The highest privilege ever afforded to man is the power of prayer.
Then why don’t we pray?

The right to talk to the highest potentate in all the universe.
Then why don’t we pray?

The most powerful force accessible to man is the potential of prayer.
Then why don’t we pray?

The greatest longing in the heart of God is to talk to His children.
Then why don’t we pray?

Nothing is impossible to those who pray.
Then why don’t we pray?

No man ever fainted or faltered who gave himself to prayer.
Then why don’t we pray?

Every sin is forgiven, every stain is washed clean, all guilt diminished to the man who prays.
Then why don’t we pray?

Hell moves farther away, Satan flees from the man who prays.
Then why don’t we pray?

Anointing will come, mountains will be moved, valleys made smooth, rivers made crossable, the inaccessible made accessible, the impossible made possible, dreams come through to the man who prays.
Then why don’t we pray?

Jesus said that men ought always to pray.
Then why don’t we pray?

Paul encouraged prayer without ceasing.
Then why don’t we pray?

The riches of heaven are open to those who pray in His name.
Then why don’t we pray?

Everyone can pray, the young, the old, the rich, the poor, the strong, the weak, the child, the aged, the sinner, the prisoner, in any nation, in any language, all can pray.
Then why don’t we pray?

A horrible thing happened to me today…..a thief broke into my house. It happened shortly after I awoke this morning. I got up and began rushing about. I had a thousand things on my list and was already running behind. Quickly, I gulped down breakfast, took a shower and got ready for work.

In my rush, I forgot to turn the security system on at my house. It was just about a half an hour later that the thief broke in. Of course, he didn’t make a sound. Just kind of snuck inside, not drawing any attention to himself. In fact, none of the neighbors ever saw him.

But, I did. You see, I WAS HOME when the thief broke in.

He naturally startled me, as I was unprepared for his visit. He, of course, didn’t announce that he was coming and I certainly had not invited him over.

And yet, I found myself face to face with danger and I felt so powerless. I also felt so very stupid, because this whole incident could have been avoided if I had just taken the time to turn the security system on.

You better believe I’ll be turning it on tomorrow morning! I thought I’d warn you about this guy, because he’s still on the loose. Chances are, he’s in your area. Possibly even headed for your house.

His name? His name is Satan. You see, this morning when I jumped up in my haste to get started on my busy day, I skipped my prayer time – opting to “pray later today.” In other words, I DIDN’T TURN ON THE SECURITY SYSTEM.

My defense wasn’t on, my guard was dropped ….. and when the thief came into my home to attack me, I was unprepared to do battle. He tempted me and I felt powerless. Like I said, I also felt so very stupid, because I could have avoided the incident if I had just taken the time to pray.

My friend, the thief has come to “steal, kill and destroy.” And, as a Child of God, you are on his “hit list.” He’ll probably pop over to your house today. He may be lurking outside your door right now, just waiting to catch you off guard.

Take time to pray this morning. Ask God to bind Satan from your very presence, to protect you and empower you to do battle. In short ….. don’t forget to turn your security system on.

How the Apostles died?

Matthew : Suffered martyrdom in Ethiopia, killed by a sword wound

Mark : Died in Alexandria, Egypt, after being dragged by horses through the streets until he was dead

Luke : Was hanged in Greece as a result of his tremendous preaching to the lost

John : Faced martyrdom when he was boiled in huge basin of boiling oil during a wave of persecution in Rome. However, he was  miraculously delivered from death. John was then sentenced to the mines on the prison island of Patmos. He wrote his prophetic  Book of Revelation on Patmos. The apostle John was later freed and returned to serve as Bishop of Edessa in modern Turkey. He died as an old man, the only apostle to die peacefully.

Peter : He was crucified upside down on an x-shaped cross. According to church tradition it was because he told his tormentors that he felt unworthy to die in the same way that Jesus Christ had died.

James : Just The leader of the church in Jerusalem, was thrown over a hundred feet down from the southeast pinnacle of the Temple when he refused to deny his faith in Christ. When they discovered that he survived the fall, his enemies beat James to death with a fuller’s club. This was the same pinnacle where Satan had taken Jesus during the Temptation.

James the Great : Son of Zebedee, was a fisherman by trade when Jesus called him to a lifetime of ministry. As a strong leader of the church, James was ultimately beheaded at Jerusalem. The Roman officer who guarded James watched amazed as James defended his faith at his trial. Later, the officer walked beside James to the place of execution. Overcome by conviction, he declared his new faith to the judge and knelt beside James to accept beheading as a Christian.

Bartholomew : Also known as Nathaniel Was a missionary to Asia. He witnessed for our Lord in present day Turkey. Bartholomew was martyred for his preaching in Armenia where he was flayed to death by a whip.

Andrew : Was crucified on an x-shaped cross in Patras, Greece. After being whipped severely by seven soldiers they tied his body to the cross with cords to prolong his agony. His followers reported that, when he was led toward the cross, Andrew saluted it in these words: ‘I have long desired and expected this happy hour. The cross has been consecrated by the body of Christ hanging on it.’ He continued to preach to his tormentors for two days until he expired.

Thomas : Was stabbed with a spear in India during one of his missionary trips to establish the church in the sub-continent.

Jude : Was killed with arrows when he refused to deny his faith in Christ.

Matthias : The apostle chosen to replace the traitor Judas Iscariot, was stoned and then beheaded.

Barnabas : One of the group of seventy disciples, wrote the Epistle of Barnabas. He preached throughout Italy and Cyprus. Barnabas was stoned to death at Salonica.

Paul : Was tortured and then beheaded by the evil Emperor Nero at Rome in A.D. 67. Paul endured a lengthy imprisonment, which allowed him to write his many epistles to the churches he had formed throughout the Roman Empire. These letters, which taught many of the foundational doctrines of Christianity, form a large portion of the New Testament.

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Perhaps this is a reminder to us that our sufferings here are indeed minor compared to the intense persecution and cold cruelty faced by the apostles during their times for the sake of the Faith.

And ye shall be hated of all men for my name’s sake:  But he that endureth to the end shall be saved. – Matthew 10:22