The Power of Prayer
Notes
Transcript
Handout
Introduction
Introduction
A see-saw
Last week we saw an incredible story of encouragement and church unity in Acts 11. It was uplifting and brought me a sense of joy. Today, the see saw has seemingly been flipped the other way. You know when you’re on the playground, and you’re using the see saw and the other person thinks it would be funny to jump off their seat so you crash to the ground.
Yeah, that’s about where our story starts today. King Herod, the grandson of Herod the Great is on the throne. He becomes the next persecutor of the church.
This all takes place during the days of Unleavened Bread. This is the time immediately after Passover during which the Jewish law permitted neither trials nor sentencing.
What we see so powerfully in this passage is this:
When it comes to fighting the battles we face, the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, and prayer is the weapon most perfectly designed for this battle.
The Opportunity for Prayer
The Opportunity for Prayer
Acts 12:1–3 (HCSB)
About that time King Herod cruelly attacked some who belonged to the church,
and he killed James, John’s brother, with the sword.
When he saw that it pleased the Jews, he proceeded to arrest Peter too, during the days of Unleavened Bread.
The phrase ‘about that time’ seems to indicate a continuation from the end of Acts 11, which was an encouraging message.
Now, Luke tells us that James is beheaded, which is the only apostolic death recorded in the New Testament, and Peter is in prison. But, even in this turmoil and strife, there is light.
Church -
Lexham Theological Wordbook ἐκκλησία
Acts uses the term to denote a local community comprising those who embraced the gospel preached by early Christian missionaries
This incident clearly indicates that the church was an identifiable group.
We must not lose sight of the magnitude of this power encounter between King Herod and the church of Jesus Christ. There is this great contrast between the power of King Herod, demonstrated with chains and guards and military might, and this powerless small group of devoted believers.
Prayer is a powerful tool for working through physical circumstances, but fundamentally it is about spiritual circumstances.
After the arrest, he put him in prison and assigned four squads of four soldiers each to guard him, intending to bring him out to the people after the Passover.
So Peter was kept in prison, but prayer was being made earnestly to God for him by the church.
Upon Peter being imprisoned the church realized that this was an opportunity for prayer. It was one thing for Herod and his soldiers to display their power, but even more when the church banned together to display their power. I love how the little word “but” is interjected into this passage. If we could only realize that it’s not over until prayer has had its opportunity to work.
The church never let its trials tear it from its belief and identification with Jesus.
The Opponents of Prayer
The Opponents of Prayer
How many of us would testify that the times we felt closest to God may be in times of great opposition and tears bathed in prayer. The early church was to experience growing pains, but their real growth would come due to heated opposition and overbearing persecution.
As Christians we must fully acknowledge Satan and his power, but we must realize that he is limited by God and prayer.
It is important to see in this passage the picture of spiritual warfare.
If we are in battle, what’s the strategy for both sides?
Satan uses Doubt. This was the original tactic in the garden, and it is alive today. In this very passage, Herod’s use of chains and guards is certainly a physical picture, but it screams to the Christians -you should doubt the power of your God. The symbolic nature of the chains and guards can’t be overlooked. The church is praying not because they doubt, but because they trust in God’s response. Peter was bound, but prayer was loosed! We fight doubt with trust.
Satan uses distortion - what were the charges against Peter? Herod seemed to have built a case against Peter seemingly consisting of fabricated truth to keep him silent. In fact, if you read the whole chapter, you’ll find out that Herod is struck down by an angel of the Lord after the crowd claimed him to be a god.
We must use prayer as a weapon against distortion by hearing the truth of God’s Word revealed to us.
Finally, division - throughout the book of Acts we’ve seen multiple points where division seemed imminent. Persecution after persecution, even using pollution with the church to attempt to divide the church. In Acts 5 and 6 we see repeated attempts to create division, schisms within the body.
Satan’s purpose seems to be minimize the outward impact of the church by attacking in internally.
We combat division with unity. Notice their prayer was marked by a partnership. This was a community effort in prayer. Not just one or two believers were calling out to God on behalf of Peter, but many. In fact, if we take verse 5 literally, the whole church was praying for Peter. Their prayer was marked not only by a partnership, but also by a priority - prayers were made “for him.” This was a focused and specific prayer meeting. They were praying for Peter.
When the church gets serious about one thing, and bombards heaven with that priority, their many prayers become unusually effective.
Acts (A. A Powerful King and a Praying Church (vv. 1–5))
The real battle field where the decisive events of time and history are decided is in the faithful group of followers of the Lord who are down on their knees, praying without ceasing to God
The church must pray, not only when there are glimmers of hope, and avenues of possible answers to the problem. The church must pray when the doctor says, “It’s too late”, when that son or daughter seems too far gone, and when time seems to have run out.
How interesting that Satan and his earthly henchmen take such great pains to protect their work when they think they have seized a victory. They must have thought the victory was theirs.
The Outcome of Prayer
The Outcome of Prayer
In Acts 12, Luke intends for us to read verse 5 and realize that Peter’s escape from prison was a result of the church efforts in prayer.
What are the outcomes of prayer that we seen in this passage?
First, peace.
On the night before Herod was to bring him out for execution, Peter, bound with two chains, was sleeping between two soldiers, while the sentries in front of the door guarded the prison.
While the church is earnestly praying for their brother, he is chained and sleeping. Sleeping.
If prayer is combating doubt, then the manifestation of prayer as a weapon is trust. How much trust in God does Peter have? Peter trusted, it seems absolutely in Jesus words from John 21:18
“I assure you: When you were young, you would tie your belt and walk wherever you wanted. But when you grow old, you will stretch out your hands and someone else will tie you and carry you where you don’t want to go.”
Peter trusted he would grow old, so he didn’t fear for his life.
How about you? Does your prayer life bring you a sense of peace? While you are in the presence of God in prayer, do you feel Him leading you by still waters?
Second, prayer demonstrates God’s power.
Suddenly an angel of the Lord appeared, and a light shone in the cell. Striking Peter on the side, he woke him up and said, “Quick, get up!” Then the chains fell off his wrists.
Think of our Lord, who’s dead and broken body was placed in the tomb, covered with the stone, certified with the Roman seal, protected with guards.
Do you ever wonder what happened inside that tomb? Did God say to Jesus what he now spoke to Peter, “Quick, get up!”
The supernatural power of God was displayed for those who sought Him in prayer.
The final outcome of prayer in this passage shows us that prayer opens pathways forward.
“Get dressed,” the angel told him, “and put on your sandals.” And he did so. “Wrap your cloak around you,” he told him, “and follow me.”
This is so intriguing to me. What clothes could Peter have possibly had to put on? We know he had sandals.
In Jewish culture, sandals were considered a basic necessity for a journey. Peter knew immediately that he was about to embark on a new journey. For example, before the Lord leads the Israelites out of Egypt, he instructs them how the eat the Passover meal, which is with sandals on their feet according to Exodus 12:11. In this way, they are prepared for the imminent journey and are ready to set off at any time.
Not only was Peter an unfairly held criminal by the Roman King Herod, he was now an escaped, unfairly formerly held criminal by the Roman King Herod.
Is God preparing you through prayer to go somewhere uncharted?
Is there a battle in your life that you need to fight with prayer?
Conclusion:
Don’t ever give up on God answering your prayers, press on and trust him, for God is well able to answer your prayers and open doors.
What I love about this story is that it reminds us that we don’t have to have perfect faith to pray. God’s answer to our prayers can transcend our weak and shallow faith. That is the beauty of prayer.
The small group of believers in the early wielded the only weapon afforded to the powerless - prayer - and it brought Peter our of prison, past the guard posts, past the iron gates of the city, which opened on their own, and as far as one block away from the prison.
Acts: A Bible Commentary in the Wesleyan Tradition Chapter 11: Peter’s Arrest and Miraculous Release (Acts 12:1–25)
What would happen if we asked God today to powerfully manifest His power in our lives or our churches?
Maybe you have doubts today. Have you heard someone distort something about you or your life or a circumstance in your life and it has worn you down?
the words of our closing song speak of our incredible weapon in this battle against sin and the enemy:
Lord I need You, oh I need You
Ev'ry hour I need You
My one defense my righteousness
Oh God how I need You