Acts 12- When the Saints Pray

Understanding the power of prayer

What is Prayer?

1 Thessalonians 5:17 ESV

pray without ceasing,

what does it mean to pray?

Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament based on Semantic Domains 33.178 εὔχομαι; προσεύχομαι; εὐχή, ῆς; προσευχή, ῆς

to speak to or to make requests of God

Prayer needs to be more then just a thing we doo when we encounter troubles in our lives

Prayer is essential for our lives- If we say we follow Jesus and only pray when we need a divine intervention then we missed it

Mark 6:46 ESV

And after he had taken leave of them, he went up on the mountain to pray.

Prayer was essential to Jesus- Why because prayer in divine communication with God- We speak to Him and He speaks back

and the more we spend time in prayer the more we get in-tune with the voice of God- why because we are tuning out all other things and focusing on Him

I would say that if you do pray you really don’t want the things God has for you

If you don’t pray you don’t really care for the things of God as much as you think you do

If you aren’t in His word i would say the same

Our personal spiritual life is important, because that is were the refining happens

Type of Prayer-

Prayer of thanksgiving-

This praying and giving thanks for all that God has done for you

It is showing gratitude to God for His lavishing of His love, grace and blessing upon you life

The best time to pray this- when fear, depression, and anxiety are trying to creep in

It is a proven fact that depression and thankfulness cannot coexist in your brain at the same time

prayers of Praise and Adoration-

Just praise God because He is so worthy of Praise

this Psalm 103:1-5

Psalm 103:1–5 ESV

Bless the Lord, O my soul, and all that is within me, bless his holy name! Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits, who forgives all your iniquity, who heals all your diseases, who redeems your life from the pit, who crowns you with steadfast love and mercy, who satisfies you with good so that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s.

This is Psalm 107:1

Psalm 107:1 ESV

Oh give thanks to the Lord, for he is good, for his steadfast love endures forever!

Prayers of Lament- This are cries for comfort

Psalm 40:1–3 ESV

I waited patiently for the Lord; he inclined to me and heard my cry. He drew me up from the pit of destruction, out of the miry bog, and set my feet upon a rock, making my steps secure. He put a new song in my mouth, a song of praise to our God. Many will see and fear, and put their trust in the Lord.

Prayers for Healing-

Psalm 30:2 ESV

O Lord my God, I cried to you for help, and you have healed me.

The Prayer of supplication and petition-

with this pray you are making a request

This called out for Help from God

If there is a need this is a perfect time to pray this and always end this pray with Praise and Thankfulness

Philippians 4:6–7 AMP

Do not fret or have any anxiety about anything, but in every circumstance and in everything, by prayer and petition (definite requests), with thanksgiving, continue to make your wants known to God. And God’s peace [shall be yours, that tranquil state of a soul assured of its salvation through Christ, and so fearing nothing from God and being content with its earthly lot of whatever sort that is, that peace] which transcends all understanding shall garrison and mount guard over your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.

There is intercession- This is standing in the gap for other-

Prayer that is made in place for another

This is a prayer that Jesus makes on the cross when He said “Father forgive them for they know not what they do”

Stephen prayed this in Acts 7- and this prayer leads Paul to salvation

Jesus still prays this prayer because this is a priestly prayer-

Romans 8:34 ESV

Who is to condemn? Christ Jesus is the one who died—more than that, who was raised—who is at the right hand of God, who indeed is interceding for us.

Hebrews 7:25 ESV

Consequently, he is able to save to the uttermost those who draw near to God through him, since he always lives to make intercession for them.

There are prayers for guidance in our lives-

This is where we pray that we align our lies with the will of God

Psalm 25:4–5 ESV

Make me to know your ways, O Lord; teach me your paths. Lead me in your truth and teach me, for you are the God of my salvation; for you I wait all the day long.

The Value of Prayer in our life-

When it comes tot he things that we have in our lives that empower us-

We have the Word

We have the Spirit

We have direct access to God through prayer

But Prayer must be an important part of our lives

1 Thessalonians 5:17 ESV

pray without ceasing,

there are a lot of things we don’t need to suffer through if we became people of prayer-

Freedom would come a lot faster if we were people of prayer

James 4:2–3 ESV

You desire and do not have, so you murder. You covet and cannot obtain, so you fight and quarrel. You do not have, because you do not ask. You ask and do not receive, because you ask wrongly, to spend it on your passions.

Praying Has power

don’t stop praying after one time!

Acts 12:1–5 ESV

About that time Herod the king laid violent hands on some who belonged to the church. He killed James the brother of John with the sword, and when he saw that it pleased the Jews, he proceeded to arrest Peter also. This was during the days of Unleavened Bread. 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. So Peter was kept in prison, but earnest prayer for him was made to God by the church.

As the enemy of the move of God is preparing to sacrifice the men of on the altar of popular opinion and praise

Acts 12:5 ESV

So Peter was kept in prison, but earnest prayer for him was made to God by the church.

Peter is in Prison- but earnest prayer for him was made to God by the church

Earnest prayer- Fervently praying-

Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament based on Semantic Domains 68.12 ἐκτενής, ές; ἐκτενῶς

pertaining to an unceasing activity, normally involving a degree of intensity and/or perseverance—‘without ceasing, continuously, constantly.’

The Prayer of the church was an intense prayer that was not ceasing-

this is perseverance in Prayer- into the midnight hour-

The intensity and the time so the importance

This wasn’t just a prayer at bedtime sort of thing

this was an intense prayer for God to move-

All the great men of Faith had a fervent prayer lives

Daniel prayed many times and God spoke to him because He valued the voice of God over all

Nehemiah prayed “give success to you servant today, and grant him mercy in the sight of man”

Moses would speak to God in the tent of meeting

Joshua would stay in the tent after Moses was Done

Day wrote Psalm that are prayers

These are the men who God chose to use,

these are the men that God didn’t mighty acts for

and each one prayer was important

The Great men/women of Faith are men/women of prayer

Amy Simple McPherson

John Wesley

Billy GrahAM

R.A. ALLEN

Oral Roberts

R. W. Sambach

T.L. Osborn

Ted Shuttleworth Sr.

these People prayed so much that in the middle of their preaching ministries they could God say what someone was dealing with and they could call it out- with a word of Knowledge

they became so in-tune with the Spirit because they dedicated their lives to prayer

This wasn’t the church’s first prayer meeting-

Acts 4:23–31 ESV

When they were released, they went to their friends and reported what the chief priests and the elders had said to them. And when they heard it, they lifted their voices together to God and said, “Sovereign Lord, who made the heaven and the earth and the sea and everything in them, who through the mouth of our father David, your servant, said by the Holy Spirit, “ ‘Why did the Gentiles rage, and the peoples plot in vain? The kings of the earth set themselves, and the rulers were gathered together, against the Lord and against his Anointed’— for truly in this city there were gathered together against your holy servant Jesus, whom you anointed, both Herod and Pontius Pilate, along with the Gentiles and the peoples of Israel, to do whatever your hand and your plan had predestined to take place. And now, Lord, look upon their threats and grant to your servants to continue to speak your word with all boldness, while you stretch out your hand to heal, and signs and wonders are performed through the name of your holy servant Jesus.” And when they had prayed, the place in which they were gathered together was shaken, and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and continued to speak the word of God with boldness.

These believers knew the power of prayer

What happens if they don’t pray?

what happens if they just accept the situation and say, “well this must be the will of God.”

No they weren’t accepting it - they were intensely praying!

God responds to prayer

if you don’t pray you don’t get a response- ask and you shall receive

many don’t ask

many don’t ask earnestly

Acts 12:6–11 ESV

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. 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.” 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. 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. 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.”

The Faith spurs you on to pray until you see it

Acts 12:12 ESV

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.

Understanding the Enemy in prayer-

1 Peter 5:8 ESV

Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.

The Devil is looking for who He can devour-

1 Peter 5:9 ESV

Resist him, firm in your faith, knowing that the same kinds of suffering are being experienced by your brotherhood throughout the world.

He can be resisted

John 10:10 ESV

The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly.

a Thief doesn’t ask for permission