Common problems in corporate prayer

Recently I have been proofreading the translation of a book called The School of Prayer, which is a transcription of a series of spoken messages by Lance Lambert. This book was published by Christian Tape Ministry in 1993.

Message on prayer is the strength of Lance Lambert and prayer is the emphasis of his ministry.

The first message in this book pinpoints some common problems on the matter of corporate prayer.

For instance, he said that in many prayer meetings, the saints were just praying their own prayers as if they didn't hear the one who prayed before them. It seems that the prayers of the saints in the meetings were not related. He said perhaps it would be better to distribute the prayer items to us to pray at home individually and that would save us plenty of time.

I think this is the real situation of many church prayer meetings.

He also points out some other things we have to avoid in corporate prayer:

．horizontal prayer (only speak to men but not to God)
．sermonettes
．"shopping list" prayer or "world tour" prayer
．artificiality
．long prayer
．mechanical noise
．praying into your hands (the voice is too small)
．insensitivity

Related Posts:
Lance Lambert's Middle East Update
Lance Lambert's Personal Testimony
Coporate Prayer: by Lance Lambert
Messages on Coporate Prayer and Intercession

Lance Lambert's Personal Testimony

Sometime ago, I found a file of "Personal Testimony of Lance Lambert" on the website of www.christiantapeministry.com and this was an audio record of his personal testimony shared to a group of young people in Seattle Chrsitian Assembly last July (http://www.seattlechristianassembly.org/Messages/SpecialMsgsEn.html).

Lance shared about his family background. His father and many members of his family, who were all Jews, died in Holocaust in Austria. Before this, his father told his mother to go to Britain. She went with Lance and Lance's younger sister who was in mother's womb at that time. In this way, they survived in Britain. However, his mother didn't tell Lance that he was a Jews until he grew up.

Lance also shared how he got saved and how he had a burden for China. Then he saw God's eternal purpose. He prepared himself to serve in China but he could not go there. He stayed in Richmond, Surrey.

In the fifties of last century, God used him and some other saints to raise up a church in Richmond. He also shared what lessons they learned on prayer and faith.

He said they had to find a meeting place at that time. So they prayed together and had a word from the Lord. From that word given by the Lord, they found a place called Halford House. However, they were all young people and did not have much money. Before the deadline of payment, they prayed in one accord to ask God to provide for them. In the meantime, God provided the money in a very wonderful way.

Related Posts:
Lance Lambert's Middle East Update
Common Problems in Coporate Prayer
Coporate Prayer: by Lance Lambert
Messages on Coporate Prayer and Intercession