During the early days of the Christian church, there was a lot going on. God was moving powerfully as his servants proclaimed the Gospel of Jesus. Leaders and authorities were struggling against this new reality, and the people we trying to make sense of both. As a result, persecution and hardship were the norm.
At one point, Peter and John were seized, imprisoned and questioned. However, upon their release, they went back to their friends and told them what happened.
But…do you know what they did next?
They prayed!
They asked God to move!
Its a great prayer. They asked Him to heal and perform signs and wonders, and Acts 4:30 captures a key part of that prayer. They said:
“Stretch out your hand to heal and perform signs and wonders through the name of your holy servant Jesus.” Acts 4:30
Wow! That’s good stuff, but the coolest part is what happened after that.
God responded!
Acts 4:31 tells us that, “After they prayed, the place where they were meeting was shaken. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke the word of God boldly.”
I absolutely love that!
It so clearly demonstrates the power of prayer and the reality that God answers prayer.
With the fall season just around the corner, school is in session, football is back and the Heritage family is preparing for Fall Kickoff.
As we step into this season, there is much to praise God for as a church. We continue to see the LORD drawing people to Himself through the Heritage family. More and more people are seeking…and finding…freedom, healing and hope in Jesus Christ. Its truly a privilege to see people making decisions for Jesus! Its a fun yet busy time of year, and I’m excited to see what God is going to do in and through us all. Although there is much to be thankful for, we STILL need to pray.
What we experience as a church is direct result of prayer. God hears the prayers of His people.
As we prepare to step into our fall season, let’s pray as Peter, John and their friends did. Pray that God will stretch out His hand heal and perform signs and wonders through the name of His holy servant Jesus.
Heavenly Father – You are holy. You are all-powerful. This morning, I sit in awe of who You are. You are absolutely amazing! You are more than able, and we’re…well…not. So I claim the promise of Your Word that we can do all things through Your Son Jesus. I ask that you would once again pour out Your Spirit upon us and shake Heritage Church. Fill us with Your Holy Spirit so that thousands of people will find freedom in Jesus. Heal and perform signs and wonders through the the name of Your holy servant Jesus. Amen.
