April 28, 2020 Show with Mack Tomlinson on “The Importance of Corporate Prayer in the Life of the Church”

Live from the historic parsonage of the 19th century gospel minister George Norcross in downtown

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It's iron sharpens iron.

This is a radio platform in which pastors Christian scholars and theologians address the burning issues

facing the church and the world today.

Proverbs chapter 27 verse 17 tells us.

Iron sharpens iron so one man sharpens another.

Matthew Henry said that in this passage We are cautioned to take heed with whom we converse and directed to

have in view in conversation To make one another wiser and better.

It is our hope that this goal will be accomplished over the next two hours.

And we hope to hear from you the listener with your own questions, and now here's your host Chris

Arnzen.

Good afternoon, Cumberland County, Pennsylvania, Lake City, Florida and the rest of humanity living on

the planet Earth.

We're listening via live streaming at iron sharpens iron radio .com.

This is Chris Arnzen your host of iron sharpens iron radio wishing you all a happy Tuesday on this 28th

day of April 2020 and first of all, let me start off this program by

thanking all of you again from the depths of my heart For praying for my oldest

brother John in Justin, Texas.

John as many of you heard when I Called out for

a prayer from my listeners He has

He has critical stage emphysema and once again was recently rushed to the hospital

and The circumstances looked very grave indeed and

His wife and one of his daughters Jan and Regina Did not

expect him to be leaving the hospital this time.

Well, I just heard word from my brother John via a text that the

doctors want to discharge him today and He doesn't want to go yet.

So pray that the right decision is made.

I don't want him to be going home if it's a premature thing as he fears, but I am just so thrilled that

the Lord has done a work of healing in his life at least enough to

Have the doctors believe that he He may be discharged and and I thank

you for the renewed interest in spiritual matters

that has entered into my brother's heart and mind and I just I can't

thank all of you enough for praying for him and for the flood of

emails and texts and private messages That have been coming in

where people have been Affirming that they are praying for him and asking for updates and so on.

And forgive me if I'm stammering here and not speaking articulately, but I just am very

overwhelmed by the whole situation and I am truly thankful to our merciful and

gracious and sovereign God and I would request that you continue to pray for him and

that he regains even more strength and health

and Keeps looking to Jesus Christ and a very key

figure in this whole circumstance.

One of my chief prayer warriors in the midst of all of this is My dear

friend pastor Mac Tomlinson, who is my guest today?

He is an author a conference speaker and pastor at Providence Chapel in Denton, Texas

not far at all from where my brother lives and Today we are going to be addressing

a theme that is not Disconnected from These circumstances involving

my brother and that theme is the importance of corporate prayer in the life of the church.

And we're also going to be giving you the great news About the upcoming fellowship conference New England in

Portland, Maine.

And it's my honor and privilege to welcome you back to iron sharpens iron radio pastor Mac Tomlinson.

Good afternoon, Chris.

It's always a blessing to be with you.

It's always a blessing to have you on the program and I am so grateful to God that our mutual friend Mike

Gadosh founder of solid grand Christian books is the one who Initially put me in

contact with you a number of years ago, and I am thankful To

God for him for being the instrument that that brought us together brother.

Well, any friend of Michael Gadosh is a friend of mine.

Amen.

Oh.

Amen.

Well, I'm going to immediately give our listeners our email address if they have questions on the importance of corporate

prayer and the life of the church.

Our email address is Chris Arnzen at gmail .com chris way are

in Zen at gmail .com.

Please give us your first name at least.

Your city and state of residence and your country of residence if you live outside the USA.

Only remain anonymous if your question involves a personal and private matter and before we go into the

Specific theme at hand pastor Mac if you could as I always have our guests do.

Remind our listeners or for those of you hearing.

For those of my listeners hearing you for the first time introduce those listeners

to Providence Chapel and Denton, Texas.

Yes Denton in North

Texas a quarter of

the great perplex university 20

,000.

Creation

of about

them only right.

Church life has been a blessing the continuing

to a kingdom

and Advance the gospel right here as all of God's

people are across the nation right now.

Well, if anybody wants to find out more about Providence Chapel in Denton, Texas go to

Providence Denton and that's a d e n t o n org

Providence Denton Oregon, hopefully I will remember to repeat that later on

now.

Please let us know the exciting news about your annual fellowship conference, New England.

The next of which is scheduled for August 6 through the 8th at the Deering Center Community

Church in Portland, Maine.

Yes,

well

Lord

willing at a

decline but

great.

I don't remember

a Friday

Saturday

unwilling Viki

Michigan video.

Yes, it's been a friend of

mine since the 1990s and I was actually.

Instrumental in.

Having him launch his very first radio program

found theologian.

I'm sure Bikki will speak

free Thomas

this week and

he's coming back on again in June.

And I just love interviewing that brother.

What a what a joy to interview him.

Yes, dr. Bikki and and Dr. Jeff Thomas

or

two of

a conference to come area.

You could see some of the New England coast special days at the fellowship.

Great and for.

Those of you who are interested in attending that and Whether you are already

interested or not, you should go to the website Anyway, because you might become interested in it

that is fellowship conference New England comm.

Fellowship conference New England comm and as I said, it is scheduled for August

6 through the 8th 2020 at the Deering Center Community Church in

Portland, Maine, and I intend to be there God willing.

It will be my first time in Maine and it will require prayer from

my listeners and loved ones because it's going to be a bittersweet time

visiting Maine for the first time because my precious late wife Julie always

wanted to go on a vacation with me to Maine and We never made it there before she entered into

glory.

Now.

I know that Eternity with Christ is infinitely better than Maine but

it still is I know going to have a The the enjoyment will be

tainted with sadness Just because of the fact that she really wanted to go there

with me, but I trust that the Lord will bless me With a wonderful time

nonetheless in spite of any sadness I may feel but I am really looking forward to

that and Both of those men are extraordinary speakers And are among

my very favorite speakers in the in the church, so Try to

make it there if you can and now let's enter into the theme at hand the importance of corporate

prayer in the life of the church and just so.

Our listeners are clear on what you mean.

Can you explain?

What is corporate prayer?

Well, we know that private person in the Bible.

Throughout the Bible believers are told to pray.

Seek the Lord to pray.

Corporate prayer has a

corporately

a

true church prayer

and.

Even though this is an attempt at a temporary substitute.

Do you think what we have been experiencing? during this coronavirus.

Scare where many of us have been involved in corporate prayer meetings so

-called.

Via the internet, is that really corporate prayer.

Even though I know that there are good intentions and motive and motives

For doing it this way, especially in some cases where the law requires it.

But it's is it really a substitute or an adequate? representation of

corporate prayer.

Obviously together.

Like they were in the

book of Acts or meeting.

Well, what was the motivation for you today to want this to be our central theme.

Well, I'll just stop sharing Chris you can stop me interrupt me I

said a couple of weeks

ago and

what he has the attention

the more serious

attention of every true biblical church.

But why does that attention?

Probably not.

It probably doesn't make them say hey, let's study the Heidelberg Catechism

when the heat's on.

When the church is in not in affliction, but

what becomes really is for Christians

today.

I want to bring in kind of an honest evaluation in my from my opinion about the

normal reform churches

station technology

quality and Especially reform churches

have.

I think something is still missing widely.

And that's what I want to address today.

And some things that I'm going to say.

May make some but I think my

thesis is pretty much unarguable.

Because what I want to address is the weakness of

this is something

objective and either your church and my church.

Either this is present.

It's absent.

So the issue I want a fair

meeting truly biblical or not any

church with a good doctrinal preaching

missing.

Having a true prayer meeting.

My question would be are they fully reformed are fully biblical the

New Testament.

Corporate prayer is the most absent or at

least it's the weakest aspect.

Even in and it may be especially in reformed churches.

Because I know Personally non reformed churches that

do have quality that I know reformed churches that have poor

prayer meetings or no prayer meetings.

So We should think why is prayer in the church so neglected

and I think.

The bottom line answer is because it's so hard to do.

It's so easy to listen to great preaching.

It's so easy to love to say no easy to study theology

or to have a wonderful Bible.

Prayers hard work brings us open before God.

Repentance and faith and dependence.

I hope if pastors and elders and church leaders are listening today I'd

like to really just ask them some very honest questions about

this.

My goal is to encourage them to trust the Lord to Strengthen their prayer

meetings or if they don't have one.

To go back to the New Testament and just to be honest and say how much?

In bounds the good the primary need in the church is not

men of money in a prayer.

And I think that's very applicable to today.

Yeah, especially especially in the reformed church.

We would tend to gravitate towards the man with brains, right?

But Matthew Henry the great Puritan said.

And this applies to the individual Christian into a church.

Prayer time must be kept such as meal time.

Well When we go worship on the Lord's Day, we

are keeping up the spiritual meal.

Are we keeping up regularly a prayer time within the body of Christ?

Here's some pointed questions.

I've thought about that.

I wrote.

I didn't find them anywhere.

But I think every pastor who wants his church to be biblical every elder every deacon.

Every faithful member of a biblical church Should ask themselves these questions or try to answer them.

Does your church have a true prayer regularly?

How often if

ever pray for 30 minutes

is your church.

Is my church known as a praying church.

Do our churches have a history of?

Remarkable answers to prayer.

And is there anything about our church that can only be attributed to the.

I think these are searching questions.

And they leave us to the question is

my church truly biblical.

So the weakest thing in my church as

a Christian that is not regularly attending a prayer meeting.

Is not a biblical Christian prayer meeting consistently

a truly Biblically reformed church.

Those kind of statements can make pastors like me uncomfortable

if we're endeavoring to be biblical.

Let's really be honest.

Corporate prayer is probably the weakest thing.

It's not exist.

Yes.

Well, we

do

already.

Yes, we have a listener question for you already.

Sure.

It's an anonymous listener and the anonymous listener says.

Please don't think I am being rude at all.

I am just very curious and want to hear the answer to your question.

How do you respond to one that may say you are attempting to bind upon the

consciences of?

Christians.

Something that is not specifically and clearly Biblical in the sense of a

separate day for a prayer meeting.

Now I know that the scriptures teach that we are to be committed to prayer.

But if a church should choose to just have a time of prayer during

their regular Sunday worship service Would that not suffice.

And I'm not arguing for this point as if this is my position that I adamantly hold

to.

I am just curious how you would answer that charge that might be brought against you.

That's a great.

It is a great question.

Obviously the Bible

whole day.

That's when

they did murder solemn assemblies.

The biblical case for corporate prayer should not be

confused with personal given Jesus

said when you but

even a basic for reals corporate prayer both as

descriptive and prescriptive for

instance children.

Then we cried out

to the Lord heard our voice

the Prophet Joel and chapter one calls

Gathered the elders.

Well, I thank

you anonymous and keep listening to.

Iron Sherpins iron radio and spreading the word about the program and if you are a first -time questioner

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Who will be shipping that to you and no charge to you or to iron Sherpins iron radio?

Well, we're going to go to our very first break right now.

And once again, if anybody else would like to join us with a question of your own our email address is Chris Arnzen at gmail

.com chris Arnzen at gmail .com.

Please give us your first name.

At least your city and state of residence and your country of residence if you live outside the USA.

Please only remain anonymous if your question involves a personal and private matter.

Don't go away.

We'll be right back with more of Mac Tomlinson and our discussion on corporate prayer.

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discussion here today.

Very good.

Well, if you want to pick up where you left off.

Yeah, the question that caller had earlier was a tremendous question because

people can begin to think.

You know if we say Certain things should be done Because we see them generally in

the Bible people can begin to crawl.

Isn't that legalism?

You're put the church and my answer would be

As follows.

I already referenced those really both I think

descriptive and prescriptive.

But you go to the New Testament and you see the same thing you see this

Habit and practice of the church praying together Regularly

as a prayer.

And you also see Apparently special called prayer meetings for urgent

situations.

This is Acts 12.

Peters in prison.

They've already killed James and here it takes Peter because he sought please the Jews.

But acts 12 says.

But the church Prayed earnestly unto God for

Peter for Peter Crying out to

God the angel brought Peter to the prayer meeting and it shocked them that he walks into the prayer meeting.

So we see times of Special

prayer meetings for urgent needs and we we don't believers have done that all through

history.

But so when you go to the New Testament.

Then let's just think about some body of work in the New Testament.

It reflects this and Chris you can or need to or if you have a question that

comes in.

Think about Luke's call.

Luke called Luke's gospel the gospel of Prayer because

It states when Jesus said his baptism that he was praying When he was baptized when

the Spirit Luke mentions Jesus private prayer.

Luke chapter 11 and Luke 18.

Almost a good portion of those two chapters share the great importance of

importuna prayer.

Apostles came or teach us to pray

and he gives the you

have In only in the early church examples of

Corporate for the book of Acts has at least 13 or 14

specific examples of the believers pray after one

acts 2 chapter 4 Chapter 6

after 20 and 28 all through the book of Acts

the believers were gathering to pray.

Then you get on into the epistles just a couple more references.

Just to drive home this point that this this picture of corporate prayer is not

legalism biblically exemplified for

second Corinthians

111 you also helping together and

can any oven any of us imagine Those early churches not

having stay where there was on the Lord's Day morning.

Not just a pastoral prayer, but they prayed together

4 -2 in the good old New American Standard

virtue yourselves with Thanksgiving.

Well, how can a church devote itself to prayer regularly if they don't pray together regularly.

Then think of Timothy chapter 2.

He certainly says to the church and no one would say this isn't

implications for all men.

For kings and all who are in authority that We may lead a quiet and

peaceful life and all godliness acceptable.

In the sight of God our Savior.

Just to quickly have you clarify something what you have repeated the word Prescriptive

and I just wanted you to clarify the meaning of that to the listeners I have I have been of the opinion that that

means that it is the will of God that is actually in the form of a command and writing

in some sense as opposed to The decreed will of God which is all things that come

to pass because he is ordained.

Right.

Well, that's a good question.

Descriptive means in the Bible you see.

That's a description that they did it together.

But pretty much doesn't mean that you necessarily automatically have to follow that example.

If it's just a descriptive alone, right?

New Testament

commands

a

different

play early prayed.

If we have a heart.

We own churches in our own way

to apply.

Go ahead.

I was just gonna say you could pick up where you left off there.

I'm sorry if I lost your trail of thought, but I thought that was an important Clarification

to make because I have been Lovingly and sometimes not so lovingly rebuked on

on this program from listeners because they say that.

Sometimes we take for granted.

That our listeners understand words and phrases that we use.

That may help that may be.

You know, not not necessarily of the understanding of especially new believers.

Right.

So just to pray do you

see that the church

corporately praying?

But then you move into church history and the same thing surfaces

the 18th century probably into the 17th.

Grandfather Solomon Stoddard who pastored for I think at

least 50 years before Jonathan Edwards his grand Solomon Stoddard

called.

During his ministry those five decades.

He called five different times.

Concentrated prayer

out.

No, by the

way, are you familiar with?

The banner of truth book the power of prayer that

Chronicles a New York City revival at a congregation

That was in the Dutch Reformed denomination.

It started out with just a handful of people having a prayer meeting

during the week actually and it grew into a massive thing that caught on and it was

Being imitated all over the city and there was a revival that broke out.

Have you have you heard of that book?

Oh.

Yes, I love that book the history.

I was actually gonna do it.

Oh really?

Yeah, the it's called the the the the prayer

revival of 1857 58 that

There had been an economic collapse in the Northeast I think in the 40s.

In the 1850s as a

city missionary basically, he was a they would call a staff evangelist,

but they were called city missionaries.

Jeremiah Lamphere that's church on Fulton

Street in New York City, which actually the location is very near a

Memorial Museum.

Lamphere had a

burden

new people came in.

Long story short.

By the end of the summer there were 50 ,000.

In fact,

I Published a book

best this revival by dr. Roy

here's want to that book.

It's a full account of that revival

the book for fit in and grow with

when heaven touched earth The awakening of 1858.

Wow, but that the

point is the country.

And unfortunately, isn't it a tragedy that

that denomination the specific church if my memory serves

me right was the one of the marble collegiate churches with the Dutch Reformed

Church named some of their congregations

That Eventually became the RCA the Reformed Church in America.

It's such a tragedy that Or a great revival could come out of that denomination

and yet today it is nearly not a hundred percent but nearly completely barren

of true Biblical teaching and gospel truth.

And I don't know.

I don't know if Norman Vincent Peale was the first to turn that The

nomination around for the worse and bring it into decline with this power of positive thinking heresies,

but It's just it's just a shame whenever I think of that and in addition to the

book that That Mac promoted there And we will give you max

Information again to contact him for that.

Don't forget that you could also get the power of prayer the New York revival of 1858 by

Samuel prime and you could get that at CV bbs .com CV bbs

.com and ask for that banner of truth book the power of prayer by Samuel

prime and We we actually have to get to our midway break right now pastor

Mac.

If anybody would like to join us on the air with a question of your own Send us an email to Chris Arnzen at gmail

.com Chris Arnzen a gmail .com.

And as always, please give us your first name your city and state in your country of residence if you live outside the USA

Please be patient with us.

This is once again our longer than normal break the midway break in our

show Because grace life radio 90 .1 FM in Lake Lake City, Florida

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Local public service announcements because according to the FCC they have to localize their programming

to Lake City, Florida.

So while they air their own Public service announcements and other things that are local to Lake City,

Florida.

We air are globally heard commercials and I would in addition to writing questions to pastor

Mac Tomlinson on the subject of corporate prayer I would urge you to please Also

Write down the information for as many of our advertisers as you can so that you can more frequently

Patronize them and more successfully patronize them because remember folks I know that many of you are

annoyed by the number of ads that we air, but we cannot survive without these

Advertisements we do not have nearly enough donations coming in

To Exist without the corporate support of advertisers

that keep us going and that would also include churches and nonprofit

organizations and so on so please even if you can't

Purchase anything from them and if it might be a church for instance That's so far away from

you.

You doubt you'll be able to visit that church.

Could you please?

Contact them and just thank them for keeping an eye on Sherp and Zion radio on the air through their

advertising but Once again our email address if you want to send in a question for Mac Tomlinson on

corporate prayer That's Chris Arnzen at gmail .com Chris Arnzen at gmail .com

Don't go away.

We'll be right back after these messages with more of Mac Tomlinson and corporate prayer.

James White of Alpha and Omega ministries and the dividing line webcast here.

Although God has brought me all over the globe for many years to teach preach and debate at numerous venues some of my

very fondest memories are from those precious times of fellowship with Pastor Rich Jensen and the brethren at Hope

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I've had the privilege of opening God's Word from their pulpit on many occasions.

Have led youth retreats for them and have always been thrilled to see their members filling many seats at my New York debates.

I do not hesitate to highly recommend Hope Reformed Baptist Church of Coram, Long Island to anyone who wants to be

accurately taught Discipled and edified by the Holy Scriptures and to be surrounded by truly loving

and caring brothers and sisters in Christ.

I also want to congratulate Hope Reformed Baptist Church of Coram for the recent appointment of Pastor Rich Jensen's co -elder

Pastor Christopher McDowell.

For more information on Hope Reformed Baptist Church, go to HopeReformedLi .net.

That's HopeReformedLi .net or call 631 -696

-5711.

That's 631 -696 -5711.

Tell the folks at Hope Reformed Baptist Church of Coram, Long Island that you heard about them from James White on Iron

Sharpens Iron Radio.

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Our church is far more than a Sunday worship service.

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Chris Arnsen, host of Iron Sharpens Iron Radio here.

I want to tell you about a man I have personally known for many years.

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Dan is a personal injury and medical malpractice lawyer, but not the type that typically comes to mind.

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Hi, this is John Sampson, pastor of King's Church in Peoria, Arizona.

Taking a moment of your day to talk about Chris Arnson and the Iron Sharpens Iron podcast.

I consider Chris a true friend and a man of high integrity.

He's a skilled interviewer who's not afraid to ask the big penetrating questions while always defending the key

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I've always been happy to point people to this podcast knowing it's one of the very few Safe places on the internet

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I believe this podcast needs to be heard far and wide.

This is a day of great spiritual compromise and yet God has raised Chris up for just such a time

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It's up to us as members of the body of Christ to stand with such a ministry in prayer and in finances.

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Financially, would you consider sending either a one -time gift or even becoming a regular monthly

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I know it would be a huge encouragement to Chris if you would.

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The coronavirus pandemic has rapidly changed our way of life bringing so many

uncertainties.

When will it end?

Why do disasters like this happen?

How do we deal with anxiety fear and the like?

Well join us each Friday on the program Iron Sharpens Iron with your host Chris Arnzen

and pastor Joe Jacobs as they explore God's Word for answers to this and other of

life's related issues.

Tune in at first love radio .org.

That's first love radio dot o -r -g.

Each Friday at 1 p .m. Pacific 4 p .m. Eastern.

That's Iron Sharpens Iron on first love radio .org.

Friday's 1 p .m. Pacific 4 p .m. Eastern to hear what the Bible has to say

about Pandemics and how we should respond as.

Host of Iron Sharpens Iron radio.

I frequently get requests from listeners for church recommendations.

A church I've been strongly recommending as far back as the 1980s is Grace Covenant Baptist Church in

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Tell Pastor Dunn that you heard about Grace Covenant Baptist Church on Iron Sharpens Iron radio.

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This is Pastor Bill Sousa of Grace Church at Franklin here in the beautiful state of Tennessee.

Our congregation is one of a growing number of churches who love and support Iron

Sharpens Iron radio financially.

Grace Church at Franklin is an independent autonomous body of believers Which strives

to clearly declare the whole counsel of God as revealed in Scripture Through the person and work

of our Lord Jesus Christ.

And of course the end of which we strive is the glory of God.

If you live near Franklin, Tennessee, and Franklin is just south of Nashville, maybe ten minutes.

Or you are visiting this area or you have friends and loved ones nearby.

We hope you will join us some Lord's Day in worshiping our God and Savior.

Please feel free to contact me if you have more questions about Grace Church at Franklin.

Our website is gracechurchatfranklin .org.

That's gracechurchatfranklin .org.

This is Pastor Bill Sousa wishing you all the richest blessings of our Sovereign

Lord God Savior and King Jesus Christ today and

always.

Hi, I'm Buzz Taylor frequent co -host with Chris Arnzen on Iron Sharpens Iron radio.

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And one more request since CVBBS .com is a book distributor

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heard about them from Chris Arnzen on Iron Sharpens Iron radio before we return to Mac Tomlinson

and our discussion today on the importance of corporate prayer.

I have just a few announcements to make that are very important.

First of all tomorrow Michael Hammer joins us for the very first time

tomorrow that's Thursday the 30th of April he is a Jewish believer

and we're going to hear his testimony of Salvation and also how he came to embrace

the doctrines of reformed theology Aka Calvinism aka the

doctrines of sovereign grace which places Jewish believers in a very

tiny minority in that theological camp for some reason and

He is going to explain why he found that to be the most consistently biblical

system of theology and why he lovingly embraced These

teachings by God's sovereign grace and so make sure you tune in tomorrow

From 4 to 6 p .m. Eastern and then on Friday we have Joe Jackowitz

Pastor of Christ Bible Church in Pleasanton, California returning for his weekly coronavirus update

followed by biblical application on how we as Christians are to respond to this pandemic and

I also want to remind you about something that I mentioned earlier on in the program

coming up in August.

Pastor Mac Tomlinson my guest today Is hosting the Fellowship Conference New

England, which is in an annual event that he holds.

He has at least two of these events.

I believe one in Texas and the other one that I'm mentioning now is in Portland, Maine.

Obviously the other Fellowship Conference would not be New England.

But this one is at the Deering Center Community Church in Portland, Maine August 6 through the 8th

Fellowship Conference New England featuring dr. Joel Beeky and Reverend Jeff

Thomas two of the finest expositors of the scriptures alive today and

If you want more details on that go to Fellowship Conference New England calm

Fellowship Conference New England calm last but not least folks if you love this program and you don't want it to

disappear from the airwaves Please I'm urging you go to iron sharpens iron

radio dot -com click support.

Then click click to donate now.

You can donate instantly with a debit or credit card in that fashion and

You could also if you prefer snail mail mail in a check Made out to iron sharpens iron radio

to the address that will appear on your screen when you click support and iron sharpens iron radio.

I Am really urging you if you do Value this show greatly

and you really don't want it to disappear to please help us financially.

We have at least temporarily lost two of our largest sources of

financial support Because of the corona virus hysteria which has

Seriously damaged the two businesses involved that these advertisers own and

operate.

So, please help us make up for that loss.

We were already on shaky ground financially before that happened and that has really put us in a scary

situation.

So please if you do value this show go to iron sharpens iron radio comm click support.

Then click click to donate now if you want to advertise with us as long as whatever it is You

are promoting is compatible with what we believe you don't have to believe identically with me, but you need to be promoting something

Compatible with what we believe then please send me an email to Chris Arnzen at gmail .com and put

advertising in a subject line.

We truly could use urgently your advertising dollars

and Please as I try to remember to tell you every day especially during this

time when a lot of churches are hurting financially due to the banning of public gatherings,

which Seems to be slowly easing up.

But please knowing that your churches are hurting financially.

Please never siphon money away from your regular giving that you're accustomed to to your local church in

Order to give to iron sharpens iron radio.

Please don't do that and don't put your family in financial jeopardy by giving the iron sharpens iron radio because

those two things are commands of God providing for church and family.

Providing for my radio show might not be a command of God but If you love the show and you are financially blessed

above and beyond your ability to obey those two commands.

Especially if you have money extra money sitting around gathering interest

that you normally use for recreational purposes that you couldn't participate in lately due to the

Ban on public gatherings for like sporting events like concerts like fine dining

Like Bible conferences like theatrical performances and I could go on and on with

things that you may have used Your money for well, I would be more than happy to take as much of your

recreational budget.

As you want to share with us in order to keep iron sharpens iron radio going.

So, please keep that in mind iron sharpens iron radio comm click support then click click to donate now

and remember folks If you are not a member of a local Bible believing church, and you're not even prayerfully looking

for one, please rectify that situation.

Please send me an email if you need help finding a church.

Send the email to Chris Arnsen at gmail .com and put I need a church in the subject line.

I have lists of biblically faithful churches all over the world including Providence Chapel in Denton, Texas

that you can visit and hopefully join or if you are doing so

if you're contacting me to recommend a church to a Loved one who is in a certain part of the

world where they are unaware of a local Bible believing church.

Well, I can possibly help you no matter where you or your loved ones live on the planet.

So, please send me an email to Chris Arnsen at gmail .com and Put I need a church in the

subject line.

That's also the email address where you could send in a question For pastor Mac

Tomlinson.

We are discussing Corporate prayer and our email address is Chris Arnsen at

gmail .com.

Chris Arnsen at gmail .com and as always give us your first name at least your city and state of

residence and Your Country of residence if you live outside the

USA and pastor Mac we We normally only give the first name

and city and state or country of a listener when they send in the question.

But when a pastor of a biblically sound church Sends in a question.

I like to give them a little plug whenever possible and This is somebody that you know.

He says tell brother Mac his boy Anthony is is tuning in

and that's Anthony Quagliata pastor of Christ Fellowship in Patchogue Long Island, New York,

and by the way folks if you want to look up that Congregation on the internet.

The website is Christ Fellowship Li standing for Long Island Com Christ

Fellowship Li .com a past pastor Anthony Quagliata says why does there seem to be

a lack of stress of prayer meetings today?

Among those who go by the label reformed when there are such rich examples of the reformed for.

Forefathers who stressed it.

Well, it's it's a great and important question Anthony.

Thanks for alluded earlier

Theology

so cerebral simply

think.

Prayer prayer meetings together are Too difficult.

They're too hard.

They're too demanding on

much easier to this appreciative way

Than to get down and pray.

Just think that's the but the only way to learn to pro

firey preacher.

The only way to learn to pray is to probably feel

the biblical exists a prayer is for them to pray.

There's no shortcuts.

So Anthony, that's the best I could answer I could give.

Chris, let me go back to something real briefly.

You you ended that break by talking a lot about.

Actually the church in Portland, Maine that actually hosts the conference is

redeeming grace fellowship of Portland the the Deering Center Community

Church very graciously Donates their building and their facilities for the

conference but we're deeming grace fellowship of Portland

a conference and anyone in In and around Portland, Maine

to find a biblical reformed

church the true gospel.

Yes, I want to put in a plug for them of the conference.

Well, thank you Anthony and keep listening to iron sharpens iron radio and keep spreading the word.

About the program.

To your congregation in patchogue and beyond.

I.

Don't want to break your stride there, but I think it's an important issue.

To ask why is it? so difficult for

Christians even those that are seasoned Christians on fire for the Lord.

Why is it so difficult for us to pray?

What is it about praying that on the on the surface?

Seems like a very Easily easy thing to do.

Why is it an actuality difficult difficult.

And of course.

There are those who love praying for the wrong reasons.

There are those who love almost to put on a theatrical performance when they when they pray

to Show off to everyone hearing them how eloquent and

how pious They are.

And in fact That is even something that is condemned in the scriptures that when people are

praying publicly.

Especially just to get the attention of others.

But but why is it for those who are praying for the right reasons and with the right motives?

Why is it so hard?

Harder spiritual discipline.

Think how easy it is to read good theology.

Didn't think and talk.

How much we love to talk about ourselves.

Very easy for a group of young

reformed guys the

Bible.

But it's all together a spiritual discipline.

It's harder to get down and actually pray.

I Don't know exactly Fully why but when you think about what real prayer

it's where I

truly pray.

We have to humble ourselves our

conscience tells us.

I need to be right with

spiritually in tune.

I mean

think if you if you say I want to have a

good time a prayer you set aside even minutes into it.

We're thinking about oh, I didn't make my bed or all kind of thought distract

us from prayer.

Virtual discipline.

Okay, we have.

We have.

Harrison in Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania.

Who wants to know?

When we pray are we changing God's mind.

Are we turning him?

Away from doing something that he was planning to do.

But we stopped him in his tracks and reversed his decision by means of our prayer.

It seems at times that when we read Old Testament accounts specifically that

that is actually what is occurring.

Very feel up.

We know God is immutable.

He doesn't read.

And ordained

first commanded prayer

he answers striking to me one time that Every single time in

the Old Testament King or wicked person

good King that every time they humbled themselves

And cried out to God God relented.

Oh, I don't think it means we're changing God's mind.

But Matthew Henry even said when God purposes to

do a.

I don't think we need to figure out the full theology of that.

I think we know.

You know scripture interprets scripture scripture is the best in turn.

Oh categorically God is ordained prayers.

Oh categorically, he's actually hearing us when we the

confidence we have in him.

That if we're asking anything according to his will he is hearing us.

And if we know that he's hearing we

also categorically know that God and so many

verses say that Oh thou that hear his prayers.

Foundational pillars in the Bible tell us God is a living

God.

People.

He's commanded them and invited them to pray.

We can come to the throne of grace to obtain mercy and found grace to help.

I don't think we need to figure it out.

Leave God.

He's told us He will answer.

Think of this in the upper room discourse John 14 to 16 at least

eight times.

I believe boy may

be full the

marching orders his apples were.

You're going to pray to the Father in my name and he will answer you.

I just think we don't need to

rationalize away by Theological for

like seriously the okay.

We have actually

somebody in Maine.

With a question John and Bangor, Maine says.

Let's see here.

I just had the question right in front of me.

Oh here it is.

I know that the text in Matthew chapter 6 verse 7 is.

Not talking about corporate prayer.

But I was wondering if we are wrong in expecting God to answer.

Answer prayer more powerfully when multiple people are praying.

The reason why I say this is because as you know in Matthew chapter 6 verse 7 it

says.

But when you pray use not vain repetitions as the heathen do for they think

they shall be heard for their much Speaking.

That's the part of the verse that I'm wondering about.

Are we wrong to expect?

Greater and more clear and vivid and powerful answers to prayer because there are many people speaking to God.

I would try to get

the people of God gathered together praying.

God hears the cries of his children.

His children are gathered together

714 if my people Call by my name

pray and seek my face a body of believers.

The church is there's something very

Special about that.

It's it represents the church.

God doesn't hear us for the multitude of our words or vain repetitions,

they can teach importunate prayer to continue to ask ask.

And keep on asking.

Seek and keep seeking.

Knock and keep knocking.

It's present tent to keep

asking in a vain repetition would be empty

mechanical.

Ritualistic ritual praying like the Roman Catholic Church is very well.

Yeah.

Exactly, you know.

So, yeah.

Well, thank you.

Thank you, John.

And Remember, I don't know how far Bangor, Maine is from Portland, Maine.

But it can't be that far of a drive.

Why don't you?

Keep somewhere on file or perhaps tack to your refrigerator or something the website

fellowship conference New England comm and maybe we'll see you there in August for that

conference.

Just one more question from an audience member before you continue.

We have Arnie in Perry County, Pennsylvania who asks Could it be that

one reason that makes corporate prayer Valuable is that there are some among us more

righteous than others.

And in James Obviously in chapter 5 verse 16 We are instructed confess your

faults one to another and pray for one another that ye may be healed.

The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.

Yeah, well obviously

Christian God's

great.

So every

Christian is a righteous

to righteousness.

So I Think he's just

talking about truth of any righteous person

are very effective.

Well are our prayers hindered or thwarted in some way when we are in a state of

being backslidden?

Well, I would certainly believe that's the case.

Hold

on.

I must.

First Corinthians 7.

They having these promises beloved.

Let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit.

Perfecting holiness and the fear of God of

a believer a

conscience of a Christian Will be hindered

sin.

The sin must be

dealt with Before we with confidence her own.

Well, I want you to now continue on the train of thought that you'd like to pursue.

Before we take our final break, which will be a shorter break than the others.

But if you could continue for several minutes at least

and while you're looking for your place I'm going to repeat our email address Chris Arnzen at gmail .com.

Chris Arnzen at gmail .com If you'd like to send in a question.

And give us your first name at least your city and state of residence in your country of residence.

If you live outside the USA.

Okay, Mac.

Are you ready?

Very good.

Yes.

Yes.

Yes.

All right.

So perhaps in this final few minutes We can just get real down to the nuts and bolts and the

practical thing about this leaders out

there that our

churches Or leaders that truly believe it's

biblical.

They have no prayer.

Let's just think about that a little bit.

Let's talk about what

constitutes prayer on the

Lord's Day.

That's not a

prayer meeting.

A Church prayer meeting is only when believers are praying together.

So What some churches call a

permanent or

Bible study and then they

normally consist of things like Please pray for Uncle

Bill's right for my aunt Millie's back.

My granddad is going in for my neighbors being rude to me.

I'm just discouraged.

Play point.

We pray for these Smaller things that are important to us, but they're not urgent prayers in that

Kingdom.

They're

not coronavirus.

Then there's often five

minutes of the

pastor.

So if we if pastors

view Prayer is important.

How can we preach on prayer to the church?

We don't even have that area.

In fact now now we have to go to our final break which will be much much more brief and The

the email address is Chris Arnzen at gmail .com.

Chris Arnzen at gmail .com.

Don't go away.

We're gonna be right back with the conclusion of our discussion with pastor Mac Tomlinson on corporate prayer right

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The.

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Welcome back.

And we do have a question from Bobby in Hartsdale, New York that I think would be Ideal to

clarify something that you said before the break pastor Mac.

He says it is common to hear from Reformed pastors, especially

that we should not dominate our prayer meetings with prayer about healing but

sometimes I think we can go overboard with that and we play into the hands of our charismatic and

Pentecostal friends who make the accusation that we downplay God's

power to heal in this present day and I think that they may be right.

And some Occasions, can you please respond with your own thoughts on this?

That's a very good question.

And I I think he's truly warm.

Christians and churches should not be reactionary.

Let me give you a couple of examples, you know, I want to I want to spend some time Briefly here in a

moment.

Giving testimony about God's grace and how he's helped our church prayer

seven years ago.

We We began praying a dear family in our church the lady's

Nephew.

Your old boy who lived and had

is very serious

our church began to every prayer pray

for him fervently.

Now did we know that the secret will of God.

Did we know the eternal decree?

About Logan.

No, but we don't have to to pray.

We're told to pray.

We're told to cry out to God.

We're told that he'll do mighty things things.

We haven't thought about we prayed weekly for Logan.

Oh probably a year out of it.

Healthy man, you're just gonna die.

So I believe firmly we should pray for healing

them to know.

Obviously how to answer prayers for healing.

Does he heal everybody?

No, he will heal if we pray so we can add skin

faith and love our God.

How in fact a.

Prayer for healing that was answered by a friend of mine who I have not heard from in many

years, but he was I believe the very first

successful liver transplant and He recalled a

an incident at a prayer meeting at the Pentecostal Church where he was a member and he couldn't believe His ears

because he was facing a possible and even probable death

Due to his serious liver disease that he had and

After bringing this up in prayer meeting that the Lord would spare him and heal him and give him a

successful surgery.

Someone dared to pray that their pool their swimming pool filter

Would be would be repaired That that that that's pretty.

I don't even know how to describe somebody that would come up with that kind of a prayer after

Hearing somebody basically pleading for their life to the Lord.

Right.

Yeah.

Just one quick question before you go on the the book of James.

Instructs.

Elders to do something that seems to be lacking greatly in reformed churches today, and that's.

The laying on of hands is an anointing with oil and so on.

If you could just quickly Respond to that.

Yes, well, we do that when it's requested.

Faithful

take the

Lord

will raise them

up.

So we do that in our church

and

it's serious matter.

Pray for them

because we take that.

Well Mac.

I want you to have the rest of the program Uninterrupted to really have etched in the hearts and minds of our

listeners what you most want them to remember about corporate prayer today.

Well, I just want to kind of give a testimony a brief one.

I'll be Possible I want this to

incurring church.

They don't know exactly how to implement that.

Our church Providence Chapel in Denton, Texas is an

imperfect church.

A grisly Barbara.

For 20 years in our church the other family

Chapel now, we have five wonderful well for other wonderful elders and me

a prayer meeting has been a we a

Typical prayer meeting is we sing for we sing a couple of hymns

dissertation or encouragement will teach

different times will teach on What it means to pray together publicly

too timid to pray like baby steps.

Because once Christians who want to pray out loud in a prayer meeting They break

the ice and they pray something simple because others are price that

they can pray that nobody's going to judge their place.

So we sing a couple of him then we take urgent

important spiritual prayer

details.

A

prayer

for the

targeting.

Briefly

five

or ten

minutes

where requests we pray

we pray 45.

We'll

start

to

print

said one time for him

and then

finally we were praying against him that he'd stop.

So Self -centeredness can quench the spirit of a perm do

our private devotions there, but Chris we've seen over 20

years now, we've we're approaching probably a Thousand prayer meetings

in our church as we've had one

hundreds of answers to one

of our every week.

Why.

Because we knew God

was going

to heal her know because we loved her and

because The church Christ called close

to a she showed up at our church on Sunday

morning.

She wasn't a member of our church.

She showed up.

She looked so healthy.

I didn't even recognize her there.

I've known her for years and in tears

Congregation

expect

and

sometimes with real tears a Spurgeon said the prayer meeting should

several hundred on

pastors out

there and I'm available to encourage

up to me I don't have

all that can give a

spirit of amen.

Well, thank you so much pastor Mac.

And by the way folks pastor Mac will be returning tomorrow.

That's Wednesday the 29th of April.

And in this time we're going to be discussing loving pastoral care.

So make sure you tune in tomorrow again to hear more of the biblical wisdom of my dear friend pastor Mac

Tomlinson Of Providence Chapel in Denton, Texas.

And once again, the website for that congregation is Providence Denton org.

Providence Denton org.

I want you all to always remember for the rest of your lives that Jesus Christ is a far greater Savior

Than you are a sinner.