Tag Archives: unity

Agreement Brings Breakthrough

12314077_1070671332995973_3508507785176326580_n“There is power in praying together. Deuteronomy says of God’s army that ‘one man (could) chase a thousand, or two put ten thousand to flight’ (32:30). There is a multiplied effect in being together before God. It was the corporate prayer of Acts 1:14 that produced the corporate power of Acts 2:42-47. Corporate prayer brings corporate power (Acts 4:14-31).” Steve Meeks

God’s heart is that we have agreement and unity in our prayers. The key to power in praying together is a single focus. Agreement in prayer brings breakthrough. We go to a powerful prayer meeting on Wednesdays. The reason it is so powerful is because we are focused on one thing – praying for America. The entire hour is spent in praying everything about our country. We don’t suddenly launch out into something else but we all come with a determined mindset to pray for one thing – our nation. It’s easy to be divided into a million areas when we pray. The needs are so great. But the most powerful prayer meetings are when everyone is in agreement about one thing at a time. We must learn to pray through a request until God moves us on to something else. We are one body with one voice seeking God together.

Agreement in prayer is not a new thing. It is Biblical! In Acts 1:14 we read “they all joined together constantly in prayer” and in 4:14 we read, “they raised their voices together in prayer”. Together is a key that opens the door to the power of God. The King James Bible in Acts 2:1 says “with one accord”. What were the results? – The filling of the Holy Spirit with boldness and Peter’s miraculous release from prison.

To pray together is to dream the dreams of God together.

I don’t know how you feel, but I want to dream the dreams of God together with other like-minded people. It is a huge encouragement when we don’t have to carry a heavy burden alone. God has great plans and His Kingdom is coming to earth. I want to pray His dream with others regarding His Kingdom. I want to agree with others in alignment with His will. Praying in agreement is harmonizing together like a symphony.

When an orchestra is tuning up, everything can sound like a lot of noise – Every instrument is doing it’s own thing – But when the conductor raises his baton, the instruments come together in harmony. That’s how prayer should be when Jesus is the conductor of the meeting.

On Wednesdays I go to a prayer meeting from 6:30 – 7:30 AM with over 100 people praying together, mainly intercessors. It’s great! And there is a beautiful harmony. Last week one person started a spontaneous song and two others continued the song with new verses and in perfect harmony. Every week a prayer theme is continued through the entire hour with one intercessor adding to the prayers of another. There’s direction as everyone prays with one heart and mind under the direction of Jesus, the conductor. This brings encouragement, builds faith, and helps everyone to concentrate. We are all keenly aware of what the Holy Spirit is doing. The harmony keeps us all awake early in the morning! We are agreeing in prayer. We read in Matthew 18:19 in the Amplified Bible:

“Again I tell you, if two of you on earth agree (harmonize together, make a symphony together) about whatever (anything and everything) they may ask, it will come to pass and be done for them by My Father in heaven.”

How to Agree in Prayer

“When you pray in agreement, there is no loophole, no alternate plan, and no changing your mind.”  Elmer Towns

Praying with one another in agreement helps us to bear one another’s burdens. It’s encourages faith and helps us avoid temptation. Here are some ways that will help you to pray in one accord:

  • Pray with a clean heart – You must be in harmony. Make sure there is no unconfessed sin or unforgiveness. “If I had cherished sin in my heart, the Lord would not have listened” (Psalm 66:18). See John 9:31.
  • Pray with the Holy Spirit’s direction – When you start praying, invite the Holy Spirit to come and direct you in prayer. Look to Him for His guidance, direction, and focus.
  • Pray in agreement with honesty and love – “Finally, all of you, live in harmony with one another; be sympathetic, love as brothers, be compassionate and humble” (1 Pet. 3:8).
  • Pray God’s will according to Scripture – “And this is the confidence (the assurance, the privilege of boldness) which we have in Him: [we are sure] that if we ask anything (make any request) according to His will (in agreement with His own plan), He listens to and hears us” (1 John 5:14, Amplified). Also see James 4:3 and John 15:7.
  • Pray one subject at a time – You may want to pray back and forth on one topic until you are finished. Remember to stay focused until you are finished with that topic before you move to something else.
  • Pray brief, to-the-point prayers – Long prayers can cause the group to lose focus. You want everyone to participate.
  • Pray with faith and confidence – Believe together that God hears and will answer your prayers. God can do anything. “Is anything too hard for the Lord?” (Genesis 18:14). “If you believe, you will receive whatever you ask for in prayer” (Matthew 21:22). See Hebrews 11:6.
  • Pray with perseverance and urgency – Don’t give up. “Then Jesus told his disciples a parable to show them that they should always pray and not give up” (Luke 18:1). Also see Matthew15:21-28.

Why is it so hard to start citywide prayer meetings and Houses of Prayer? The answer is simple. Satan knows the power of agreement in prayer. He knows that if the churches came together in united prayer, the city could be reached for Christ. So he fights it in every way he can. He loves disunity and this is one of his greatest tricks. He always wants to bring division, discord, and broken relationships.

But when there is unity in prayer, there is another outcome. Steve Meeks shares about how praying together in agreement affected his church and city. He says:

“Praying together has been like igniting a spiritual boiler room within our church. The temperature of our faith has risen. Answered prayers are an ongoing experience. We have seen the climate of our unity radically changed. We have entered a stream of God’s activity along with a host of other churches and Christians and pastors’ groups across our city. There is a feeling of oneness among the churches, and practical strategies are developing for the church in Houston to stand ‘firm in one spirit, contending as one man fort the faith of the gospel’ (Philippians 1:27).” 

Sometimes one prayer from another perspective can change everything. Occasionally my husband and I go to a Turkey prayer meeting. In one hour we pray a multitude of prayers for that one nation. It’s amazing the variety of prayers there can be prayed for one country. The prayers are direct, to-the-point, and are led by the Holy Spirit. On my own I could never pray from that many perspectives but together there is united wisdom and power.

Perhaps you have heard about the old farmer who drank his first bottle of soda pop while he was heading for the big city on a speeding train. After he took his first sip, the train roared into a dark tunnel. He cried out to his wife, “Don’t drink that soda pop, Martie, it will make you blind as a bat!” The old man had evaluated the situation from his own perspective. He wasn’t really blind. He was in a tunnel and didn’t even know it. We can also have tunnel vision in our prayers. We need one another’s wisdom and perspective.

There was an elderly Midwest couple that apologized to the TV repairman when he came to the door. With red faces they informed him that their TV had no problems at all. “We made a mistake,” they told him. “We put on each other’s eyeglasses.” As Christians, we see the world through our own eyes. We think we see with 20/20 vision but that’s not true. We need one another to see and pray from God’s full perspective. We need one another to pray with the power of God. Snowflakes are very frail all alone, but if enough of them get together they can cause a traffic jam! (http://elbourne.org/sermons)

The Holy Spirit is inviting us to enter into His heart for breakthrough unity. We are living in exciting days. Agreement brings breakthrough. It’s Scriptural and God promises to be present. We read in Matthew 18:20, “For where two or three come together in my name, there am I with them.” God answers united prayer. As we saw in Matthew 18:19, the Bible says that if two of us agree on earth, it will be done for us by our Father in heaven. That’s a powerful verse. Agreement is the untapped power of believers. Perhaps this is the day we should take hold of God’s untapped formula for breakthrough in prayer! Let’s learn the secret of agreement!

“Agreement is perhaps the untapped power of believers! What would be the results of real agreement among believers? If we will be led into perfect unity with Jesus Christ, having His mind in us so that we think as He would and ask according to his Word (John 15:7), and maintain unobstructed relationships between ourselves, having no resentments or unforgiveness toward others, we would open a channel through which God’s power could flow unobstructed.” Thetus Tenney

By Debbie Przybylski
Intercessors Arise International
IHOPKC

 

Our Prayer for Unity

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How to Pray for Your CityLord, thank You for bestowing blessing when we live and pray together in unity (Psalm 133). Teach us as Your people to walk shoulder to shoulder in unity. Help us to “make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace” (Ephesians 4:3). We thank You for the power of corporate intercession. When we combine instruments, songs, and prayers together, help us to be unified for Your glory. Thank You for the harmonious unity of prayer that You are creating among Your people throughout the earth. You promise that where two or three of us come together in Your name, that You are with us (Matthew 18:19-20). Unite our city in 24/7 prayer. We choose to join in unison as with one voice because You deserve our praise. You are good; Your love endures forever (2 Chronicles 5:13-14).

Lord, we want to keep Your Word central in our lives and in our prayer meetings. We want to be those who make music in our heart to You, always giving You thanks (Ephesians 5:19-20). Help us to let Your Word dwell in us richly as we sing psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs with gratitude in our hearts to You (Colossians 3:16). Help us to partner with Your heart as we sing and pray Your Word. Release Your united creativity in our prayer room. We celebrate Your united creativity and diversity in the Houses of Prayer that are spreading worldwide. Thank You for the beautiful tapestry of prayer that You are fashioning throughout the nations. “Great and marvelous are your deeds, Lord God Almighty. Just and true are your ways, King of the ages. Who will not fear you, O Lord, and bring glory to your name? For you alone are holy. All nations will come and worship before you…” (Revelation 15:3b-4). In Jesus’ name, amen.

Verses to Memorize

“Again, I tell you that if two of you on earth agree about anything you ask for, it will be done for you by my Father in heaven. For where two or three come together in my name, there am I with them”
(Matthew 18:19-20).

By Debbie Przybylski
Intercessors Arise International
IHOPKC

United Prayer – Taking it into the Prayer Room

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11701226_990322364364204_1884118167031320414_nTaking it into the Prayer Room

Meet together and study the verses, thoroughly answering each question as a group. Carefully discuss the “Keys in Antiphonal Singing.” Then put together a prayer and worship team, designating who will be the intercessors and who will be the antiphonal singers. Choose a leader for the intercessors and a leader for the worship team. Pray through some of the apostolic prayers of Paul (Romans 15:5-7, 13; 10:1; 1 Cor. 1:4-8; Ephesians 1:17-19; 3:16-19; Philippines 1:9-11; Colossians 1:9-12; 4:2-4; 1 Thessalonians 3:9-13; 5:23-24; and 2 Thessalonians 1:11-12; 3:1-5).

Then take it into the prayer room, and practice with the intercessors praying the Word and the antiphonal singers responding to the Word through singing short phrases. Have the musicians play their instruments throughout this prayer time. After your one or two hours in the prayer room, come out and have a time to debrief and evaluate your prayer time. What did you do right and wrong? How can you improve in the future? In closing, pray the prayer for unity.

Harmony in Song and Intercession

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18795_990250177704756_4392992996688455638_n“In the unity of faith, love, and the Spirit, the power of the name and of the presence of Jesus acts more freely, and the answer comes more surely. The evidence that there has been true, united prayer is the fruit—the answer, the receiving of the thing for which we have asked. ‘I say unto you… it shall be done for them of my Father which is in heaven.” What an extraordinary privilege united prayer (and worship) is! What a potential power it has!'” Andrew Murray

Just as there is powerful unity that God is bringing in intercession, the same is true in song. The wonderful thing about this is the fact that you and I are part of it. This harmony that is beginning is powerful as 24/7 prayer spreads from city to city and nation to nation. And within the circle of prayer that you are involved in, creating this harmony is of extreme importance. The enemy loves to bring disharmony and disunity, but the new thing that God is creating is a beautiful song of unity that will break through tremendous spiritual strongholds of the enemy.

As you attempt harmony in your own prayer room, remember that you are part of a bigger whole that will bring tremendous effect in the spirit realm all throughout the earth. And in your city in particular, you are the ones called to bring the release and freedom of the Kingdom of God into your sphere of influence. This is absolutely exciting. There is tremendous power when you prayer together in agreement. Jesus says in Matthew 18:19-20:

“Again, I tell you that if two of you on earth agree about anything you ask for, it will be done for you by my Father in heaven. For where two or three come together in my name, there am I with them.”

God is a musical God, and He has created us as people who function best when there is a song in our heart. Music motivates us. The greatest entertainment in the world is music, because the human spirit is musical. There is power released in song. If you question this, for some of you in mid-life, think back to the songs you heard on the radio as a teenager. If the music comes on the radio now, you know the words to the songs just as if it were yesterday.

The devil wants to rule the domain of music because he knows that there is power in it. This is why intercession combined with music and the Word is a dynamic combination and is of utmost importance at this time. When the Word of Christ dwells in our hearts richly through psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs, nothing will stop us from God’s purposes in our lives both individually and corporately. Music combined with words of truth move us deeply into spheres of active commitment that we would never imagine otherwise. We read in Colossians 3:16:

“Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom, and as you sing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to God.”

By Debbie Przybylski
Intercessors Arise International
IHOPKC

Preparing the Church For the Future

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“We will soon see prayer become the chief purpose and focus of the church, above any other activity. Intercession is no longer just an option. The basic calling of the church is to be “a house of prayer for all nations” (Mark 11:17). There are no remedies for human problems without God, and the whole earth is about to learn this.” Rick Joyner

The church is in transition and preparation. She will one day see her identity as an eternal House of Prayer and a glorious Bride—but she does not see it yet. There is a wrestling inside, almost like a butterfly in a tiny cocoon trying to escape and spread her wings. She is just beginning to hear the voice of the Bridegroom as John the Baptist did (John 3:29). She is just beginning to desire one thing above all others—to gaze upon the beauty of the Lord as David did (Psalm 27:4). She is just beginning to realize her unique privilege and the close friendship and intimate knowledge that she can have with God’s heart.

Things are happening quickly worldwide. We are all in God’s end-time preparation whether we like it or not. Now is the time to lay hold of the absolute necessity of day and night prayer and ask God to create it in our churches and in our cities. God is giving us grace and authority in prayer to seek Him at this time, so let’s take advantage of it. Let’s seek to grow in fervent prayer.

In unity, we will be doing and saying the same things the Spirit is doing and saying. We will be in unity with God as we learn to walk in daily obedience by pursuing Him in prayer and guarding our hearts with all diligence (Proverbs 4:23).

God desires for us to have a dynamic role as we partner with Him in prayer in bringing His Kingdom on earth. This is how He will govern His universe. As we unite in prayer and worship, we will keep strong and stable when everything is shaking around us.

The prayer movement in a city is going to be one of the greatest stabilizing forces for the Church. God hears the prayers of His people and brings victory (2 Chronicles 6:35, 40; 7:15). This will create the spiritual atmosphere that will enable all of us to bring in the harvest. Evil is increasing at an alarming rate. A House of Prayer can spiritually penetrate into the darkest areas of the city, causing those lost in the deepest darkness to come into the light and be set free.

With such a dynamic role in partnership with God, we must pray fervently for the prayer movement to arise and spread like fire.

In his book, Healing the Nations, John Sandford writes that the Church is seeing the beginning of visitation throughout the world:

“Over the past several years, the Lord has raised up an armada of intercessory ministries around the world. Through their efforts, multitudes have come together in citywide prayer, solemn assemblies, prayer summits, and reconciliation services. God has used the earnestness of this intercession to bring millions to repentance. The prayer movement has touched the heart of God; in turn, He has touched the heart of man. As a result of this prayer movement, the church is seeing the beginning of visitation throughout the world. Renewal, revival, and supernatural manifestations are being reported almost daily. Many feel we are closer to a great awakening than at any other time…”

Early one Sunday morning as we were on our way to a church two hours away, we made a quick stop at a gas station. When I went inside that gas station, I was instantly overwhelmed by the delicious smell of fresh bread and donuts. “Ummmmm” was about all I could say. It smelled so good that it was hard for me to leave. I wanted to buy coffee and donuts immediately because I had been captured by the aroma of that bread. I used my will power and didn’t buy any donuts, but I was strongly reminded that the prayers of the Church will be like a fragrant aroma that captures God’s attention.

The Church will become a House of Prayer for the nations. Churches throughout the world will put prayer at the center of all of their activities. They will cry out to God for their city, country, and the nations of the world. Those who are searching for truth will not be able to stay away from the sweet-smelling aroma of prayer that will come from the prayer room. People will be drawn into the Houses of Prayer, and God’s future Church will be filled with the aroma of Christ. This is what we have to look forward to. And those who have been in the prayer room will bring this sweet-smelling aroma with them everywhere they go—to school, their workplace, and into the streets.

By Debbie Przybylski
Intercessors Arise International
IHOPKC 

Values to Help Facilitate Unity in Prayer

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11169247_994914043905036_2077199318887040447_nThe following are three values that will help facilitate unity in your House of Prayer:

  • Mature team ministry – When there are instruments, antiphonal singing and prayer together, then there is a need for unity between the worship team, the intercessors, the singers, and everyone in the prayer room. There needs to be the desire to function as a divine symphony. We truly need each other. Skilled hands and trained minds are needed. The musicians must play with restraint in order to bring out the best in the team. Intercessors must refrain from lengthy prayers. Mature team ministry is vitally important.
  • There needs to be the desire to include everyone – The ungifted, weak, or untrained need to feel welcomed. Everyone is needed. Everyone is part of the prayer room. We must be very careful that one or a few people do not dominate the House of Prayer. I have experienced this many times. When one or two people dominate the prayers because they are quick or loud, the quieter ones can feel frustrated or left out. We need to guard against this.
  • Centrality of the Word – Praying the Bible should be included. Mike Bickle from the International House of Prayer in Kansas City says that we should be a singing seminary.

“We are to be rejoicing in the language of God’s heart as opposed to being frustrated by the limitation of biblical language. The Scriptures impart a governmental function into the model that automatically hinders the use of error and weirdness.” Mike Bickle

Think about the beautiful sound in a united symphony orchestra. This instrumental ensemble containing sections of string, brass, woodwind, and percussion instruments which when united make a beautiful symphony.

A psychologist at Union College and R. Scott Builione, a graduate student at Columbia University, were presenting their discoveries at a meeting of the American Psychologist Association. They were showing how various sections of eleven major symphony orchestras perceived one another. String players were seen as arrogant and unathletic. The percussionists were viewed as hard-of-hearing, unintelligent, and insensitive. The brass players were thought of as loud and woodwinds were seen as meticulous, quiet, and quite egotistical.

With such widely divergent perceptions and personalities, how could they ever come together and make such wonderful music? The amazing answer is that even though these musicians see each other with different eyes, they come under submission to the leadership of the conductor. Because of his guidance, they play breathtaking music.

In the same way, those in the prayer room might all be different and have a variety of ways of doing things, but when they submit to the leadership of God and His Word, they play and pray in harmony. No one is left out; they function as a divine symphony. They are of one heart, giving glory to God through their unity. Just as in the book of Acts, God will show forth His power through His people when they are of one heart and soul. I look forward to that day, don’t you?

“After they prayed, the place where they were meeting was shaken. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke the word of God boldly. All the believers were one in heart and mind… With great power the apostles continued to testify to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus…” (Acts 4:31-32a, 33).

By Debbie Przybylski
Intercessors Arise International
IHOPKC

Hindrances to Unity in a House of Prayer

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11694990_990318007697973_3189277523324716005_nAs we look at these beautiful character qualities that enhance unity, it is also important to realize that the devil will try to stop or hinder prayer in many ways. He will deceptively bring in many problems. You are moving into heavier warfare when you start a House of Prayer in your city or church, but the blessings will far surpass the hindrances. You are entering greater opportunities for the harvest.

The following are a few of these possible hindrances. Many of them are especially problems in a citywide House of Prayer. If you are doing a one-week House of Prayer in your church, most of these hindrances won’t affect you. For example, you won’t run into denominational problems or lack of finances if it’s in your own church. In one short week you may not have to face as many opportunities for offense or division. It’s in the longer term 24/7’s where the more serious hindrances can occur. It would be good to pray about these possible hindrances ahead of time, and be alert as you build a House of Prayer in your city or church.

  • Denominational barriers – We must unite, and learn to pray with those outside our own denomination. We must decide within our own heart that the unity of the body of Christ is far more important than our own personal preferences. Humility is going to be key in this end-time revival and in Houses of Prayer. There will be no room for pride.
  • Offenses – Individuals may get offended with one another. We must all learn not to carry an offense. It is absolutely necessary that we forgive quickly and move on. Entire cities are at stake; therefore, we must choose to love. Confession of sin removes the barriers of disunity in relationships. Confession and repentance should be encouraged in your House of Prayer.
  • Lack of finances or agreement in location – When starting a House of Prayer in a city, finances can hold us back. Or there may be difficulty in agreeing on a location. Some may want it in one place and others somewhere else. Continual prayer for God’s provision and direction is vital. Asking the whole body of Christ in a region to contribute is helpful.
  • The struggle with control – Many times “control” can be a spiritual problem causing disunity, and certain individuals or churches may want to control what God is doing. The truth is that God is the ultimate leader of the House of Prayer. He must get all the glory. Any man that God uses will be one who walks in deep humility.
  • Individual strongholds affecting relationships – The enemy will do anything he can to find open doors (strongholds) in individual lives to prevent united prayer. In warfare, Satan will try to ruin relationships. This is why we must personally close the door of strongholds in our own lives and constantly forgive. We must let God radically deal with our own personal lives.
  • The enemy will always try to divide and conquer – We have seen him do this all over the mission field between husbands and wives, leaders and followers, team members, and churches. We must seriously pray, and choose not to be divided or bring accusation against one another.

Realize that God can break through all these hindrances. He is able. Love does cover a multitude of sins. It’s worth it to have Houses of Prayer even in spite of the hindrances. God can exceed our greatest expectations if we are willing to battle through the hard times.

By Debbie Przybylski
Intercessors Arise International
IHOPKC

The Incredible Power of United Intercession

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“How good and pleasant it is when brothers live together in unity! It is like precious oil poured on the head, running down on the beard, running down on Aaron’s beard, down upon the collar of his robes. It is as if the dew of Hermon were falling on Mount Zion. For there the Lord bestows his blessing, even life forevermore”
(Psalm 133:1-3).

Intercession is spreading just as the urgency of the hour for prayer is increasing. God is moving across the earth, and the prayer movement is growing as the days grow darker. We are in an enormous battle just as the Romans were in the movie Gladiator. We must unite in prayer; the life of the Church depends on it.

During a time of traveling for several months overseas, I was able to visit several countries and was amazed at the rapid interest there was for Houses of Prayer. There were young people in France who desire to spread 24/7 prayer all throughout that land. And this was in just one nation. There are so many others!

There is no other way that we will be able to reach the nations and see revival and salvation spread. There must be a dramatic increase in united prayer. While praying overseas with many different Christians of various denominations and from many nations, I was struck with the realization of the incredible power of united intercession. This is why the enemy hates it so much. This is why starting and maintaining a House of Prayer takes all our determination and commitment.

You have heard of the saying, “United we stand, divided we fall.”

During World War II in the battle for Salingrad, the soldiers were ordered by their Russian commanders not to give up any more ground. If a soldier fled from the Germans, he was instantly shot on the spot. The Russian commanders knew the seriousness of uniting together. If a couple of soldiers fled their posts, the Germans would have an opening and would be able to invade the city. The Church must stand together in unity. When we are divided, Satan finds it easier to attack us and conquer. United day and night prayer within our cities will protect us from enemy attack.

Psalm 133 speaks of the blessing of unity. This blessing includes the Holy Spirit’s presence and power. When we unite in prayer, we will see a great increase in the realm of God’s manifest power. With unified and anointed prayer, we shall see divine possibilities in our cities and nations that we had never before imagined possible. The fullness of God is only released to the unified Church. We must pay the price to see this happen. We must face and endure the difficulties of uniting in intercession in order to see the blessings of the Lord flow. We read in Ephesians 4:3:

“Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace.”

One hundred pianos that are all tuned to the same fork are automatically tuned to each other. They are in one accord not because they are being tuned to one another, but to another standard outside of themselves. Each one must become tuned to that one standard in order to be in tune with the others. When we worship and pray together, we are looking to Christ. He is our standard. In this way we become like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and purpose.

A few years ago we were planning a one-month 24/7 House of Prayer in our city of Virginia Beach. I was signing individuals up for the two-hour time slots in the prayer room. Being unsure as to the various combinations of people that would end up in the prayer room together, I stepped forward by faith hoping that God would arrange it in a perfect design. To my surprise, God worked it out to the smallest detail.

During that month an elderly woman intercessor had signed up for the very same hours as a young African American pastor with a group of his lively and somewhat rugged-looking church members. So here they were in the prayer room praying and seeking God together.

I thought to myself, “Will it work?”

To my amazement, after it was all over, the elderly intercessor came up to me and told me how much she had enjoyed praying together with that pastor and his church team. She expressed with sadness how she was going to really miss praying with them.

Such is the beauty of how God unites in heart very diverse individuals in the prayer room.

Jesus prayed for unity in His Church in His high priestly prayer in John 17 shortly before He died. In John 17:1-19 He prays directly for His disciples, but in the last six verses He prays for His Church throughout all of history. He prays that we would be united with Him (John 17:21, 23). He wants us to live in unity with His heart, doing and saying what He says. He prays that we would know His glory and beauty and that our love would be pure and undefiled; that we would passionately love just as He does. He wants us to love Him just like He loves the Father (John 17:26). We want this tremendous portion of Scripture to dramatically change our lives. We should pray these Scriptures in the prayer room because unity is so important in our cities.

Unity is a key to fruitfulness. This is true in all dimensions of life, especially in the prayer room. We need to do everything we can do to help maintain unity, love, and peace with one another. We are glorifying God in our prayers and worship. Valuing and prioritizing unity will help bring the manifest presence of God into the prayer room. We need to ask ourselves:

How can we maintain unity in our House of Prayer? How can we stay united in powerful intercession on a daily basis?

Colossians 3:12-14 emphasizes the character qualities that we must cloth ourselves with in order to build perfect harmony:

“Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.”

By Debbie Przybylski
Intercessors Arise International
IHOPKC