Pastor Frank Amoako
SENIOR PASTOR | WORD OF LIFE | BRUSSELS, BELGIUM
Hello family. Welcome to day 27 of our prayer campaign this year. I am excited about our prayer point today because we get to pray for our brothers and sisters around the world.
Today we are praying for the persecuted church or persecuted Christians. The word persecution, according to the Webster’s Dictionary 1828, means the infliction of pain, punishment or death upon others unjustly, particularly for adhering to a religious creed or mode of worship, either by way of penalty or for compelling them to renounce their principles.
I thank God that most of us live in a country or place around the world where we don’t really face much persecution. We might have some trials or face some afflictions but we are not persecuted even to the point of death. So we have a responsibility to pray for our brothers and sisters around the world who are not able to worship freely, who are not able to go to church services, who are not able to read their Bibles openly or even pray openly. So we have the job to pray for them so they can experience the very freedoms that we experience.
When we look at the book of Acts chapter 12, we will see here that Peter was being persecuted for preaching the Gospel. Peter was at the point of being put to death. Let’s read from verse one, Acts chapter 12, “Now about that time Herod the king stretched forth his hands to vex certain of the church. And he killed James the brother of John with the sword. And because he saw it pleased the Jews, he proceeded further to take Peter also. (Then were the days of unleavened bread.) And when he had apprehended him, he put him in prison, and delivered him to four quaternions of soldiers to keep him; intending after Easter to bring him forth to the people. Peter therefore was kept in prison: but prayer was made without ceasing of the church unto God for him.” So we see here that Peter was going to be killed by Herod but the church prayed for him continuously, constantly and that prayer led to Peter’s deliverance - that prayer led to Peter being released. So church, let’s think of others. Let’s think of our brothers and sisters who we may not know around the world and let’s pray for their deliverance. Let’s pray for their freedom. Let’s pray for their safety. I believe that if God did that for Peter, God will do that for others also. God bless you. Have a wonderful day.