...just finished our annual week of prayer, and as we again have our One Church/One Family Service, I want to exhort you to keep praying. Again, we welcome Pastor Neftali, Shelia, and La Vida Church with us today. Please put on your seatbelt and let’s see what God will do. Jim Cymbala says, “Prayer links us to the promises and power of the Almighty. Calling out to God threatens Satan’s kingdom because it brings the blessings of heaven to earth and grants salvation to the ungodly.” We have shared with you about going through that great and effective door and I truly believe that we are. 1 Corinthians 16:9 (NKJV) “For a great and effective door has opened to me, and there are many adversaries.” The truth is that if we will go through that great door and even the double doors it will be accomplished by praying! Isaiah 45:1-3 (NKJV) "Thus says the LORD to His anointed, To Cyrus, whose right hand I have held-- To subdue nations before him And loose the armor of kings, To open before him the double doors, So that the gates will not be shut: 'I will go before you And make the crooked places straight; I will break in pieces the gates of bronze And cut the bars of iron. I will give you the treasures of darkness And hidden riches of secret places, That you may know that I, the LORD, Who call you by your name, Am the God of Israel.”
The early church devoted itself to prayer. Acts 2:42 (NKJV) “And they continued steadfastly in the apostles' doctrine and fellowship, in the breaking of bread, and in prayers.” It prayed the Apostle Peter out of prison the night before his scheduled execution (Acts 12), and they responded to persecution for the first time by prayer (Acts 4:42). God responded by granting them a fresh filling of the Holy Spirit and a boldness to witness for Christ. When Ananias was so fearful to go in obedience to Saul who became Paul God gave him this sign to let him know he had changed: Acts 9:11 (NKJV) “...behold, he is praying.”
We all in one accord say that we want to go through that great and effective door and we all acknowledge that there are many adversaries. Listen to the exhortation of our Lord: Luke 18:1 (NIV) “Then Jesus told his disciples a parable to show them that they should always pray and not give up.” If you have not arrived at your destination yet...do not give up and do not stop praying. The Scriptures we read about putting on God’s armor also tells us: Ephesians 6:18 (NKJV) “Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints.” Brothers and Sisters, keep praying and you will get through God’s door!
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