Another benefit of the "house church" community that I attended a few years back was the lengthy prayers. There was a minimum of a two hour prayer session for ourselves (as everyone involved did at least a few days a week of street and nursing home ministry) on Fridays for one example. These days in church it is hard to find anything near that length; for those who do attend. Sundays usually involve only a few minutes and usually given by the Pastor after requests are taken at Sunday school along with a brief prayer before and after the service. Thankfully there is now a Sunday evening service for an hour which allows for some more prayer at my local congregation.
Some of us at least have probably heard second hand stories at least of those who have prayed decades for their children who finally saw the fruit of their efforts with repentance. I don't believe that is an iron clad guarantee either but that it is the means and method to effectively reach the elect that God chooses to utilize for such purposes. Jesus acts as high Priest to us.
26 Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered.
27 And he that searcheth the hearts knoweth what is the mind of the Spirit, because he maketh intercession for the saints according to the will of God. ( Romans 8:26-27)
Jesus according to Hebrews acts as the "High Priest" ( Heb. 4:14-16). Thus He would fulfill the role of being in the inner sanctuary that the O.T. Levitical priesthood would perform in the earthly sanctuary as a type of foreshadowing. Knowing that all our brothers are going through like temptations ( 1 Peter 5:9) we should intercede on their behalf through prayers that are sent to heaven. We of course can't intercede directly but can be involved in the process of travailing in the Spirit ( Gal. 4:19 best example).
Another benefit of the "house church" community that I attended a few years back was the lengthy prayers. There was a minimum of a two hour prayer session for ourselves (as everyone involved did at least a few days a week of street and nursing home ministry) on Fridays for one example. These days in church it is hard to find anything near that length; for those who do attend. Sundays usually involve only a few minutes and usually given by the Pastor after requests are taken at Sunday school along with a brief prayer before and after the service. Thankfully there is now a Sunday evening service for an hour which allows for some more prayer at my local congregation.
Some of us at least have probably heard second hand stories at least of those who have prayed decades for their children who finally saw the fruit of their efforts with repentance. I don't believe that is an iron clad guarantee either but that it is the means and method to effectively reach the elect that God chooses to utilize for such purposes. Jesus acts as high Priest to us.
26 Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered.
27 And he that searcheth the hearts knoweth what is the mind of the Spirit, because he maketh intercession for the saints according to the will of God. ( Romans 8:26-27)
Jesus according to Hebrews acts as the "High Priest" ( Heb. 4:14-16). Thus He would fulfill the role of being in the inner sanctuary that the O.T. Levitical priesthood would perform in the earthly sanctuary as a type of foreshadowing. Knowing that all our brothers are going through like temptations ( 1 Peter 5:9) we should intercede on their behalf through prayers that are sent to heaven. We of course can't intercede directly but can be involved in the process of travailing in the Spirit ( Gal. 4:19 best example).
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