Re: POWER of PRAYER- No Matter Which Faith You Follow=GOD is With You
Directed by the Spirit
When the Spirit fell upon his disciples, they became fearless. As they went forth to the temple to witness, the Holy Ghost made their words cutting and convicting, like swords piercing the heart. They preached the gospel with power and authority because they had the Holy Ghost fire within them.
Under this anointed preaching, some five thousand people were saved in just a short time. Even priests were converted. Further outpourings happened in nearby villages, distant cities, and even among Gentiles.
The best part of this unbelievable scene is that the church got all of its direction from the Holy Ghost. Nothing happened until the disciples shut themselves in with the Lord, fasted and prayed. When they did this, the Spirit began directing their every move.
Something else happened that was very important. The disciples were to take the gospel to every nation and every people, yet Jewish tradition forbade them even to touch the clothes of a Gentile. How were they supposed to bring the good news to people with whom they weren't even allowed to associate? It seemed to be an impossible command because even the Jewish converts held to these prejudices.
The widespread proclamation of the gospel began only when the Holy Ghost took over. The Spirit visited Peter on a rooftop during his daily prayer time. Again a voice came to him a second time, "What God has cleansed, no longer consider unholy" (Acts 10:15, NKJV). God told Peter, "Don't dare call unclean what I have sanctified and made clean. Now, go downstairs because some Gentiles are knocking on your door. I want you to go with them and preach to them about Jesus."
The Holy Spirit had solved the prejudice problem overnight. He opened up the Gentile world to the gospel simply by speaking to his followers. It was all clearly directed from heaven.
The powerful first-century believers received all their marching orders from the Holy Ghost, "being sent out by the Holy Spirit" (Acts 13:4). They never made a move until they got alone with God, fasted and prayed. It was then that the Holy Ghost answered them by giving clear directions.
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I urge, then, first of all, that petitions, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for all people -- for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness. This is good, and pleases God our Savior, who wants all people to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth. 1 Timothy 2:1-4
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