WHAT IS A CHARISMATIC PRAYER MEETING?
The Primary purpose of a Prayer Meeting is Worship of God.
There are certain stable elements of a Charismatic Prayer Meeting:
- Praising the Lord aloud together
- Singing Hymns or songs to the Lord
- Prayer in tongues — See “Spiritual Gifts”
- Gift of tongues followed by interpretation of tongues
- Waiting on the Lord
- Prophecy or inspired teaching — See “Spiritual Gifts”
- Scripture reading … usually spontaneous
- Faith sharing
- Petitions
- Teaching — The teaching should help the members learn more about Christian living through the Life in the Spirit and the Charismatic Renewal. Its content should include Scripture, tradition and/or Church teaching.
- Prayers for Healing after the meeting — See “Spiritual Gifts”
- Word of Knowledge — See “Spiritual Gifts”
Characteristics of a good Prayer Meeting are:
- A large part of the Prayer Meeting is spent in prayer and praise in thanksgiving to God
- Prayers are simply made, not forced or displayed
- Many participate: the time is not monopolized by a few
- The Charismatic Gifts are used openly and freely
- There is a sense of God’s presence, which can be easily recognized by newcomers.
- Fruits of the Spirit are present:
- Love for all brethren and concern for one and other
- Joyfulness rooted in a lively hope and manifested by enthusiasm and discipline of members
- Peace forbearance of one another’s faults and absence of anxiety
The difference between a Charismatic Prayer Meeting and Shared Prayer Meeting:
Charismatic Prayer Meeting:
- A deeper teaching on the action of the Holy Spirit and how people yield to that power
- Members freely use the charismatic gifts, especially tongues and word gifts
- Stress more praise and thanksgiving … free and open in praise
- Sing a wealth of hymns and songs from the Charismatic Renewal
- Stress the Baptism of the Holy Spirit and the charismatic gifts.
Shared Prayer
People coming together to share some form of spontaneous prayer