THE POWER OF PRAYER!

TEXT:  ACTS 12:1-11

SUBTOPIC:  “SOMETHING HAPPENS WHEN GOD’S PEOPLE PRAY”!

Acts portrays Christ as “The Living Lord”!

In the gospels, we hear Christ’s teachings.  In Acts we see the effect of His teachings on the “acts” of the Apostles.

What is Prayer?

Prayer is a communication process which allows us to talk to God.  He wants us to communicate with Him like a person - to – person phone call.  It’s merely talking with Him on a personal level, sharing your heart-felt concerns regarding your life.  Prayer is casting all your care upon Him for He careth for you! (1 Peter 5:7).

What’s so good about it is that God has opened the door to His throne room and invited His children to come boldly into His Presence with our petitions.  Hebrews 4:14-16  Seeing then that we have a great high priest, that is passed into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our profession.  For we have not a high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin.  Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.  

We have a High Priest who can sympathize with our weaknesses and was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin.  So with confidence we can come boldly to the throne of grace to obtain mercy to help us in time of need.

Jesus set the example.  He Himself prayed in every aspect of life.  He prayed often and consistently.  He prayed in the morning, late at night, all through the night and day.  

Prayer is the most essential thing in the Bible along with faith (positive thinking, confidence, hope) in God.  Hebrews 11:6  But without faith it is impossible to please him:  for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.  Anyone coming to God must believe that there is a God, and that He is a rewarder of them that diligently seek Him!  Without it, it’s impossible to please Him!

I want to expound on three things:  the church persecuted; the church praying; the church delivered.

The church persecuted

Our passage opens with the early church under attack of the enemy.  I’m not referring to that man-made building of wood, brick, mortar, and a steeple.  I’m talking about the building not made with hands, the “ecclesia” (called out ones)!  The one’s made in God’s own image and after His likeness.  Those who are His representatives, ambassadors in the earth, His movable tabernacles!  1 Corinthians 6:19-20  What?  Know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own?  For ye are bought with a price:  therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God’s.

The church is under constant attack of the enemy.  He targets the souls of all humanity desiring to steal them away from God.  Remember what Jesus said to Simon Peter?  Simon, Simon, behold, Satan hath desired to have you, that he may sift you as wheat, but I have prayed for thee, that thy faith fail not”:  and when thou art converted, strengthen thy brethren  (Luke 22:31-32).

King Herod and the Jews have killed James, the brother of John.  He was one of the Apostles in Jesus’ inner circle.  He was the first of the twelve to be martyred.  Firstly, the one who organized and empowered this persecution was Satan himself.  Secondly, the King and the Jews were merely human instruments.  Thirdly, He hated and still hates the church, the gospel being preached, and the Lord it worships.

The early church was witnessing the power of God moving in miraculous ways.  People were getting saved - three thousand and five thousand at a time.  They were witnessing the power and Presence of God through peace and harmony.  God was working and His power was felt by saints and sinners alike.  The people were excited and enjoying being a part of the church.

Not everyone was pleased.  The Jews hated the church because “the church” said that Jesus was the Messiah.  Also the church accused the Jews of killing Jesus, and what really got their blood boiling was when the church claimed that Jesus had risen from the dead.  The Jews hated the message of the Gospel of the Kingdom.  Then too, so many Jews were turning from Judaism to follow Christ (Acts 19:9).  Satan was angry, and he set out to destroy the church while it was still in its infancy.  He stirred up his forces and set them against the church, the people of God.

The church today is still in trouble and under the attack of the enemy.  There are fights over positions in the church.  Many times people won’t come to church unless the Pastor is preaching.  Sometimes members raise complaints against their Pastor.  Some think they can resist God through sheer numbers.  They strive to recruit enough people on their side so they can get away with things or have their way.  That’s how gossipers and fault finders spread their disease (rumors) among people.  All they need to do is plead their case, then turn and ask you, “What do you think”?  They are trying to build their case by enlarging their team.

Isn’t that the same tactics of Politicians today?  They make all these promises with intent to enlarge their team.  “Might” doesn’t make it right!  You can have the whole team on your side, two thousand fans backing you along with innumerable pages of signed petitions, but you can’t fight against God and win!

I believe we’re in an era such as is spoken of in Revelation 17:14  These shall make war with the Lamb, and the Lamb shall overcome them:  for he is Lord of lords, and King of kings:  and they that are with him are called, and chosen, and faithful.  The arms of man are too short to box with God!  You will not get away with sin just because you have a bigger team.  God will make sure you fail.  

In Judges chapter seven when Gideon (the man of God) gathered the people together to battle against the Midianites (their enemy), God told Gideon there were too many of them (those with Gideon), and He (God) didn’t want them to think that the battle they were about to win was done by their own hands.  God wanted the glory and got it!!  When Gideon started out, there were thirty two thousand with him, but when God got through dwindling them down, there were three hundred men left.  But God used them to defeat the Midianites, Amalekites, and the children of the east, a group that greatly outnumbered them!   God showed Himself strong and gave Gideon and his men the victory!!  If God be for you, who can be against you! (Romans 8:31).  Because God and you are a “majority”!

Don’t be dismayed by what you’re going through:  John 15:20  Remember the word that I said unto you, The servant is not greater than his lord.  If they have persecuted me, they will also persecute you.

Herod persecuted the church because it gave him political advantage.  When he saw that James’ death pleased the Jews, he arrested Peter and put him in prison on death row.  This put the church in a vulnerable position.  James and Peter were the only two Apostles remaining in Jerusalem.  Peter’s imprisonment was crucial.  It took him out of Jerusalem.  Did Peter rob, kill, or steal?  No.  He was about His Father’s business.  However, trouble still came his way.  Don’t think because you are a law abiding citizen, preaching and teaching God’s Word and doing good deeds in your community, that you are immune from Satan’s assaults within and without.  In John 16:33, Jesus said, These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace.  In the world you shall have tribulation (thlipsis-pressure; oppression; stress; anguish; distress; adversity); but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world (the system).

As long as Satan is allowed to roam this earth, he has no respect of person.  He will do anything and everything to destroy, disturb, kill your influence, and keep you from reaching your destiny in God.  He knows that if he can turn us against one another, he can shoot down our mission.  He wants to “divide” and “conquer”!  But he is a liar and a defeated foe!!!

The church praying

Now the church is left dazed and unsure of their future and as a result, they were fearful for their safety.  James is dead, and Peter is awaiting death row.  Acts 12:5  Peter therefore was kept in prison.  The Jews made sure of no escape.  Peter was contained in the innermost cell with sixteen guards:  four guards every six hours guarding this man.  There were two inside the cell with him chained to each side of Peter.  There were two guards outside guarding the inner and outer doors.  There was an iron gate encasing the prison.  In the natural, Peter getting out looked like a hopeless situation!

Take a look at the small word “but” in Acts 12:5  Peter therefore was kept in prison:  but!  A small word - “but” it makes a big difference!!!  It is a conjunction or that which joins two sentences, or phrases together.  It indicates the second clause will contradict the first clause.  First sentence:  Peter was therefore kept in prison:  BUT a prayer was made without ceasing of the church unto God for him!  Constant “prayer” was offered to God for Peter by the “church”.

“Something happens when God’s people pray”!  Watch how God use this prison experience to flex His muscles and give His servant a great victory!

Now the church is in constant prayer.  It doesn’t mean they’re on their knees all day and night.  Constant prayer is earnest prayer - that which is unceasing, focused, and specific for Peter’s deliverance.

Now it’s time for the church to boldly take up their weapons (something to inflict damage, injury) and confront the powers of spiritual darkness like never before.  God’s battle plan is not physical.  The battle is not of this world.  Ephesians 6:12  We wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities (governments), against powers (rules and regulations put in place by the government leaders to keep the people under these governments bound), against the rulers of the darkness of this world (those holding high rank positions and working against the people under those governments), against spiritual wickedness in high places (covers preachers, not preaching the fullness of the gospel to God’s people, holding them in bondage to the religious system).  2 Corinthians 10:3-5  Though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh:  (For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;) casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ.

First of all, the church prayed:  the church used a piece of the armor which God provided in Ephesians 6:11-18, which was “prayer”!  (Vs 18)  Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints.  This piece of armor energizes each of the other pieces because it gives us power over evil!  The church’s struggle, then as it is now, was not and is not against flesh and blood but against rulers, authorities, against powers of this dark world, and against spiritual forces of evil in heavenly realms.

But in heartfelt prayer, the physically weak can become strong in the spirit realm!!  James 5:16 The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.

Secondly, the “power of prayer” is the “power of God”, the One who hears and answers prayer!  This power doesn’t flow from us.  It’s not special words we say nor the special way in which we say them.  It’s not based on body posture.  It doesn’t come from icons, artifacts, candles, or beads; it’s inherent power!  Luke 10:19  Behold, I give unto you power (authority) to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy:  and nothing shall by any means hurt you.  This power is inborn, ingrained, invested from the Omnipotent One who hears our prayers and answers them.  This power puts us in contact with the Almighty God, and we should expect “Almighty” results!!!

2 Chronicles 7:14: If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.

Back to Peter – it’s the last night before the king brings Peter up for display before the people.  One would think “Oh my God, my nerves are shot”!  Not Peter!  He certainly has matured since the Garden of Gethsemane and Jesus’ arrest.  Peter is sound asleep, bound between and chained to two guards.  This was because Peter remembered what Jesus said to him:  John 21:18-19  Verily, verily, I say unto thee, when thou wast young, thou girdedst thyself, and walkedst whither thou wouldest:  but when thou shalt be old, thou shalt stretch forth thy hands, and another shall gird thee, and carry thee whither thou wouldest not.  This spake he, signifying by what death he should glorify God.  Peter wasn’t “old” at this time, and death was still on hold in relation to Peter.  He wasn’t crying, screaming, begging for mercy, praying for deliverance nor was he writing his last will and testament.  He was asleep!  Why?  Peter had an Advocate (defense attorney; a go-between; someone who intercedes), who was Jesus the Christ, the Righteous One!  When Satan accused and arrested Peter, while the church prayed, Peter referred his accuser to his “defense attorney” (Jesus)!

When the devil accuses you, just refer him to your “defense attorney” (Jesus).  He will handle the details of your case and you can just rest in the peace of God that surpasses all understanding.  After all, that’s who the battle belongs to any way!

Do you think you have gotten to that place in your life that when you’re confronted with troubles on every hand, you can sleep peaceful in the midst of them?  Well, if you’ve confessed salvation, God has already delivered you from the worst prison of your life (sin, judgment, hell)!  If He can deliver a sinner from that prison, there’s no other prison that He can’t deliver anyone from!  

But if you are reeling in panic, fear, or worry, when the wind storms blow in your life, call on the “peace of God”!!  He desires to give His children “perfect peace”, and we can have it if we do what’s commanded in Isaiah 26:3  Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee:  because he trusteth in thee.

The church delivered.

The “power of prayer”, or “intercessory prayer”, is a secret weapon the devil knows nothing about, but the church does.  It’s like an intercontinental ballistic missile that God has placed in our hands.  It can be fired to any place on the earth.  It travels at the speed of thought.  It always hits its target!

The great thing about this missile is it can be armed with a delayed detonator – meaning you can pray for something to happen years from now and it will come to pass.  That’s exactly what Jesus did in St. John 17:20  Neither pray I for these alone, but for them also which shall believe on me through their word.  Jesus prayed this prayer over two thousand years ago for each of us who “believe today”!!  Every time a person is born into the Kingdom of God, the prayer of Jesus is answered again and again!!!  His prayer had a delayed detonation, but it’s still effectively reaching its target!!  What a weapon!!  There’s no defense against it!!!

When the church released the prayer missile, it hit its target!  It landed in the midst of Peter’s jail cell in the form of an angel of light!  God is light (1 John 1:5).  When “Light” is on the scene, you can see where you’re going!  It didn’t make any noise; it didn’t shatter the walls; nor did it alert the guards.  It broke every chain that was attached to Peter!  It unlocked every door or barrier that stood in Peter’s way!

As the angel awakened Peter and led him from the innermost cell through the first ward, the second ward, the door, and the iron gate that opened on its own (or by the power of God), he walked down seven steps into the street!  Seven is God’s number of perfection!  Peter made a “perfect get away”!  Acts 12:11  When Peter was come to himself, he said, Now I know of a surety, that the Lord hath sent his angel, and hath delivered me out of the hand of Herod, and from all the expectation of the people of the Jews!

Are you chained and bound in prison today?  Are you in a place where you need to see God flex His muscles and demonstrate His power in your life?  Know that you are not alone.  God is there with you.  God moved supernaturally for Peter’s freedom.  He will do the same for you.  He hasn’t changed!  Same God then, same God now!!!

God used Peter’s prison experience to teach him and His church members to put their trust in Him.  Surely, they couldn’t deliver Peter by their own power and secure his release.  It was all through the power of “prayer”!!  Prayer changes things!!

By the way, God dealt with Satan!  Herod got the big head through a prideful spirit.  He received praise of men and refused to give God the glory.  God killed him and removed the threat to the church.  And the Word of God grew faster than ever!  Acts 12:22-24  And the people gave a shout, saying, It is the voice of a god (speaking of Herod), and not of a man.  And immediately the angel of the Lord smote him, because he gave not God the glory:  and he was eaten of worms, and gave up the ghost.  But the word of God grew and multiplied!

As you move through your various trials, troubles, prisons of life, and you find yourself asking, “Why is God allowing this thing to happen to me”?, remember Romans 8:28  We know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose (deliberate plan; advanced plan; intention)!

2 Corinthians 4:17  For our light afflictions, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory.  

Our life is intentionally planned by God.  He has a purpose for every prison He allows you to pass through.  You may view it as cold, dark, and the worse place you’ve been, but God views it as “light afflictions”!

God’s purpose is to grow you, not to destroy you!  His purpose is to grow you into Ephesians 4:13  Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ!

~ Evangelist Brenda Hansley