THE POWER OF PRAYER

We start a new theme this week-one close to my heart and the heart of most Christians- PRAYER! Prayer has played a major role in the Church since the beginning. Acts 2:42 says when the church first started, 2000 years ago in Jerusalem, ^“And they devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers.” (ESV) Notice the definite article with the word “prayers.” The English Standard Version correctly translates the literal greek in this passage. “The prayers” no doubt referred to the regular times of organized prayer at the Temple as well as, perhaps, to the many prayer meetings organized by the Apostles. The early church breathed the atmosphere of continual prayer (v.42). As Armin Gesswein observed, “The early church didn’t attend a prayer meeting, the early church was a prayer meeting.” 

SCRIPTURE READINGS:

Express: Romans 3

Advanced: 1 Corinthians 10; 1 Timothy 6; Mark 2

Challenge: Revelation 18; Matthew 26-27; Hebrews 9;  2 Peter 1-3

SCRIPTURE MEMORY:

1) Acts 2:42

2) 1 Thessalonians 5:17

INSPIRATIONAL QUOTES:

“Prayer begets Revival, which begets more prayer.”~Jim Cymbala

“The prayer offered to God in the morning during your quiet time is the key that unlocks the door of the day. Any athlete knows that it is the start that ensures a good finish.” ~ Adrian Rogers