Metropolitan Tabernacle Pulpit · Sermon No. 1247
“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.” Acts 12:12.
IT was a great wonder that the infant Church of Christ was not destroyed. Truly, she was like a lone lamb in the midst of furious wolves, without either earthly power, prestige or patronage to protect her, yet, as though she wore a charmed life, she escaped from the hosts of her cruel foes. Had not this child been something more than others it had been slain like the innocents at Bethlehem—but being Heaven-born it escaped the fury of the destroyer. It is worth while asking, however—with what weapons did this Church protect herself? For we may very wisely use the same. She was preserved in her utmost danger from overwhelming destruction—what was her defense? Where did she find shield and buckler?
The answer is—in prayer—“many were gathered together praying.” Whatever may be the danger of the times, and each age has its own peculiar hazard, we may rest in calm assurance that our defense is of God and we may avail ourselves of that defense in the same manner as the early Church did, namely, by abounding in prayer. However poisonous the viper, prayer can extract its sting. However fierce the lion, prayer can break its teeth. However terrible the fire, prayer can quench the violence of the flame. But this is not all—the new-born Church not only escaped, but it multiplied! From being as a grain of mustard seed, when it could all assemble in the upper room, it has now become a great tree! Lo, it covers the nations! The birds of the air, in flocks, find shelter in its branches.
Why this wondrous increase? What made it grow? Outward circumstances were unfavorable to its progress—upon what nourishment has it been fed? What means were taken with this tender shoot that has been so speedily developed? Whatever means were used of old, we may wisely use them today, also, to strengthen the things that remain and are ready to die, and to develop that which is hopeful in our midst. The answer is—the fact that on all occasions, “many were gathered together praying.”
While praying, the Spirit of God came down upon them. While praying, the Spirit often separated this man and that for special work. While praying their hearts grew warm with inward fire. While praying their tongues were unloosed and they went forth to speak to the people. And while praying the Lord opened to them the treasures of His Grace. By prayer they were protected and by prayer they grew. If our Churches are to live and grow, they must be watered from the same source. “Let us pray,” is one of the most necessary watchwords which I can suggest to Christian men and women, for if we will but pray, prayer will fill up the pools in the valley of Baca, yes, and open to us all the channels of that river of God which is full of water, the streams whereof make glad the city of our God.
We have heard a great deal of talk in certain sections of the Church about going back to primitive times. They are introducing to us all sorts of superstitious inventions, under cover of the customs of the early Church. The plea is cunningly chosen, for primitive practices have great weight with true Christians. But the weak point of the argument is that, unfortunately, what they call the early Church is not early enough! If we must have the early Church held up as a model, let us have the earliest Church of all! If we are to have fathers, let us go back to Apostolic fathers! And if we are to have ritual, rule and ceremonies modeled on strict precedent, let us go back to the original precedent recorded in the Holy Scriptures.
We, who are called Baptists, have not the slightest objection to go back in everything to the Apostolic habit and practice—we reverence the real primitive method and desire to follow the customs of the true early Church. And if we could see every ordinance restored to the exact mode in which it was practiced by the saints immediately after the Ascension of our Lord, and during Apostolic times, we would clap our hands with delight! ‘Tis a consummation devoutly to be wished. To see the early Church alive, again, would cause us unfeigned satisfaction. Especially upon this point would we imitate the early Church—we would have it said of us—“Many were gathered together praying.”
May we have much prayer, much household prayer, much believing prayer, much prevalent prayer—and then we shall obtain great blessings from the Lord!
I. This morning my earnest desire is to stir up the Church of Jesus Christ to increased prayerfulness. I have taken this text, as it furnishes me with one or two points of great interest and is full of practical suggestions. The first is this, LET US NOTICE THE IMPORTANCE WHICH THE EARLY CHURCH ATTRIBUTED TO PRAYER and to Prayer Meetings. Let this be a lesson to us. As soon as we begin to read in Acts and continually as we read on in that record, we note that meetings for prayer had become a standing institution in the Church. We read nothing of “masses,” but we read much of Prayer Meetings. We hear nothing of Church festivals, but we read often of meeting together for prayer.