American Reformation Church Prayer Journal 3
ARC Prayer Meeting
As you may be aware, each week we encourage the saints at the American Reformation Church and abroad to turn discipline to delight as they develop a meaningful prayer life in the Lord. One of the main reasons centers on the truth that the Lord has commanded it.
He reminds us that men ought always to pray and not lose heart (Luke 18:1). The implication is clear. The more you stay in communion with God, the more your heart will be strengthened in the faith as you go through the rigors of this life.
When our Lord was in the winepress at the Garden of Gethsemane, sweating as it were great drops of blood, it was one of the few times, He asked His disciples to do something personal for Him. All during this excruciating ordeal, the Lord pleaded with His men to watch and pray with Him. Tragically, when He needed them most, they failed.
The disciples went downhill from there. They didn’t watch and prayer and as Jesus warned, they fell into temptation. All forsook Him, one denied Him, and one betrayed Him. Interestingly enough, when Christ confronted Peter about the reality of his willingness to go to prison and die with Him, Jesus testified that before the rooster crew, he would deny Him three times.
Our Lord knew Peter’s faith was going to be tried as by fire. Yet, what Peter failed to do for His Lord, our Lord did not fail to do for Peter. God’s Word records, “And the Lord said, “Simon, Simon! Indeed, Satan has asked for you, that he may sift you as wheat. But I have prayed for you, that your faith should not fail; and when you have returned to Me, strengthen your brethren” (Luke 22:31, 32). The Lord prayed for Peter, when Peter needed Him the most.
If you recall, after his denial, Peter went out and wept bitterly. When Christ was raised, it was no coincidence, therefore, that the angel singled out Peter, along with the other disciples, to let them know they were going to see him alive from the dead (Mark 16:6, 7).
What happened as a result? Peter’s faith did recover. He did return to the Lord and he certainly strengthened the brethren. How was this made possible? The Lord prayed for him and this is the example our Lord has left for us to follow.
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