Powerful Prayers

Read Acts 4:31.

The early church was growing rapidly. Even though they didn't have a permanent place to meet, the Spirit of the Lord was upon them, and it was an exciting time. And then two of their leaders, Peter and John, were arrested and thrown into prison. They were threatened, told they would be severely punished if they spoke of Jesus again, and released. The first thing they did was gather together with the other Christians and pray.

"It was a united prayer meeting as they raised their voices together to God. The early church was marked by its love and care for one another. God the Father does not want his children to squabble. Division in the church has always hindered our prayers and robs the church of spiritual power" (Encounters with God through Prayer, Brad Simon).

"They did not pray to have their enemies removed from office, for new laws to be enacted, nor for their circumstances to change. Instead, they asked God to continue to perform His miraculous work amid their circumstances. They did not pray for personal safety. They only asked that God would strengthen them to speak with boldness despite the opposition, and that God's work of ministry would increase" (Encounters with God through Prayer, Brad Simon).

Do not pray for easy lives! Pray to be stronger men! Do not pray for tasks equal to your powers. Pray for powers equal to your God-given tasks. Then the doing your work shall be no miracle. But you shall be a miracle. Every day you shall wonder at yourself, at the richness of life which has come to you by the grace of God" (Going Up to Jerusalem, Phillips Brooks).

"The church is looking for better methods; God is looking for better men. ...What the church needs today is not better machinery, not new organizations or more novel methods. She needs men whom the Holy Spirit can use -- men of prayer, men mighty in prayer. The Holy Spirit does not flow through methods, but through men. He does not anoint plans, but men -- men of prayer" (Power Through Prayer, E.M. Bounds).

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