Then Samuel spoke to all the house of Israel, saying, “If you return to the LORD with all your hearts, then put away the foreign gods and Ashtoreths from among you, and prepare your hearts for the LORD, and serve Him only; and He will deliver you from the hand of the Philistines.” So the children of Israel put away the Baals and the Ashtoreths, and served the LORD only. And Samuel said, “Gather all Israel to Mizpah, and I will pray to the LORD for you.” So they gathered together at Mizpah, drew water, and poured it out before the LORD. And they fasted that day, and said there, “We have sinned against the LORD.” And Samuel judged the children of Israel at Mizpah. (1 Samuel 7:3-6)
The people of Israel had fallen into a spiritual vacuum, and because of this they had no clear direction on finding God and seeking His help. Samuel stepped forward to provide the much needed spiritual leadership to direct them to back to the Lord. His action demonstrates how confident leadership in corporate prayer can reopen the way for the fullness of God’s work to be restored to His people.
If you have walked with the Lord for a period of time, you should be able to lead a group of people in corporate prayer. The Lie Whisperer would have you believe that you can’t lead out; therefore, you shouldn’t lead out. However, that is just a lie! One of the greatest needs of the church today is to have people who pray, because without prayer we will have little or no direction. It is through prayer where we seek God and His direction; it is through prayer where we receive our marching orders.
A leader who leads people into prayer should do so prophetically and with tender compassion; by calling the people to renounce their sin, return to God, recommit themselves fully to Him, and to seek His face together as seen in 1 Samuel 7:1-5. This doesn’t just have to happen in the church on Sunday as important as that is. It should be happening in our families, and also in our small study groups as well. Remember, “For where two or three gather in my name, there I am with them.” (Matthew 18:20)
When the people of Israel submitted to the leadership of Samuel into corporate prayer they saw God move mightily. I firmly believe that the very same thing can and will happen today. As people of God we can either help lead out in corporate prayer, or just as important submit to the leadership of those who do and follow their lead in seeking God.
Dale LaFrance (please look up Acts 12:5-18)
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