Prayer - Never Underestimate What God Will Do Through Your Prayers

 

Prayer

Hannah prayed, and the Lord gave her a son, Samuel.

"And she was in bitterness of soul, and prayed unto the LORD, and wept sore. ... For this child I prayed; and the LORD hath given me my petition which I asked of him:" - 1 Samuel 1:10, 27 KJV

Solomon prayed, and the fire came down from heaven, and the glory of the LORD filled the house.

"Now when Solomon had made an end of praying, the fire came down from heaven, and consumed the burnt offering and the sacrifices; and the glory of the LORD filled the house." - 2 Chronicles 7:1 KJV

Daniel prayed, and God gave him understanding of the end times.

"Yea, whiles I was speaking in prayer, even the man Gabriel…informed me, and talked with me, and said, O Daniel, I am now come forth to give thee skill and understanding." - Daniel 9:21-22 KJV

The church prayed and Peter was miraculously delivered from prison.

"Peter therefore was kept in prison: but prayer was made without ceasing of the church unto God for him. ... And when Peter was come to himself, he said, Now I know of a surety, that the Lord hath sent his angel, and hath delivered me out of the hand of Herod, and from all the expectation of the people of the Jews." - Acts 12:5, 11 KJV

Through prayer, things can be accomplished that we could never do. Souls can be reached that we could never reach. Miracles can happen. Never underestimate what God will do through your prayers.

"Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God." - Philippians 4:6 KJV

Church! And So Much the More, As You See the Day Approaching

 

Church!

Now is the time to draw closer to Jesus.

"And that, knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep: for now is our salvation nearer than when we believed. The night is far spent, the day is at hand: let us therefore cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armour of light. Let us walk honestly, as in the day; not in rioting and drunkenness, not in chambering and wantonness, not in strife and envying. But put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make not provision for the flesh, to fulfil the lusts thereof." - Romans 13:11-14 KJV

["This is all the more urgent, for you know how late it is; time is running out. Wake up, for our salvation is nearer now than when we first believed. The night is almost gone; the day of salvation will soon be here. So remove your dark deeds like dirty clothes, and put on the shining armor of right living. Because we belong to the day, we must live decent lives for all to see. Don't participate in the darkness of wild parties and drunkenness, or in sexual promiscuity and immoral living, or in quarreling and jealousy. Instead, clothe yourself with the presence of the Lord Jesus Christ. And don't let yourself think about ways to indulge your evil desires." - Romans 13:11-14]

"Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching. [And let us not neglect our meeting together, as some people do…especially now that the day of his return is drawing near.] " - Hebrews 10:25 KJV

And so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.

Part 7 Making our Calling and Election Sure

 

Peter spoke about the kingdom in His epistle.

"Wherefore the rather, brethren, give diligence to make your calling and election sure: for if ye do these things, ye shall never fall: for so an entrance shall be ministered unto you abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ." - 2 Peter 1:10-11 KJV

Peter began this by telling us that by God’s divine power, He has given us everything we need for living a godly life. By His Spirit, the Holy Ghost, we have grown to know Him. He called us out from the world of sin to become His sons and daughters. We repented of our sins, and we were baptized in His name Jesus for the remission of our sins. When He filled us with His Spirit, He gave us His power to escape the sin of this world. (2 Corinthians 6:16-18, 2 Corinthians 7:1, Acts 2:38, Acts 1:8).

"According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue: whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust." - 2 Peter 1:3-4 KJV

So what things are we supposed to do so that we shall never fall?

"And beside this, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge; and to knowledge temperance [self-control]; and to temperance patience; and to patience godliness; and to godliness brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness charity [love]." - 2 Peter 1:5-7 KJV

"For if these things be in you, and abound, they make you that ye shall neither be barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. But he that lacketh these things is blind, and cannot see afar off, and hath forgotten that he was purged [cleansed] from his old sins." - 2 Peter 1:8-9 KJV

"Wherefore I will not be negligent to put you always in remembrance of these things, though ye know them, and be established [standing firm] in the present truth [truth you have been taught]." - 2 Peter 1:12 KJV

The Kingdom Part 6 This Gospel of the Kingdom

The Kingdom Part 6

Our Heavenly Father, in His compassion for His creation, robed Himself in flesh with His name of salvation “Jesus,” and dwelt among His people with the ultimate purpose of bringing His kingdom on earth. (Luke 1:32-35, Matthew 1:21-23, John 1:10-11, Matthew 6:10).

He accomplished bringing His kingdom on earth by giving His life and shedding His blood to reconcile us back to Himself. (John 12:27, John 18:36-37, 2 Corinthians 5:19-21, Acts 20:28, Colossians 1:20).

Because of Jesus’ death, burial, and resurrection, we are able to enter His kingdom by repentance, baptism in His name Jesus for the remission of our sins, and by receiving the gift of His Holy Ghost. (1 Corinthians 15:1-4, Mark 8:31-37, Romans 6:1-23, John 3:5, Matthew 16:19/Acts 2:38, Luke 17:20-21, Romans 14:17, Romans 8:1-14).

The Kingdom Part 5 - The Followers of Jesus preaching the Kingdom

The Kingdom Part 5

While Jesus preached His kingdom throughout His ministry and after His resurrection, His followers also preached the things concerning the kingdom of God.

Philip preached the things concerning the kingdom of God in Samaria, resulting in them getting baptized in Jesus name and then receiving the gift of the Holy Ghost. (Acts 8:14-17).

"But when they believed Philip preaching the things concerning the kingdom of God, and the name of Jesus Christ, they were baptized, both men and women." - Acts 8:12 KJV

During his entire ministry, Paul preached the things concerning the kingdom of God.

"And when they had preached the gospel to that city [Derbe], and had taught many, they returned again to Lystra, and to Iconium, and Antioch, confirming the souls of the disciples, and exhorting them to continue in the faith, and that we must through much tribulation enter into the kingdom of God." - Acts 14:21-22 KJV

"And he went into the synagogue, and spake boldly for the space of three months, disputing and persuading the things concerning the kingdom of God." - Acts 19:8 KJV

When Paul said his goodbye to the elders of the church of Ephesus, Paul spoke how he had preached the kingdom of God to them. (Acts 20:17-38).

"And now, behold, I know that ye all, among whom I have gone preaching the kingdom of God, shall see my face no more." - Acts 20:25 KJV

Paul went to Jerusalem, where he was accused of the Jews, then appealed to Caesar, and was taken to Rome. In Rome, in his last years, he continued to preach the kingdom of God. Paul was permitted to have his own private lodging, though he was guarded by a soldier. (Acts 28:16).

"And when they had appointed him a day, there came many to him into his lodging; to whom he expounded and testified the kingdom of God, persuading them concerning Jesus, both out of the law of Moses, and out of the prophets, from morning till evening." - Acts 28:23 KJV

"And Paul dwelt two whole years in his own hired house, and received all that came in unto him, preaching the kingdom of God, and teaching those things which concern the Lord Jesus Christ, with all confidence, no man forbidding him." - Acts 28:30-31 KJV

The Kingdom Part 4 - The Commission

 

The Kingdom Part 4

In Acts chapter one, it is recorded that during the forty days between Jesus’ resurrection and His ascension to heaven, Jesus spoke of the things “pertaining to the kingdom of God.”

"To whom also he shewed himself alive after his passion by many infallible proofs, being seen of them forty days, and speaking of the things pertaining to the kingdom of God:" - Acts 1:3 KJV

It was during this forty-day period that Jesus gave His commission to His disciples that instructed how to enter the kingdom of God.

"Then opened he their understanding, that they might understand the scriptures, and said unto them, Thus it is written, and thus it behoved Christ to suffer, and to rise from the dead the third day: and that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem. And ye are witnesses of these things. And, behold, I send the promise of my Father upon you: but tarry ye in the city of Jerusalem, until ye be endued with power from on high." - Luke 24:45-49 KJV

Jesus explained this promise of power from on high is the Holy Ghost.

"For John truly baptized with water; but ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost not many days hence." - Acts 1:5 KJV

The new birth into the kingdom would include repentance, remission of sins in His name (baptized with  water), and the Holy Ghost (baptized with the Spirit).

His disciples followed through with Jesus’ instructions. (Luke 24:49).

"Then returned they unto Jerusalem…And when they were come in, they went up into an upper room…These all continued with one accord in prayer and supplication…" - Acts 1:12-14 KJV

Jesus did as He promised. (Luke 24:4).

"And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place. ... And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance." - Acts 2:1, 4 KJV

The apostles did as Jesus commanded, that “repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem.” (Luke 24:47).

"But Peter, standing up with the eleven, lifted up his voice…" - Acts 2:14 KJV

"Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost." - Acts 2:38 KJV

The keys to the kingdom were revealed. (John 3:5).

"And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter…And I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt loose [Thayers Greek Lexicon: “to declare lawful: Matthew 16:19”] on earth shall be loosed in heaven." - Matthew 16:18-19 KJV

The Kingdom Part 3

The kingdom of God is in power.

"For the kingdom of God is not in word, but in power." - 1 Corinthians 4:20 KJV

When we enter the kingdom of God by being born of water and of the Spirit, we receive the power of the Spirit that is life changing. (John 3:5, Luke 17:21, Romans 14:17).

"But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth." - Acts 1:8 KJV

The power of the Holy Ghost gives us a life changing experience that we become witnesses of. By the Holy Ghost and baptism in Jesus name we are washed, sanctified, and justified.

BEFORE the transforming of the gospel, we were not able to enter the kingdom of God. (Romans 3:23, Romans 5:12).

"Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind, nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God." - 1 Corinthians 6:9-10 KJV

Another translation:

"Don't you realize that those who do wrong will not inherit the Kingdom of God? Don't fool yourselves. Those who indulge in sexual sin [sex outside of marriage], or who worship idols, or commit adultery, or are male prostitutes, or practice homosexuality, or are thieves, or greedy people, or drunkards, or are abusive, or cheat people--none of these will inherit the Kingdom of God." - 1 Corinthians 6:9-10

And such WERE some of you!

"And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God." - 1 Corinthians 6:11 KJV

By the gospel, being born of water and of the Spirit, we are transformed, able to enter into the kingdom! (John 3:5).