II Corinthians 1: 8-11
For we do not want you to be unaware, brethren, of our affliction which came to us in Asia, that we were burdened excessively, beyond our strength, so that we despaired even of life;
Evidently Paul found himself in dire circumstances "in Asia," probably outside any major populated area or city, since the first letter.
indeed, we had the sentence of death within ourselves so that we would not trust in ourselves, but in God who raises the dead; who delivered us from so great a peril of death,
He asserts that God allowed him to be beyond human help, so that he would trust only God, who rescued him from death.
and will deliver us, He on whom we have set our hope. And He will yet deliver us,
Because his hope and trust was in the God who raises the dead, He will continue to deliver him from fatal circumstances.
you also joining in helping us through your prayers, so that thanks may be given by many persons on our behalf for the favor bestowed on us through the prayers of many.
Paul contends that it was prayer that released God's power to work on his behalf to escape deadly situations; their prayers, and the prayers of many Christians.
Apparently, Paul faced some perilous situations in his travels, and very recently, considering the intensity of his tone in this letter here. He attributes his escape from death only to the prayers of the saints on his behalf.
This is how important it is to pray for one another. When we pray, God moves. God wants to do so much more than we imagine, but we limit His working when we don't pray.
Prayer for Peter sent an angel to release him from prison in Acts chapter 12.
God is looking for us to pray for all our brothers and sisters who are facing adverse circumstances orchestrated by our enemy, to work miracles on their behalf in comforting them and rescuing them and releasing them from the imprisonments and persecutions they are suffering. There are more martyrs today than in any other time in History.
O Father, I pray for my brothers and sisters who are right now in the enemy's clutches, having been thrown into prison, and who are under intense persecution right now. I pray, Father, that You would take them into Your lap, and let them feel Your tender arms around them, as You reassure them that You are taking care of their families, and that You will be releasing them soon to be reunited with their loved ones.
And I pray, Father, that You will prepare all of Your children for the persecution that will be coming before Jesus returns. Give us courage, and graciousness toward our persecutors; and use our testimonies and our compassion to win over our family members and neighbors who don't know You yet, and even our persecutors, to draw them to Yourself to save them, too.
Father, You are not willing for any to perish, but that all would come to repentance, realizing that we are the criminals who deserve execution, and let Jesus take their place in death to rescue them.
That Your house will be full, and that every seat at Your great Banquet Table will be filled, at Your great celebration.
And every eye will see, every knee will bow, and every tongue will proclaim that Jesus is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
Even so, come, Lord Jesus!
