Opening the Gates of Heaven Perry Stone

guilt and condemnation of their sins (Rom. 8:1), and the record books in heaven are cleared of any wrong committed by the seeker while, at the same time, the repentant person’s name is penned into the heavenly book called the Book of Life (Phil. 4:3; Rev. 3:5). The prayer of repentance of sins is the first and most important prayer a person will ever pray. The act of forgiveness is immediate, as indicated with the thief on the cross who asked Christ, “Remember me when You come into your kingdom,” and Christ replied, “Today you will be with Me in Paradise” (Luke 23:42–43). The swiftness of God’s forgiveness is a witness of His mercy. Those in the throes of death, with only seconds to live, can receive a sudden and quiet acquittal of their lives of iniquity by a simple prayer and confession to God. Once you have received Christ, it is important to understand the various types of prayers mentioned in this chapter and to target your request in the direction of your need by being specific. Prayers are often viewed as words that are simply spoken from the mouth and shot into the atmosphere like bullets from a gun. However, as the next chapter reveals, there are important spiritual laws linked to prayer that are established in the Scriptures.