Prayer Works Morning Devotion: April 15, 2025

"Readying Our Hearts for Resurrection Sunday"

"Jesus Takes The Place Of Barabbas"

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Good morning, good morning, everybody. We hope you had a wonderful restful night and we are ready for another day. Let us go to the Lord in prayer. Heavenly Father, we come before you this morning.  

Thank you for your goodness and your mercy. For this is the day that you have made, we will rejoice in it and be glad in it. Thank you for redeeming us from the curse of the law. And we are crucified with Christ.  

Nevertheless, will leave not yet asked what Christ leaves by faith in us. The world dwells in us richly, and we are able to say we are blessed, we are healed. We are such free. Sickness cannot dwell in us. 

The number of our days you will fulfill seeing will not dominate us because the seed of God's word lives in us. We believe in our hearts that Jesus came and died on the cross and we now have this abundant life and the victory that we provide. So no weapon is formed against us shall prosper.  

We are more than conquerors because of your great love. Greater is He that is in us than he that is in the world. And we are going to do all things through Christ who strengthens us and as the redeem of the Lord we readily say so.  

So today we are continuing with Jesus on his way to the cross and he is close now. The one thing that I want us to remember as we continue each day is that Jesus now hasn't slept since the day before that. Because remember, you went into Jerusalem, he came into Jerusalem at the Last Supper.  

Which means the last time the slip was the. day before that. So now he has gone a whole entire 24 hours and now he's passed that because this is the morning of the second day.

So they when we finished yesterday Pilate and Herod, it just became the best friend because of Jesus. Now they send Jesus back to Pilates house.  

So he went from the chief priest to Pilates house went Herod, now it's back at Pilate. So in verse18 Pilate called together the chief priest, the rulers and the people and say to them. You brought me this man as one who was inciting the people to be rebellion.  

I have examined him. In your presence and they found no basis for your charges against you neither he has Herod. So the you still find anything and the Gentiles didn't find anything.  

For his sending back to us as you can see, he has done nothing to deserve death. Therefore I will punish him, then release him. But the whole crowd shouted away with this man.

Release Barabbas to us. Barabbas had been thrown into prison for insurrection in the city and for murder. 

So Barabbas, it caused an insurrection and had murdered people. That's who they wanted. Wanting to release Jesus. Pilate appealed to them again. But they kept shouting, crucifying, crucifying him. For the third time, he spoke to them.  

Why? What crime has he this man committed? I have found in him no grounds for the death penalty. Therefore, I will have him punished and released him. But with loud shouts, they insistently demanded that he be crucified and their shouts prevailed.  

So Pilate decided to grant their demand. He released the men who have been thrown into prison for insurrection and murder. The one they asked for and surrender Jesus to their will. 

There is nothing like coming to your own and then they disown you, not only disowning you, but also pushes for you to be cured. One of the hardest things in life. One of the hardest things in life is to be blamed for something that you did not do. Or to be framed for something that she did not do. 

I've experienced both and it's something that you will remember for the rest of your life. And Jesus, I wonder what he was feeling in this moment. And God, this is where God says I send you to your own and because of their decision, I would judge them harshly.  

Because of this. In our journey as believers. We have to realize that evil has a way of coming together with others in order to come against you.

Herod and Pilate became best friend on this day. Then there's a large crowd of people, and I'm sure on this large crowd of people, there's people who saw him perform miracles.  

There's people who were in the temple and heard him teach. There's people who saw the miracles that users performed. But in this moment because of group pressure. Everybody started shouting crucify him.  

Now brothers and sisters, when you think about crucifixion, I think they've done a teaching on this before, but I think it's there to remind all of us when you think about crucifixion.  

crucifixion was designed by the Sidonians who were the grandchildren of Cannan. The Sidonians and the Phoenicians are the people who invented crucifixion as a means to torture and to name and to denigrate a person.  

They believe that if there are certain crimes that did not deserve for a person to be buried in the ground. In other words, you are so worthless. In your crimes that we are not even we don't even want you in the ground.  

So what they will do is they will crucify you and you die and then allow the birds of prey, to come and eat your life. To come in eat your flesh because you did not deserve to go into the ground. That’s the people that invented crucifixion and then the Romans picked it up and perfected it.  

Now, once in a while as people go into Jerusalem or different cities outside the city on a hill, you'll see somebody crucified there. And it was the way for the Roman Empire to intimidate, to maim, to shame anyone who wanted to come up against the Roman Empire. 

It was their method now they perfected it and here's how they perfected it. Crucifixion used to just let you die instantly. That the Romans wanted to keep you alive longer while you were on there. So they changed the design of the crucifix and put a saddle.  

That was pushed into your body to make sure that you don't explicate. And every Jewish person knew how horrible crucifixion was. Because it was mostly used for foreigners and those who were not Italians. If you were, if you were Roman, it was used.  

It was believed as a means that anybody who is a foreigner who is not a Roman can die on crucifix. So the Jewish people knew how horrible crucifixion was because it was just designed specifically for them and murderers and people who causes any kind of insurrection. 

Yet even knowing all this they wanted Jesus to be crucified and they were all shouting in a loud voice, everybody. Like a choir in unison. Crucify him in fact, before you crucify him I want you to give us the murderer. The person we know we have murdered somebody.  

That's why he's in prison, because there was evidence and he has caused insurrection. Give us that person and we will give you this man who is performed miracles amongst us, who has taught the word of God amongst us, crucify him. 

As I sit here you know, I'm thinking about God as a Father. As he is watching this take place. I can't imagine because we are all parents, I can't imagine watching a group of people do something to my children or to my son in this manner. While I watch and exercise patience with these people. 

Knowing that this event here will lead to everybody here, including those saying what they are saying to be saved. Can you imagine the pain that God went through watching Jesus? And I can't imagine what Jesus was going through.  

As he hears the same people that he came to die for call on for him to be crucified. Isn't it amazing how since the beginning of times we have always fought it for our own. We're always going against our own interest.  

By the way, this is the first time the Roman Empire ever put anything to vote. They were always subjecting people to their ideas.

Never once did they ever us did use whether they should make this decision or once but this is the first time where they put Jesus an insurrection and a murderer and say you vote. Which one do you want to be crucified? 

And they voted for Jesus. He’s getting ready to go to the cross now. So that you and I receive our salvation. From here onwards Jesus doesn't argue his case anymore. He is totally ready for what's about to happen. 

You know, I've watched movies where a person is in prison and is waiting to die on lethal injection. Even in watching I have to remind myself that, hey, hey, hey, hey, it's a movie. Somebody wrote this. 

But most of those your movie is something that actually took place. And the feeling I get of just watching, knowing that this person because when they come and tell you they tell you the day before that, hey, your date has been set. You're dying on Tuesday at 3:00 PM.  

Even watching that it, it feels so uncomfortable. And I wonder what goes on in that person's mind. We will never know. We will never. That's why I always say I don't know if we'll ever understand what Jesus felt in this moment. 

Knowing that I have to go through this horrendous stuff in order for all of humanity to receive my spirit and salvation. Then it's painful to believe that after all this, people still refuse salvation. And after all this people who have salvation still don't go all out to offer it to others knowing what transpired.  

My prayer is after this week we all get busy trying to get people to see the need of salvation because we understand when we know what this man had to go through in order for you to gather this morning.

And that's why we have to get busy telling people about salvation because we have a clear understanding of what had to take place.  

And what Jesus had to go through in order for you to receive salvation. So while we are talking about salvation, we praying for our children because we understand, we understand.  

We understand how painful this was and we understand why this is so important. There's a song that was written years ago says are we crucifying Jesus again with our sin. So I want us to pray for our children. And today, we're going to pray for Mary in this group and the group.  

Father, we come before you recognizing the work of the cross that is, on Calvary, it's on you that we now live and have our being that we can exercise faith we can receive grace, we can enjoy the gifts of the spirit.  

The gift of the spirit and we can enjoy the fruit of the spirit. If we knew now that all these statues given to us by our Father God himself is now a privilege and an honor for us to enjoy all this that is on offer through your death.  

We now can stand and say all things will work together for those who are called according to your purpose. We can now say through prayer and supplication, make our request known to heaven. We can enjoy these things now because of your suffering. So we are praying this week to our children that might not be saved.  

That might not understand the severity of what you went through that this gospel and this salvation will be part of their portion. They will walk in it just as we are walking in it. So we pray for Mary's children. Even if they are saved or not saved, we pray, Lord that may salvation be so strong in them in as much as we are also enjoying it.  

So we lift up Gale, Linda and Jerry. We pray for their grandchildren, Turius, Victor, Vincent, Bridget, Brittany, Michaela, Jermaine, Monty, Madison, Emily. Great grandchildren Collins, Stephanie, Stephanie, London, Brandon, Guyana, Akira, Evan, Emily, Cage, Cach, Ryan, Amari, Cody, Legend, Jameria, James.  

There's three London's, Kaida, Aliyah, and Ania and Tari. I pray for these children, Lord, that through the blessing of their grandmother who we know is totally in love with you and the church and salvation and everything that is there to be offered.  

I pray, Lord, that through their unwavering love for you through what Mary does, just inasmuch as you extended grace and love to others through their next of kin. I pray, Lord, that it shall be so for this group.  

None amongst these children will be lost without salvation. We pray Lord that they are whole, none amongst them is sick. We pray, Lord for grace. We pray Lord that made the spirit feel each and every single one of them.  

Just as much as you bless the entire Obed-Edom family because of what Obed-Edom did, we pray, Lord, that while Mary serve you, may you by your spirit extend salvation to this entire family, grandchildren, great grandchildren.  

I pray for your grace to be sufficient for all they are experiencing even in this hour. We pray for teenaged children and grandchildren that God, as they go through puberty and all the different experiences for this generation. 

I pray Lord that may their freedom be guaranteed because of Mary's love for you. Every single person faced. Every single child accounted for. We pray for grace, we pray for grace. That may our good Lord arrest this entire family in the name of Jesus. Thank you that salvation is theirs now.  

We thank you, Lord, for all that you have in store for them in the name of Jesus. We thank you for Deborah Warren's children. Tx and Tia Jones. We pray, Lord that salvation is their portion. And we pray for their nieces that have lost their father. That God Omachi, Tiara, Nicole, Heil that God Almighty you will bless these children in the name of Jesus.  

Pray for Kyrenia Williams, Madeline Williams, Trinity Williams, Tristan Williams. That God almighty, that they will walk in salvation. Even for the little ones, I pray, Lord, that they will never have to test what the world feels or sound like that God, they will always be found in church.  

Pray for your grace also, to be extended to this family. Every single person saved. Every niece and nephew are accounted for. We send angels on assignment to Deborah Warren's nieces and children and nephews the God Almighty that every single one of them will receive grace and salvation in the name of Jesus.  

It is a gift of God and we pray Lord, that it shall be extended to them in the name of Jesus. Thank you for grace. We thank you for grace. If it wasn't for you where would we be Lord ?With all that you went through, you saw us today in 2025, and you had mercy on us.  

You walked this hard, road so that salvation is our portion. So we are grateful Jesus, we thank you for considering us. For laying your down your life in spite of all your Holiness, so that we can record the sons of God and the daughters of the Most High.  

So this week, as we commemorate you and remember you, Jesus. We stand in awe of you. We bless your holy name. We thank you for all that she did in the wake of the cross. We can't thank you enough for exonerating humanity, we were born on our way to hell.  

But you changed that for us. And with that, we are grateful. Not only did you just change that for us, you gave us your spirit to walk with to counsel us to direct us to shepherd us. And then on top of that, you set on the right hand of the Father interceding on behalf of us.  

Thank you for your love, Jesus. Thank you for reconnecting us with God. So that we will never know what it feels like to live without God in our lives. There’s generations of people who wanted to experience this. 

There's prophets and men of God, who would have loved to experience walking with the Holy Spirit, and Lisa would have loved working with the Holy Spirit. But oh, we are so privileged. So we are grateful and I pray, Lord, that you continue to give us victory over the things that we struggle with. 

So that your death can continue to be celebrated. I pray for this week as we continue in Holy Week, I pray, Lord that may our expectation of what's possible remained up ware knowing that you are more than capable of satisfying every single one of us and meeting all our needs.  

I pray, Lord, that this week, the things that we struggle with may you help us to overcome. I pray this week the things that our children struggle with, may you help them to overcome in your spirit, this week resides so strong in our hearts, in our minds, in our homes. We thank you.  

Thank you, Jesus, we cannot thank you enough. May you heal those who will seek amongst us. May you strengthen those who need strength amongst us and while we are here, Lord I want to take this moment to lift up Veronica's mum. God, I know you are close. I know you are close to her.  

I know that and I'm praying, Lord, that something will break. Even this week, we are believing that something will break in that she will find you in the name of Jesus. Pray for your spirit to give her the revelation of knowing there is nothing that is too big for Jesus. We place before you and we ask you, Holy Spirit, to now arrest this soul. 

We come against anything that might be holding her back and we are asking you, Jesus to help us in this cause. We are doing all that we can, we know how to do. But with no salvation and grace belongs to you.  

And this is your daughter you created and placed on this world in spite of the mistakes that we make. Your word promises us that if we come to you, no matter how red our sins are, that we can, we can come and let's talk. Let's reason together. Because it's your desire to see all of us saved in spite of.  

So I pray for mom this week that God in this Holy Week let this be her week to find you in the name of Jesus. We pray and command angels on assignment that in the quiet times may you reach out in the name of Jesus.  

We come against every evil thought. We come against every thought that might be holding it back. Whether it's past things that she experienced, I pray Lord that in this hour in this season that God you will break, we will breakthrough.  

We pray, Lord, that mom will not experience death until she receives full salvation. We asking for it knowing Lord, that you hear us.

So we intercede on her behalf just as much as Abraham interceded for the city of Sodom and Gomorrah, we intercede on behalf of ma'am. And say God do only what you know to do. Our eyes are on you.  

We have expectant hearts. We are standing in faith, believing together that God, you will do what you promised us to do. And where two or more of us are gathered in your name whatever we ask, we know God, you will hear us.  

So for this cause we are asking you, Lord, to hear our praise. Soften her heart, challenge her mind. Father, we pray knowing what you experience on this cause that gives us confidence of the love that you have for humanity. At any given moment, you could have just turned away and say I don't want to do this. 

As you went through it because you saw us, we saw our children. You saw Mom in North Carolina. You saw her and you said I will go through it. 

So I pray Lord that your death will never be for nothing that it will be for situations and moments like this where it feels difficult and challenging, but we know for a fact that you saw this and you went through with the cross. 

So we pray with expectant hearts and the pure knowledge of knowing that the sovereign authority overrides everything and anything. So as we go through this day, we are excited for what we have been offered for us today.  

May we see something, experience something we need something that will enhance our faith. When you reach out to our children, wherever they are, grandchildren, nieces, nephews, touch, every single one of them.  

And I pray Lord that as we rejoice in the results may your name be glorified. Now lead us not into temptation but deliver us from the evil one. For thine is the Kingdom, the power and the glory, forever and ever, Amen.  

So brothers and sisters go in peace, go with expectant hearts. Go with expectant hearts, let your faith rise knowing that any moment God can do anything. May the Lord bless you. May the Lord anoint you.  

May the Lord equip you, strengthen you for the cause of Christianity. May the Lord give you wisdom to solve all the challenges that you will encounter.

But above all else may he continue to give us Jesus. We pray this prayer and we seal it and we join in faith with the heavens in Jesus name.