Sermon Outlines

By Frederick F. Schwindt, Evangelist

THE MULTITUDE IN PRAYER

1. There can be no doubt that, at the time of Christ, public prayer occupied a prominent place in the daily services of the temple:
   1. These services followed the sacrifices and the signal by the president for the bringing of incense
   2. It is just possible that Zacharias had this important assignment
2. The offering of incense:
   1. Was the signal for the multitude in the outer court to fall down in silent prayer
   2. Simeon and Anna were among the suppliants at that time

1. This indicates, clearly, that the services in the temple:
   1. Were more than giving public instructions to the people, although that was a part of the services in the temple
   2. Too, the sacrifices occupied a prominent part of those services
2. But the gathering of the people was intended for community prayer:
   1. The assembly for prayer by the people was one of the chief ends of its construction; that is what Solomon said in his dedicatory prayer - I Kings 8:28, 38, 45, 49
   2. Isaiah speaks of "the house of prayer for all people" - Is. 56:7 and the Lord reminded the merchants who use the temple to get gain, "It is written, My house shall be called the house of prayer, but ye have made it a den of thieves" - Matt. 21:1-13; Mark 11:17; Luke 19:46
   3. Then we must bring to mind the special call by the Lord for the assembling of the people to do penance and make supplication at the house of the Lord - Joel 2:15-17
   4. It is most significant that those who were scattered among the nations kept close contact of the time when prayer was made by the people at the temple - Dan. 6:10; 9:10

1. The practice of the early Christians:
   1. Their gatherings were by enlarge prayer meetings - compare Acts 1:14; with Acts 6:4; 12:5; 4:23-32
   2. The church in prayer was the key to the blessings of heaven; the baptism of the Holy Spirit - Acts 1:2; the miraculous interventions by the Lord in the case of the apostles, and the rapid movement of the word of God
2. How is it among professed Christians today?
   1. Beautiful churches are indeed places of assemblies of the people
   2. Largely for people to hear a sermon, there is nothing wrong with that
   3. They are used, at least by some churches, to study the Bible and that is most commendable
   4. Also, weddings take place in the churches, and there is nothing wrong with that
   5. Also, many churches are used to have sales of baked goods, auctions and church suppers; one cannot be clear that the Lord wants this type of entertainment to take place in the house of prayer
3. What is so sad is:
   1. The general prayer meeting is at best nominal - in many places non-existent
   2. Announce a mid-week prayer meeting and note how few of the congregation attend
   3. Why is this? This writer has given much thought and prayer to the possible cause for such a lack of interest by many members of the church to the midweek prayer meeting
   4. I find several reasons for the lack of interest in the prayer meeting; (i) in many instances the meeting spoken of as a prayer meeting is more a gathering to hear a sermon or to see films of some interesting activity of the church; (ii) also, people, generally speaking, do not see the incentive to come to prayer meeting - if they did - they would not stay at home (iii) Too, the television is becoming a very dangerous enemy to the spiritual life of God's people. People work during the day, and when evening comes they want to relax; and the programs over the T.V. seem to satisfy their longing. Thus the midweek prayer meeting has become a side issue. But the fact remains that assembly of the people of God should still center in prayer.