The Prayers of the Church

Introduction

W. A. Criswell was the long time pastor of Dallas’ First Baptist Church. In its heyday, it had 26, 000 members. The church buildings at one time consisted of 5 city blocks in downtown Dallas. I had the opportunity to meet him with some other students when I was in seminary. He greeted each one of us in a very warm and personal way. He looked at me as said, “son you look like a bouncer.” Without thinking, I said, “Sir how do you know what a bouncer looks like?” Those around thought I had completely insulted him and he just laughed. I never was invited back. But when our visit was through, he asked if he could pray over us. I don’t remember the prayer, but I have realized since then that this great man of God who had accomplished much, preached thousands of sermons, authored many books and led many to Christ, was a great man of prayer. In his study of Acts, he made the following realization:

Acts A. A Powerful King and a Praying Church (vv. 1–5)

Did you know that prayer is the real battle field of the world? The whole universe looks down upon that little group interceding for the life of their chief apostle. God looks down upon it. The angels look down upon it. The hosts of heaven look down upon it. The powers that be, the ages look down upon it. 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

Such is the case in our text today. We are in Acts 12:1-25

Acts 12:1–25 NIV84

1 It was about this time that King Herod arrested some who belonged to the church, intending to persecute them. 2 He had James, the brother of John, put to death with the sword. 3 When he saw that this pleased the Jews, he proceeded to seize Peter also. This happened during the Feast of Unleavened Bread. 4 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. 5 So Peter was kept in prison, but the church was earnestly praying to God for him. 6 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. 7 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. 8 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. 9 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. 10 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. 11 Then Peter came to himself and said, “Now I know without a doubt that the Lord sent his angel and rescued me from Herod’s clutches and from everything the Jewish people were anticipating.” 12 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. 13 Peter knocked at the outer entrance, and a servant girl named Rhoda came to answer the door. 14 When she recognized Peter’s voice, she was so overjoyed she ran back without opening it and exclaimed, “Peter is at the door!” 15 “You’re out of your mind,” they told her. When she kept insisting that it was so, they said, “It must be his angel.” 16 But Peter kept on knocking, and when they opened the door and saw him, they were astonished. 17 Peter motioned with his hand for them to be quiet and described how the Lord had brought him out of prison. “Tell James and the brothers about this,” he said, and then he left for another place. 18 In the morning, there was no small commotion among the soldiers as to what had become of Peter. 19 After Herod had a thorough search made for him and did not find him, he cross-examined the guards and ordered that they be executed. Then Herod went from Judea to Caesarea and stayed there a while. 20 He had been quarreling with the people of Tyre and Sidon; they now joined together and sought an audience with him. Having secured the support of Blastus, a trusted personal servant of the king, they asked for peace, because they depended on the king’s country for their food supply. 21 On the appointed day Herod, wearing his royal robes, sat on his throne and delivered a public address to the people. 22 They shouted, “This is the voice of a god, not of a man.” 23 Immediately, because Herod did not give praise to God, an angel of the Lord struck him down, and he was eaten by worms and died. 24 But the word of God continued to increase and spread. 25 When Barnabas and Saul had finished their mission, they returned from Jerusalem, taking with them John, also called Mark.

The prayers of the church were absolutely essential for Peter. I believe there is much about prayer that you and I can learn from this passage.

Prayer Practices Faith

First, we see that prayer practices faith. When we are in terrible places in terrible times, we should pray. The Christians had witnessed first hand the persecution that had been evoked on the apostles, especially Peter.

In Persecution

Persecution is prevalent today. Our beliefs based on the Word of God laughed and scoffed at these days. We have to remember the truth of what Jesus said in His sermon on the mount, Matthew 5:10

Matthew 5:10 NIV84

10 Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

In Peril

We must also remember that in peril, our practice of prayer will help us as well. 2 Corinthians 1:10

2 Corinthians 1:10 NIV84

10 He has delivered us from such a deadly peril, and he will deliver us. On him we have set our hope that he will continue to deliver us,

If we believe that God will deliver us, and we pray to Him asking for our deliverance, we can be assured that He is faithful to those of His who are faithful.

Not only in persecution and peril, but when we find ourselves in places of evil.

In Places of Evil

We can still pray! There are some places we should never go, but when we end up in a place that we realize is evil, we can still pray. If we are people of faith and we trust our God, we can be assured that He is with us. 2 John 3

2 John 3 NIV84

3 Grace, mercy and peace from God the Father and from Jesus Christ, the Father’s Son, will be with us in truth and love.

Our God is with us always, even in the places of evil and we can trust Him.

Prayer Proves Faithful

Acts 12:5 NIV84

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

I can’t help but think of our Ernest when I see this verse. Ernest Vannoy has done much for this church over the years in it upkeep and care. But honestly that pales in comparison to what he has done for us all through prayer. I imagine that the prayers of the early church had faithful men and women like our Ernest praying in such a way to prove faithful.

Faith Enough to Trust God

They had faith enough to trust God. I can almost hear their prayers, “Lord we know you are aware that Peter is in prison. We don’t know why he is there, but we trust You.” Similarly, you and I can do the same. “Lord, we don’t know why this diagnosis has come to us, but we trust you.” Do you have such a faith? Psalm 31:14

Psalm 31:14 NIV84

14 But I trust in you, O Lord; I say, “You are my God.”

If you have faith enough to trust Him, you have faith enough to tell Him over and over.

Faith Enough to Tell Him Over and Over

The church earnestly praying would involve prayers of repetition. They would be saying over and over these requests for Peter. They would be saying prayers of protection and prayers for release. Psalm 88:1

Psalm 88:1 NIV84

1 O Lord, the God who saves me, day and night I cry out before you.

Faith Enough to Take a Nap

Another thing I have noticed in this passage in how prayer proves faithful is that it can give you faith enough to take a nap. Peter is in prison. He is chained to a guard on each side. Yet, in the midst of this, the Bible says he was asleep.

Acts 12:6 NIV84

6 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.

How can one sleep in such a predicament? Well it is because of a profound trust in the Lord.

Prayer Promises Freedom

Another aspect of the church’s prayer for Peter shows that prayer promises freedom.

Freedom from Imprisonment

The church prayed for Peter’s release. You and I need a release as well. We are often imprisoned in many things that bind us. We are bound financially, relationally, and spiritually. Prayer promises freedom from our imprisonment.

Freedom From Irons

We are chained with irons of depression, sickness, despair, and hopelessness. Prayer promises freedom from the irons that bind us and keep us from moving forward.

Freedom from Insecurities

We are bound to the thoughts that we are not good enough and we dwell on things where we have failed. Prayer promises freedom from our insecurities. Prayer is the opportunity to help ourselves and others bust loose.

Prayer Praises Our Father

Finally, prayer praises our Father.

It Shows Our Reliance on Him

Prayer praises our Father and it shows our reliance on Him. Psalm 142:5

Psalm 142:5 NIV84

5 I cry to you, O Lord; I say, “You are my refuge, my portion in the land of the living.”

Is God your portion this morning?

It Solidifies Our Relationship with Him

Prayer praises our Father and it solidifies our relationship with Him. We can go back to the Garden of Eden to understand this even better. God created man and then created woman and God desired for them to be in a relationship with Him. Even after Adam and Eve sinned, God longed to have relationship with them. Genesis 3:8-9

Genesis 3:8–9 NIV84

8 Then the man and his wife heard the sound of the Lord God as he was walking in the garden in the cool of the day, and they hid from the Lord God among the trees of the garden. 9 But the Lord God called to the man, “Where are you?”

We know that God is sovereign and all knowing. God did not need to know where they were, he wanted them to know where they were, alienated and away from fellowship with God. Prayer helps build that fellowship. It also helps us strengthen our recognition of Him.

It Strengthens Our Recognition of Him

God delivered Peter from prison miraculously. In fact, when Peter was outside the house of Mary knocking on the door, they did not believe he was there. When they realized what God had done, they were astonished. Are you astonished at what God has done? We should spend much of our conversations glorifying God for what He has done for us. Why don’t we? We could spend more time in this passage looking at God’s perfect timing. We could look at His judgment on those that carried our evil. We could even spend more time looking at the unbelief of the believers. I think our greatest realization of this passage should be that God answers the earnest prayers of His people. Church, let’s continue to be pray and pray boldly that God would intervene in our lives and in our land. And let’s be obedient to what He tells us to do! Let’s proclaim in prayer and through our obedience that God is so good!