19th Jan 2013, Saturday – It’s A beautiful rainy day in Singapore, from the early morning, it has been raining continuously and the weather is cool.
At evening, Geenu and I, attended Family Blessing meeting at the Jesus Calls Prayer Tower , Midview City, Bishan. After beautiful praise and worship, Rev Fred G Abeysekera from the Assemblies of God, Singapore shared the sermon titled “When the Church Prays”.
He started the sermon by quoting Acts 4:29-31 Now, Lord, look on their threats, and grant to Your servants that with all boldness they may speak Your word, 30 by stretching out Your hand to heal, and that signs and wonders may be done through the name of Your holy Servant Jesus.” 31 And when they had prayed, the place where they were assembled together was shaken; and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit, and they spoke the word of God with boldness.
What is Prayer? Prayer is a Christian communicating with God. Prayer is the binding force that makes the Church stronger. Throughout the message, he highlighted importance of prayer. He shared an example of people praying together in the Novena Catholic Church, Singapore and because of prayers, God is performing healing miracles in the Novena Church.
Acts 1:14 14 These all continued with one accord in prayer and supplication,[a] with the women and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with His brothers.
People prayed to God and also prayed for others.
Acts 2:41-42 41 Then those who gladly[a] received his word were baptized; and that day about three thousand souls were added to them. 42 And they continued steadfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, in the breaking of bread, and in prayers.
Acts 3:1 3 Now Peter and John went up together to the temple at the hour of prayer, the ninth hour.
Rev Abeysekera stressed that we must go to Church during the hour of prayer and worship.
Acts 4:3131 And when they had prayed, the place where they were assembled together was shaken; and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit, and they spoke the word of God with boldness.
Acts 6:1-26 Now in those days, when the number of the disciples was multiplying, there arose a complaint against the Hebrews by the Hellenists,[a] because their widows were neglected in the daily distribution. 2 Then the twelve summoned the multitude of the disciples and said, “It is not desirable that we should leave the word of God and serve tables.
“If you put God first in your life, God’ll take care of you”.
Acts 6:4-74 but we will give ourselves continually to prayer and to the ministry of the word.” 5 And the saying pleased the whole multitude. And they chose Stephen, a man full of faith and the Holy Spirit, and Philip, Prochorus, Nicanor, Timon, Parmenas, and Nicolas, a proselyte from Antioch, 6 whom they set before the apostles; and when they had prayed, they laid hands on them.7 Then the word of God spread, and the number of the disciples multiplied greatly in Jerusalem, and a great many of the priests were obedient to the faith.
3 results of Prayers – Acts 6:1-2:
- Word of God increased.
- Number of Disciples multiplied, not added.
- Priests became obedient to Faith i.e. the pharisees and Saducees gave up the Jewish Synagogue and joined the Church.
When we encounter problems in our life, God’s teaching us something. We must say “God teach me through my problem”
Acts 12:5 5 Peter was therefore kept in prison, but constant[a] prayer was offered to God for him by the church.
After the sermon, he invited people to come forward as people sang beautiful Chorus “He is God”. He applied the prayer oil and prayed for each one individually. It was a powerful time. We were indeed blessed by his prayers.
Praise God for a wonderful time:)
