A Healthy Church is Always Prayerful

Workers and members alike must remain steadfast in earnest prayer (Col 4:2), for it is this discipline that keeps us watchful in our service to God. When a church stays alert in prayer, the clearest sign is her abiding ability to give thanks to God in whatever circumstances she finds herself. When the Spirit fills the church, she can perceive God’s grace and purpose even in times of hardship. Indeed, when the going gets tough, she often becomes more prayerful than ever before (cf. Acts 12:5).

However, the reality is that in some quarters of the church, complaints and disputes are on the rise, even though the importance of prayer is frequently emphasised. This worrying trend may be attributed to several factors. Firstly, when leaders themselves lack a prayerful spirit, their actions fail to inspire the church spiritually, as they do not flow from the power of God. Secondly, the apparent increase in prayer may be merely superficial, producing little genuine change in behaviour or attitude towards God and others, and still serving God in a carnal way.

Recognising this as a sign of spiritual malaise, our collective focus, both as the church and as individual members, must be on seeking the Spirit’s help in our weaknesses. In doing so, the Spirit intercedes for us in accordance with God’s will (Rom 8:26), for it is always God’s desire that human frailty be overcome. When each member triumphs over their personal weaknesses, the church will stand spiritually sound in God’s sight. Then, once more, the church will resound with praises and thanksgivings to God.

A Healthy Church is Always Evangelistic

The church has been redeemed by the blood of Jesus, a status that sets her apart from every other organisation in the world. This distinct privilege springs directly from having received the salvation of God. A church that truly grasps the vastness of God’s redeeming grace will inevitably be driven to tirelessly reach out to the unbelieving world, seeking to rescue as many souls as possible through the Gospel of Salvation entrusted to her by the Spirit. Her evangelistic zeal is ever-present and only intensifies as she continues to labour.

If a church and her workers are only keenly aware of divine works other than evangelism, this is an explicit sign of spiritual unhealthiness. It signals a lack of understanding regarding the message of salvation and the profound love Jesus showed. Since the ultimate purpose for the church’s existence is to overcome the gates of Hades (Mt 16:18), any work undertaken apart from evangelism is incomplete.

This worrying pattern is clear in many UK church meetings where administrative affairs are discussed at length, yet evangelism is scarcely mentioned. This must be reversed by deliberately including evangelistic matters in every meeting agenda. Workers should show genuine zeal for preaching in practice, not merely in words, setting a worthy example for the church to follow. Through united prayer, the fervour for proclaiming the gospel will be rekindled, and prayers will increasingly centre on bringing lost souls to salvation.

Conclusion: Prayer and the Ministry of the Word

A truly healthy church lives by the motto of the apostles: “We shall give ourselves continually to prayer and to the ministry of the word” (Acts 6:4). This applies most especially to the ordained workers of the church.

When ministers are genuinely prayerful, they become powerful and discerning in guiding the congregation forward. Such prayerfulness sharpens their vigilance and enables them to reflect the very nature of God in their service, fostering a deep reverence for Him among the believers. Ministers (particularly UKGA board members and preachers) must set a worthy example in evangelism. 

No amount of administration can compare in importance with the saving of souls. As God’s servants, we are to seek from Him a spiritual understanding of preaching and a heart stirred to go forth and proclaim the Gospel—willing, when necessary, to set aside our domestic concerns for the sake of the Gospel’s advance. Without these two apostolic duties faithfully carried out, the church will remain feeble and vulnerable to the assaults of the evil one.