Mighty Prayers

So Peter was kept in prison, but the church was earnestly praying to God for him.
Acts 12.5

Then the angel said to him, "Put on your clothes and sandals." And Peter did so. "Wrap your cloak around you and follow me," the angel told him. Peter followed him out of the prison, but he had no idea that what the angel was doing was really happening; he thought he was seeing a vision. They passed the first and second guards and came to the iron gate leading to the city. It opened for them by itself, and they went through it. When they had walked the length of one street, suddenly the angel left him.
Acts 12.8-10

i was challenged by a guy who works with Wycliffe to read thru the book of Acts. and since that was 2 weeks ago, and i'm only on chapter 13...

so this is the challenge to read thru Acts: 1st, see how God moved; 2nd, see how the people were faithful; 3rd, see how the people were unfaithful. and so this challenge adds new light to all that Jesus commanded. it's been really good for me to attend Perspectives.

so this guy peter, a.k.a. the Rock, had some belief changes. God revealed to Him that he should not declare anything unclean which God has made clean. for Peter, this was definitely crisis of beliefs. he had been taught that salvation is predominately for the Jews. not so anymore - the times have changed! Gentiles were to be included in the blessing of salvation.

so Peter is out preaching the gospel to anyone who would listen. and in so, he upset some officials and incidently he was throw in jail. (there's a lesson about suffering for the Name of Christ in there somewhere!) so what do these faithful believers do? they gather together for the sole purpose of calling down heaven for the release of Peter from the chains of imprisonment. an urgent prayer vigil.

so what happened to this kind of prayer? why have we shyed away from getting on our knees and begging God to move? why don't we call up our most dear friends and have a prayer vigil when things are going awry? how can we get back to this? when is our faith in God gonna drive us to believe that He is only one who can transform a terrible situation into one that can transform lives?,

oh, Holy Spirit, may You come in power and might - drawing our hearts to surrender our strength to You, for You are the only One who can transform what was dead to something alive and active! free us to cry out with expectant hearts for Your mercy and grace. We need You more now than ever before. it is by Your grace that we live free from fear and emprisonment. thanks for bestowing this salvation upon me. may i be used for Your kingdoms growth. may You open doors that have been locked for way too long. may You free the prisoners, set the captives free to know You and You crucified and raised. may Your salvation spring up and may the earth open wide to receive it. it is an honor to be called a follower of You. where in my life am i desperate to see You move? open my eyes and heart to beg of You to move on behalf of others.
in Jesus' Name ~ Amen
*Lacey *Kyle *Philip