Prayers that Change things (3)

Prayer changes Circumstances

Acts12

Central Truth: Prayer can bring divine intervention into circumstances that humanly appear settled.

Herod had made his decision.

Peter had been arrested.

The guards were assigned.

The chains were fastened.

The execution was expected.

From the human perspective, everything was settled.

But Acts 12:5 introduces one word that changes the entire chapter:

“Peter was therefore kept in prison, BUT constant prayer was offered to God for him by the church.”

Herod had a plan.

But the church prayed.

The prison had Peter.

But the church prayed.

The soldiers guarded him.

But the church prayed.

Execution was coming.

But the church prayed.

And when the church prayed, something entered the situation that Herod had not calculated for:

HEAVEN RESPONDED.

Prayer at All Time- Especially when the Situation look impossible

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.

The only difference between James story and Peter is - Acts 12:5

Acts 12:5 NKJV

Peter was therefore kept in prison, but constant prayer was offered to God for him by the church.

Herod begins persecuting the church.

James is killed.

Peter is arrested.

Peter is placed under extraordinary security.

Acts says he was handed over to four squads of soldiers.

Herod is making sure Peter isn't going anywhere.

From the natural perspective:

It's over.

But verse 5 says:

“Peter was therefore kept in prison, but constant prayer was offered to God for him by the church.”

That word “but” changes everything.

Herod had authority—but prayer appealed to a higher authority.

The government had made its decision.

The prison had locked its doors.

The chains had been fastened.

But believers began to pray.

Prayer Appeals to a Higher Authority- Heaven Responds to Prayer

Many don’t think prayer amounts to much- But heven Responds to the prayers of the saints

1 Thessalonians 5:17 ESV

pray without ceasing,

Romans 12:12 NKJV

rejoicing in hope, patient in tribulation, continuing steadfastly in prayer;

Ephesians 6:18 NKJV

praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints—

God is moved by the prayers of His people

We often pray until the situation gets difficult.

The early church prayed because the situation was difficult.

Don't let the severity of the circumstance silence your prayer.

Let it intensify your prayer.

2. EARNEST PRAYER REFUSES TO LET GO OF THE SITUATION

the Enemy had a plan for destruction but constant prayer was offered to God

ESV - Earnest-

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

68.12 ἐκτενήςa, ές; ἐκτενῶςa: (derivatives of ἐκτείνω ‘to stretch out,’ 16.19)

When the Church Earnestly prays it invokes God’s attention to the situation

Earnest prayer draws God’s attention to the situation.

When the Church prays earnestly, heaven responds.

Earnest prayer moves a situation from human hands into God’s hands.

Acts 12:5

The ESV says:

“Earnest prayer for him was made to God by the church.”

The Greek word ektenōs carries the idea of being stretched out, intense, persistent, continuous.

This wasn't casual prayer.

This wasn't:

“Lord, remember Peter. Amen.”

The church locked onto the situation in prayer.

They continued.

They persevered.

They stretched themselves spiritually toward God.

Prayer became their response to what they could not change naturally.

Luke 18:1 NKJV

Then He spoke a parable to them, that men always ought to pray and not lose heart,

Colossians 4:2 NLT

Devote yourselves to prayer with an alert mind and a thankful heart.

James 5:16 NKJV

Confess your trespasses to one another, and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much.

There are some situations where casual prayer will not satisfy your heart.

Something inside you says:

“I'm staying before God about this.”

EARNEST PRAYER IS FAITH REFUSING TO ACCEPT SILENCE AS THE FINAL ANSWER.

3. Prayer invokes the Attention of God to the Situation- PRAYER BRINGS THE SITUATION BEFORE GOD

PRAYER DELIBERATELY BRINGS THE SITUATION BEFORE GOD.

God is omniscient. He already knows what is happening.

Prayer isn't informing God.

Prayer is inviting His involvement and appealing to Him according to His covenant and will.

Philippians 4:6 NKJV

Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God;

Psalm 50:15 NKJV

Call upon Me in the day of trouble; I will deliver you, and you shall glorify Me.”

Jeremiah 33:3

“Call to Me, and I will answer you…”

That is exactly what the church does.

They cannot enter Peter's cell.

They cannot overpower the guards.

They cannot overturn Herod's decree.

So they bring Peter before Someone who can.

Prayer reaches where you cannot reach.

You may not be able to get into the room.

You may not be able to change the decision.

You may not be able to change the person.

You may not be able to break the resistance.

BUT YOUR PRAYER CAN GO BEFORE GOD.

4. GOD HAS ORDAINED PRAYER AS A MEANS THROUGH WHICH HE WORKS

This is an important theological point.

Someone may ask:

“If God already knows everything, why pray?”

Because throughout Scripture God chooses to accomplish His purposes through the prayers of His people.

Prayer doesn't make God sovereign.

Prayer is one of the means the sovereign God has chosen to use.

Exodus 32:11 NKJV

Then Moses pleaded with the Lord his God, and said: “Lord, why does Your wrath burn hot against Your people whom You have brought out of the land of Egypt with great power and with a mighty hand?

Then:

Exodus 32:14 NKJV

So the Lord relented from the harm which He said He would do to His people.

2 Kings 20:1–6

Hezekiah receives the word:

“Set your house in order.”

He turns his face toward the wall.

He weeps.

He prays.

Before Isaiah even leaves the palace courtyard, God sends him back:

“I have heard your prayer, I have seen your tears.”

And fifteen years are added to Hezekiah's life.

Look at Elijah.

James 5:17–18

“He prayed earnestly that it would not rain…”

Then:

“He prayed again, and the heaven gave rain…”

Prayer matters.

Heaven is not indifferent to the prayers of God's people.

How Prayer Works with God's Plan

A Ordained Means: God is all-powerful, but He chooses to ordain prayer as the method through which He brings about certain results.

Relational Response: God is a loving Father who delights in active communication and relationship with His children.

Personal Transformation: Prayer changes circumstances, but it also aligns our own hearts and desires closer to the will of God

5. PRAYER CAN INTERRUPT THE ENEMY'S EXPECTATION

Acts 12:6–11 NKJV

And when Herod was about to bring him out, that night Peter was sleeping, bound with two chains between two soldiers; and the guards before the door were keeping the prison. Now behold, an angel of the Lord stood by him, and a light shone in the prison; and he struck Peter on the side and raised him up, saying, “Arise quickly!” And his chains fell off his hands. Then the angel said to him, “Gird yourself and tie on your sandals”; and so he did. And he said to him, “Put on your garment and follow me.” So he went out and followed him, and did not know that what was done by the angel was real, but thought he was seeing a vision. When they were past the first and the second guard posts, they came to the iron gate that leads to the city, which opened to them of its own accord; and they went out and went down one street, and immediately the angel departed from him. And when Peter had come to himself, he said, “Now I know for certain that the Lord has sent His angel, and has delivered me from the hand of Herod and from all the expectation of the Jewish people.”

Acts 12:6

“When Herod was about to bring him out…”

Notice the timing.

Not a week before.

Not a month before.

THE NIGHT BEFORE.

Herod had an expectation.

The people opposing Peter had an expectation.

Their expectation was:

Tomorrow Peter dies.

But they had not calculated for prayer.

Then an angel walks into the prison.

Acts 12:7

“A light shone in the prison…”

The angel strikes Peter.

“Arise quickly!”

And:

“His chains fell off his hands.”

You could preach each movement:

LIGHT ENTERED THE DARKNESS.

CHAINS FELL.

GUARDS COULDN'T STOP IT.

GATES OPENED.

PETER WALKED OUT.

What people had declared impossible became reality in one night.

Their expectation- Death

6. WHEN HEAVEN RESPONDS, CHAINS CANNOT HOLD WHAT GOD HAS DECIDED TO RELEASE

Acts 12:7–10

Peter is chained between two soldiers.

There are guards at the door.

There are multiple checkpoints.

There is an iron gate.

Everything is designed to keep Peter contained.

But then God intervenes.

Chains fall.

He walks past the first guard.

Then the second.

Then:

Acts 12:10

“They came to the iron gate that leads to the city, which opened to them of its own accord…”

I would stay here for a moment.

Peter didn't pick the lock.

Peter didn't overpower the guards.

Peter didn't force open the gate.

THE GATE OPENED.

Sometimes prayer brings you to doors you could never open yourself.

Revelation 3:7 NKJV

“And to the angel of the church in Philadelphia write, ‘These things says He who is holy, He who is true, “He who has the key of David, He who opens and no one shuts, and shuts and no one opens”:

Isaiah 45:2 NKJV

‘I will go before you And make the crooked places straight; I will break in pieces the gates of bronze And cut the bars of iron.

Psalm 107:14 NKJV

He brought them out of darkness and the shadow of death, And broke their chains in pieces.

What had been designed to keep Peter in—

COULD NOT RESIST THE POWER OF GOD.

7. PRAYER CAN OVERTURN WHAT THE ENEMY EXPECTED

Peter finally realizes this isn't a vision.

Acts 12:11

“Now I know for certain that the Lord has sent His angel, and has delivered me from the hand of Herod and from all the expectation of the Jewish people.”

Underline:

“ALL THE EXPECTATION.”

Their expectation was death.

God's intervention produced deliverance.

That connects perfectly with your Proverbs verses.

Proverbs 10:28

“The hope of the righteous will be gladness, but the expectation of the wicked will perish.”

Proverbs 23:18

“Surely there is a hereafter, and your hope will not be cut off.”

Psalm 140:8

“Do not grant, O LORD, the desires of the wicked; do not further his wicked scheme…”

The enemy may have a plan.

But his plan is not sovereign.

Isaiah 54:17

“No weapon formed against you shall prosper…”

The weapon can be formed.

The scheme can be developed.

The prison can be prepared.

The chains can be fastened.

BUT THAT DOES NOT MEAN IT GETS THE FINAL WORD.

Psalm 71:4-12

Psalm 140:1–8 NKJV

Deliver me, O Lord, from evil men; Preserve me from violent men, Who plan evil things in their hearts; They continually gather together for war. They sharpen their tongues like a serpent; The poison of asps is under their lips. Selah Keep me, O Lord, from the hands of the wicked; Preserve me from violent men, Who have purposed to make my steps stumble. The proud have hidden a snare for me, and cords; They have spread a net by the wayside; They have set traps for me. Selah I said to the Lord: “You are my God; Hear the voice of my supplications, O Lord. O God the Lord, the strength of my salvation, You have covered my head in the day of battle. Do not grant, O Lord, the desires of the wicked; Do not further his wicked scheme, Lest they be exalted. Selah

The Expectation of the Righteous

Proverbs 23:18 NKJV

For surely there is a hereafter, And your hope will not be cut off.

Proverbs 10:28 NKJV

The hope of the righteous will be gladness, But the expectation of the wicked will perish.

8. KEEP PRAYING UNTIL THE ANSWER IS KNOCKING AT THE DOOR

This is one of the greatest parts of the story.

Acts 12:12

Peter comes to Mary's house.

And what are they doing?

“Many were gathered together praying.”

Peter is already free.

AND THEY ARE STILL PRAYING.

Then Peter knocks.

Rhoda hears his voice.

She gets so excited she forgets to open the door.

She runs inside:

“Peter is standing outside!”

And the praying church says:

“You're crazy.”

That's almost humorous.

They are literally praying for Peter—

WHILE THE ANSWER TO THEIR PRAYER IS KNOCKING ON THE DOOR.

Don't miss the grace in that.

Their faith wasn't perfect.

Their understanding wasn't perfect.

They were astonished when God answered.

Yet God still answered.

That ought to encourage people.

Sometimes we think:

“I have to feel absolutely perfect faith every second or God won't move.”

Acts 12 shows believers who were earnestly praying and still astonished when the miracle arrived.

The power was not in their emotional perfection.

The power was in the God to whom they prayed.

9. GOD CAN DO MORE THAN YOU EXPECT WHILE YOU ARE PRAYING

Acts 12:15–16

They say:

“It is his angel.”

Meanwhile:

“Peter continued knocking.”

I would preach this:

Sometimes your answer is closer than you think.

You're praying:

“God, do something.”

And the answer is already moving.

You're praying:

“God, open the door.”

And somewhere a door is already opening.

You're praying:

“God, break the chains.”

And chains may already be falling.

You're praying:

“Lord, make a way.”

And heaven may already be orchestrating the way.

Isaiah 65:24

“Before they call, I will answer; and while they are still speaking, I will hear.”

Ephesians 3:20

“Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think…”

Don't stop praying because you don't see anything happening.

Something may already be happening that you cannot see.

10. Prayer Make impossible situation a Reality -PRAYER CHANGES CIRCUMSTANCES THAT PEOPLE SAY CANNOT CHANGE

Whatever you Think is impossible- Begin to earnestly Pray about that

Be Relentless in Prayer

Acts 12:12–17 NKJV

So, when he had considered this, he came to the house of Mary, the mother of John whose surname was Mark, where many were gathered together praying. And as Peter knocked at the door of the gate, a girl named Rhoda came to answer. When she recognized Peter’s voice, because of her gladness she did not open the gate, but ran in and announced that Peter stood before the gate. But they said to her, “You are beside yourself!” Yet she kept insisting that it was so. So they said, “It is his angel.” Now Peter continued knocking; and when they opened the door and saw him, they were astonished. But motioning to them with his hand to keep silent, he declared to them how the Lord had brought him out of the prison. And he said, “Go, tell these things to James and to the brethren.” And he departed and went to another place.

At the beginning of Acts 12:

Peter is in prison.

At the end:

Peter is standing at the door.

At the beginning:

Peter is chained.

At the end:

Peter is free.

At the beginning:

Herod controls the situation.

At the end:

God has overturned Herod's expectation.

At the beginning:

The iron gate is locked.

At the end:

The gate has opened by itself.

What happened between those two conditions?

Acts 12:5

“Constant prayer was offered to God for him by the church.”

PRAYER CHANGED THE CIRCUMSTANCE.

11. PRAYER CAN RESULT IN THE DEFEAT OF THE ENEMY

At the beginning of Acts 12, everything seems to be against Peter.

Herod is against him.

The prison is against him.

The chains are against him.

The guards are against him.

The expectation of the people is against him.

But by the end of the chapter, every one of those forces has lost its power over Peter.

Peter is free.

The chains are gone.

The prison cannot hold him.

The gate has opened.

Herod's plan has failed.

And eventually Herod himself comes under divine judgment.

Acts 12:23

“Then immediately an angel of the Lord struck him, because he did not give glory to God. And he was eaten by worms and died.”

Then look at the next verse:

Acts 12:24

“But the word of God grew and multiplied.”

That is an incredible contrast.

Herod tried to stop the church.

Herod tried to silence the apostles.

Herod killed James.

Herod imprisoned Peter.

But at the end of the chapter:

HEROD IS GONE.

PETER IS FREE.

AND THE WORD OF GOD IS MULTIPLYING.

The enemy started Acts 12 looking powerful.

He ends Acts 12 defeated.

WHAT CAME AGAINST PETER DID NOT GET THE FINAL WORD.

That pattern appears throughout Scripture.

PHARAOH CAME AGAINST ISRAEL

Pharaoh said:

“I will pursue.”

“I will overtake.”

“I will destroy.”

Exodus 14:13

Moses tells Israel:

“The Egyptians whom you see today, you shall see again no more forever.”

Then the Red Sea opens.

Israel walks through.

Pharaoh pursues.

And the same sea that became a pathway for God's people became judgment upon their enemy.

Exodus 14:30

“So the LORD saved Israel that day out of the hand of the Egyptians, and Israel saw the Egyptians dead on the seashore.”

What had oppressed them—

was no longer able to pursue them.

THE MEN WHO THREW THE THREE HEBREW BOYS INTO THE FIRE

Nebuchadnezzar orders Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego thrown into the furnace.

But notice what happens.

Daniel 3:22

“The flame of the fire killed those men who took up Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego.”

The fire that was supposed to destroy the righteous—

DESTROYED THE MEN WHO THREW THEM IN.

And the three Hebrew boys came out without even the smell of smoke.

Daniel 3:27

“The fire had no power…”

That's the God we serve.

What was designed to destroy them could not even leave the smell of defeat on them.

THE MEN WHO SCHEMED AGAINST DANIEL

Daniel's enemies manipulated the king into signing a decree.

They got Daniel thrown into the lions' den.

They expected the lions to finish him.

But God shut the lions' mouths.

Daniel 6:22

“My God sent His angel and shut the lions' mouths, so that they have not hurt me…”

Then the story turns.

Daniel 6:24

The men who had accused Daniel were thrown into the same den.

The trap they designed for Daniel became the place of their own destruction.

The enemy's scheme reversed.

THIS IS A BIBLICAL PATTERN

Psalm 7:15–16

“He made a pit and dug it out, and has fallen into the ditch which he made.”

Psalm 9:15

“The nations have sunk down in the pit which they made…”

Esther 7:10

Haman was hanged on the gallows he had prepared for Mordecai.

Proverbs 26:27

“Whoever digs a pit will fall into it…”

There is a repeated biblical truth:

GOD IS ABLE TO TURN THE ENEMY'S OWN STRATEGY AGAINST HIM.

The prison prepared for Peter could not hold Peter.

The Red Sea that trapped Israel destroyed Pharaoh's army.

The furnace prepared for the Hebrews consumed the men who threw them in.

The lions' den prepared for Daniel became judgment on his accusers.

The gallows Haman prepared for Mordecai became Haman's own gallows.

THE ENEMY MAY START THE STORY, BUT HE DOESN'T GET TO FINISH IT

This is where I would really preach it.

At the beginning of Acts 12:

Herod is killing.

Herod is arresting.

Herod is threatening.

But by the end:

Peter is free.

Herod's plan has collapsed.

Herod is gone.

And:

“The word of God grew and multiplied.”

That's not merely escape.

THAT IS VICTORY.

Prayer doesn't just help you cope with what the enemy is doing.

Prayer brings God into the situation until the enemy's plan can be overturned.

Isaiah 54:17

“No weapon formed against you shall prosper…”

Notice:

It may form.

But it doesn't have to prosper.

The prison was formed.

The chains were formed.

The execution plan was formed.

BUT IT DIDN'T PROSPER.

Pharaoh had a plan—God had a sea.

Nebuchadnezzar had a furnace—God had a fourth Man in the fire.

Daniel's enemies had lions—God had an angel.

Herod had a prison—God had another angel.

The enemy always calculates according to what he can see.

But he never properly calculates the intervention of God.

And when God's people pray, the situation can move from:

Enemy strategy

to

Divine reversal.

1 Corinthians 2:7–9 NKJV

But we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, the hidden wisdom which God ordained before the ages for our glory, which none of the rulers of this age knew; for had they known, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory. But as it is written: “Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, Nor have entered into the heart of man The things which God has prepared for those who love Him.”

EVERYTHING THAT STARTED THE CHAPTER AGAINST PETER ENDED THE CHAPTER DEFEATED.

The chains?

Gone.

The prison?

Empty.

The gate?

Open.

Herod's expectation?

Destroyed.

Herod?

Gone.

And the church?

STILL GROWING.

Acts 12:24:

“But the word of God grew and multiplied.”

That's how I would end the entire sermon:

THE ENEMY MAY FORM THE WEAPON, BUT PRAYER INVITES GOD INTO THE BATTLE.

And when God steps into the situation—

chains fall,

doors open,

plans fail,

enemies are defeated,

and the Word of God keeps advancing.

That's prayer that changes things.

CLOSING — WHAT ARE YOU CALLING IMPOSSIBLE?

What circumstance have you looked at and decided:

“This can't change”?

What door looks locked?

What chain looks permanent?

What situation looks settled?

What report feels final?

What person seems unreachable?

What circumstance appears beyond human intervention?

Acts 12 says:

PRAY.

Not casually.

PRAY EARNESTLY.

Not once and quit.

PRAY CONSTANTLY.

Not because you know how God will do it.

PRAY BECAUSE YOU KNOW WHO GOD IS.

The church didn't know an angel was going to appear.

They didn't know the chains would fall off.

They didn't know the guards wouldn't wake up.

They didn't know the iron gate would open.

THEY JUST KNEW TO PRAY.

And while they prayed—

Heaven responded.

The chains fell.

The gate opened.

Peter walked out.

And the expectation of the enemy perished.

So whatever looks impossible tonight:

BEGIN TO EARNESTLY PRAY ABOUT IT.

Be relentless in prayer.

Keep bringing it before God.

Keep standing on His Word.

Keep believing.

Because the situation may look locked—

but God has keys.

It may look chained—

but God brings deliverance.

It may look impossible—

but with God nothing is impossible.

And you may discover that while you're still praying—

YOUR ANSWER IS ALREADY KNOCKING AT THE DOOR.