02-19-2020, 10:33 AM
CHRIST APOSTOLIC CHURCH
THE LIVING WATER {Jan ~ June, 2020}
DAILY DEVOTIONAL GUIDE
Wednesday, February 19, 2020
TOPIC: PRAY UNTIL SUCCESS HAPPENS (P.U.S.H.)
Read Acts 12:5-11
MEMORISE: Pray without ceasing (1 Thessalonians 5:17)
EXPOSITION
Many people pray about something for a while and when the answer doesn't come when they think it should, they just throw up their hands in defeat, and say, "What's the use?" Jesus was frequently concerned that His followers pray continually in order to accomplish God's will for their lives. We must presevere in prayer with respect to all matters, until we receive our answer.
In the early church, when Herod killed James and discovered that this was pleasing to the Jews, he arrested Peter and kept him in custody of sixteen men, in the prison.
He had it in mind to present him to the people for a 'public lynching after passover' (Acts 12:4; The Message), but the early church lived with the conviction that 'the effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much', and prayed intensely and steadily concerning Peter's situation. Their prayer didn't go unanswered (Acts 12:6-11).
Jesus Christ used the parable of the persistent widow to emphasise the need to be persistent and persevering in prayer (Lk. 18:2-6). If even the unjust judge of the parable would eventually avenge the widow, because of her persistence, how much more will our just and loving God hear and respond to us! Diligence in persistent prayer can never go unrewarded in God's presence (1 Jn. 5:14, 15).
God does not delay because He doesn't care or because He is cruel or unjust. But sometimes, He does delay, and through those delays, we must learn patience, persistence and faith - faith that He does hear and does have our best interests in mind, even if we can't understand why He doesn't respond immediately (Dan. 10:12-13).
We may not know what is going on behind the scenes, yet, we can have faith that God has our eternal best interests at heart (Jer. 29:11).
PRAYER POINT
1. Lord Jesus, give me the grace to always believe that You do hear prayers and that You have my best interest in mind, even when You don't respond to my prayers immediately.
2. Lord Jesus, give me the grace to continue in prayer until success happens.
3. Father, please restore the Spirit of persistent and persevering prayer in our churches, today, as in the early Church..
EXTRA READING FOR TODAY: Leviticus 14 - 15 & Luke 7
Good morning to you. God bless you.
Jesus is the only way to heaven. Accept His lordship today.
THE LIVING WATER {Jan ~ June, 2020}
DAILY DEVOTIONAL GUIDE
Wednesday, February 19, 2020
TOPIC: PRAY UNTIL SUCCESS HAPPENS (P.U.S.H.)
Read Acts 12:5-11
MEMORISE: Pray without ceasing (1 Thessalonians 5:17)
EXPOSITION
Many people pray about something for a while and when the answer doesn't come when they think it should, they just throw up their hands in defeat, and say, "What's the use?" Jesus was frequently concerned that His followers pray continually in order to accomplish God's will for their lives. We must presevere in prayer with respect to all matters, until we receive our answer.
In the early church, when Herod killed James and discovered that this was pleasing to the Jews, he arrested Peter and kept him in custody of sixteen men, in the prison.
He had it in mind to present him to the people for a 'public lynching after passover' (Acts 12:4; The Message), but the early church lived with the conviction that 'the effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much', and prayed intensely and steadily concerning Peter's situation. Their prayer didn't go unanswered (Acts 12:6-11).
Jesus Christ used the parable of the persistent widow to emphasise the need to be persistent and persevering in prayer (Lk. 18:2-6). If even the unjust judge of the parable would eventually avenge the widow, because of her persistence, how much more will our just and loving God hear and respond to us! Diligence in persistent prayer can never go unrewarded in God's presence (1 Jn. 5:14, 15).
God does not delay because He doesn't care or because He is cruel or unjust. But sometimes, He does delay, and through those delays, we must learn patience, persistence and faith - faith that He does hear and does have our best interests in mind, even if we can't understand why He doesn't respond immediately (Dan. 10:12-13).
We may not know what is going on behind the scenes, yet, we can have faith that God has our eternal best interests at heart (Jer. 29:11).
PRAYER POINT
1. Lord Jesus, give me the grace to always believe that You do hear prayers and that You have my best interest in mind, even when You don't respond to my prayers immediately.
2. Lord Jesus, give me the grace to continue in prayer until success happens.
3. Father, please restore the Spirit of persistent and persevering prayer in our churches, today, as in the early Church..
EXTRA READING FOR TODAY: Leviticus 14 - 15 & Luke 7
Good morning to you. God bless you.
Jesus is the only way to heaven. Accept His lordship today.