There Is Power In Prayer

With all that is going on in this world, we as believers in Jesus Christ must remember that THERE IS POWER IN PRAYER!

So you say you want proof! Well lets take a few moments to review ..

The most dramatic New Testament story concerning partnership and prayer is recorded for us in the 12th chapter of Acts. Here King Herod, representing the subtle, fearful, and overwhelming power of the devil, is pictured in opposition to a church or a fellowship at prayer. This is to remind us that whenever Satan comes in like a flood, the Spirit of the Lord lifts up a standard against him (Isaiah 59:19 ).

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Isaiah 59:19 NLT

19 In the west, people will respect the name of the Lord; in the east, they will glorify him. For he will come like a raging flood tide driven by the breath of the Lord.

The enemy’s single purpose in every age is to silence the voice of the gospel, but God’s mighty answer is always the working power of prayer. As we read and study this account, let us learn the principles that determine victory over every attempt of Satan to defeat the redemptive purposes of God.

The title of today's Message is "There Is Power In Prayer"

Our Scripture is taken from Acts Chapter 12:1-18

Our focal verse is Acts 12:5:

Acts 12:5 NLT

5 But while Peter was in prison, the church prayed very earnestly for him.

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1 Peter was a marked man

If we look at Acts 12:1-5

Acts 12:1–5 NLT

1 About that time King Herod Agrippa began to persecute some believers in the church. 2 He had the apostle James (John’s brother) killed with a sword. 3 When Herod saw how much this pleased the Jewish people, he also arrested Peter. (This took place during the Passover celebration.) 4 Then he imprisoned him, placing him under the guard of four squads of four soldiers each. Herod intended to bring Peter out for public trial after the Passover. 5 But while Peter was in prison, the church prayed very earnestly for him.

Thoughts:

As we study these passages we find that this is the first mention of Herod taking action against the Church in Acts. He was mentioned in passing when the believers prayed as a group in Acts 4 but his dealings with the Church are not described until this point.

Then there is James, the brother of John, who had not been mentioned since Acts 1 as one of the apostles and one of the original group of disciples. Where he had gone and what he had done is never mentioned.

It is also never stated why Herod chose this James to be the first apostle to be executed except that “it pleased the Jews.” It isn’t clear in the KJV if this means Herod choosing James pleased the Jews, or killing James pleased the Jews. At any rate, James perished and the Jews were pleased.

Now, seeing the Jews were happy and pleased, Herod planned to execute Peter as well. He had Peter arrested during the “days of unleavened bread”—the days near Passover. Peter was under the supervision of at least 16 soldiers, four squads guarding him. All hope was lost for Peter, even is he could break free, where could he go?

We know that Peter was at least kept alive for a few days time enough to think about his life's choices, just like being on death row today. It is said that when the saints heard about Peter being arrested and taken to prison, they began praying “without ceasing” for him. Think about what would happen if a group of today's believers began to pray without ceasing for a certain object of prayer?

2 Peter was an imprisoned man

Lets move onto Acts 12:6-11,

Acts 12:6–11 NLT

6 The night before Peter was to be placed on trial, he was asleep, fastened with two chains between two soldiers. Others stood guard at the prison gate. 7 Suddenly, there was a bright light in the cell, and an angel of the Lord stood before Peter. The angel struck him on the side to awaken him and said, “Quick! Get up!” And the chains fell off his wrists. 8 Then the angel told him, “Get dressed and put on your sandals.” And he did. “Now put on your coat and follow me,” the angel ordered. 9 So Peter left the cell, following the angel. But all the time he thought it was a vision. He didn’t realize it was actually happening. 10 They passed the first and second guard posts and came to the iron gate leading to the city, and this opened for them all by itself. So they passed through and started walking down the street, and then the angel suddenly left him. 11 Peter finally came to his senses. “It’s really true!” he said. “The Lord has sent his angel and saved me from Herod and from what the Jewish leaders had planned to do to me!”

Thoughts:

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In what might have been his last night on this earth, we find Peter was asleep—and soundly! Compare this with some of the doings of those who were going to be put to death the next day. One such example is that of a missionary living in Nazi-occupied Europe during World War II: one of his sons was captured and sentenced to death. This young man spent most of his last night writing letters to a number of his acquaintances and faced execution a few hours later. Peter knew that even when, not if, his earthly life would end, he would be with Jesus. And he was at peace.

Back at the prison, Security was tight with a capital T: not only was Peter chained between two soldiers; there were also “keepers before the door”. This is not easy to understand but it’s safe to say that even if Peter got free of the chains, he likely wouldn’t get very far. But God had a plan.

Peter wasn’t going to die just yet. An angel came to Peter’s cold dark, damp cell, where he was being kept, then after a light shined in the prison cell, the angel told Peter “Get up!”

The chains fell off Peter’s hands. Then the angel told Peter to put on his clothing and his sandals. Admittedly it would be hard for Peter to put on any clothing when he was still chained between two soldiers. When Peter was dressed, the angel then said, “Follow me.”

Then the angel led Peter past various checkpoints, we might say, even past the iron gate that was the doorway to the city. Then the angel led Peter out to the city itself, and “through one street” but promptly left Peter at that point.

Amazingly, Peter thought he was dreaming or seeing a vision! But, He soon came to realize this was real, that he was out of the prison, and that he was delivered from those who wanted to kill him!

3 Peter was a concerned and free man

Moving right along in Acts 12:12-17

Acts 12:12–17 NLT

12 When he realized this, he went to the home of Mary, the mother of John Mark, where many were gathered for prayer. 13 He knocked at the door in the gate, and a servant girl named Rhoda came to open it. 14 When she recognized Peter’s voice, she was so overjoyed that, instead of opening the door, she ran back inside and told everyone, “Peter is standing at the door!” 15 “You’re out of your mind!” they said. When she insisted, they decided, “It must be his angel.” 16 Meanwhile, Peter continued knocking. When they finally opened the door and saw him, they were amazed. 17 He motioned for them to quiet down and told them how the Lord had led him out of prison. “Tell James and the other brothers what happened,” he said. And then he went to another place.

Thoughts:

Its not written how Peter came to know that people were praying for him, and that they were in the house of Mary (mother of John Mark). The important thing is that first, believers were united in prayer, and second, they were in a large group (“many were gathered together”). What would happen if a large group of believers even today would be united in prayer for a specific concern?

Just to put things in prospective, look back at verse six, this was at night, these people should have been sleep. Being a fugitive Peter probably wanted to avoid any detection. Stayed in the shadows, he didn’t go to the house itself but stopped “at the door of the gate” which could have been some distance away from the house’s door.

Rhoda, the servant girl, a true unsung heroine, was the first person to see Peter, free and unshackled, after he was out of the prison! She was so happy, though, that she didn’t open the gate but instead went into the house and told the believers Peter was outside.

The folks in the house did not believe Rhoda when she ran to them saying that Peter was at the gate. The reply was unbelief: “You’re crazy!” comes close to our language today. My mom-ma would have said "stop lying, boy' but That didn’t stop Rhoda from insisting, “No, he’s out at the gate!”

Now their response changed. “Oh, it must be his angel.” This is difficult for us to understand but, for example, Barnes’ notes on this verse have some helpful suggestions

(https://www.studylight.org/commentaries/eng/bnb/acts-12.html) At any rate, they still refused to believe Peter was alive, let alone free.

Peter could have left but he kept knocking, and now “they”—not just Rhoda—opened the door to see the surprise of their lives. Peter was there! Peter was alive and Peter was free! Had they not been praying for just this thing?

Notice three important features about this prayer meeting:

The People at Prayer

The Purpose in Prayer

The Power of Prayer

Then Peter relieved their concern by showing his own concern. First, he wanted to show them he was really alive. These believers were greatly concerned about this. Why else would they be praying like they did?

And then Peter expressed his concern. He told them in so many words, “Keep still and don’t make any loud noises (and I'm paraphrasing), but tell James and the (other) brethren about this.”

And to keep these believers in the house out of any harm, Peter went someplace else; but that location is not known to us. Whoever gave Peter lodging for that night is another unsung hero or heroine!

Conclusion:

As I close, I want to remind you that not every believer will be released from captivity. Even so, we who are free have the opportunity to pray for our brothers and sisters enduring prison and other persecution.

Listen my friends, History is replete with illustrations of how God has demonstrated His power in answer to prayer. Let me cite one striking parallel of the miracle-working power of God.

Sundar Singh was a missionary on the Tibetan border. On one occasion, by order of the chief lama of a certain Tibetan community, Singh was thrown into a dry well and the lid securely locked. His crime? Preaching the gospel in the marketplace.

“Here he was left to die, like many others before him, whose bones and rotting flesh lay at the bottom of the well. On the third night, when he had been crying to God in prayer, he heard someone unlocking the lid of the well and removing it, and then a voice spoke, telling him to take hold of the rope which was being lowered.

“He did so, and was glad to find a loop at the bottom of the rope in which he could place his foot, for his right arm had been injured before he was thrown down. He was then drawn up, the lid … replaced and locked, and when he looked around to thank his rescuer he could find no trace of him. The fresh air revived him, and his injured arm felt whole again.

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“When morning came he returned to the city where he had been arrested and resumed preaching. News was brought to the lama that the man who had been thrown into the execution well for preaching had been liberated and was preaching again.

Sundar Singh was brought before him, questioned, and he told the story of his release. The lama had declared that someone must have gotten hold of the key and let him out, but when the search was made for the key it was found attached to the lama’s own belt!”

When God hears prayer the answer is both unusual and undeniable!

Partnership in prayer involves people at prayer, purpose in prayer, and then power in prayer. Are you involved in this glorious partnership? God is looking for recruits. Will you look up into His face and say, “Here am I, Lord; use me”?

Who knows what might happen if we keep on praying?

THERE IS POWER IN PRAYER!

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