Earlier this week, I was listening to a song that I have listened to countless times. It is an amazing song on the “The Cry” album by pastor William McDowell which is titled – He is still moving. The song emphasizes how the move of God’s power on the earth is still unending. One of the highlights of the song is the testimonies shared in between the rendition. And for the first time after a million times of listening to the song, a phrase caught my attention and I strongly believe the Lord wants me to write to you about it today.
And the church prayed.……
Acts 12:5
The above phrase was one that Pastor Mcdowell said as he narrated the testimony of a woman who the enemy meant to kill alongside her children. The church prayed for the sick woman and her family and she was revived from a rare illness who had a slim chance of survival. At that moment, I was reminded of the church of old that did similar for brother Peter who was arrested. The bible tells us in Acts 12:5 that, “while Peter was kept in prison, constant prayer was offered to God on his behalf“. And to the glory of the Lord, he was saved from the prison supernaturally. Interestingly as he was saved and led by an angel out of the prison gates into the city, he was led to the house of Mary Mark where believers were gathered still praying for him – Acts 12:12. Thank God for the believers who kept praying for Peter.
This together points us to the power of praying together as believers in Jesus Christ. The verse not only points us to the power of praying together but also points us to the necessity of praying together without ceasing, at least until we see the things that we pray for. Another thing that I see evident in this body of Christ that prayed for Peter is their unity and love for one another. They were all gathered together in the house of one of them, praying together. There must have been some form of agreement and unity in that arrangement for it to work out the way that it did.
More than ever, the church of Christ needs to be united against the forces and the vices of the enemy and this form of unity starts with us as individuals. I absolutely see that there is so much happening in the world right about now and there may just be some relentings in the place of prayer for the world. But more than ever, the Lord needs us to press on in the place of prayer for so many things wrong in the world: for the souls who may be lost, for people sick in the body, mind, or spirit, for nations at war, for nations being ravaged by poverty and hunger, for homes being ravaged and torn apart by the enemy, for global leaders, for our bosses and spiritual leaders, for our friends and for as many things or people God directs us to pray for.
So as I wrap up my blog post today, I’d like to encourage you to put away individual differences while we cling to the love of Christ that binds us together as a church. And while you do that, make up your mind to spend time praying with the church for the church, the world, and the people around us. May we stay unrelenting praying for the light of God to overshadow the earth and for His kingdom to come in Jesus’ name.