If you have one of our free Bibles, that is page 1022, 10-2-2. The Acts of the Apostles, chapter 12, and we'll read the chapter from verse 1. Now about that time Herod the king stretched forth his hands to vex certain of the church. And he killed James, the brother of John, with the sword. And because he saw it pleased the Jews, he proceeded further to take Peter also. Then were the days of unleavened bread. And when he had apprehended him, he put him in prison and delivered him to four quaternions of soldiers to keep him intending after Easter to bring him forth to the people. Peter therefore was kept in prison. But prayer was made without ceasing of the church unto God for him. And when Herod would have brought him forth, the same night Peter was sleeping between two soldiers bound with two chains, and the keepers before the door kept the prison. And behold, the angel of the Lord came upon him, and a light shined in the prison. And he smote Peter on the side and raised him up, saying, Arise up quickly. And his chains fell off from his hands. And the angel said unto him, Gird thyself, and bind on thy sandals. And so he did. And he saith unto him, Cast thy garment about thee, and follow me. And he went out, and followed him, and wished not that it was true which was done by the angel, but thought he saw a vision. When they were past the first and the second ward, they came unto the iron gate that leadeth unto the city, which opened to them of his own accord. And they went out and passed on through one street, and forthwith the angel departed from him. And when Peter was come to himself, he said, Now I know of a surety that the Lord has sent his angel, and hath delivered me out of the hand of Herod, and from all the expectation of the people of the Jews. And when he had considered the things, He came to the house of Mary, the mother of John, whose surname was Mark, where many were gathered together, praying. And as Peter knocked at the door of the gate, a damsel came to hearken, named Rhoda. And when she knew Peter's voice, She opened not the gate for gladness, but ran in and told how Peter stood before the gate. And they said unto her, Thou art mad. But she constantly affirmed that it was even so. Then said they, It is his angel. But Peter continued knocking, And when they had opened the door and saw him, they were astonished. But he, beckoning unto them with the hand to hold their peace, declared unto them how the Lord had brought him out of the prison. And he said, Go, show these things unto James and to the brethren. And he departed and went into another place. Now as soon as it was done, there was no small stir among the soldiers what was become of Peter. And when Herod had sought for him and found him not, he examined the keepers and commanded that they should be put to death. And he went down from Judea to Caesarea and their abode. and Herod was highly displeased with them of Tyre and Sidon. But they came with one accord to him, and having made blasters, the king's chamberlain, their friend, desired peace, because their country was nourished by the king's country. And upon a set day Herod, arrayed in royal apparel, sat upon his throne, and made an oration unto them. And the people gave a shout, saying, It is the voice of a God, and not of a man. And immediately the angel of the Lord smote him, because he gave not God the glory And he was eaten of worms and gave up the ghost. But the word of God grew and multiplied. And Barnabas and Saul returned from Jerusalem, when they had fulfilled their ministry, and took with them John, whose surname was Mark. Lord, bless to us that reading of his holy word, and help us as we come before Him in prayer. Let us pray. O Thou most merciful and gracious Lord God, we thank Thee that we come to Him that withheld not His only begotten Son, but delivered him up for the Church of God. O Lord, we thank Thee for that love bestowed that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. And O Lord, we thank Thee that we do come to Him who knoweth our frame and remembereth that we are dust. Thou who art the firstborn among many brethren, and that Thou didst know Thy people intimately. It is Thou that hath chosen them from eternity, chosen in Christ Jesus before the world began. Lord, it is our sins that were laid upon Thee, and Thou didst know them and bear them. that is this in love. O Lord, we do thank Thee that when Thou dost make intercession in heaven is not a general one, but it is for Thy people. I pray for them. I pray not for the world, but for them whom Thou hast given me. And that we do bless Thee for that friend we have above, and advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ, the righteous. Lord, we do see that we might know the things of God as revealed to us by thy Holy Spirit. That thy word might be fulfilled in us, they shall all be taught of God. Great shall be the peace of thy children. That which we see not, teach thou us. Do open to us, like thou didst to the two on the way to Emmaus, and those in the upper room, the Scriptures. And O Lord, do grant that we might be fed as through the word as thou didst to Peter, feed my sheep, feed my lambs. We thank Thee where Thou hast given us an appetite for Thy Word, for Thy truth, to satisfy us with the goodness of Thy house, to remember Thy people in all their temptations and sorrows and trials, in all their affliction He was afflicted. We think of Thee as the Good Shepherd and the shepherds in the days of the Scriptures, the flock, with the flock at night, with the flock out in the fields, thou identified with them. Lord, thou hast said, lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world. And Lord, we thank thee of what that really means. for Thee to be with us. O Lord, we do seek that Thou wouldst deliver us from everything that grieves Thee, grieves Thy Holy Spirit, grant us a tender conscience, grant us to walk in the Spirit and not after the flesh. Grant that help and commanded deliverances from every sin and every evil. O Lord, that cause that is too hard for us. And Lord, we have many like that. Help us to bring them before thee. Use them, we pray, to bring about a real communion, fellowship, and union with our God. O let not our hard cases drive us from Thee, but cause that they might drive us to Thee. And O Lord, do grant that we might be given faith to trust where we cannot understand, and trust where we cannot see. We thank Thee, Lord, for the softening showers that are upon the ground here at this time. Do grant unto us those showers in a spiritual way. Lord, the ground has been so hard of late, and Lord, the plants wilting because of it. But, O Lord, we feel the same need, Lord. Our hearts are hard. We need that dew from heaven. We need those softening showers. O Lord, do grant thy people to know what we see the land is having at this time. I do pray that thou hast be with each that gather together this evening. We know that there are those gathering for united prayer. There are those gathering to hear the preached word. And we seek Lord thy blessing on each gathering together. Do bless our gathering here. We do lay our petition for thy day. to remember thy servants due to preach for us here, to bless them, to be pleased to be with Philip Bass for the morning, and Mark Seymour for the evening, and help them, Lord, in ministry here, and to be with me where I go in Bethlehem, we ask thy blessing to be upon the preached word there. Remember each of thy servants. We think of those that are moving house because of taking up pastures. Thy servant in America at this time, bring him safely back to this land and do help him in all the arrangements that he needs to make. in moving there and Lord do help those that move to Appleborough and to Haines. Oh Lord we do pray that thou send forth more labourers into the harvest, that thou send forth deacons that thou hast sent those that are useful, and that thou hast filled the house of God, fill us here with hungering, thirsting souls. We pray that thou hast worked in this neighbourhood, and quickened many from darkness into light, and bring them to spiritual life in the Lord Jesus Christ. We pray for our dear aged friends we ministered to this morning. May thy blessing be upon them in Pilgrim Home, also in Bethesda. O Lord, do help us each as we feel the increases of infirmities as years increase, that we might have often the thought of heaven, the thought of a hope beyond the grave, and as the outward man is reduced and is perishing, so Lord to renew our inward man day by day, strengthen our faith, may our desires be strong for that place where we shall spend eternity. Oh save us Lord from those things that threaten and that take away our assurance and comfort and interest in Thee, and Lord do grant that we might live closer to Thee. Thou do forgive our many sins and wash us in Thy precious blood, Renew the spirit of our minds. Bless us, Lord, with repentance and remission of sins. O Lord, Thou who knowest the hard cases, Thou knowest the cases of all Thy people. Remember Thy blessed name. His name shall be called Jesus, for He shall save them, His people, from their sins. O save us from ours. We do pray for a tender conscience, a teachable spirit, a love of holiness. O Lord, do grant us that which is good and that which is good for us here below. Lord, we do pray for those in affliction at this time, dear friends that are nearing their journey's end and their loved ones that look on. Help them, strengthen them, encourage them in Thee, and where it is Thy will, do bless treatment, that it might lengthen days and times here below. O Lord, prepare them, prepare us each to stand before Thy face. I do pray for the rising generation O Lord, do grant that there might be those raised up amongst them, those that shall be deacons and ministers of the gospel, those who shall bring forth children that shall also be taught in the ways of the Lord. And O Lord, do strengthen our churches and build us up again. Grant a real spiritual revival in this land. We would mourn on account of the sin, but Lord save us from our sin as part of the whole. We do pray for strength equal to our day. Remember ease that feel weary and tired, fear to have little strength. Lord, strengthen and help them, be with them. Lord, many that have infirmities that they know they shall carry to the grave. You grant grace to help, especially with our long-running afflictions. Remember the lonely ones. Remember those that when we speak of gatherings, they know they cannot gather. And Lord, do remember any that could gather but don't. Oh Lord, we do pray that there might be those provisions for thy people where they are scattered, where they do not have a sound place of worship near them or the ability to go. Lord, do help them, whether in this land or in other lands. Now, Lord, do be with us as we turn to the word, if it could please Thee, and open it up. Grant, Lord, some sweetness in it, and, Lord, may we find it precious. And do provide. Remember us as a church and people here, that we might be able to have those times of gathering for united prayer, gathering together in a prayer meeting. We pray for those that do gather tonight at Bethel Luton for prayer. May thy blessing be upon them as they come at the throne of grace. We ask thee these things through our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ. Amen. Hymn: 882 Tune: Eshtaol 332 Seeking for the help of the Lord, I direct your prayer for attention to Acts chapter 12 and verse 12. The specific part of that verse is the latter part, gathered together, praying. They have been speaking on these Thursday evenings on the theme gathered together. And this evening I desire to speak gathered together, praying. The whole verse reads, and when he had considered the thing, He came to the house of Mary, the mother of John, whose surname was Mark, where many were gathered together praying. This is Peter after he has been miraculously released from prison, where Herod had him kept so securely with two soldiers outside and two bound with him and also with the doors of the prison and bound as well with chains and Peter that time was asleep and yet while he was asleep the Church of God we read was praying. Well here in this account is a gathering for prayer. And that is the subject for this evening, not private prayer. Our Lord spoke of private, personal prayer that was absolutely vital, that we should go into our closet, shut the door, and pray unto our Father which is in heaven. It was one of the remarks that was said of Saul of Tarsus, Behold he prayeth. A Pharisee turned from the Pharisee's prayer to the publican's prayer, a real heartfelt prayer of one that felt to be a sinner, or the Apostle Paul, as he was to be called, testifies of himself as the chief of sinners. Then we think of those that prayed like our Lord, in private, with his Father, whole nights in prayer. We think of the case of Hezekiah when he was sick and the Lord heard his prayer. By these things men live, in all these things of the life of my spirit, he says. The Lord hearkened to his prayer, lengthened his life by 15 years. We think of Paul and Silas in prison. There was two of them. They were praying for themselves. In one sense, it was a gathering together. But the thought here is not those that are specifically praying for themselves, but in a united way, they're praying, and it concerns all of those that are gathered together praying, the united, as it were, prayer meeting, a gathering in this way. And I want to look this evening at about six occasions in the Word of God where there were such gatherings and what those occasions were and some of the things that were brought to pass on those occasions. But before we come to that, let me remind ourselves what prayer is. In preaching, I, as a minister, am God's ambassador and speak on God's behalf to you, the congregation. In prayer, I speak on your behalf to God in heaven. And prayer is man's voice, man calling upon the name of the Lord on earth. And we might say it's a miracle, it's a wonder, but it is ordained of God. We rely upon the word of God that the Lord would have all men to pray and not to faint, and that whatsoever we would desire of the Lord, that we are to bring it before him in prayer. Prayer God has appointed. He himself has enjoined it, and it is prayer and supplication with thanksgiving. It is prayer. It is not dictating to God. It is not treating God like a puppet. It is not saying to him, what He must do, but is supplicating Him what we desire Him to do for us. How that prayer is answered, when that prayer is answered, is left up to the Lord. And that is vital for us to understand. When we think of how great the Lord is, how small we are, how insignificant we are. God has never given us authority to treat him with any contempt, familiarity, or in a way that would make him a slave to what we wanted. We think of Jonah sitting outside of Nineveh and trying to get the Lord to change his mind. regarding not destroying the Ninevites, the sworn enemy of Israel. The Lord would not do it. And Jonah could not turn the Lord in what he had said that he would do. The Lord saw their repentance and he granted them life. Prayer has its basis. especially when there are mercies sought, grace sought, anything really sought for sinners that don't deserve it. All its basis is on the precious blood of Christ that was shed at Calvary. We plead for mercy through that blood. Our ground of acceptance is that the debt is paid and that the benefits and blessings then can come to us. We come before the Lord in prayer using words and the Lord hears those words. By thy words shalt thou be justified, by thy words thou shalt be condemned. We should be careful what words we use but not in a way that so hinders us in prayer that we're afraid to pray anything. If it is according to Scripture, with reverence, with fear, and subject to the will of God, we may be sure that though we pray wrong like Paul did when he prayed that the thorn in the flesh, the messenger of Satan, would be taken from him, and he prayed three times, The Lord said no, and instead he gave him grace to bear that thorn in the flesh, to be able to endure it. Many of the Lord's people have cried for something to be removed, something to be stopped, some relief, but the Lord has said no, this is your appointed path, but I will give you grace to bear it. to resist the evil, to resist the devil, grace, to bear that infirmity, that affliction, that trial, and that is His answer. So we would think of prayer as that which God has given to bring His people and Himself together. We might be tempted and say, well, if God knows what we need, why do we need to ask for it? And we are told that before they call, I will answer. While they're yet speaking, the Lord shall do that which they're asking. The Lord has already appointed, when we say before, we might say, how long before? From eternity. But the Lord has ordained this means and this way And so when we read, cast thy burden upon the Lord and he shall sustain thee, we read in the margin, cast thy gift upon the Lord. Those things that are our burden, our trouble, the Lord is giving us things to bring us to him. Moses said to his people, The cause that is too hard for you, bring it unto me and I will hear it. If there was never a cause that was too hard for the people, Moses would never have had anyone come to him. And if we could manage everything, we would never come before the Lord in prayer. And we can be sure this side of the grave, that one of the things the Lord has not said he'll ever take away, And that is sin. We shall still be sinners until our dying day. We are not made sinless. To pray that we might be sinless is praying contrary to the word and will of the Lord. Death shall put an end to life, shall put an end to sin, and then in glory there shall be no sin. But this side of the grave, however much we might fear we'd be a better Christian, that we'd get on much better, we didn't have our sins, our besetting sins, and the evil of our heart, that is still there and will always be so. But the Lord has given that answer as Paul said, that who shall deliver me from this body of death, I thank God through Jesus Christ my Lord. So prayer is appointed by God and each individual, each Christian, must have a life of faith and prayer. He that cometh to God must believe that he is, that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him. And so prayer has its foundation in God's authority, in what the Word of God sets us to, and the examples in the Word of God of individuals, and as we have this evening, where there are a collection, a gathering together, and it is specifically for prayer, a prayer meeting. So, I want to look then at the cases in the Word of God, and I want to begin with the case that is before us here in Acts 12. And that is where there is one that is in great need, great danger. Maybe a person could be having an operation. Maybe they're in a persecuted land. We're praying for those in another land. In this case, it was in their own land. one of their number locked up in prison, one had already been slain. You might think, with the miraculous deliverance of Peter, why was James permitted to be slain? God's sovereignty, why he should spare one and not another? But here is Peter and he's been given time over Easter, afterwards, he's going to be brought forth. And the Church of God used that time. That Lord's been encouragement to us when the Lord gives us time to use it in a way that we might pray and come before the Lord in prayer. The Apostle Paul often used to enjoin the churches, brethren, pray for us. In other words, a church gathering, gather together, pray for us in the ministry. And of course, the path that he walked, many trials, many troubles, many afflictions. But he also says that where there was answers, where many had been praying and then there was answers, there would be many giving praise and many giving thanks. And that must always be the case, we should never forget that when we have gathered together for prayer, and that prayer is answered, then it is right to gather together to give thanks and to give glory unto the Lord. So here there was a gathering, you might say not instigated by Peter, it was by the Church of God, I remember many, many years ago when my dear one was afflicted, unbeknown to me, the rest of the church and one of the elders in the church had organized a gathering together, a church gathering together to pray for her. We only found out afterwards that it had actually taken place. And it's a good thing where there is that real felt desire to bring another before the Lord and to do that instead of individually gathering together. And we see them here gathered and it must have been because Peter, when he considered the matter, he must have expected that this was where the church would be, this is where they would be gathering. And he was right, they were gathering, and they were praying. It's a good thing, isn't it? When a church has a reputation for a people that pray, a people that gather, and it can be expected where they would likely to be gathering. This time, of course, Time with Peter was apprehended, there was no church buildings, there was no place like we have now, where we are more likely to gather in our places of worship. But of course it's not necessary that the gathering be in a public place of worship. It could be in a home, like in this Twelfth of Acts. But what a reminder we have here of the mercy and kindness of the Lord. We do not know what they were praying. I believe it was that he might be spared and delivered out of Herod's hand. But you might say what unbelieving prayers because when Peter knocked and when Rhoda understood it was Peter and told them within, they couldn't believe. They thought it was an angel. Sad thing, isn't it, that we pray and we don't really believe the Lord will or is able to hear our prayers. And yet here he did and worked a wonderful miracle to bring it about. And what a blessing it was for them to see Peter released in that wine. In a most solemn way, I felt as we read this account, in this chapter 12, Acts chapter 12, we have two gatherings that are mentioned. We have this one for prayer and how it was wonderfully answered and Peter was delivered out of Herod's hand. And then at the end of the chapter, We have another gathering. And this was when Herod was displeased with them of Tyre and Sidon. And they all gathered. They gathered together. They came to him. They had the king's chamberlain for their friend and to speak to them. And they made out that Herod was a king. They said, the people gave a shout, saying, it is the voice of a god and not of a man. And so God immediately, the angel of the Lord, smote him because he gave not God the glory." And what a solemn difference between those two gatherings, those two assemblies. And maybe you remember this account here of the gathering together of the Church of God, and we have that summarised in verse 5, Peter therefore was kept in prison, but prayer was made without ceasing of the Church unto God for him. And how wonderfully that was answered, and what an encouragement for us to, in similar circumstances, to gather the Church of God to pray. I want to look then secondly at continuing in prayer. I want to put this secondly, we don't want to always think, well, there must be a special occasion for us to gather for prayer. there must be that which answers like the case that we have here. No, we read in the beginning of the Acts of the Apostles, chapter 1, verse 14, that after the Lord had been taken up from them into heaven, then they returned, and these, the apostles, they continued all with one accord in prayer and supplication with the women and Mary, the mother of Jesus, and with his brethren." It's during that time that they, again, make it a matter of prayer as to who should take the place of Judas. We read in verse 24, after they'd appointed to Joseph, called Barnabas, who was surnamed Justice and Matthias, And they prayed and said, Thou, Lord, which knowest the hearts of all men, show whether of these two Thou hast chosen. And they did it through lots. The lot fell upon Matthias. He was numbered with the eleven apostles. And so We have a continuing in prayer, and when things came up in that assembly, they made them a specific mention in prayer. And in Acts chapter 16, we read of that which begun the Philippian church with gathering together where prayer was wont to be made. We read in verse 13 of chapter 16, On the Sabbath we went out of the city by a riverside, no building here, but a riverside, where prayer was wont to be made. And we sat down and spake unto the women which resorted thither. And this is where they met with Lydia, and Lydia heard the word that they spoke, and the Lord opened her heart, and she paid attention, that she attended unto the word, things which were spoken of Paul. She was baptized in her household, continued with Paul. But we have the picture that for no stated reason no thing like Peter shut up in prison but they are gathering together for prayer and it follows that which is said in private prayer to continue in prayer instant in season and out of season there need not be a specific reason there are many reasons of course for the church to pray to pray for the Lord's blessing on the ministry, to pray for his servants, to pray for those who are afflicted amongst them. And so we should not think that we only gather together for prayer when it is an important occasion, occasion that is significantly troubling the church, the congregation. May we know, may we be provided with the opportunities to gather together for prayer. I want to look thirdly then, as a gathering together for, we might say for thanks. In Acts chapter 4, We have a time of persecution, a time when the apostles were taken before the Jewish council and they were examined and they were threatened and they were threatened that they should not speak anymore in the name of the Lord Jesus. It followed the miracle of the man being healed and be able to walk at 40 years old. And it was a miracle that opened the door for the word of God to be preached and to be set forth. And we read that in verse 23, being let go, they went to their own company, reported all that the chief priests and elders had said unto them. And they're remembering what was said by David in the Psalms. They're coming together for praise, for thanksgiving, but they're also coming together for prayer. And we read in verse 31, when they had prayed, the place was shaken, where they were assembled together, and they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and they spake the word of God with boldness." You would think, well, already they'd been bold before the council, they'd been really helped in this time of persecution, this time of having to give an account of what had happened, and yet they gather together, they give glory to God, and then they come before the Lord in prayer, and the Holy Ghost is given, and they speak with boldness. It's a great encouragement when we're able to return from a time of trial, return when the Lord has helped us, delivered us, and we gather together And part of that gathering is for prayer. And the further blessing that then follows on from that. You know the Jews, they tried to stop them preaching, they tried to stop the spread of the message of salvation. And in reading verse 18, they called them, commanded them not to speak at all, nor teach in the name of Jesus. that they said we cannot but speak the things which we have seen and heard in spite of all their threatenings. They were let go and this is what they did. And so it's a blessed thought really, being let go they went to their own company, they went to their own people, reported those things and it was in that gathering that then there is prayer made. and the Holy Spirit that is given. So may we, if under persecution, times of trial, times of coming to report what the Lord has done, those also be times of prayer, prayer for thanksgiving and prayer that the Lord will hear us in this case and pour out his Spirit upon us. Remember, of course, that the circumstance here was witnessing persecution. The blessing that was given of the Holy Ghost was exactly suited to what they had been up against. They may have feared even further persecution, but then to be given that extra boldness in doing the very thing the Jews wanted to stop them doing, to speak the word of the Lord. The fourth thing that I bring before you is when we are taking leave of someone. And there is in the Apostle Paul's second or last race, the third missionary journey. And as he's returning to Jerusalem, you have a couple of these assemblies, these gatherings together. In Acts 20 and verse 36, we have where the apostle had called for the elders of the Ephesian church to come to him. He wasn't going to them, but he wanted to take his leave of them, so he called for them, so that he might take leave, so that he might speak to them and virtually say goodbye. We read in verse 17 from Miletus, he sent to Ephesus and called the elders of the church. When they had come to him, he said unto them, You know from the first day that I came into Asia, after what manner I have been with you at all seasons, serving the Lord." And he goes and he speaks of all that he'd done with them and not shunning to declare the counsel of the Lord. He gives them chance to take heed to themselves and to the flock over which the Lord had made them overseers. And then as he is then speaking to them, he takes his leave of them. And we read in verse 36. And when he had thus spoken, he kneeled down and prayed with them all. And they all wept sore and fell on Paul's neck and kissed him. Sorry most of all for the words which he spake, that they should see his face no more, and they accompanied him into the shepherd. So we can picture this with a church, with a minister that had been so blessed to them, they're not going to see him anymore this side of the grave. He's parting from them. And those occasions when that is realised, very emotional occasions, but here in that gathered assembly, they pray, committing each other into the Lord's care and the Lord's keeping. And this is repeated in the next chapter as well, when Paul continues his journey and he goes and he lands at Tyre, verse 4, chapter 21, and finding disciples We tarried there seven days. He said to Paul through the Spirit that he should not go up to Jerusalem. And when we had accomplished those days, we departed and went our way. And they all brought us on our way with wives and children till we would come out of the city. And we kneeled down on the shore and prayed. What a way to take leave. When we have gatherings with the families, with the Church of God, dear disciples, dear brethren, what better way to take leave of each other than to gather together for prayer. Prayer is made at that time. So may we remember that, gathering together for prayer, times when we take leave, one of another, to come before the Lord in prayer. The fifth one I bring before you is the dedication of the temple, a well-known prayer of Solomon when the Temple, the first temple, was dedicated 1 Kings chapter 8, and there is a long prayer, and in it, of course, he makes supplication for Israel, but he also supposes many other gatherings, when the people of God have been carried away and captive, when they prayed toward that place that the Lord would hear and that he would forgive. And you can picture this gathering, Solomon had made a scaffold, he was above all of the people, he kneels down, he puts up his hands toward heaven and he makes this prayer on behalf of all the congregation, all the people of God. And we have that in verse 22, Solomon stood before the altar of the Lord in the presence of all the congregation of Israel, spread forth his hands toward heaven. He said, Lord God of Israel, there is no God like thee in heaven above or on earth beneath, who keepeth covenant and mercy with thy servants that walk before thee with all their heart. And this long prayer then was a gathered assembly, gathered for the dedication of the temple. We think of openings of places of worship, for the first time a place of worship is used, is consecrated, is dedicated for a gathering together of people. And the prayer then is first offered in that place. Of course, with the temple, it was a type of our Lord Jesus Christ. The Lord Jesus Christ, when he came to the second temple, when the second temple was built, after the first had been destroyed, when the children of Israel went into Babylonian captivity, When the second one was built and it looked nowhere near as magnificent as the first, but the prophet said, the glory of this latter house shall be greater than the first. And it was because our Lord should meet there and should walk in that house. And so the Lord Jesus Christ said, destroy this temple and in three days I'll raise it up again. But he spoke of the temple, of his own body. And so the prayer really was offered, dedicating it, pointing the people to the great Aditya, to the Lord Jesus Christ. I want to look then lastly at the prayer that Jehoshaphat made when Judah were threatened by the children of Moab. You find it in 2 Chronicles chapter 20, And those of Mount Seir had come against them, a great multitude, those of Ammon, children of Moab and Ammon. And then Judah gathered themselves together to ask help of the Lord. Even out of all the cities of Judah, they came to seek the Lord. On a notice board outside here in the chapel porch, we have a photograph of, in the times of the war, in the time of Dunkirk, when the King of England, when he called for a national day of prayer, and there were long, long lines of people, all waiting to get into the cathedrals, into the churches, for gathered prayer, that the Lord would appear for us as a nation and deliver us as a nation. We know how wonderfully those prayers were answered at Dunkirk. Instead of just 30,000 being recovered of our servicemen, over 300,000 were brought. And other times of prayer where the Lord appeared for us as a nation and Jehoshaphat shows and leads the way in that, when the place seems so impossible, so difficult, and yet he gathers the people together and he makes prayer to the Lord. The Lord answered through one of his prophets at that time, told them they should not need to fight in that battle, and the Lord appeared for them. They did and all they needed to do was to go forth and they went forth believing, praising, singing, blessing the Lord and Jehoshaphat encouraging the people to believe his prophets and to believe the Lord their God. And so we have an example of gathering for prayer in a national national events, something that was threatening the whole land, something that was very serious. What encouragements we have in just some of these examples and there are others in the Word of God for a gathering together for prayer. And may we know the difference between private prayer and a gathering for prayer whether it be two or three gathered as a family or as a small church or whether it be a large large assembly but it is a gathering for united prayer to almighty God And may we know that the Lord does hear such prayers. He regards such gatherings in his dear name. May the Lord bless this word. We have this wonderful example in our text of such a miraculous appearing of the Lord and answering their prayers. And we know, of course, that that is the Lord's sovereignty. In the end, Peter was to die in the way the Lord said he would, that is, by crucifixion, stretching forth his hands, carried where he would not. The Lord had already told Peter how he was to die, and that was not by the sword. But each one of us, we will have a time that we must die, and no amount of prayer will stop that. And afflictions even that lead up to death, like Elisha fell sick of the sickness whereof he died, no amount of prayer will prevent that. And when we remember that, it's a reminder again to pray subject to the Lord's will. We think about Lord Jesus Christ in the Garden of Gethsemane, Praying to his Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me. Nevertheless, not my will, but thy will be done. May the Lord then help us in gathering together for prayer. Amen. Hymn: 397 Tune: Pentonville 488 The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God the Father, and the communion of the Holy Spirit be with you all now and evermore. Amen.