The Church Prayer Meeting (as the title suggests) is the gathering of believers for prayer, usually once a week. In Calvary, the meeting begins with the singing of hymns, followed by exhortation from God's Word, a time of sharing, and prayer. By coming to Prayer Meeting we show our care and concern for one another as members of our Lord Jesus Christ.

But few come for the meeting. Why? When we examine our own lives, we cannot help but admit that the increase in years as a Christian does not commensurate with growth in our prayer life. In many instances, there is actual decline.

The Prayer Meeting is a kind of spiritual ther-mometer of the Church. Lukewarmness and spiritual lethargy manifest as absence from the Prayer Meeting. On the average, attendance for the English-speaking congregations is about 10%. This is a sad reflection of our Church's spiritual condition.

Prayer Life and Prayer Meeting

The Bible's emphasis on the importance of a strong prayer life is summed up by the well known but little practised phrase, "PRAY WITHOUT CEASING" (1 Thess 5:17). The most comprehensive word for "prayer" is used here. "Prayer" includes confession of sins, intercession, supplication, adoration and thanksgiving. All forms of reverent address to God are included. Prayer is "a taking hold of God". As Hendriksen aptly puts it, "there must be no decline in the regularity of the habit of 'taking hold' on God' in the midst of all circumstances of life." Since the command is to pray without ceasing, therefore, failure to pray is a sin.

The blessedness of prayer and the necessity to pray cannot be underestimated. We must pray without ceasing in our "closet" as well as corporately with our brethren. Wilful absence from Church Prayer Meeting implies that we care little for the spiritual welfare of our brethren and for ourselves. Such prayerlessness is a sin.

Corporate prayer is necessary for spiritual vitality and revival. Hebrew 10:25 is a reminder for us to gather to pray, "not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is, but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching."

Believers in Calvary gather every Tuesday (Pandan) and Thursday (Jurong) in the evening for prayer: to show our love for one another; to encourage one another; to weep with those who weep and to rejoice with those who rejoice; to give thanks to God for His goodness; to seek God's face together; and to pray for one another. As John Calvin rightly observes, "the soul of our faith is prayer". Is it well with your soul, dear reader?

A Spiritual Warfare

As children of God, we are in an ongoing warfare against the adversary. We struggle not against flesh and blood but "against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places" (Eph 6:12). Our enemy is Satan, with his hosts of fallen angels. The realm of this warfare is spiritual, invisible to the naked eye. When a believer does not feel like praying or sees no need to meet together for prayer, he is capitulating to the wiles of the Devil. He is trying to fight a spiritual battle with the arm of flesh.

To fight this spiritual warfare, the believer is commanded to put on the whole armour of God "that he may be able to withstand" the onslaught of Satan. Above all he must make full use of prayer, the most potent weapon, "praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints" (Eph 6:18). Prayer is the key to victorious Christian living, to victory over Satan. By faithful believing prayer we triumph over every foe.

Conclusion

Victorious living and revival in the church comes, not by wishing or by making resolutions, but by prayer. Private personal prayer at home must be supplemented by corporate prayer in church. It is God's ordained way to blessing. There is no short cut or any easy way. If we would pay the price the Lord will surely open the windows of heaven and pour out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it.