12-12-2020, 07:30 AM
RHAPSODY OF REALITIES
SATURDAY 12TH DECEMBER.
PRAY FOR GOD’S PEOPLE IN DISTRESS
Finally, brethren, pray for us, that the word of the Lord may have free course, and be glorified, even as it is with you (2 Thessalonians 3:1).
In Acts 12:1-2, the Bible says, “...Herod the king stretched forth his hands to vex certain of the church. And he killed James the brother of John with the sword.” When the Church heard that James had been arrested, they must have thought, “James arrested? Nothing will happen to him; he’s a man of faith.” But once James was killed, it got their attention.
“Where was God? How did God allow it to happen?” some may have wondered, trying to put the blame on God. But it’s not God that allows such things to happen. Jesus said, “And in that day ye shall ask me nothing. Verily, verily, I say unto you, Whatsoever ye shall ask the Father in my name, he will give it you” (John 16:23).
Then in Matthew 28:18, He declared, “...All authority in heaven and earth has been given to me”; and on the basis of that authority, He said, “...go and make disciples of all nations...” (Matthew 28:19). Jesus gave us His authority; He gave us His Name. So, it wasn’t Jesus that let them kill James; it was the Christians that didn’t do their job by exercising their authority in prayer.
When Peter was arrested next, the Bible says they (the church) prayed without ceasing; God intervened and Peter was released (Acts 12:5-7). So, every time you pray, you’re making it “legally” possible for God to intervene in some ways that He wouldn’t have, had you not prayed.
This is why we must pray for ministers of the Gospel, and advancement of the ministry of reconciliation in these last days. The Apostle Paul wrote to the Christians in Colossae, “Withal praying also for us, that God would open unto us a door of utterance, to speak the mystery of Christ, for which I am also in bonds” (Colossians 4:3).
Since God already told them to go and preach the Gospel, why did they need to pray to God to open for them a door of utterance? It tells you that there’re adversaries in the world. So always pray for the churches of Christ around the world.
Several reports confirm that Christians are the most persecuted group in the world. Many are in dire distress, made to face the most inhuman treatments because of their faith in Jesus Christ. Through your prayers for them, they’ll be strengthened; the Lord will intervene in their situations. Praise God!
PRAYER
Dear Father, I pray for ministers of the Gospel and God’s people around the world, that their strength fail not. I pray against men or institutions who foster persecution of Christians and hinder the spread of the Gospel; we cut off the influence of such forces and their efforts are made futile. In spite of them, the Gospel is spreading rapidly, with the speed of the Spirit, and prevailing, in Jesus’ Name. Amen.
FURTHER STUDY
2 Thessalonians 3:1-2; Romans 15:30-32
1 YEAR BIBLE READING PLAN: Revelation 4 & Hosea 11-14
2 YEAR BIBLE READING PLAN:
Revelation 12:1-10 & Micah 1-2
#TALKINGSESSION
Dear Heavenly Father, I thank You for this is my month of thanksgiving! Thank You for the great and precious blessings You’ve made available to me to enjoy.
You always seek to do me good, causing Your favour to surround me and Your blessings to abound in my life. My heart is filled today with joy, and my mouth with praise as I testify of Your goodness, mercy, and love in my life.
Thank You for loading me daily with all the benefits of
life such that I am thoroughly furnished with all I need to live joyfully.
I thank You for Your glory and grace that You’ve bestowed on me to reign in life today and forever. Thank You for Your pulsating life that permeates my entire being, and with which I bless my world today.
I am conscious that I have something to give; therefore I distribute the blessings of the Kingdom to those I come in contact with today. This is an awesome[/url]
[url=http://www.instagram.com/churchonline2]privilege and I am grateful to You for it.
Thank You for the privilege of being seated with You in the realms of power and glory, far above all principality, power, might, and every domain of darkness!
I reign with You today over the circumstances of life and over every negative force of nature, declaring that Your perfect and eternal will is fulfilled in my life – in my job, family, finances, and in the lives of those around me, in Jesus’ Name. Amen.
God bless you
SATURDAY 12TH DECEMBER.
PRAY FOR GOD’S PEOPLE IN DISTRESS
Finally, brethren, pray for us, that the word of the Lord may have free course, and be glorified, even as it is with you (2 Thessalonians 3:1).
In Acts 12:1-2, the Bible says, “...Herod the king stretched forth his hands to vex certain of the church. And he killed James the brother of John with the sword.” When the Church heard that James had been arrested, they must have thought, “James arrested? Nothing will happen to him; he’s a man of faith.” But once James was killed, it got their attention.
“Where was God? How did God allow it to happen?” some may have wondered, trying to put the blame on God. But it’s not God that allows such things to happen. Jesus said, “And in that day ye shall ask me nothing. Verily, verily, I say unto you, Whatsoever ye shall ask the Father in my name, he will give it you” (John 16:23).
Then in Matthew 28:18, He declared, “...All authority in heaven and earth has been given to me”; and on the basis of that authority, He said, “...go and make disciples of all nations...” (Matthew 28:19). Jesus gave us His authority; He gave us His Name. So, it wasn’t Jesus that let them kill James; it was the Christians that didn’t do their job by exercising their authority in prayer.
When Peter was arrested next, the Bible says they (the church) prayed without ceasing; God intervened and Peter was released (Acts 12:5-7). So, every time you pray, you’re making it “legally” possible for God to intervene in some ways that He wouldn’t have, had you not prayed.
This is why we must pray for ministers of the Gospel, and advancement of the ministry of reconciliation in these last days. The Apostle Paul wrote to the Christians in Colossae, “Withal praying also for us, that God would open unto us a door of utterance, to speak the mystery of Christ, for which I am also in bonds” (Colossians 4:3).
Since God already told them to go and preach the Gospel, why did they need to pray to God to open for them a door of utterance? It tells you that there’re adversaries in the world. So always pray for the churches of Christ around the world.
Several reports confirm that Christians are the most persecuted group in the world. Many are in dire distress, made to face the most inhuman treatments because of their faith in Jesus Christ. Through your prayers for them, they’ll be strengthened; the Lord will intervene in their situations. Praise God!
PRAYER
Dear Father, I pray for ministers of the Gospel and God’s people around the world, that their strength fail not. I pray against men or institutions who foster persecution of Christians and hinder the spread of the Gospel; we cut off the influence of such forces and their efforts are made futile. In spite of them, the Gospel is spreading rapidly, with the speed of the Spirit, and prevailing, in Jesus’ Name. Amen.
FURTHER STUDY
2 Thessalonians 3:1-2; Romans 15:30-32
1 YEAR BIBLE READING PLAN: Revelation 4 & Hosea 11-14
2 YEAR BIBLE READING PLAN:
Revelation 12:1-10 & Micah 1-2
#TALKINGSESSION
Dear Heavenly Father, I thank You for this is my month of thanksgiving! Thank You for the great and precious blessings You’ve made available to me to enjoy.
You always seek to do me good, causing Your favour to surround me and Your blessings to abound in my life. My heart is filled today with joy, and my mouth with praise as I testify of Your goodness, mercy, and love in my life.
Thank You for loading me daily with all the benefits of
life such that I am thoroughly furnished with all I need to live joyfully.
I thank You for Your glory and grace that You’ve bestowed on me to reign in life today and forever. Thank You for Your pulsating life that permeates my entire being, and with which I bless my world today.
I am conscious that I have something to give; therefore I distribute the blessings of the Kingdom to those I come in contact with today. This is an awesome[/url]
[url=http://www.instagram.com/churchonline2]privilege and I am grateful to You for it.
Thank You for the privilege of being seated with You in the realms of power and glory, far above all principality, power, might, and every domain of darkness!
I reign with You today over the circumstances of life and over every negative force of nature, declaring that Your perfect and eternal will is fulfilled in my life – in my job, family, finances, and in the lives of those around me, in Jesus’ Name. Amen.
God bless you