"It's not about numbers". You hear this so often, but yet we all like to see crowds in church or at events. Why? Each of us view success a little bit based on numbers. If something is well attended, it was successful. But do numbers matter? No. And yes.
All through the Bible there are stories of people joining together in prayer. In Esther 4 Esther asks Mordecai to "gather together all the Jews" to fast (and probably pray) on her behalf. In Matthew 26 Jesus' disciples go with Him to the garden of Gathsemane and He tells them to "watch and pray". Acts 1 talks about the disciples, along with others, joining "together constantly in prayer" (vs 14) and Holy Spirit showing up in a big way. And Revelation 5:8 tells of the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders who are gathered around the Throne, "falling down before the Lamb. Each one had a harp and they were holding golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints". There seems to be something about multiple people joining together in prayer over an issue or topic. It's the same reason we ask others to pray for things going on in our lives. It's about people coming together in unity over an issue. Being one as the body of Christ. As someone said once "When one of my daughters comes and asks me for something, I admit, it can be easy to say no. But when both of them come to me as a united front, asking for something together, it's much harder to say no!" It can be the same with God. He LOVES to see His children joining together in unity and praying. And He's waiting for us to do so! Isaiah 30:18-19 says "Yet the Lord longs to be gracious to you; he rises to show you compassion. For the Lord is a God of justice. Blessed are all who wait for him!". Matthew 7:9-11 says "Which of you, if his son asks for bread, will give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a snake? If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him!". And Psalm 2:8 "Ask of me, and I will make the nations your inheritance, the ends of the earth your possession".
Is it about numbers? Maybe. But it is about unity.
Let's join together in prayer and touch the Father's heart.
