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My House a House of Prayer

by Jerry Wall

My House shall be called a house of Prayer (Isaiah 56:7)(Matt. 21:13)

Acts 2:42-43- “And they continued stedfastly in the apostles' teaching and fellowship, in the breaking of bread and the prayers. And fear came upon every soul: and many wonders and signs were done through the apostles.

1. Teaching (doctrine or instruction) – administration of the Word.
2. Fellowship (GRK Kkoinonia) – fellowship, community, joint participation and sharing, jointly contributing.
3. Breaking of bread Consecrated loaves of bread shared in communion and love feasts. Represents sacraments (Baptism and Communion, liturgy, christian tradition).
4. Prayers- Prayer addressed to God in ernest. Open worship.

The hour of prayer:

• Daniel prayed 3 times a day on his knees (Daniel 6:10)
• Psalms says Davis prayed 3 times a day; Psalm 55:11- evening morning and noon
• Psalm 119:164- says David praised God 7 times a day.
• The Jews traditionally to fix three times a day for prayer: The third, sixth^th and ninth hour (9 pm,3 pm and 3 pm Sundown

Jewish Time

• First Hour-daybreak (6:00 a.m.).(Sunrise) Dawn- Jesus before the priests
  
• Third Hour-mid-morning (9:00 a.m.) Morning Sacrifice NW corner of altar (sun east to west)- PRAYER
  
• Sixth Hour-mid-day (12:00 pm noon) – PRAYER -Judgement of Jesus by Pilate (Behold your king)
  
• Ninth Hour mid-afternoon (3:00 p.m.) -Evening Sacrifice NE corner of the altar (Sun west to east)- PRAYER- 4^th watch-cock crowed (Jesus Crucified)
  

Four Watches of the Night

• Twelth Hour-6:00 pm.)-1st watch (Sunset)
  
• Third Hour-(9:00 pm.) - 2^nd watch (darkness from 9pm to midnight) Lunar eclipse
  
• Sixth Hour-(12:00 am) -3rd Watch (darkness) Midnight when Angel of Death in Egypt)
  
• Ninth Hour-(3:00 am.)- 4^th watch-cock crow-”My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me? “
  

• Peter and John went down to the temple at the “hour of Prayer” (the ninth hour-3pm) when they encountered the lame man.
• Church History confirms that according to Clement in the 2^nd century many in Alexandria were observing the same three hours of prayer.
• 60 ad -the Didach, - the oldest known liturgical manual for Christians, recommended disciples to pray the Lord's Prayer three times a day
• Many monastic groups still practice this such as the benictine

Jesus asked his disciples to pray for an hour but they kept falling asleep

During the 10 day week after the ascension the disciples went back to Jerusalem to the upper room and prayed. (Acts 1:14) until the Holy spirit fell on the Day of Pentecost. Many want the acts 2 experience without the Acts 1 preparation through prayer. The want the signs and wonders, the tongues and miracles but dont want to seek, inquire and wait upon God. Pray Brought them to the point of receiving. It brought them to unity (They were in one accord). We may not be unified in doctrine or teaching. We may not get along with everyone in fellowship. We may have diferent liturgies and traditions, ut the one thing we can be unified in is prayer.

“Ye have not because you ask not”

“Whatsoever you ask I my name.”

“Ask, seek and Find and you will”

“Call on me and I will show you great and mighty things, which you know not of.”