Are group prayers better? Are the prayers offered by a group more likely to be granted? Are group prayers more powerful? Are the prayers of six better than three?
3 insights to understand how God grants group prayers
First, to appreciate the answer to this question, it must be understood that God will not grant any prayer that is contrary to His will, regardless of how many people pray. He cannot be persuaded, informed, or forced to do anything contrary to His will.
On the other hand, God will grant any prayer that is aligned with His will, whether it is a single prayer or group prayer.
God’s will is guided by His desire to save the maximum number of souls. God will grant prayers offered in humility and righteousness that will not hinder saving the maximum number of souls.
Second, God requires conditions to be fulfilled for some requests. For example, Jesus encouraged us in Luke 18:1-7 to persist in making requests that we desire.
“And he spake a parable unto them to this end, that men ought always to pray, and not to faint.”
The condition of requiring persistence to make requests multiple times suggests that, if God requires multiple prayers of one, then the prayers offered by the group multiply the request.
Further, Paul said in 2 Corinthians 1:11 that group prayer was helpful to him. This indicates that group prayers can be better than one person’s prayers.
“Ye also helping together by prayer for us, that for the gift bestowed upon us by the means of many persons thanks may be given by many on our behalf” (2 Corinthians 1:11).
Third, God may require a group to pray as a group in order to benefit the group. If someone in the group fails to ask, the request may not be granted. James 4:2 says,
“Ye have not because ye ask not.”
From Scripture, we can conclude that group prayers, when required by God, are more beneficial than one person’s prayers. So contact the prayer chains, and let your requests be known.
Is prayer more powerful in groups?
Group prayers are more powerful when God requires group prayers. The power is in God, not in the prayers. When God requires the prayers of more than one as a condition to grant a request, then group prayer is essential.
How to pray with others in a group
Here is a list of verses that will give you insight into group prayer.
Mt 18:19-20, “Again I say unto you, That if two of you shall agree on earth as touching any thing that they shall ask, it shall be done for them of my Father which is in heaven. For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them.”
Ac 1:14, “These all continued with one accord in prayer and supplication, with the women, and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with his brethren.”
Ac 2:42, “And they continued stedfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers.”
Ac 4:31, “And when they had prayed, the place was shaken where they were assembled together; and they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and they spake the word of God with boldness.”
Ac 12:5, “Peter therefore was kept in prison: but prayer was made without ceasing of the church unto God for him.”
Ac 12:12, “And when he had considered the thing, he came to the house of Mary the mother of John, whose surname was Mark; where many were gathered together praying.”
Ro 15:30, “Now I beseech you, brethren, for the Lord Jesus Christ’s sake, and for the love of the Spirit, that ye strive together with me in your prayers to God for me.”
2Ch 20:3-4, “And Jehoshaphat feared, and set himself to seek the LORD, and proclaimed a fast throughout all Judah. And Judah gathered themselves together, to ask help of the LORD….”
Verses of intercessory prayers
1Sa 12:23, “Moreover as for me, God forbid that I should sin against the LORD in ceasing to pray for you: but I will teach you the good and the right way.”
Job 42:8, “Therefore take unto you now seven bullocks and seven rams, and go to my servant Job, and offer up for yourselves a burnt offering; and my servant Job shall pray for you: for him will I accept: lest I deal with you after your folly, in that ye have not spoken of me the thing which is right, like my servant Job.”
Ac 8:15, “Who, when they were come down, prayed for them, that they might receive the Holy Ghost.”
Luke 22:32, “But I have prayed for thee, that thy faith fail not: and when thou art converted, strengthen thy brethren.”
Job 42:10, “And the LORD turned the captivity of Job, when he prayed for his friends: also the LORD gave Job twice as much as he had before.”
De 9:19-20, “For I was afraid of the anger and hot displeasure, wherewith the LORD was wroth against you to destroy you. But the LORD hearkened unto me at that time also. And the LORD was very angry with Aaron to have destroyed him: and I prayed for Aaron also the same time.”
Eph 1:16, “Cease not to give thanks for you, making mention of you in my prayers.”
Verses of repeated prayer requests
2Co 12:8, “For this thing I besought the Lord thrice, that it might depart from me.”
2Sa 12:16, “David therefore besought God for the child; and David fasted, and went in, and lay all night upon the earth.”
Mt 26:44, “And he left them, and went away again, and prayed the third time, saying the same words.”
Verses about incorrect prayers
Jas 1:6-7, “But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed. For let not that man think that he shall receive any thing of the Lord.”
Ps 66:18, “If I regard iniquity in my heart, the Lord will not hear me.”
Pr 1:24-28, “Because I have called, and ye refused; I have stretched out my hand, and no man regarded; But ye have set at nought all my counsel, and would none of my reproof: I also will laugh at your calamity; I will mock when your fear cometh; When your fear cometh as desolation, and your destruction cometh as a whirlwind; when distress and anguish cometh upon you. Then shall they call upon me, but I will not answer; they shall seek me early, but they shall not find me.”
Pr 15:8, “The sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination to the LORD: but the prayer of the upright is his delight.”
Pr 21:13, “Whoso stoppeth his ears at the cry of the poor, he also shall cry himself, but shall not be heard.”
Mic 3:4, “Then shall they cry unto the LORD, but he will not hear them: he will even hide his face from them at that time, as they have behaved themselves ill in their doings.”
Zec 7:9-13, “Thus speaketh the LORD of hosts, saying, Execute true judgment, and shew mercy and compassions every man to his brother: And oppress not the widow, nor the fatherless, the stranger, nor the poor; and let none of you imagine evil against his brother in your heart. But they refused to hearken, and pulled away the shoulder, and stopped their ears, that they should not hear. Yea, they made their hearts as an adamant stone, lest they should hear the law, and the words which the LORD of hosts hath sent in his spirit by the former prophets: therefore came a great wrath from the LORD of hosts. Therefore it is come to pass, that as he cried, and they would not hear; so they cried, and I would not hear, saith the LORD of hosts.”
Verses about God’s will
1Tim 2:1-4, “I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men; For kings, and for all that are in authority; that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty. For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour; Who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth.”
Eze 18:32, “For I have no pleasure in the death of him that dieth, saith the Lord GOD: wherefore turn yourselves, and live ye.”
Eze 33:11, “Say unto them, As I live, saith the Lord GOD, I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked; but that the wicked turn from his way and live: turn ye, turn ye from your evil ways; for why will ye die, O house of Israel?”
Joh 3:16, “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.”
2Pe 3:9, “The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.”
Mt 28:19, “Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost.”
Mr 16:15, “And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.”
Why praying as a group is important
Group prayer builds community, trains growing Christians by example, encourages the group members, and expresses more than one person might remember. The prayers of others in a group identify what is important to the individuals and to the group. These prayerful expressions help to unite the group in purpose and goals.
Changing your life for good
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