Port Hope Free Presbyterian Church

We are exhorted to pray without ceasing, but who would have thought of anyone praying in their sleep. Yet, the scriptures speak of such a man, and the prayer he offered in his sleep, God was pleased to answer.

We are always encouraged when God says yes to our prayers. There are times when God says no, but of course there is always a good reason for denying us.

Of all of the unusual prayer meetings in Scripture, surely Christ praying in Gethsemane is superior to all others. The dear Saviour agonized in prayer like no one else ever did.

Paul and Barnabas were very close friends, having preached together, were persecuted together and prayed together. Then one day their friendship came to an end, their friendship was broken. What happened should be a warning to us all.

The Saviour of course was a man of prayer, sometimes spending all night in prayer. But when He went to the garden of Gethsemane to prayer, He engaged if a time of prayer that was like none other, because there He agonised in prayer.

The missionary life of the apostle Paul was one of sacrifice and many times, one of suffering for the cause of Christ. Nevertheless, Paul held nothing back, but lived a life that was sold out to God and the gospel of Christ. He set all Christians and example to give their lives to the service of their Master.

Sometimes amidst the storms of life, men begin to think about God about eternity, then they begin to pray in their troubles. Sometimes those storms are the means of souls crying out to the Lord for salvation.

Upon his visit to Lystra, the apostle Paul preached the gospel. As he proclaimed the truth of God's word, God wrought a miracle through him, enabling a lame man to walk. As a result, the people of Lyster wanted to worship Paul as a god, Paul would have none of it.

In Scripture, we find what might be described as unusual prayer meetings. One such time of prayer was when Nehemiah stood before a king in his palace and prayed to the God of heaven, showing that God is only a prayer away.

No matter where the Apostle Paul went, he always preached Christ. As well as God blessing his preaching to the salvation of many souls, there were those who rejected his preaching of Christ, turning their faces away from the preacher and the Christ that he preached.

The Apostle Paul was conscious of his need of the prayers of God's people, and would regularly covet their prayers. Every preacher knows his need of prayer support from the praying people of God, so pray for the preacher.

The Apostle Paul and Barnabas were sent out on their first missionary journey from the church at Antioch. They had been called and separated by the Holy Ghost for the work He had called them to do. Their sending forth highlights the need for missionaries who are called of God to go forth and win the lost for Christ.

The Apostle Paul, made it clear that prayer is part of the Christian's armour. He exhorted believers to pray for one another as they battles the devil. He then asked believers to pray for him as he preached the gospel wherever he went. So today, congregations need to preach for the preacher.

After the conversion of Saul of Tarsus, many the the Lord's disciples were afraid of Saul, because of his past activities. They were so afraid of him, that they didn't want anything to do with him and so they shunned him. That was until one dear Christian man, accepted him, and became his friend.

Speaking about the final piece of the armour of God, Paul spoke about the importance of prayer. No Christian has fought against the enemy of their soul, without prayer. So Paul calls for more prayer warriors, to overthrow the devil.

The Lord commended the believers in the church in Smyrna for their courage in suffering for His name. He then exhorted them to go on and be faithful unto death, and they would be rewarded.

The Lord commended the church in Ephesus for their service. But then the had to gently rebuke them because they had left their first love, and needed to be restored.

When anyone claims to have experienced to new birth, then the evidence of that conversion must be evident. If they are truly born again, then evidence of their new life in Christ will be clearly seen. Such evidence was seen in the life of Saul of Tarsus.

God has given to His people an armour to put on to fight against the wiles of the devil. The best weapon God's people can use against the devil and be victorious, is the Word of God.

Every new born child in Christ, needs to be encouraged as they begin to live their new life in Christ. When Saul of Tarsus was converted the Lord sent him one of His disciples to encourage him, a man whose name means God is gracious.