What If WE—the CHURCH—EARNESTLY PRAYED?
What would happen if the church REALLY prayed?
- What would occur across the globe?
- What would be possible across the street?
- Whose lives would be forever changed if the church earnestly prayed daily, without ceasing, for others who do not believe?
- Whose health could be healed if the church earnestly prayed?
- Whose lives would be repaired if the church earnestly prayed?
- Whose names do we know who need Jesus?
- Whose names do we know who need healing?
- Whose names do we know who are struggling?
- Whose names do we know who are afraid and in despair?
- Whose names do we know who are struggling with addiction?
- Whose names do we know whose marriage has frayed & seems to be falling apart?
- Whose names do we know who are grieving the loss of someone they lost in death?
Whose names do we know—who could benefit from prayer?
Who would benefit from the blessings of God—if WE—the CHURCH—were down on our knees EARNESTLY SPENDING TIME DAILY IN PRAYER, TALKING WITH OUR FATHER?
“Even those I will bring to
My holy mountain
And make them joyful in
My house of prayer.
Their burnt offerings and their
sacrifices will be acceptable on
My altar;
For My house will be called a
house of prayer for all the peoples.”
(Isaiah 56: 7 NASB)
What if WE—the CHURCH—EARNESTLY PRAYED?
In the Bible, in The Acts of the Apostles, we find the narrative of the day when the apostle Peter was arrested. King Herod intended to behead Peter, and even though Jesus had already revealed to Peter how he was to die, still it is quite easy to see that Peter might have feared the loss of his life that night.
- Seized & placed into prison.
- Delivered by not one, not two, not three, but four squads of soldiers commissioned to guard Peter.
- Bound in chains between two sleeping guards.
- Kept in prison overnight.
- King Herod had every intention of bringing Peter out before the people the next day after Passover.
The KING of kings had other plans for Peter’s tomorrow, for Peter’s life.
“So Peter was kept in the prison,
(The Acts of the Apostles 12: 5 NASB)
but prayer for him was being made fervently by the church to God.”
- Do the prayers lifted by the children of God do any good?
- Do the prayers whispered by the redeemed ones cause any change?
- Do the prayers cried out by the saved ones who have given their hearts to God move the heart of God?
YES—YES—YES—YES—PRAYERS DO!
“On the very night when Herod was about to bring him forward, Peter was sleeping between two soldiers, bound with two chains, and guards in front of the door were watching over the prison.
(The Acts of the Apostles 12: 6-12 NASB)
And behold, an angel of the Lord suddenly appeared and a light shone in the cell; and he struck Peter’s side and woke him up, saying, “Get up quickly.” And his chains fell off his hands.
And the angel said to him, “Gird yourself and put on your sandals.” And he did so. And he said to him, “Wrap your cloak around you and follow me.”
And he went out and continued to follow, and he did not know that what was being done by the angel was real, but thought he was seeing a vision.
When they had passed the first and second guard, they came to the iron gate that leads into the city, which opened for them by itself; and they went out and went along one street, and immediately the angel departed from him.
When Peter came to himself, he said, “Now I know for sure that the Lord has sent forth His angel and rescued me from the hand of Herod and from all that the Jewish people were expecting.”
And when he realized this, he went to the house of Mary, the mother of John who was also called Mark, where many were gathered together and were praying.”
Some see faithfulness & obedience to God as—
- Drudgery
- Obligation
- Demanding
- Restricting
BUT FAITHFULNESS TO GOD ONLY BRINGS JOY!
OBEDIENCE TO GOD ONLY BRINGS JOY!
INTERCESSORY PRAYER CHANGES EVERYTHING!
“When they had passed the first and second guard, they came to the iron gate that leads into the city, which opened for them by itself; and they went out
[Peter & the angel of God—went out from the prison—went out between the sleeping two soldiers—went out from all the chains—went out from the guards standing guard in front of the door who were watching over the prison]
and went along one street, and immediately the angel departed from him.”
(The Acts of the Apostles 12: 10 NASB)
PRAYER CHANGES EVERYTHING!
Those who do not yet know the Lord, those who remain lost can—
- Know God by ACCEPTING how Jesus overcame death on the cross & raised back to new life from the grave.
- Know God by BELIEVING in Jesus, placing their trust in Him, the Son of God.
- Know God by CONFESSING their sins they have committed against Most Holy God.
WE—the CHURCH—can—
- Lead the lost to Know God by CALLING OUT TO GOD THROUGH PRAYER!
- Help the lost to come to Know God by leading them through the SINNER’S PRAYER of REPENTANCE!
WE—the CHURCH—can—
- Lead others to Know God as WE—the CHURCH—EARNESTLY PRAY!
- Lift others who face insurmountable life & health-struggles as WE—the CHURCH—EARNESTLY PRAY!
Let us—the CHURCH—
- Cherish the stillness each morning and reflect upon God’s Amazing Grace.
- Delight in God’s presence in our lives.
Let us—the CHURCH—
Pray in earnest—the body of Christ, the church of God—calling out to the FATHER who has the power to change everything!
- Praise Him as He does.
- Praise Him as He says, “Wait!”
- Praise Him even when He responds with, “No” to our request.
Praise God in all things & Pray every day!