Prayer Closet Two

In the earlier posting about prayer closets I discussed the importance and utility of a prayer closet, but there are some points I think I need to touch on for people that may not be familiar.

Wether your Christian group has a church building or meets in a families house, every group has a need for prayer closets. Some groups of Pentecostals maintain a tradition of praying together in a room prior to meeting in a sanctuary. This sets an amazing tone for the hour or two that the saints are joined together. There is a chance that if everything is set in motion spiritually that there may not even be an opportunity for preaching. I've seen it happen before where a group of saints came out of their prayer closet and a flood of holiness flooded the room and there was no holding the blessing back. That is as true a spiritual communion with the Holy Ghost as one can get. When a blessing falls like that, there is absolutely nothing ostentatious about it. And it is also certainly orderly when considering that the time allotted for meeting has gone from being utilized for preaching, to being utilized for worshipping. There is never anything unholy in glorifying the Lord. There is a great chance as well that many will receive the Holy Ghost in these conditions, albeit with no coercion from other saints of God. In an atmosphere like that, everyone is in communion with God and only aware of their own person.

Now I say all that to clarify with this.

A prayer closet is intended for private or group prayer outside of a worship service.
It is absolutely expected that when Christians meet to worship, that they will pray together and out loud. The Lord gave what is known as The Lord's Prayer, with the expectation that the saints would pray this prayer together, both men and women in unison.

Prayer closets are intended for intimate moments with God, those moments should not be had in an environment that can make a person seem ostentatious or distracting to other saints, or at worst bewilders first time visitors.

The word of God encourages us to be civil and orderly in times of worship. Lets honor this.

1st Corinthians 14:39-40

Wherefore, brethren, covet to prophesy, and forbid not to speak with tongues.
Let all things be done decently and in order.

I personally encourage you to read all of chapter 14. I don't feel that I am out of place.