HISTORY ALTERING PRAYERS
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In the early Church, many miracles occurred due to the relationship-based prayer that was lifted up to Heaven by God's people. Here is a sampling:
·   Because of a praying Church, Ananias and Sapphira were killed by God for lying to the Holy Ghost. Acts 4:31-33; 5:5,10 Here we see that the precious communion between God and His people in this organization of disciples, yielded His miracle power. In this case, the death of Ananias and his wife.
·   "Peter therefore was kept in prison: but prayer was made without ceasing of the church unto God for him." Acts 12:5 The Church prayed fervently without ceasing when Peter was taken and jailed by Herod. Herod had just killed the apostle James and was about to kill Peter, but the Church prayed to God and He changed the course of history, as it would have been if Peter had been killed. In prison Peter was chained down with two chains, sleeping between two soldiers, and the outside of the prison doors were defended by more guards. Because God's people were seeking His face in prayer for Peter, an angel from God brought light and woke Peter and led him out safely. God also killed Herod who had killed the apostle James and was going to kill the beloved Peter (v23). Many miracles happened in this episode as a result of the prayers of God's people. See Acts 12:1-25.
·   "But Peter put them all forth, and kneeled down, and PRAYED; and turning him to the body said, Tabitha, arise. And she opened her eyes: and when she saw Peter, she sat up. And he gave her his hand, and lifted her up, and when he had called the saints and widows, presented her alive." Acts 9:40-41 God raised Tabitha from the dead when one of His people prayed. This little girl's existence upon earth would have ended, but somebody touched God and history was altered.
·   JAILBREAK PRAYER: "And the multitude rose up together against them (Paul & Silas): and the magistrates rent off their clothes, and commanded to beat them. And when they had laid many stripes upon them, they cast them into prison, charging the jailor to keep them safely: Who, having received such a charge, thrust them into the inner prison, and made their feet fast in the stocks. And at <?xml:namespace prefix = st1 ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" />midnight Paul and Silas prayed, and sang praises unto God: and the prisoners heard them. And suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison were shaken: and immediately all the doors were opened, and every one's bands were loosed." Acts 16:22-26 Just what if the great apostle Paul, and Silas, would have perished in this prison? The damage would have been untold. God, who worked in conjunction with the obedient prayer of these two servants, rescued them, altering the course of history forever.
BEWARE OF DEBILITATING THINKING: If you know anything about the unbiblical, heretical teachings of John Calvin, you realize that his teachings work to produce complacency in believers, including in the area of fervent prayer and seeking God. They rob from the recipient's heart the fear of God, and foster complacency. Let me encourage you to relinquish ALL unfounded philosophies that teach that whatever will be will be. This is the lie of the devil himself. Biblically speaking: Whatever God wills and we prayerfully agree in obedience to, will be! Numerous texts of holy Scripture could be cited to develop this truth. Here is one:
Hebrews 11:6 "But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him."
According to Hebrews 11:6, the reward of the Lord is with them that seek Him diligently. Go! Jesus said:
"Therefore I say unto you, What things soever ye desire, when ye pray, believe that ye receive them, and ye shall have them." Mark 11:24 "For the eyes of the Lord are over the righteous, and his ears are open unto their prayers." 1 Peter 3:12
The whispered prayer of the righteous causes an earthquake in Heaven.
In Christ,
Todd Tomasella