shushy
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Post by shushy on Jun 15, 2011 22:12:42 GMT -5
Just had a thought.
Do the workers in a main city ever get together with the other workers of each town in that city to pray. Have a regular prayer meeting specificaly for the city?
Most churches do this here. Monthly I think.
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Post by Alan Vandermyden on Jun 15, 2011 22:14:15 GMT -5
Just had a thought. Do the workers in a main city ever get together with the other workers of each town in that city to pray. Have a regular prayer meeting specificaly for the city? Most churches do this here. Monthly I think. We never did, Shushy, and I haven't heard of other workers doing it.
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Post by Alan Vandermyden on Jun 16, 2011 0:53:04 GMT -5
As Nathan mentioned, some companions do pray together - a few of my older companions suggested this, often before a gospel meeting.
We did occasionally meet with workers in adjoining or nearby fields to discuss things. This might occur if my companion was one of the older, "responsible" brothers, or maybe if we were both new to the field, and workers nearby happened to have been there previously, and knew a bit about various circumstances there. These were generally in friends' homes, though the people of the home weren't included in these kinds of visits. Praying together was not a part of these meetings.
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shushy
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Post by shushy on Jun 16, 2011 19:43:41 GMT -5
ITs a shame it doesnt happen. Praying with others for specifics breaks down walls and brings people together, in a spirit of unity. It breaks disunity amongst bretheren.
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Post by Deleted on Jun 16, 2011 22:00:33 GMT -5
It's an interesting thought. As an aside, when they were all together praying for Peter when he was in prison, I wonder if they were praying out loud or not?
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Post by ScholarGal on Jun 17, 2011 8:30:21 GMT -5
What about the regularly-scheduled (before convention, around special meetings) workers' meetings? Or the bit workers' conventions with hundreds of workers attending?
It's not at the "city" level, but it is a larger gathering of workers. I've never been to a workers' meeting, so I don't know if they sit around and talk over coffee, pray together, speak in turns, or get lectured on a specific topic.
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Post by Alan Vandermyden on Jun 17, 2011 12:27:32 GMT -5
What about the regularly-scheduled (before convention, around special meetings) workers' meetings? Or the bit workers' conventions with hundreds of workers attending? It's not at the "city" level, but it is a larger gathering of workers. I've never been to a workers' meeting, so I don't know if they sit around and talk over coffee, pray together, speak in turns, or get lectured on a specific topic. All of the above - except for the coffee, and modified a bit: The worker meetings I've been in had a format very similar to other meetings - a hymn, then all given a chance to pray (standing, as at convention), then all given opportunity for a brief "testimony." Prayer and testimony topics were of course focused on the work. After the general testimonies, a few of the older brothers would speak somewhat longer, from the stage. I wouldn't call them lectures, though, unless you prefer to call all convention sermons lectures. Topics again were more geared to the work. Actually, we did have a California "staff" meeting the night before the big meeting (this was at Santee). Visiting workers were also welcome, and I believe they always attended (it would have been considered rude to not attend), but this meeting was intended for Eldon, Sydney Holt, or Uncle Dick to address the California workers. I suppose this would be closer to a "lecture," but not in the sense of a haranguing.
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shushy
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Post by shushy on Jun 18, 2011 18:14:23 GMT -5
It's an interesting thought. As an aside, when they were all together praying for Peter when he was in prison, I wonder if they were praying out loud or not? You can prove the power of the spoken word. My answer for your question would be..if its good enough for the father to speak out loud why not us? I had problems speaking out after leaving meetings but that changed when I felt moved and inspired hearing others pray. And pray specificly.
I feel confident if the workers began to do this they would see good results. Some churches have many prayer meetings eg: before each service, [some an hour, some 10mins] before and at each home group/youth group/sunday school and a 1hr, ladies prayer meetings for the needs of the women and also a 1hr, mens prayer meeting. also music ministry one during wk and before each meeting, everyone is encouraged to pray individually and read the word in their personal life. That would all be in one week. That is a lot of prayer and then you ask why does God answer their prayer. I strongly believe this is why. God is in our midst esp when we pray together coupled with faith we can ask for whatever it is we need.
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Post by Alan Vandermyden on Jun 18, 2011 18:48:22 GMT -5
Hey this discussion could continue on the main board . . .
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Post by DumSpiroSpero on Jul 1, 2011 21:25:37 GMT -5
Hey this discussion could continue on the main board . . . Proboards needs to introduce a like button Great idea Al!
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Post by Deleted on Jul 1, 2011 23:43:41 GMT -5
Hey this discussion could continue on the main board . . . Proboards needs to introduce a like button Great idea Al! They had the smite/exalt button for awhile....
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Post by DumSpiroSpero on Jul 2, 2011 1:38:22 GMT -5
Yeah that was just before I joined TMB
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Post by Alan Vandermyden on Jul 3, 2011 15:59:31 GMT -5
Proboards needs to introduce a like button Great idea Al! They had the smite/exalt button for awhile.... That was just when I joined TMB, and I liked them, but I can understand why they were discontinued too . . . seems like it's easy for all of us to get a bit competitive counting the smites and exalts we garner. However, the FB "Like" button is different, and I often wish it were available here (and I don't know a thing about the site's programming or whatever, which may not even offer it). But the FB "Like" is for a particular posting, unlike the Exalt/Smite buttons here that stayed with an individual user . . . I think the Like button is a great way of letting someone know you appreciate a comment without needing to compose a statement. And now I'm helping to derail the thread . . .
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Post by emmarr75 on Jul 6, 2011 5:04:12 GMT -5
Just to get the thread on track Prayer meetings are powerful! In the churches I've attended since leaving the 2x2s I have really noticed the impact of what can happen when people are called by God to pray (in small groups and as a large congregation). Even now, where I work, we regularly before a service gather everyone together (students included) and spend some time in prayer before beginning the service.
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Post by emmarr75 on Jul 6, 2011 5:13:06 GMT -5
I enjoyed this commentary on prayer:
Our prayers must be seconded with serious endeavours, else we mock God. We are not limited to certain moments in our addresses to the King of kings, but have liberty to go to him at all times; approaches to the throne of grace are never out of season. But the sense of God's displeasure and the afflictions of his people, are causes of sorrow to the children of God, under which no earthly delights can comfort. The king encouraged Nehemiah to tell his mind. This gave him boldness to
speak; much more may the invitation Christ has given us to pray, and the promise that we shall speed, encourage us to come boldly to the throne of grace. Nehemiah prayed to the God of heaven, as infinitely above even this mighty monarch. He lifted up his heart to that God who understands the language of the heart. Nor should we ever engage in any pursuit in which it would be wrong for us thus to seek and expect the Divine direction, assistance, and blessing. There was an immediate answer to his
prayer; for the seed of Jacob never sought the God of Jacob in vain. (Ne 2:9-18)
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Post by kiwi on Jul 6, 2011 5:40:04 GMT -5
Yeah that was just before I joined TMB Just as well otherwise you might be black and blue by now ;D ;D
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Post by Deleted on Jul 6, 2011 11:23:33 GMT -5
Only in the past couple of decades have I begun to learn what "Pray without ceasing" means. Something happened very recently that I felt compelled to pray for something very natural and specific openly and in the hearing of another. It came to pass just as had been begged of God. Once again I found proof that The God of the Bible awaits those who are seeking the best for others and who are interceding for them.
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Post by Deleted on Jul 6, 2011 14:02:17 GMT -5
I like to think that prayer is our line of communication with God, so any opportunity or excuse we have to pray we should grab it. Jesus prayed a lot and I like the thought that He prayed for all of us even before we were born; yes we should pray without ceasing, God is listening.
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Post by ts on Jul 6, 2011 19:52:47 GMT -5
One companion and I tried praying together on his suggestion. It lasted a little while. I think it made him a bit uncomfortable that I broke down and cried a lot when praying. "Nerves" I guess. The conditions in the work were much worse than the conditions in the city.
The workers meetings and workers conventions are really not any different than the regular meetings that the friends go to. The format is the same. Most of the workers have a quick, "that's my desire" testimony and are expected to say something. They are just hyper aware of leaving time for the main speakers as they are the ones who are always admonishing the friends to do so.
The topics really are not that different in a workers meeting and the things that ARE different are not really things that could not (nor should not) be spoken in front of the friends. The workers meeting is just another thing that sets the workers above the friends.
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shushy
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Post by shushy on Jul 6, 2011 23:32:23 GMT -5
It is puzzling for people who claim apostolic succesion the scriptural guidlines dont seem to be evident.
Ill add to this because that last sentence sounds so critical. I wonder if the workers can imagine how exciting it is to seek God together in unity, and the results of that. Im sure they have no idea.
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