by Pastor Adekoya Akinbode
PRAYER: A VITAL PART OF THE CHRISTIAN LIFE.
Acts: 3. 1. Now Peter and John went up together into the temple at the hour of prayer, being the ninth hour.
The ministry of the word without prayer can produce less impact. Aside being a prerequisite for impactful ministry, prayer is a vital part of the Christian life. To a large extent, your word-life will be effective and productive to the degree at which you’re given to prayer.
Customarily, the Jews pray three times a day and that customers was been maintained by the apostles. It was at the afternoon prayer time – the ninth hour, that a miracle divinely targeted at glorifying the name of Jesus and drawing souls to God was wrought.
Acts: 3.
2. And a certain man lame from his mother’s womb was carried, whom they laid daily at the gate of the temple which is called Beautiful, to ask alms of them that entered into the temple; 3. Who seeing Peter and John about to go into the temple asked an alms. 4. And Peter, fastening his eyes upon him with John, said, look on us. 5. And he gave heed unto them, expecting to receive something of them. 6. Then Peter said, Silver and gold have I none; but such as I have give I thee: In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth rise up and walk.
The name of the Lord has become their priceless possession, above anything else and the tool with which signs were produced through them. This were the same people that Jesus sent out two by two in Mark 6. And despite instructing them to take nothing with them save a staff, they were still found with something else:
Mark: 6.
8. And commanded them that they should take nothing for their journey, save a staff only; no scrip, no bread, no money in their purse: 12. And they went out, and preached that men should repent. 13. And they cast out many devils, and anointed with oil many that were sick, and healed them.
The oil was a well revered therapeutic substance among the Jews. It would appear here that it was “useful” for them on a mission Jesus sent them to go, in His representative capacity.
The testimony from same mission as captured according to Luke 10 says a lot:
Luke: 10. 17. And the seventy returned again with joy, saying, Lord, even the devils are subject unto us through thy name.
Here in Acts Chapter Three, the disciples now Apostles have grown to wholly rely in the power in the name of Jesus, without any medium. That speaks of Christian maturity! Until you’ve come to wholly trust and rely on/in the name of Jesus Christ as the solution to any situation, you’re yet to come to maturity. Definitely, the undeniable resurrection of Jesus made for, and consummated the unreserved trust and the faith that the Apostles have developed in His name.
Acts: 3. 6. Then Peter said, Silver and gold have I none; but such as I have give I thee: In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth rise up and walk.
Note:
1. Prayer is a vital part of the Christian life on earth.
2. In and through prayer, miracles are bound to happen as you engage the name of Jesus. So, at every hour of prayer, you can expect a miracle_ God giving you what you really need, beyond what you “want” or ask! The lame man got more than what he requested for, at the hour of prayer; through the name of Jesus!
I trust God for you that as you engage in prayer, something spectacular will take place! However, note that in Christianity, or rather, in the New Creation, we don’t pray necessarily or only at some fixed time. That is good for congregational prayer but as individuals, we pray without ceasing; at the prompting of the Spirit with no regard for time and venue!
Luke: 18. 1. And he spake a parable unto them to this end, that men ought always to pray, and not to faint;
Acts: 12. 5. Peter therefore was kept in prison: but prayer was made without ceasing of the church unto God for him.
Romans: 1. 9. For God is my witness, whom I serve with my spirit in the gospel of his Son, that without ceasing I make mention of you always in my prayers;
Romans: 8. 26. Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered.
Always to pray and not to faint is praying without ceasing; praying without ceasing is yielding to the prompting and yearnings of the Spirit to make intercessions. Understand that the Spirit doesn’t make intercession for us without us, but through us!
JESUS GLORIFIED!
John: 12. 28. Father, glorify thy name. Then came there a voice from heaven, saying, I have both glorified it, and will glorify it again.
The name of Jesus is given to be glorified in all generations, through all eternity! Yes, the name of Jesus was yet glorified at His resurrection and shall continue to be glorified through all ages. Whatever and whoever does not glorify Jesus is of God and it’s not from God.
Part of the essential mission of the Holy Ghost on earth is to glorify Jesus.
John: 16.
13. Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come. 14. He shall glorify me: for he shall receive of mine, and shall shew it unto you.
You can see why we don’t boast in ourselves or preach ourselves as Paul emphasized. Even the Holy Ghost is not here to exalt Himself or speak of Himself but amplify into our consciousness whatever the Father wants for us at every point in time in/through Christ, and to glorify Jesus.
Peter had an opportunity to boast about how anointed he was as the multitudes gather to witness the miracle that just occurred. Instead, he through the Holy Ghost demoted self, seized the moment to glorify the name of Jesus and to preach Him.
Acts: 3.
12. And when Peter saw it, he answered unto the people, ye men of Israel, why marvel ye at this? Or why look ye so earnestly on us, as though by our own power or holiness we had made this man to walk? 13. The God of Abraham, and of Isaac, and of Jacob, the God of our fathers, hath glorified his Son Jesus; whom ye delivered up, and denied him in the presence of Pilate, when he was determined to let him go. 16. And his name through faith in his name hath made this man strong, whom ye see and know: yea, the faith which is by him hath given him this perfect soundness in the presence of you all.
Every miracle is an event orchestrated by the Holy Ghost to glorify Jesus and give opportunity for souls to won to Christ through the preaching of the gospel. Any teaching therefore, and any miracle that does not exalt and glorify the name of Jesus but self or anything else is not of/from God. The way to continue to see God at work in our lives is to glorify Jesus for every result, every accomplishment, every increase, every promotion and not to resort to self-accolades.
Yes, you prayed and pressed some legitimate buttons and even practically engaged but, that anything good comes out of your efforts is the Father glorifying the name of Jesus in your life, by the Holy Ghost.
In all things and for everything, learn to give Jesus the glory!
Remain blessed!
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