We all know that there is great power in prayer. We have seen it in our lives. I wonder though how often we downplay the power of prayer. I know in my life I often limit my prayers to things I think is possible. I wonder what would happen if we, the church started to pray for the impossible?
In Acts 12 we see what happens when the church prays for the impossible.
King Herod had killed James the brother of John and then arrested Peter and threw him in prison. We see in Acts 12:4;6 the impossible situation that Peter finds himself in. "4. After the arrest, he put him in prison and assigned four squads of four soldiers each to guard him, intending to bring him out to the people after the Passover." "6. When Herod was about to bring him out for trial, that very night Peter, bound with two chains, was sleeping between two soldiers, while the sentries in front of the door guarded the prison" CSB.
The chance for Peter's escape seems to be slim to none but there is an incredible verse between verse 4 and 6 and that is verse 5. "So Peter was kept in prison, but the church was praying fervently to God for him." The church had come together and was praying for Peter. As the church came together and prayed, the impossible happened. An angel came and brought Peter out of the Prison and he then went to where the people was praying.
When the church comes together, humbles themselves before God, and fervently prays, the impossible can and will happen. We need to go beyond our often small prayers and see the incredible power of God to move and work in our lives.
I want to challenge you church to join in me in this powerful prayer: Awesome God, we your church cry out to you asking that you would do a mighty work of God in your church here. Set our community free from the bondage of the enemy. Allow us to see many come to faith in Christ and grow is in our walk with you. Lord God grow us and help us go out and share your love. May we truly be a church that goes and grows. Lord move in such a mighty and powerful way that none of us can take the credit. We want to see your glory fall upon us so powerfully and mightily. We want to be used by you for your glory."
When the Church Prays
We all know that there is great power in prayer. We have seen it in our lives. I wonder though how often we downplay the power of prayer. I know in my life I often limit my prayers to things I think is possible. I wonder what would happen if we, the church started to pray for the impossible?
In Acts 12 we see what happens when the church prays for the impossible.
King Herod had killed James the brother of John and then arrested Peter and threw him in prison. We see in Acts 12:4;6 the impossible situation that Peter finds himself in. "4. After the arrest, he put him in prison and assigned four squads of four soldiers each to guard him, intending to bring him out to the people after the Passover." "6. When Herod was about to bring him out for trial, that very night Peter, bound with two chains, was sleeping between two soldiers, while the sentries in front of the door guarded the prison" CSB.
The chance for Peter's escape seems to be slim to none but there is an incredible verse between verse 4 and 6 and that is verse 5. "So Peter was kept in prison, but the church was praying fervently to God for him." The church had come together and was praying for Peter. As the church came together and prayed, the impossible happened. An angel came and brought Peter out of the Prison and he then went to where the people was praying.
When the church comes together, humbles themselves before God, and fervently prays, the impossible can and will happen. We need to go beyond our often small prayers and see the incredible power of God to move and work in our lives.
I want to challenge you church to join in me in this powerful prayer: Awesome God, we your church cry out to you asking that you would do a mighty work of God in your church here. Set our community free from the bondage of the enemy. Allow us to see many come to faith in Christ and grow is in our walk with you. Lord God grow us and help us go out and share your love. May we truly be a church that goes and grows. Lord move in such a mighty and powerful way that none of us can take the credit. We want to see your glory fall upon us so powerfully and mightily. We want to be used by you for your glory."