The Benefits Of Persistent Prayer

     Today's bible study is very special and Jesus wants to encourage all my friends in the many nations to keep on praying because Jesus hears your prayers and will answer and grant your requests. Jesus tells us at Isaiah 65:24 And it shall come to pass, that before they call, I will answer; and while they are yet speaking, I will hear. The prophet Isaiah also told us at Isaiah 59:1 that the Lord Jesus hears all our prayers by saying Behold, the Lord's hand is not shortened, that it cannot save; neither His ear heavy, that it cannot hear. Today, Brother Bob is going to show you many examples in the Word of God where prayer was answered and deliverance occurred.

     For my first picture above, let's remember that because of the church's persistent prayers, the angel of the Lord set Peter free from prison when the iron gate to the prison opened of it's own accord. Saint reading this anywhere, continue to pray for everyone around you, and I claim in Jesus name angels be dispatched to heal, deliver, and bless the people you pray for. The story about the picture above of Peter's release from prison is at Acts 12:5 and says Peter therefore was kept in prison: but prayer was made without ceasing (note we should be like this church and pray without ceasing until deliverance occurs because Jesus hears our prayers) of the church unto God for him. Note the result from prayer at Acts 12:7: And, behold, the angel of the Lord came upon him, and a light shined in the prison: and he smote Peter on the side, and raised him up, saying, Arise up quickly. And his chains fell off from his hands. And the angel said unto him, Gird thyself, and bind on thy sandals. And so he did. And he saith unto him, Cast thy garment about thee, and follow me.

     The beautiful thing about the story of Peter's release from prison is that Peter thought he was having a dream but when the angel brought Peter out of the prison and departed, Peter knew that in reality he was truly free. Remember the reason that Peter was released from prison was the prayers made by the church, so keep praying and Jesus will bring deliverance. Acts 12:9 says And he went out, and followed him; and wist not that it was true which was done by the angel; but thought he saw a vision. When they were past the first and second ward, they came unto the iron gate that leadeth unto the city; which opened to them of his own accord: and they went out, and passed on through one street; and forthwith the angel departed from him. And when Peter was come to himself, he said, Now I know of a surety, that the Lord hath sent his angel, and hath delivered me out of the hand of Herod, and from all the expectation of the people of the Jews.

     Now take a moment to look at the picture above of how Hannah's persistent prayers to have a baby boy were answered when Hannah gave birth to the prophet Samuel. Friend reading this anywhere, I pray in Jesus name we will be persistent and keep praying like Hannah even when those around us like Eli pictured above persecute and mock our prayers. Eli, the priest at the temple thought Hannah was drunken but Hannah stated that she had drunk neither wine or strong drink, but was pouring out her soul before the Lord. Let us all be like Hannah and keep praying, not allowing the troubles and persecutions around us to prevent our persistent prayers. James 5:16 tells us Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed (note this says to pray for others and not yourself and when you pray for others, you will be healed). The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.

     The wonderful story of the picture above of Hannah's persistent prayers to have a son Samuel is recorded at 1 Samuel 1:12 and says And it came to pass, as she continued praying before the Lord, that Eli marked her mouth. Now Hannah, she spake in her heart; only her lips moved, but her voice was not heard: therefore Eli thought she had been drunken. The blessed result of Hannah's persistent prayer is recorded at 1 Samuel 1:26 and says And she said, Oh my Lord, as thy soul liveth, my lord, I am the woman that stood by thee here, praying unto the Lord. For this child I prayed; and the Lord hath given me my petition which I asked of him. The blessed prayer of Hannah that was answered can be seen in the new testament at 1 John 5:14. Saint reading this take time to say out loud and believe 1 John 5:14 that proves that Jesus hears your prayers and grants your requests. 1 John 5:14 says And this is the confidence that we have in Him, that, if we ask any thing according to His will, He heareth us: And if we know that He hear us, whatsoever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we desired of Him. Keep praying saints because Jesus hears our prayers and will grant our requests.

     Another person in the bible that was blessed for always praying was the centurion Cornelius pictured above when the Gentile Cornelius received the Holy Ghost while Peter visited his house. The story of Cornelius pictured above can be found at Acts 10:1 and says There was a certain man in Caesarea called Cornelius, a centurion of the band called the Italian band, A devout man, and one that feared God with all his house, which gave much alms to the people, and prayed to God alway. Cornelius' prayers caused Peter (a bigot who only associated with Jews) to have a vision of unclean animals that the Lord stated were clean, telling Peter that Gentiles along with Jews were clean to receive the Holy Ghost.

     Because of Cornelius' persistent prayers, Peter obeyed the Lord Jesus and agreed to pray for the Gentile Cornelius, blessing Cornelius with the Holy Ghost. The result of Cornelius' persistent prayer is recorded at Acts 10:44 and says While Peter yet spake these words, the Holy Ghost fell on all them which heard the word. And they of the circumcision which believed were astonished, as many as came with Peter, because that on the Gentiles also was poured out the gift of the Holy Ghost. What a blessed promise to know that Jesus will bless any nation that comes to Jesus by faith. Like Cornelius, the Holy Ghost will be given to all my friends from any country or nation who get saved, repent, decide to stop sinning, confess that Jesus is God, and believe the gospel that Jesus died for them on the cross, was buried, and rose again.  

     Next we see that King Hezekiah was blessed with fifteen extra years to live because of Hezekiah's persistent prayers. After the prophet Isaiah told Hezekiah that he would die, Hezekiah turned his face to the wall and prayed unto the Lord. The Lord Jesus heard King Hezekiah's prayers and allowed him to live an extra fifteen years. Remember saint reading this anywhere, prayer can change your life and create blessings out of nowhere. The story of Hezekiah reminds Brother Bob of the people of Nineveh who prayed and repented at Jonah's preaching where the Lord Jesus did not destroy Nineveh but blessed Nineveh because of their prayers.

     The story of King Hezekiah pictured above can be seen at 2 Kings 20:1 and says In those days was Hezekiah sick unto death. And the prophet Isaiah the son of Amoz came to him, and said unto him, Thus saith the Lord, Set thine house in order; for thou shalt die, and not live. Then he turned his face to the wall, and prayed unto the Lord, saying, I beseech thee, O Lord, remember now how I have walked before thee in truth and with a perfect heart, and have done that which is good in thy sight. And Hezekiah wept sore.

     Hallelujah, the Lord Jesus heard King Hezekiah's prayers and allowed Hezekiah to live an extra fifteen years and not die. 2 Kings 20:4 says And it came to pass, afore Isaiah was gone out into the middle court, that the word of the Lord came to him, saying, Turn again, and tell Hezekiah the captain of my people, Thus saith the Lord, the God of David thy father, I have heard thy prayer, I have seen thy tears: behold, I will heal thee: on the third day thou shalt go up into the house of the Lord. And I will add unto thy days fifteen years; and I will deliver thee and this city out of the hand of the king of Assyria; and I will defend this city for mine own sake, and for my servant David's sake.

     One of the greatest examples of persistent prayer through persecution occurred when Paul and Silas pictured above kept praying and singing to the Lord Jesus at midnight in a jail cell. Because of Paul and Silas' prayers, all the prisoners' bands were loosed and all the prison doors were opened by an earthquake. Take time to meditate on Philippians 4:6 that says Be careful for nothing (this means don't fret or worry about anything but instead when troubles appear around us immediately train yourself to pray to God and not worry); but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. I pray in Jesus name that all my friends that read this bible study will no longer worry but always pray in every area of their lives, receiving the peace of God which passeth all understanding while they are kept and preserved in peace forevermore.

     The story about the above picture of Paul and Silas praying at midnight when the prisoners were freed is recorded at Acts 16:25 and says And at midnight, Paul and Silas prayed, and sang praises unto God: And the prisoners heard them. And suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison were shaken: and immediately all the doors were opened, and every one's bands were loosed. Four words summarize this blessed story (rejoiced, released, restrained, and regenerated). After Paul and Silas rejoiced at midnight, the prisoners were released by an earthquake. The Holy Ghost restrained the prisoners and kept them in the jail. Finally the jailer got regenerated and gloriously saved after Paul and Silas spared his life.

     To end up today's bible study about the benefits of persistent prayer, I had to give you all the picture above of how the prophet Elijah's persistent prayer caused a little cloud the size of a man's hand to appear and produce rain after a drought of no rain for three years and six months. James 5:16 speaks about the picture above and says The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much. Elias was a man subject to like passions as we are, and he prayed earnestly that it might not rain: and it rained not on the earth by the space of three years and six months. And he prayed again, and the heaven gave rain, and the earth brought forth her fruit.

     And to confirm that persistent prayer will bless us all take a look at the following bible scriptures. The book of Jude tells us when we pray in the Holy Ghost, we will build up ourselves in our most holy faith. Jude 20 says But ye, beloved, building up yourselves on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Ghost. And finally, persistent prayer will cast out the devil proven by Mark 9:28 that says And when He was come into the house, his disciples asked Him privately, Why could not we cast him out? And He said unto them, This kind can come forth by nothing, but by prayer and fasting.

     I pray in Jesus name that this bible study blesses multitudes everywhere with great joy, peace, and strength. Feel free to email Brother Bob anytime at rz9tlm@gmail.com or write to Brother Bob at Brother Bob Malkin, 2233 Pinetree Lane, Apt. N., Reynoldsburg, Ohio 43068. (614) 604-7133. Till we meet again soon to lift up the Lord Jesus, everyone have a blessed day in Jesus name.