CHANGE IS EFFECTED THROUGH PRAYER

"PETER was therefore KEPT in PRISON, but constant PRAYER was OFFERED to GOD for HIM by the CHURCH."
Acts 12:5 (NKJV)

• In the present time the church talks more than praying.

• The problem or issue which supposed to be taken to God in prayer with oneness would rather be subjected to deliberation, and a committee appointed to see to it.
• When Peter was arrested and to be executed by Herod, the church gathered to pray; they did not appoint a committee to go and talk to Herod and negotiate his release (Acts 12:1-5).

• In another occasion when Peter and John were threatened not to preach or teach in the name of Jesus Christ, the Bible says they went to their companions, and they prayed with one accord (Acts 14:18-24).

1. So THEY called them and COMMANDED them not to SPEAK at all nor TEACH in the NAME of JESUS.
2. And being let go, THEY WENT TO THEIR OWN COMPANIONS AND REPORTED all that the chief priests and elders had said to them.
3. So when they heard that, THEY RAISED THEIR VOICE TO GOD WITH ONE ACCORD...
4. And when THEY had PRAYED, the place where they were assembled together was shaken; and they were all FILLED with the HOLY SPIRIT, and THEY SPOKE THE WORD OF GOD WITH BOLDNESS."
   Acts 4:18,23,24,31 (NKJV)

• The church would rather talk than pray today.

• The church wants to discuss, debate, analyze and deliberate; but does not want to pray.
• The church today wants to even fight and use force to achieve their goals, than to pray.

1. "FOR THOUGH WE WALK IN THE FLESH, WE DO NOT WAR ACCORDING TO THE FLESH.
2. For the WEAPONS of our WARFARE are not CARNAL [of the flesh] but MIGHTY in GOD for PULLING DOWN STRONGHOLDS,"
   2 Corinthians 10:3,4 (NKJV)

• Anytime the people of God disembark from God's pattern; calamity and sadness used to be the outcome.

• God does not want us to use the method of the world to achieve His purpose.
• Anytime that anyone or a group of people, who supposed to be Christians, resolved to use the pattern of the world 🌍—they do not receive His backing, they always end in disaster and failure.

• The contemporary Christians should take their cue from the early church and learn how to take every matter to God in prayer and desists from using the pattern of the world.

• Apostle Paul enjoins:

1. "And take the HELMET of SALVATION, and the SWORD of the SPIRIT, which is the WORD of GOD;
2. PRAYING always with all PRAYER and SUPPLICATION in the SPIRIT, being WATCHFUL to this end with all PERSEVERANCE and SUPPLICATION for all the SAINTS."
   Ephesians 6:17,18 (NKJV)

• You will not fail in Jesus name.
Peace!