(March 7, 2011)
Prayer House News!
Praise God our first weekend with our new "early" service went well. And it was good that we did that because in the second service we had to set up extra chairs.
The spirit of God was moving in our midst as I shared about the Healing Power of Relationships.
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Devotional!

Pray, Hear, Accept, Go!

Acts 4:23-37 And when they had been released, they went to their own companions, and reported all that the chief priests and the elders had said to them. 24 And when they heard this, they lifted their voices to God with one accord and said, "O Lord, it is Thou who didst make the heaven and the earth and the sea, and all that is in them, 25 who by the Holy Spirit, through the mouth of our father David Thy servant, didst say, 'Why did the Gentiles rage, And the peoples devise futile things? 26'The kings of the earth took their stand, And the rulers were gathered together Against the Lord, and against His Christ.' 27 "For truly in this city there were gathered together against Thy holy servant Jesus, whom Thou didst anoint, both Herod and Pontius Pilate, along with the Gentiles and the peoples of Israel, 28 to do whatever Thy hand and Thy purpose predestined to occur. 29 "And now, Lord, take note of their threats, and grant that Thy bond-servants may speak Thy word with all confidence, 30 while Thou dost extend Thy hand to heal, and signs and wonders take place through the name of Thy holy servant Jesus. " 31 And when they had prayed, the place where they had gathered together was shaken, and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit, and began to speak the word of God with boldness. 32 And the congregation of those who believed were of one heart and soul; and not one of them claimed that anything belonging to him was his own; but all things were common property to them. 33 And with great power the apostles were giving witness to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and abundant grace was upon them all. 34 For there was not a needy person among them, for all who were owners of land or houses would sell them and bring the proceeds of the sales, 35 and lay them at the apostles' feet; and they would be distributed to each, as any had need. 36 And Joseph, a Levite of Cyprian birth, who was also called Barnabas by the apostles (which translated means, Son of Encouragement), 37 and who owned a tract of land, sold it and brought the money and laid it at the apostles' feet.

The New Testament church was still in it’s infancy when Peter and John were basically arrested and questioned by some of the High Priests, scribes, and rulers about their activities. When we pick up the account in verse 23 they have now returned to the church body to report what had happened.

What we have to understand here is that they still had very little knowledge of what preaching the gospel would mean, or would cause to happen. Suddenly it has become very real to them that they could very well be persecuted. Isn’t it ironic that the greatest message ever, the gospel of Jesus Christ, would meet with such opposition. All we are trying to do is to save men from hell and yet that is the very thing they resist. Peter and John were being questioned because of healing a man in the name of Jesus. Somehow the healing of a 40 year old man was being looked upon with suspicion.

After they report what happened look at the response of the church in verse 24. And when they heard this, they lifted their voices to God with one accord. Their first response was to pray.

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Medication: A Merry Heart

The Sixties

The Sixties, yes, the Sixties. Time of hope, time of
rebellion, time for planning new ways to do things, ways
that could not be any worse than what was being done at that
time.

In contrast to most of the other movements of the time, one
very active group combined militant vegetarianism (not so
uncommon) with militant prohibitionism (very uncommon). They
believed, in fact, that the first would automatically lead
to perfect health. Eat only vegetables, love one another,
and the desire and drive to consume Demon Rum would just
pass away.

They believed that: "Peas would rule the planets, and love
would clear the bars. It was the dawning of the age of
asparagus."

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