Astonished by the Power of Prayer

Most people pray at one time or another. Not all people pray expecting to get answers. Most of us know the disappointment of praying earnestly for God to intervene in our circumstances. We get accustomed to not receiving what we ask God to do. This begs the question whether we pray believing or whether we just make wishes when we pray.

In Acts 12, King Herod arrested Peter. He had him surrounded by 16 soldiers at one point. One night as Peter slept chained between two guards, an angel showed up. The angel woke Peter, made the chains fall off, and led him out of the prison past the guards. The iron gate leading outside prison suddenly opened. Peter followed the angel in the street and then the angel vanished. 

While Peter was in prison, many people were gathered praying for him. We are not told specifics about what they prayed. I imagine they prayed for his protection, strength, and deliverance. Peter showed up at the home where they were praying. He knocked on the door until the servant girl Rhoda recognized his voice and in her joy ran to tell the others. She didn't let Peter in, so he kept on knocking. When Rhoda told them Peter was outside, they thought she had lost her mind. 

I find that interesting. They prayed for Peter, but did they believe that God would really deliver him? I don't think they expected Peter to get out of prison. God answered their prayers in dramatic fashion. It does not seem they actually believed God would help. Isn't this the way we pray at times. We voice the words expressing our desires, but do we really anticipate God's miraculous intervention?

I'm disappointed when God does not answer. This past Wednesday night I asked God to save some people at our student gathering. I presented the gospel. Several students indicated they were unsure where they would spend eternity. Nobody responded. I sat in disbelief. 

There have been other times when God has saved several in answer to prayer. I've already reported in previous posts that eight times we have received blessing vehicles from God in answer to prayer. Many testify God has healed them through prayer. Revivals have been born through prayer. Peter got delivered from prison in response to prayer. 

God still astonishes in answer to prayer. So keep praying. Keep P.U.S.H.ing. Pray Until Something Happens. Sooner or later God will astonish you too with something grand. When the time is right, when it is His will to do so, and when He can get the most glory, He will astonish over and over again with the power of prayer. 

Mercy Triumphs

Every person plodding through life on this planet has transgressed the commands of God. We are all guilty. We have all sinned and rebelled against holy God. None are exempt. It does not matter what prevailing political correct views are. God established the standard of right and wrong before any of us were born. The times may change, but God's truth is timeless. His standards are not compromised. 

There are billions of people on this planet. Some follow Jesus. Most don't. Some do not even believe He exists. Those people make up their own rules. They do whatever they want without fear of consequences. It pains my heart to think of all those people facing God in judgment. God is perfect in His love. He is also perfect in His justice. He will hold people accountable. All people. According to [Matt 7:13-14] there are more people headed toward the judgment of destruction than those headed toward heaven. 

It is a terrifying thing to fall into the hands of the living God. [Heb 10:31] The anger of God is just as perfect as His love. That anger will be poured out on those who spurned His offer of mercy. His full fury will be unleashed in the day of judgment. Many who thought they were okay will be horrified to find out the mercy they rejected is the mercy they need, but it will be too late. That is the bad news. 

The good news is that mercy triumphs over judgment. [James 2:13] The word triumph means to boast, exult, and glory. The mercy of God is greater than His judgment. We don't deserve mercy. Not me. Not you. Not any of us. Yet God in His love and kindness leads people to repent [Ro 2:4] and receive mercy. What a wonderful gift of grace. A free gift to us, but a gift that cost Jesus dearly. His sacrifice paved the way for mercy. That mercy triumphs over the wrath of God. Mercy is the door opened by Jesus' death and shed blood to salvation. 

I'm humbled that God offered me mercy when I deserved condemnation. I don't boast except in the cross of the Lord Jesus Christ. [Gal 6:14] He is my hero. He is my Lord. My Master. My Savior. His mercy triumphed over what I deserved. Instead of being sentenced guilty, He declared me righteous because of mercy. A mercy still offered to the masses. A mercy that still triumphs.