Prayer Series: Part 1

English Standard Version (Chapter 12:1-16)

12:1 About that time Herod the king laid violent hands on some who belonged to the church. 2 He killed James the brother of John with the sword, 3 and when he saw that it pleased the Jews, he proceeded to arrest Peter also. This was during the days of Unleavened Bread. 4 And when he had seized him, he put him in prison, delivering him over to four squads of soldiers to guard him, intending after the Passover to bring him out to the people. 5 So Peter  was kept in prison, but earnest prayer for him was made to God by the church. 6 Now when Herod was about to bring him out, on that very night, Peter was sleeping between two soldiers, bound with two chains, and  sentries before the door were guarding the prison.7 And behold, an angel of the Lord stood next to him, and a light shone in the cell. He struck Peter on the side and woke him, saying, ‶ “Get up quickly.” And the chains fell off his hands.8 And the angel said to him, “Dress yourself and put on your sandals.” And he did so. And he said to him, “Wrap your cloak around you and follow me.” 9 And he went out and followed him. He did not know that what was being done by the angel was real, but thought he was seeing a vision.10 When they had passed the first and the second guard, they came to the iron gate leading into the city. It opened for them of its own accord, and they went out and went along one street, and immediately the angel left him. 11 When Peter came to himself, he said,  “Now  I am sure that the Lord has sent his angel and rescued me from the hand of Herod and from all that the Jewish people were expecting.” 12 When he realized this, he went to the house of Mary, the mother of John whose other name was Mark, where many were gathered together and were praying.13 And when he knocked at the door of the gateway, a servant girl named Rhoda came to answer.14 Recognizing Peter’s voice, in her joy she did not open the gate but ran in and reported that Peter was standing at the gate.15 They said to her,  “You are out of your mind.” But she kept insisting that it was so, and they kept saying,  “It is his angel!” 16 But Peter continued knocking, and when they opened, they saw him and were amazed.

Chapter 11 reveals ....

Barnabas and Saul go to Antioch and spend a year making disciples

This is the first recorded time we read where they called themselves “Christians.”

There is a plague predicted and this leads us to 12:1

King Herod is dealing out violence toward the church.

The First disciple is killed “James”

Why Was James Killed - PREACHING JESUS!

Peter is taken into custody.

And in a few days he will be dealt the same fate as James!

Killed! WHY?

For PREACHING JESUS

Read Acts 12:4 “And when he had seized him, he put him in prison, delivering him over to four squads of soldiers to guard him, intending after the Passover to bring him out to the people.”

2 chained to him while 2 others watch guard outside the cell.

Here is where things get really good ......

Acts 12:5 “So Peter was kept in prison, but earnest prayer for him was made to God by the church.”

“but earnest prayer ....... by the church.”

“Earnest” - (EKTENOS) constant intensity

By the Church

Not by a person but by the Body of Christ

What would it look like if the church today was praying like this: Constant Intensity?

There was a group of people called the Moravian community of Herrnhut in Saxony, in 1727 who commenced a round-the-clock “prayer watch” that continued for over a 100 years.

There is a church called IHOP

September 19th, 1999 they have been in 24/7/365 in prayer.

This is “constant” “intense” Prayer!

This is what we read in this story!

James has just been killed and Peter is in prison awaiting his fate.

AND THE CHURCH WENT TO PRAYER!

The night before Peter is to be killed we read ..... Acts 12:6-7 “Now when Herod was about to bring him out, on that very night, Peter was sleeping between two soldiers, bound with two chains, and sentries before the door were guarding the prison. And behold, an angel of the Lord stood next to him, and a light shone in the cell. He struck Peter on the side and woke him, saying, “Get up quickly.” And the chains fell off his hands.”

I want to make a couple notes here ......

Peter is chained to 2 guards (Naked)

A very vulnerable position

While 2 others guards are positioned outside the cell.

An Angel of the Lord stood next to Peter.

He wakes Peter up saying, “Get up quickly”

“Get Up” (Anistemi) Rise Up

Aorist, Imperative

Command and its completed

Before the next action is taken this one is completed.

WHATS THE NEXT ACTION? - And the chains fell off his hands.

I would be safe to say this, “The chains fell off after Peter got up.”

Just like Peter, our chains don’t fall off until we take the first step.

Coming to Christ, Obedience to God

This reminds me of the story of the man at the pool who hadn’t walked in 38 years.

Jesus asked him, “Do you want to be healed”

I would attest that he was healed the moment he said yes but it was verified when he stood and took up his mat and walked.

I believe Peter was freed the moment the moment the church started to Pray and it was verified to Peter when he stood up and it was verified to the church when we read Acts 12:16 “But Peter continued knocking, and when they opened, they saw him and were amazed.”

This story is one that confirms to us today that there is POWER in prayer.

Especially in Corporate prayer.

When the church Prays!

I believe the most important time on Sunday mornings is not when I preach but when we pray.

Not at 10:45 but at 10:00am.

I believe this is when the walls of hell are shaken

This is when demons tremble.

This is when Holy Spirit is activated on behalf of God’s people.

Let me ask a question ....... What is it in our community that we need Holy Spirit to activated in?

Our government?

Our city?

Our housing development?

Let me ask another questions ....... What is it in our personal lives that we need Holy Spirit to be activated in?

Our homes?

Our families?

Our Job?

Our Kids?

Our physical need?

I believe that everyone here this morning has something they would love to have the church be in constant and intense prayer for.

I know Peter was glad for the church being in constant and intense prayer.

AT THE END .......

Can we make the decision today that we are going to be a church that “from this moment on” will be a church that is in constant and intense prayer.