Some Christians prayed to avert a death sentence that the authority awarded Peter. They stood in the gap through ceaseless prayers until God miraculously sent his angel to liberate Peter from his shackles. The scripture testified:
“Now about that time Herod the king stretched out his hand to harass some from the church…he proceeded further to seize Peter also. Now it was during the Days of Unleavened Bread. So when he had arrested him, he put him in prison, and delivered him to four squads of soldiers to keep him, intending to bring him before the people after Passover. Peter was therefore kept in prison, but constant prayer was offered to God for him by the church. And when Herod was about to bring him out, that night Peter was sleeping, bound with two chains between two soldiers; and the guards before the door were keeping the prison. Now behold, an angel of the Lord stood by him, and a light shone in the prison; and he struck Peter on the side and raised him up, saying, “Arise quickly!” And his chains fell off his hands. Then the angel said to him, “Gird yourself and tie on your sandals”; and so he did. And he said to him, “Put on your garment and follow me.” So he went out and followed him, and did not know that what was done by the angel was real, but thought he was seeing a vision. When they were past the first and the second guard posts, they came to the iron gate that leads to the city, which opened to them of its own accord; and they went out and went down one street, and immediately the angel departed from him” (Acts 12:1-10).
Lesson:
Brothers and sisters in the Lord must pray for one another. We are required to intercede for our fellow Christians and seek their welfare. We are obligated to pray for our fellows; we must provide for them, and visit those who are hospitalized. We must also ceaselessly pray and care for brethren who have suffered the loss of loved ones and/or experiencing emotional stress. The fact remains that all Christians are blood relatives. We are related through the blood of Jesus Christ, and we must not stand aloof from one another!
Prayer:
Dear God, please keep brothers and sisters in Christ together in the unity of spirit. Let brethren in Christ work together as a team. Let us evangelize gospel together, and let us sing your praises together. Let us care for and assist our fellows who are in need. Enable us to offer prayers and moral supports as needed. Also, let us utilize our resources to assist our brethren who are in need. Let your love be paramount in Christian folds so that unbelievers can be challenged to serve you also. Moreover, all Christians are passionately expecting the coming of your Son Jesus Christ; we are expecting his rapture to transport us to heaven where there shall be perfect love and tranquility. Love you, God! For in the name of Jesus Christ I made all requests. Amen.
