Text: Acts 4:23-31
Memory verse:
“And when they had prayed, the place where they were assembled together was shaken; and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit, and they spoke the word of God with boldness.” ‭‭Acts‬ ‭4‬:‭31 NKJV

Apostle Joseph Ayo Babalola is a man I never met but whose life of fervent prayer has remained an inspiration to me. It is recorded that the least time he spent in prayer was 3–4 hours. Apostle Babalola once told his fellow ministers during a prayer meeting to kneel down for a short prayer. However, after about 2–3 hours, the ministers became tired, sat up, and left him alone on his knees. He continued praying in that posture for the next 5–6 hours. The following day, they asked him, “Baba (father), you asked us to pray a short prayer with you that lasted for almost 6 hours, so how many hours will your long prayer last?”
Apostle Babalola was an ordinary man who became extraordinary through his life of prayer and fasting. Through his fervent prayer, he brought down fire, and God did great exploits through him. One day, while he was praying on a mountain top and as his usual custom, he was so immersed in the Spirit that he did not know when a big python crawled over his body. He knew after he finished praying as he saw the python dead by his side. His prayer generated a high voltage that killed the python. It couldn’t survive the anointing fire from his body!
Prayer was the lifestyle of the early church. Both men and women, young and old, were involved in it (Acts 1:14). According to our memory text, refusing to be intimidated by the council, the apostles prayed so fervently that the building shook, like an earth tremor, as a result of the energy their prayer produced! The power of the Almighty descended!
“And when they had prayed, the place where they were assembled together was shaken …” ‭‭(Acts‬ ‭4‬:‭31‬).
Where is that power today? Has God changed, or has his power worn out? No. God remains the same, and His power is unchanged.Only man changes. A prayerless man is simply a powerless man. We seem to depend more on other things than on God. The early church prayed, and the place was shaken, but today, we pay to take the place. Many players and payers, but few “pray-ers”. Many organizers but few agonizers. Many singers, few clingers. Much fashion, little passion. Much fears, little tears. Many “interferers,” but few intercessors. Many pastors but few wrestlers.
Friends, God is still seeking ordinary people through whom He will do His extraordinary deeds. Are you ready to give yourself to fervent prayer?

Prayer points
1. Father, I don’t want an ordinary life anymore, please, baptize me with the Spirit of prayer today, in Jesus’ name.
2. Father, I surrender myself for Your use, pour out Your grace to strengthen me in my weakness, in Jesus’ name.

Today’s declarations
1. The power generated through fervent prayer is far greater than any electric or atomic power.
2. God is still looking for a man given to fervent prayer to use, and I make myself available today.

Contact: pastor@thf.org.ng