This study was first taught on October 14, 2018

Topic: Church Life (6): Church Business (Communing & Conversing with God)

(use the audio to study)

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Background
Last week, we turned our attention to the third of the four primary activities which should form the order of church business when they meet—the breaking of bread. We mentioned five connotations of the expression, “breaking of bread” from Scripture, and saw the application and implications of these connotations for the church today. The five connotations of “breaking of bread” scripturally are:
(1) The supernatural provision of food by the Lord.
(2) The Lord’s Supper—a symbol of the suffering and death of the Lord.
(3) Sharing a meal—as in hospitality toward others.
(4) The means by which the disciples recognized the risen Lord.
(5) The meal involved in the ratification of covenants.

In application to the church today, we noted that we ought to:
(1) Demonstrate the Lord’s compassion for the needy by sharing our meals with them.
(2) Keep before us, even at mealtimes, the Lord’s suffering and death, and therefore, our own willingness to suffer and die (if need be) for the brethren and for the Lord (Colossians 1:24).
(3) Be hospitable to others and share our meals with them (1 Timothy 3:2; Hebrews 13:2).
(4) Understand and realize that the Lord is present at our meals.
(5) Be reminded of our commitment to the Lord and the brethren, and thus, be renewed in our minds to be true to the Lord and His Body.

The implications of these we noted include, not taking our salvation for granted, by living as we like, knowing what price was paid for it; being reminded of the Lord’s compassion for the needy, and thus we ought to share our meals with the needy and regularly pray for them; and, we must take holy living seriously, and be reminded of this lifestyle, even at mealtimes or at love feasts (where the tendency is to be merry and loose all ‘inhibitions’). Indeed, mealtimes, and love feasts, should remind us of the need to be sober-minded and to remember the sacrifices the Lord made to redeem us!
• “… though He was rich, yet for your sakes He became poor, that ye through His poverty might be rich.” (2 Corinthians 8:9); and,
• “… He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon Him; and with His stripes we are healed.” (Isaiah 53:5).

When we come together, therefore, we must all remember that we are all of one loaf, and must do all that is possible to keep the unity and holiness of the body—“A little leaven, leaveneth the whole lump.”

Scripture Text(s)
Acts 2:41-42
The last, but by no means, the least of the primary activities of the church when we meet, is prayer. We had, when we discussed prayer in Acts 1:13-14, spoken about what should happen when we gather as a church to pray—all must be engaged in prayer; all must pray continually; all must pray continually with one accord; all must continually, with one accord, pray with supplication (pleadings); and, all must pray continually with one accord, much supplication (entreaty/pleadings), and with much/great expectation! We have also mentioned the need for private praying of each individual believer in the Lord Jesus Christ; so we won’t dwell so much on these as we consider …
The word “prayer” has been severally abused and misused; it is therefore imperative that a proper perspective be put on this all-important activity, hence, we have labelled “prayer” aptly, as “Communing—going into conference with, and confiding in, God—and Conversing—a two-way communication—with God.”

Also, the subject of prayer here, is not personal or individual, but corporate and public (among brethren). It must be noted, however, that private, personal praying must necessarily precede public, corporate praying, otherwise, we are hypocrites (Matthew 6:5)!
Acts 4:31; 12:1-7; Colossians 4:3-4; 1 Timothy 2:1-8; Jeremiah 29:1-19ff; Romans 13:1-5; Matthew 18:19, 15-18; John 15:7; 1 John 5:14-15; James 4:1-4.

Conclusion
Isaiah 56:1-7; Matthew 21:12-17
It is only fitting that the last of the primary activities of the church in conducting its business be prayer; and it is by no means the least of the activities. The house of God, which today, is the church of God in one place, must indeed be a gathering for prayer, and not a gathering of looters of public funds, people who have no concern for the needy in Society, etc. Rather, when we gather, it must be to commune with God on matters of His heart, which we must converse with Him about vigorously.

When the church rightly becomes a gathering to pray for civil authorities, to meet the needs of the poor in our midst and in Society, and, to seek the face of God about happenings in our communities, then we shall begin to see the power of God at work through the church. Evangelism will truly be with power, as we shall witness true conversions; there will be real deep joy in the hearts of men, and the fear of God will come upon all men!

And as we talk to God, we must expect to hear a response also from Him (2 Chronicles 20:1-18ff; 1 Corinthians 14:27-33).

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