--THE MINISTRY OF PRAYER ~~
--[Please Read/ Acts 16:16-38]

---"Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed.
The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much."
--[James 5:16]--

~~~When we think of doing a great service for the Lord, what comes to our mind? Often we think of things like going to a foreign country as a missionary, passing out Gospel literature in a large city, or some other spectacular work. In deed these are all good things, and if God calls us to such ministries, we should obey.

But one great ministry is often unnoticed. It is the ministry of prayer. Everyone can be involved in this ministry, even those who are sick or disabled and don't do much physically. We don't have to be ordained preachers to participate in this ministry. Often the people who make the most difference and do the greatest service in God's kingdom are those behind the scenes, at home in their prayer closet, beseeching the heavenly Father, in Jesus Name.

Every powerful sermon that has been preached was born in prayer. Every evangelist that is mightily used by God has a deep and meaningful prayer life and is supported in prayer by others, such as his wife, his home church, and Christian friends.

Revelation 8:3-5 gives a glimpse of what happens when Christians pray. Their prayers ascend up before God as a sweet-smelling incense. God's heart is touched by those prayers, and He responds with great power: "voices, and thunderings, and lightnings, and an earthquake." When Paul and Silas were bound in prison, they had a choice to make. They could either be discourage or they could trust God and ask Him to help them. In direct answer to their prayers, God sent an earthquake and freed them from their stocks [chains]. God delights in doing mighty things for His children. May we never underestimate the power of prayer. ~~

--"Thank You, our Father, for your Son coming and answering our prayers. We give you all praise, in Jesus holy Name -- ."

--BSW/MM