Word for the day by Christian Education Forum

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 VICTORY THROUGH  FASTING AND PRAYER

Acts 12: 1-12

Verse: 5  So Peter was kept in prison, but the church was earnestly praying to God for him.

 We live in a world that in many ways to be out of control. There is a lot of frightening events happening in and around us and become aware of puzzling circumstances in our own lives. Bible-believing Christians have always put trust in the sovereignty of God.   The event for meditation today happened in the early new testament church. King Herod was popular among  Jewish people for his Jewish observances. In order to advance his popularity, he arrested James' brother of John and beheaded him, to be the first martyr among the apostles. Next, Peter was put in prison rather than immediately be executed because of the feast of the unleavened bread and Passover.  Since it is the third time Peter was arrested, he was put in tight security with 16 soldiers guarding him.
                         God's power is greater than the security of the prison walls, and that God's sovereign plan will prevail. As soon as the church heard about  Peter's imprisonment, they gathered for prayer. The people witnessed the death of James who was the leader of the Jerusalem church, and they cried out to God for the release of Peter. Scripture said. They prayed to God seriously, and sincerely and with full of faith.   The  word earnestly  in greek is same word used of Jesus when he prayed at the garden of gethsamane in deep agony of the soul.   Victory is always there for the earnest prayer.   
                           Herod had the power of the sword, but church had the power of prayer and a soveringn God.  It is true that  it  may be the final place we may also turn for an answer.  Let us ask ourselves, “How do we respond in a crisis in life”?. The night before Peter was to be taken for trial God intervened and we saw a miraculous escape out of prison.  God listens to the  earnest prayer out of the anguish of the soul.  We pray even when we do not know the outcome of the events, but we are sure that we trust God who loves us and believe God will work out his purpose  in our lives.
 

Prayer
O soverign Lord, we put our trust in you all the time, because you hear our earnest prayers. Answer unto us according to  your will and what is best for us. Amen.


Thought for the Day

 God is still in control. We believe that God will work all things for the good of those  who have faith in him


Dr.John K.Thomas  Tabor MTC  Staten Island

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