Advancing Encouragement By:
Bishop James Jr. Hairston

Acts 12:5,7: Peter therefore was kept in prison: but prayer was made without ceasing of the church unto God for him.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.

Have you heard of the phrase I pray for you and you pray for me? There was a lot of praying going on among the people of God for Apostle Peter for the purpose of freedom, liberty and to break the chains of bondage. This major event in the first century Church has many implications for Gods people of today. Every baptized born again believer can be set free from whatever type of bondage you may be in by the prayers of the Church! It is important for everyone in the Lords church to be covered by prayer. Yes, this was an Apostle that was in bondage for the sake of Christ or for the furtherance of the Kingdom of God but you too need the same kind of prayer for your life, the Church praying without ceasing for you, verse 5. You may ask how this can be implacable to my life. Well, is there anything in your life right now that is holding you back from accomplishing great things for God? Here are two things, number one you maybe in bondage to fear that are holding you back and you need this anointed prayer along with admonishing you to step out on faith. Number two, you maybe in bondage to people telling you that you are not good enough, believing in Jesus is not good enough or you do not have what it takes to accomplish great things. Being in bondage to people means that they are controlling how you feel, how you think and what you should do for your own life that God is in control of and He is speaking to you right now that you need to break out and break free to step out on faith from the control freaks and accomplish what He called you to do. In addition, God did not give you the spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind, 2Timothy 1:7. Do not listen to the naysayers they are not God, do what He has called you to do, what He has placed on your heart to do, to the glory of God! So there you have it two different types of bondage or shackles, fear and people. Here are those two things in this passage, Peter was not afraid of doing the will of God and He did not let people hold him back that did not want to see him accomplish what God has called him to do (the Jews in verse 3). The Jews were certainly control freaks out to stop the furtherance of the gospel and great men of God continued on without fear! Today my friend, God gave you a purpose to glorify Him in the Kingdom and this purpose is significant and important. Yes you my friend have a higher calling on your life all of those who are lead to read this message are for you to take heed and step out on faith. He is telling you to get with the people of God that are filled with the Holy Ghost to pray for you and over you to allow His power to take over, (verse 7) in your life and you will accomplish all that He has for you to accomplish in Jesus Name…

James Jr. Hairston