Be Faithful in Prayer

Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer. — Romans 12:12

How can we keep our circumstances from determining our mood? How can we emancipate ourselves from the limitations that life deals us? The last in the trio of commandments opens the door for the other two to be true — we can rejoice in hope and we can be patient in affliction because we have been faithful in prayer. No matter what our situation is, we can pray with joy because of our hope in Christ no matter what our current situation is. 

We can remain patient, persevering through affliction, by presenting our requests and intercessions to God with thanksgiving. Prayer is God's gift to us so that we can be patient and joyful, even when things don't appear to be going well.

Baptism

. Who  did the Apostles send to Samaria?

Acts 8:14

When the apostles in Jerusalem heard that Samaria  had accepted the word of God,  they sent Peter and John  to Samaria.

. What did the Apostles do?

Acts 8:15-17

When they arrived, they prayed for the new believers there that they might receive the Holy Spirit,    because the Holy Spirit had not yet come on any of them;  they had simply been baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.    Then Peter and John placed their hands on them,  and they received the Holy Spirit.

. What did Simon do?

Acts 8:18-19

When Simon saw that the Spirit was given at the laying on of the apostles’ hands, he offered them money   and said, “Give me also this ability so that everyone on whom I lay my hands may receive the Holy Spirit.”

. What did Peter say to him?

Acts 8:20-23

Peter answered: “May your money perish with you, because you thought you could buy the gift of God with money!    You have no part or share  in this ministry, because your heart is not right  before God.   Repent  of this wickedness and pray to the Lord in the hope that he may forgive you for having such a thought in your heart.   For I see that you are full of bitterness and captive to sin.”

[Message No: 7953]