Do you know Jesus’ disciples drove a Honda? The old King James Bible says they “all continued with one accord in prayer and supplication” (Acts 1:14).
Thank you. I’ll be here all week.
Afraid Honda would sue them for trademark infringement, modern Bible translators changed the words to “They all joined together constantly in prayer.”
Don’t google that. It was a joke. They changed it because we’re not living in 1600s England.
But while today’s English translators made the words in this passage more modern, they may not have helped us understand Luke’s intent here. When most of us read new translations’ phrase “all joined together,” we picture disciples meeting together in the same geographic spot (e.g. the Upper Room). They did gather together in the same location, but Luke seems just as concerned to stress the disciples were of the same mind. In fact, the Greek word homothumadon in Luke 1:14 translated today as “all joined together” literally means “with one mind, with one accord, with one passion.”
Actually, Luke seems really concerned to stress the disciples were “with one accord.” Of the 12 times homothumadon occurs in the Greek New Testament, Luke uses the word 10 times. He REALLY wants you to understand this group of bickering, selfish, throw-each-other-under-the-bus men is now a group united in the same purpose. Gone are the days when James and John use mommy to get ahead of all the other disciples. Peter no longer assumes the other disciples might desert Jesus, but not him. The group no longer argues about who is the greatest.
In Acts 1:14 Luke wants us to understand the disciples were now all in agreement as they prayed.
But what were the disciples praying for?
I’m not certain, but I have a good guess…
Shortly before Jesus ascended into heaven, he told the disciples to “wait in Jerusalem for the gift my father promised” and went on to elaborate the disciples would “be baptized with the Holy Spirit” (Acts 1:4-5). If Jesus tells you to wait for a gift he’s promised you, what would you be praying? I’d pray “Hurry up with that gift!!”
I believe the disciples were all united, all agreeing in a prayer asking Jesus to quickly baptize them with the Holy Spirit.
What’s my point with all this?
Read these words from Jesus: Again, truly I tell you that if two of you on earth agree about anything they ask for, it will be done for them by my Father in heaven (Matthew 18:19).
God answered the disciples’ prayer once they all became united, once they all started praying in agreement, once they all started praying the same prayer. Coincidence? Maybe. But I don’t think so. Consider one of the last things Jesus prayed before his crucifixion: “…that they [Christians] may be brought to complete unity. Then the world will know that you sent me” (John 17:23).
The book of Acts is the story of Christians united in purpose who go (technically, they’re sent) throughout the ancient world proclaiming God sent Jesus. Acts is the answer made visible to Jesus’ prayer in John 17:23. As soon as Jesus’ disciples became united, God sent the Holy Spirit [“When the day of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place.” Acts 2:1] and 3000 people were saved after hearing God sent Jesus to the world.
Of course, God answers individuals’ secret prayers all the time. I’ve prayed things no one but God heard, and he answered them. But it’s possible God chooses to answer some prayers only after his followers have gathered together in corporate prayer when they pray the same prayers.
The fifth possible reason you’re not hearing God:
5. You don’t unite with other Christians in prayer.
Sure, you pray on your own. But you haven’t attended a church prayer meeting in years (if ever). You avoid praying with other Christians like the plague. You don’t have any “accords” in your prayer life. You’re fine gathering with other Christians to hear a sermon, sing songs, have a church workday, or a potluck. But meet with other Christians to pray? For more than a few minutes?! No thank you.
Coincidentally [or not], you also feel like you don’t hear God. You wish he would tell you what to do about this uncertain situation or that crumbling relationship, but you don’t hear him sharing advice about any of it. And you don’t feel like he hears you, either. You’ve prayed that same prayer for 1 year…5 years…30 years, but it’s like God doesn’t hear you. At least, he’s not answering you. He’s not showing up.
In a message on prayer, Charles Spurgeon, a British pastor in the 19th century, once asked “How could we look for a Pentecost if we never met with one accord, in one place, to wait upon the Lord?”
Maybe God has heard you all along but you’ve ignored his command to meet with other Christians “with one accord, in one place, and wait upon the Lord.” You want God to give you a Pentecost. You want God to show up. But God first wants you to wait and gather with believers in prayer.
If you don’t feel like you hear God (or that he doesn’t hear you) and you rarely spend serious times with other Christians in prayer, try these suggestions:
- Attend your church’s next prayer meeting.
- Invite your family to pray together.
- Share needs with your Christian friends and take time praying for each other. Agree in prayer about each other’s needs.
- Wait in prayer – when possible, spend extended periods of time (30 minutes, 1 hour, 2 hours) in prayer with other Christians.
