Desperate Prayer

The church in Jerusalem faced a desperate situation - Acts 12:1-4

Acts 12:1–4 NIV

It was about this time that King Herod arrested some who belonged to the church, intending to persecute them. He had James, the brother of John, put to death with the sword. When he saw that this met with approval among the Jews, he proceeded to seize Peter also. This happened during the Festival of Unleavened Bread. After arresting him, he put him in prison, handing him over to be guarded by four squads of four soldiers each. Herod intended to bring him out for public trial after the Passover.

Stephen had earlier been stoned to death prompting the dispersion of most of the Christians in Jerusalem

King Herod begins his persecution of the church

Three people named Herod in the New Testament

Herod the Great - Ordered the killing of the baby boys in Bethlehem after the birth of Jesus

Herod Antipas - Presided over the death of both John the Baptist and Jesus

Herod Agrippa I - Persecuted the early church

Herod ordered the execution of James, the brother of John

Herod’s action met with popular approval

Herod arrests Peter with the intention of executing him

Peter was guarded by 16 soldiers

The Church responded with prayer - Acts 12:5

Acts 12:5 NIV

So Peter was kept in prison, but the church was earnestly praying to God for him.

We learn later that the church was gathered at the home Mary, the mother of John, but also the mother of James who had been killed

This can only be described as desperate prayer

Other examples of desperate prayer:

Hannah, for the birth of a son - 1 Sam 1:10-17

1 Samuel 1:10–17 NIV

In her deep anguish Hannah prayed to the Lord, weeping bitterly. And she made a vow, saying, “Lord Almighty, if you will only look on your servant’s misery and remember me, and not forget your servant but give her a son, then I will give him to the Lord for all the days of his life, and no razor will ever be used on his head.” As she kept on praying to the Lord, Eli observed her mouth. Hannah was praying in her heart, and her lips were moving but her voice was not heard. Eli thought she was drunk and said to her, “How long are you going to stay drunk? Put away your wine.” “Not so, my lord,” Hannah replied, “I am a woman who is deeply troubled. I have not been drinking wine or beer; I was pouring out my soul to the Lord. Do not take your servant for a wicked woman; I have been praying here out of my great anguish and grief.” Eli answered, “Go in peace, and may the God of Israel grant you what you have asked of him.”

Jesus, in the Garden of Gethsemane - Matt 26:38-39

Matthew 26:38–39 NIV

Then he said to them, “My soul is overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death. Stay here and keep watch with me.” Going a little farther, he fell with his face to the ground and prayed, “My Father, if it is possible, may this cup be taken from me. Yet not as I will, but as you will.”

Desperation proceeds from:

Inability to affect the outcome

Significant consequences

Deep desire for God’s intervention

God’s answer to their prayers

Peter is miraculously freed from prison - Acts 12:6-10

Acts 12:6–10 NIV

The night before Herod was to bring him to trial, Peter was sleeping between two soldiers, bound with two chains, and sentries stood guard at the entrance. Suddenly an angel of the Lord appeared and a light shone in the cell. He struck Peter on the side and woke him up. “Quick, get up!” he said, and the chains fell off Peter’s wrists. Then the angel said to him, “Put on your clothes and sandals.” And Peter did so. “Wrap your cloak around you and follow me,” the angel told him. Peter followed him out of the prison, but he had no idea that what the angel was doing was really happening; he thought he was seeing a vision. They passed the first and second guards and came to the iron gate leading to the city. It opened for them by itself, and they went through it. When they had walked the length of one street, suddenly the angel left him.

Peter returns to the prayer meeting - Acts 12:11-16

Acts 12:11–16 NIV

Then Peter came to himself and said, “Now I know without a doubt that the Lord has sent his angel and rescued me from Herod’s clutches and from everything the Jewish people were hoping would happen.” When this had dawned on him, he went to the house of Mary the mother of John, also called Mark, where many people had gathered and were praying. Peter knocked at the outer entrance, and a servant named Rhoda came to answer the door. When she recognized Peter’s voice, she was so overjoyed she ran back without opening it and exclaimed, “Peter is at the door!” “You’re out of your mind,” they told her. When she kept insisting that it was so, they said, “It must be his angel.” But Peter kept on knocking, and when they opened the door and saw him, they were astonished.

Principles learned about desperate prayer:

God’s answer does not depend on our faith or passion, but on God’s plan for His glory

God desires that we earnestly seek him - Heb 11:6

Hebrews 11:6 NIV

And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.