TITLE: Unveiling the Power of Persistent prayer
SCRIPTURE: So Peter was kept in prison, but fervent prayer for him was persistently made to God by the church (assembly) (Acts 12:5 AMPC).
MESSAGE:
The Lord Jesus placed great importance on the act of watching and praying consistently. In Luke 21:36, He urged, “Watch ye therefore, and pray always, that ye may be accounted worthy to escape all these things that shall come to pass, and to stand before the Son of man.” Similarly, in Luke 18:1, He stressed, “…Men ought always to pray, and not to faint.” The Apostle Paul reinforced this message in 1 Thessalonians 5:17, saying, “Pray without ceasing.”
But why is prayer given such emphasis? It’s because Jesus desires that God’s will be realized on Earth as it is in heaven, as stated in Matthew 6:10. Believers are entrusted with the responsibility of bringing God’s will to fruition in the nations, participating in His divine plan through the powerful ministry of intercession.
The impact of heartfelt, persistent intercessory prayer is vividly illustrated in Acts 12:1-5. Herod, the king, sought to oppress the Church and even executed James, a disciple of the Lord, to please the Jews. When he arrested Peter, the leader of the group, it seemed like a strategic blow to the Church. However, the Church remained unwavering in their prayer for Peter. Through fervent and unceasing prayer, heaven intervened, sending an angel to free Peter from his chains and guide him to safety. Peter then joined the gathered Church in the house of Mary, where they continued to pray fervently (Acts 12:12).
This story underscores the importance of persistent and fervent prayer. As James 5:16 AMPC emphasizes, “The earnest (heartfelt, continued) prayer of a righteous man makes tremendous power available [dynamic in its working].” So, we should persevere in prayer until we see a change because our prayers hold the power to effect change in accordance with God’s divine plan. This is a divine privilege bestowed upon us by God. Hallelujah!
PRAYER
Dear Father, I declare that the nations and leaders of the world are under the divine influence of your mighty power, and that wicked spirits responsible for evil and all forms of darkness in the nations are unseated, and peace reigns, in Jesus’ Name. Amen.
FURTHER STUDY:
Matthew 21:22 And all things, whatsoever ye shall ask in prayer, believing, ye shall receive.
James 5:16 Confess [your] faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.
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