Re:Verse reading–Acts 16:11-34 (day four)
One thing is different for Paul as he travels to the cities in Asia. Traveling with Silas, they enter the city of Philippi in Macedonia. On the Sabbath, rather than going to the Jewish synagogue, they go in search for a place of prayer. They find it outside the city beside the river.
In the Gospel of Luke, chapter 19, Jesus, quoting Isaiah, said, “My house shall be called a house of prayer.” Prayer should be one of the identifying characteristics of a church. For Paul and Silas, the place of prayer became the prison cell where they were held after their beating. Prayer is characteristic of believers as well as churches. In each of these cases, people came to know the Lord…Lydia and her household, the prisoners, and the jailer and his household. Prayer leads to evangelism. Holy Spirit inspired and infused prayer…does that describe your church and your life?
It is good to be reminded that “prayer is characteristic of believers as well as churches”.
It is also good to know that “prayer leads to evangelism”.
People come to know the Lord through a house of prayer. A house of prayer; therefore, is the church and believers. This explains why God broke the chains with an earthquake to bring good news to Paul and Silas at their chosen place of prayer. God did not like the place of prayer to become a prison. It is supposed to be a joyful place with full of good and happy news and endings!
“Evangelism is not salesmanship. It is not urging people, pressing them, coercing them, overwhelming them, or subduing them. Evangelism is telling a message. Evangelism is reporting good news.” – Richard C. Halverson
Evangelism is sharing the Good News but not everyone has heard this Good News. The work of Evangelism for each house of prayer will continue until Jesus returns. Evangelism does not come easy in today’s sinful world but with the Holy Spirit works in full force, day and night, 7 days a week and in 24 hours a day, the barrier to spread God’s message can be minimized and eventually will be eliminated.
I cannot imagine how joyful and beautiful it will be when we all share the Good News and live happily forever in the Kingdom of Heaven wherever God decides for the location to be.
Can the earth become the Kingdom of Heaven? What are your thoughts?