Acts 12:1-5 (GW) About that time King Herod devoted his
attention to mistreating certain members of the church.
[2] He had James, the brother of John, executed.
[3] When he saw how this pleased the Jews, he arrested Peter
too. This happened during the days of Unleavened Bread.
[4] After capturing Peter, Herod had him thrown into prison with
sixteen soldiers in squads of four to guard him. Herod wanted to
bring Peter to trial in front of the people after Passover.
[5] So Peter was kept in prison, but the church was praying very
hard to God for him
THE WORD OF GOD FOR THE PEOPLE
OF GOD
VERY BRIEFLY I WANT TO REASON
WITH YOU ON THE THOUGHT
(A PRAYING CHURCH)
MY BROTHERS AND SISTERS IF THERE HAS EVER BEEN A TIME
WHEN WE AS A BOBY OF BAPTIZE BELIEVERS NEED TO BE PRAYING
NOW IS THE TIME
WITH THE SINFUL CONDITIONS OF THIS
SIN SICK WORLD WE ARE LIVING IN
IT`S PRAYING TIME
BECAUSE PRAYER IS A KEY INGREDIENT
IN THE CHURCH RELATIONSHIP WITH
GOD
BECAUSE PRAYER IS HOW THE CHURCH
COMMUNICATE WITH A HOLY AND
DIVINE GOD
AND WITHOUT PRAY THERE CAN BE EFFECTIVE
COMMUNICATION
AND IT IS IMPORTANT TO UNDERSTAND
THAT IN THE EARLY CHURCH THAT CORPORATE PRAYER WAS THE STANDARD
AND THE EARLY CHURCH GIVES US AN EXAMPLE OF HOW THE CHURCH SHOULD BE TODAY
I KNOW TIME AND METHODS HAVE CHANGE
BUT GOD`S INSTRUCTIONS CONCERNING THE CHURCH STILL REMAINS THE SAME
YOU SEE WE HAVE GOTTEN SO CAUGHT
UP IN ANNUAL DAYS AND FUND RAISERS AND SELLING CHICKEN PLATES
THAT WE WANDERED FAR AWAY FROM
THE EXAMPLE THE EARLY CHURCH SET
BEFORE US
THERE USE TO BE A TIME THAT WE`RE
EXCITED ABOUT COMING TO PRAYER
MEETING
BUT NOW THE ONLY TIME WE COME IS WHEN
ADVERSITY SHOWS UP IN OUR LIVES
BUT I REMEMBER AS A LITTLE BOY HOW
SOME OF THE OLD SAINTS
WHOSE GONE ONTO GLORY WOULD MEET FROM
HOUSE TO HOUSE FOR A OLD FASHION
PRAYER MEETING
AND WHEN THEY CAME TOGETHER
THEY DID`NT COME TO JAW JACK AND GOSSIP AND TALK SOMEONE DOWN
BUT THEY WOULD GET DOWN ON THERE
KNEES AND LIFT THERE HEARTS TOWARD HEAVEN AND PRAY FOR ONE ANOTHER
THERE CHURCHES AND THERE COMMUNITY AS A WHOLE
AND THE REASON WHY IS
THEY KNEW THAT IF THEY HAD A HEART TO PRAY THAT HEAVEN HAD AN EAR TO HEAR
AND THAT THE PRAYERS OF THE RIGHTEOUS AVAILETH MUCH
BUT NOW WE ARE LIVING IN A DAY AND
TIME THAT THE ONLY TIME WE MEET IN
EACH OTHERS HOMES
IS TO PLOT SCHEME AND TALK ONE ANOTHER
DOWN
INSTEAD OF GETTING DOWN ON OUR KNEES
PETITIONING GOD AND LIFTING OUR
BROTHERS AND SISTERS IN CHRIST UP
BEFORE THE LORD IN PRAYER
BUT IN THE TEXT BEFORE US WE FIND A
PRAYING CHURCH
A CHURCH THAT PRAYED UNTIL SOMETHING HAPPEN
AND YOU DO KNOW THAT PRAYER CHANGES THINGS
AND THAT IT`S POWER IN PRAYER
CAN I B0RROW A SKINNY MINUTE AN
TELL YOU WHAT I`M TALKING ABOUT
YOU SEE
MOSES PRAYED AND GOD SPARED
ISRAEL FROM JUDGEMENT
JOSHUA PRAYED AND GOD MADE THE
SUN STAND STILL
SOLOMON PRAYED AND GOD GAVE HIM
WISDOM
JONAH PRAYED AND GOD DELIVERED
HIM OUT OF THE BELLY OF THE BIG
FISH
IT`S POWER IN PRAYER
BECAUSE PRAYER IS A VEICHILE THAT
GOD USES TO CHANGE AND TRANFORM
OUR LIVES
AND I NEED TO PULL OVER AND DROP A
PRAISE TOKEN IN THE PRAISE METER
AND LET YOU KNOW THAT IF YOU WANT
TO SEE THE CHURCH YOU ATTEND
GROW AND BE A PRAYING CHURCH IN
2018
YOU NEED TO QUIT FOCUSING ON WHAT
EVERYBODY ELSE IS NOT DOING
AND HELP THE CAUSE BY BECOMING A
PRAYING MEMBER YOURSELF
IN OTHER WORDS YOU NEED TO SEND
UP SOME TIMBER
AND GET SOME BEND KNEE IN YOUR
LIFE
AND I DID`NT SAY BEND GAY - I SAID
BEND KNEE
I`M REMINDED OF A STORY OF A LITTLE
OLD LADY THAT CAME TO HER PASTOR
AND SAID
BROTHER PREACHER WHAT ARE WE
GOING TO DO ABOUT ALL THESE VISION
FIGHTERS AND COMPLAINERS IN THE
CHURCH
THE OLD PREACHER RUB HIS HEAD AND
LOOK AT THE OLD SISTER AND SAID
SISTER THE ONLY THING I CAN TELL
YOU IS THAT
WE GOING TO HAVE TO GET A LOT MORE BEND KNEE IN OUR DAILY WALK WITH THE LORD
THE OLD SISTER SAID BEND KNEE
WHERE DO YOU BUY THAT AT
THE OLD PREACHER TOLD HER SISTER
YOU CAN`T BUY IT IT`S A GIFT FROM GOD
AND ALL YOU HAVE TO DO IS GET DOWN
ON YOUR BENDING KNEES AND HAVE A
LITTLE TALK WITH JESUS
AND TELL HIM ALL ABOUT YOUR TROUBLES
AND I WONDER IF THERES ANY PRAYER
WARRIORS IN THE HOUSE WHO WILL TESTIFY
THAT GOD WILL HEAR YOUR FAINTEST
CRY AND HE WILL ANSWER BY AND BY
BUT I ALSO NEED TO TELL YOU
THAT WHEN YOU BECOME A PRAYING
MEMBER
A MEMBER THAT IS OBEDIENCE TO THE
WORD OF GOD
THAT THE DEVIL GETS BUSY
LOOK AT WHAT VERSE 1 IN THE TEXT SAYS
Acts 12:1 (KJV)
Now about that time Herod the king stretched forth his hands to vex certain of the church.
NOTICE WHAT LUKE SAYS
CERTAIN OF THE CHURCH
YOU SEE MY BROTHERS AND SISTERS
AS LONG AS YOU ARE DOING NOTHING
THE DEVIL GOT YOU WHERE HE WANT
YOU
BUT WHEN YOU START PUTTING WOOD
ON THE LORDS FIRE THE DEVIL GET`S
MAD
IN THE TEXT HE`S USING A MAD MAN
NAME HEROD TO VEX CERTAIN OF THE
CHURCH
FOR HEROD HAD KILL JAMES WITH THE
SWORD
AND HE SAW THAT IT PLEASE THE JEWS
SO HE ARRESTED PETER ALSO AND
PUT HIM IN PRISON
BUT PRAYER------ WAS MADE WITHOUT
CEASING OF THE CHURCH UNTO GOD
FOR HIM
****************************************
AND THE 1ST THING LUKE LIFTS UP IN
THE TEXT IS
THE CHURCH RESPONSE TO A CRISIS
SITUATION
THE RECORD REVEALS THAT THE CHURCH WAS PRAYING
NOTICE---NOTICE---NOTICE
THEY WAS`NT ARGUING ABOUT WHO WAS GOING TO BE PRESIDENT
THEY WAS`NT PLAYING THE BLAME GAME
THEY WAS`NT WORRIED ABOUT WHO
WAS GOING TO LEAD THE NEXT SONG
BUT LUKE SAYS THE CHURCH WAS
PRAYING
IN OTHER WORDS
IN A CRISIS SITUATION
THEY TOOK THERE MIND OFF OF THE PROBLEM
AND PUT THE PROBLEM IN THE HANDS OF A PROBLEM SOLVER
WHAT YOU TRYING TO SAY WHITE
THEY LIFTED THERE EYES UNTO THE HILLS FROM WHICH COMETH THERE HELP
AND WHILE THE CHURCH WAS PRAYING IN THE PHYSICAL REALM
GOD WAS MOVING IN THE SPIRITUAL REALM
AND WHAT HEROD FAILED TO REALIZE
IS THAT HE COULD LOCK PETER IN THE
PRISON
BUT HE COULD`NT KEEP GOD WHO ANSWERS PRAYERS OUT OF THE PRISON
YOU SEE THE ANGEL FETCH PETER
BUT IT WAS THE PRAYERS OF A PRAYING CHURCH THAT FETCH THE ANGEL
FOR THE RECORD REVEALS THAT GOD DISPATCH AN ANGEL TO THE JERUSALEM COUNTY JAIL
WHO WALK PAST 16 SOLDIERS
AND ENTERED PETER CELL AND LET THE LIGHT FROM THE LIGHT HOUSE SHINE BRIGHT IN A DARK SITUATION
FOR THE ANGEL TELLS PETER TO ARISE QUICKLY AND PUT ON HIS SANDALS
AND THE BIBLE SAYS THOSE CHAINS
FELL OFF
NOW I NEED TO PAUSE AND TELL YOU I
DON`T KNOW HOW THOSE SHACKLES
FELL OFF
BUT I DO KNOW THIS
THAT PRAYER WILL MAKE SHACKLES
FALL OFF
LUKE SAY AFTER THEY PASS 2 WARDS
THAT THEY CAME TO AND IRON GATE
THAT LEADETH OUT OF THE CITY
AND THE GATE OPEN ON IT`S OWN
ACCORD
EVEN BEFORE ELECTRICY WAS EVEN
INVENTED
LUKE SAYS THE GATE OPEN ON IT`S
OWN ACCORD
NOW I DON`T KNOW HOW THAT GATE
OPEN OWN IT`S OWN ACCORD
BUT I DO KNOW THIS
PRAYER CAN OPEN DOORS THAT NO
MAN CAN CLOSE
AND CLOSE DOORS THAT NO MAN CAN
OPEN
****************************************
WELL NOT ONLY DOES LUKE TELLS US
THE CHURCH RESPONSE TO A CRISIS
SITUATION
BUT THE TEXT ALSO REVEALS THAT
THE CHURCH WAS PRAYING AT MARY`S
HOUSE
SO MARY`S HOUSE WAS KNOWN AS A
HOUSE OF PRAYER
BUT I NEED TO ASK YOU
WHAT IS YOUR HOUSE KNOWN AS
IS YOUR HOUSE KNOWN AS
A HOUSE OF PRAYER OR A HOUSE OF CONFUSION
IS IT KNOWN AS A HOUSE OF PRAYER
OR A HOUSE OF GOSSIP
IN THE TEXT MARY`S HOUSE IS KNOWN
AS A HOUSE OF PRAYER
AND SINCE MARY`S HOUSE WAS KNOWN
AS A HOUSE OF PRAYER
I`M PERSUADED TO BELIEVE THAT MARY
WAS AT THE PRAYER MEETING
SEE YOU OUGHT NOT HAVE PRAYER AT
YOUR HOUSE
AND NOT BE APART OF THE PRAYER MEETING
AND THATS A WORD FOR US TODAY
BECAUSE WHEN THERES A PRAYER
MEETING GOING ON AT THE HOUSE OF
GOD
AND YOU ARE MEMBER OF THE BODY
OF BAPTIZE BELIEVERS THAT ASSEMBLE AT THAT HOUSE
YOU OUGHT TO BE AT THE PRAYER
MEETING
****************************************
WELL NOT ONLY DOES LUKE REVEALS
TO US WHAT THE CHURCH RESPONSE
TO A CRISIS SITUATION
AND THAT THE CHURCH WAS PRAYING
AT MARY`S HOUSE & MARY`S HOUSE IS
KNOWN AS A HOUSE OF PRAYER
BUT THE TEXT ALSO REVEALS THAT IT
LEFT PETER WITH A TESTIMONY OF
WHAT PRAYER CAN DO
THE TEXT REVEALS
THAT WHEN THEY FINALLY OPEN THE
DOOR AND LET PETER IN
PETER TELLS THEM HOW GOD MOVED
ON HIS BEHALF BECAUSE OF THERE
PRAYERS
AND HE LETS THEM KNOW WHAT PRAYER CAN DO
AND I NEED TO TELL YOU _______________
YOU ARE CELEBRATING A ________YEAR
OLD TESTIMONY OF WHAT PRAYER CAN
DO
BECAUSE WHEN YOU HAVE A HEART TO
PRAY
HEAVEN HAS AN EAR TO EAR TO HEAR
AND GOD STILL ANSWERS KNEE MAIL
BECAUSE WHEN THE CHURCH PRAYS IN
THE PHYSICAL REALM GODS MOVES IN
THE SPIRITUAL REALM
AND THE PRAYERS OF THE RIGHTEOUS
AVAILETH MUCH
BECAUSE PRAYER WILL TURN A WEEPING NIGHT INTO A JOYFUL MORNING
PRAYER WILL MAKE YOU LAUGH WHEN
THERE AIN`T ANYTHING TO LAUGH
ABOUT
PRAYER WILL
I SAY PRAYER WILL--- MAKE YOU RUN
WHEN THERE AIN`T ANYTHING
CHASING YOU
BECAUSE WHEN THE CHURCH PRAYS
LIVES WILL BE CHANGED
DRUG ADDICTS ARE RELEASE FROM
THERE ADDICTION
ALOCHOLIC WILL WILL PUT DOWN
THERE WINE BOTTLES
SINNERS WILL COME RUNNING SAYING
WHAT MUST I DO TO BE SAVED
AIN`T GOD ALRIGHT
I SAY AIN`T GOD ALRIGHT
CAN I TELL YOU WHY I KNOWS HE ALRIGHT
BECAUSE GOD SO LOVE THE WORLD
THAT HE SENT HIS ONLY BEGOTTEN
SON THAT WHOM SO EVER BELIEVE IN
HIM WILL NOT PERISH BUT HAVE
EVERLASTING LIFE
IN OTHER WORDS
GOD SENT HIS SON DOWN THROUGH 42 GENERATIONS
HE STEP OUT OF ETERNITY INTO TIME
GOT ON HEAVENS ELEVATOR
AND THE BOTTOM FLOOR WAS A VIRGIN
NAME MARY
REARED IN NAZERTH
BAPTIZE IN THE JORDAN
TEMPTED IN THE WILDERNESS
BETRAYED BY ONE OF HIS OWN
LED UP A MOUNTAIN CALL CALVARY
NAILED TO AN OLD RUGGED CROSS
DIED ON THAT CROSS FOR YOUR SINS
AND MINE
HE DIED I SAY HE DIED
HE DIED FOR THE SUN BLEW A FUSE
AND REFUSE TO SHINE
HE DIED FOR THE EARTH ROCK AND
REEL LIKE A DRUNK MAN
HE DIED FOR IT LEFT THE ROMAN
SOLDIER WITH A TESTIMONY
FOR HE SAID SURELY ---SURELY THIS
MAN WAS THE SON OF GOD
FOR I HEARD
OH I HEARD THEY PLACE HIM IN A
BORROWED TOMB
BUT IM GLAD THATS NOT HOW THE
STORY END
BECAUSE EARLY
I SAY EARLY SUNDAY MORNING
BEFORE THE THE BARN YARD PIMP
COULD SOUND THE ALARM CLOCK
AND THE MORNING DEW COULD FALL
ON GOD`S PRETTY GREEN GRASS
HE GOT UP WITH ALL POWER IN
HEAVEN AND EARTH HIS HANDS
