What Happens When We Pray?

Have you ever prayed for something not really expecting it to happen? You really want it to happen, you believe that God can do it, but you don’t really think He will.

How seriously do we pray? How dedicated are we in prayer? When I was at Bible school there were several married students in my class. One of them had a very difficult birth and for awhile it looked like they would lose both the mother and child. One of the other students put together time slips and handed them out so that we were literally praying around the clock.

God answered that prayer and the mother and child were spared. Today, this couple and their now four children are missionaries abroad.

Intellectually, we know God answers prayer. We read in His Word that prayer is a vital part of the Christian life. Yet when we are honest, prayer is sometimes difficult. It is a hard habit to begin and harder to maintain. I believe that one reason for this is that Satan fights against believers having a prayer life. There is always opposition to prayer.

Every time you or I get on our knees, a spiritual battle is waged.

The passage we will consider today reveals to us what happens when we pray.

As we consider God’s responses to prayer we will be challenged to pray effectively. BAD

I want us to leave this morning burdened, and passionate about prayer.

To that end we will examine two responses God has to prayer.

In the consideration of these response we are taught how we are to pray.

Response #1…

1. When We Pray, God Answers vv. 5-11

God answers prayer. The saying goes that sometimes He says yes, sometimes no, and sometimes wait. But He always answers.

James has been killed, Peter is in prison, and the church is praying.

Tom Constable’s Expository Notes on the Bible The supernatural deliverance of Peter 12:1–19

Prisons are no match for prayers

I love that reminder.

Tom Constable, Tom Constable’s Expository Notes on the Bible (Galaxie Software, 2003), .

3 requirements for God to answer.

God answers prayer. We see here 3 requirements for God to answer.

a. Pray first vv. 5-6

READ v. 5

We looked at the first part of this verse last week. Peter is in prison. The end of the verse states that constant prayer was made for him.

In this is a very important principle.

God doesn’t answer when we have not prayed.

Prayer needs to be our first response. And it ought not to be half-hearted. Notice how the saints pray. Constant prayer.

Constant – ἐκτενής (ektenēs) constant, eager, earnest. Unfailing intensity.

Constant – ἐκτενής (ektenēs)

In order to have our prayers answered, we must pray! And we must pray with persistence. Turn to .

Luke 18:1–8 NKJV

Then He spoke a parable to them, that men always ought to pray and not lose heart, saying: “There was in a certain city a judge who did not fear God nor regard man. Now there was a widow in that city; and she came to him, saying, ‘Get justice for me from my adversary.’ And he would not for a while; but afterward he said within himself, ‘Though I do not fear God nor regard man, yet because this widow troubles me I will avenge her, lest by her continual coming she weary me.’ ” Then the Lord said, “Hear what the unjust judge said. And shall God not avenge His own elect who cry out day and night to Him, though He bears long with them? I tell you that He will avenge them speedily. Nevertheless, when the Son of Man comes, will He really find faith on the earth?”

This is how I picture the church praying for Peter. With persistence.

They pray all through the days of unleavened bread. Now it is Passover (v. 4).

READ v. 6

This verse reveals to us that the church is praying with purpose. Meaning that they had a reason to be in prayer. What is the reason? Peter is in prison.

2. Purposeful prayer v. 6

We need to talk about Peter for a minute.

When it says Herod was about to bring him out, the idea is that the time when Peter would be presented to the people and executed is impending. It is very near. The next phrase tells us it was the night before!

What is Peter doing? Four important points here.

Four important points here.

1 - Peter is sleeping. 2 - He is bound with two chains. 3 - He is between two soldiers. 4 - There are guards at the door.

2 - He is bound with two chains.

3 - He is between two soldiers.

4 - There are guards at the door.

From these points we can gain some insights.

There is no human possibility for escape. Prob. guarded so closely because of their “escape” in ch. 5. Getting the chains off would wake the soldiers up. Even if he could remove the chains without waking the soldiers, the door is guarded. Peter can do nothing to deliver himself.

Seeing that there is nothing to be done, Peter sets a great example for us to follow.

Peter goes to sleep.

I love how unconcerned Peter is! He is in prison, there is no way out. James has already been killed. Peter has no reason to expect different treatment. However, in simple faith, Peter goes to sleep!

Do we have that kind of faith?

v. 5 told us that the church is praying for Peter. What do you think they are praying? For Peter to be released, or to have strength to face this persecution.

The point is that there prayer is both persistent and purposeful.

Lesson from our first requirement.

Prayer precedes God’s answer.

Prayer precedes God’s answer

God will not answer until we pray.

When there is trouble, pray. When you are in a trial, trust.

Do all that you can do, but when there is nothing left to do, leave it in the Lord’s hands, and go to sleep.

If we want God to answer our prayer, we have to pray.

Requirement #2…

b. Pray in faith vv. 7-8

READ v. 7

In the midst of a trial we need to pray and we need to pray in faith. What does faith do?

READ v. 7

First of all, Faith rests.

The light doesn’t wake Peter or the guards. This light usually refers to the light of the sun! That’s a deep sleep!

Peter is so asleep that the angel has to strike him! He is resting in the sovereign will of His heavenly Father.

This word “struck” is interesting.

Struck – πατάσσω (patassō) strike; hit. To strike (physical) v. — to deliver a sharp blow, as with the hand, fist, or weapon.

Struck – πατάσσω (patassō)

Ready for some irony? This is the same word used when Peter struck off the ear of the high priest’s servant in the garden.

The point is, this isn’t a love tap. It’s a pretty stiff blow! That’s how asleep Peter is.

Raised him up = wake him.

Peter stands up at the angel’s command and his chains fall off.

Beloved, this is what happens when we wait on the Lord!

Rest in Him! He will deal with persecution in His will and timing.

But faith doesn’t only rest.

READ v. 8

Faith acts.

When called to get up and moving, Peter does it! But he seems to be more upright than awake. The angels has to tell him to get dressed!

When called to get up and moving, Peter does it!

Here’s the point. Faith is not always passive. We don’t just pray and do nothing. We take the actions that we can when we can.

Peter has been resting in His sovereign Lord, now the time has come to act and so he does.

When we have prayed and God provides direction, we need to take it.

There are three words that are especially important in this verse. “So he did”. Peter is given a command, and he obeys.

4 imperatives in this verse. Gird, tie on, put on, and follow.

Preparation must be made before we can follow. There needs to be thought, a counting of cost.

Peter had counted the cost. He had gotten comfortable! There was no expectation of rescue, merely the expectation of dying for His Lord.

There are times when the temptation is to think of prayer as the end of a thing. But sometimes prayer is the beginning.

Illustrate: Praying for someone to come to Christ. God gives opportunity to speak to them. Take it! People cannot trust Christ if they never hear the gospel.

God answers prayer when we pray and act in faith.

We need to pray first, and we need to pray in faith for God to answer.

(S).

James 1:6–8 NKJV

But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for he who doubts is like a wave of the sea driven and tossed by the wind. For let not that man suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord; he is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways.

Requirement #3...

c. Pray with perception vv. 9-11

READ v. 9

Peter doesn’t think this is real. I don’t know that we can really fault him. It’s not like this is an experience he has had before.

He is struck in the side, commanded to get dress, and now he is following an angel.

Peter doesn’t recognize his own deliverance.

We need to have the perception to know when God has answered our prayer!

The story goes that there was once someone trapped in a flood. They prayed to God for deliverance and then waited. As the water rose above the first story of their house a boat came by, “Get in! We can rescue you!” “No thanks, I prayed and God is going to rescue me.” As the water climbed higher another boat came by, “Get in! You need to leave now!” “No thanks, God is going to rescue me.” The floodwaters chase this person onto the roof. A helicopter comes by. “This is your last chance! You need to let us rescue you.” “No thanks, God is going to rescue me.” The person drowns and appears before the Lord. “Lord, I prayed for rescue and you didn’t come!” “I sent two boats and a helicopter, what more did you want?”

When God sends deliverance, we need to recognize it.

Peter thinks this is a vision, yet even in his vision, he is obedient.

READ v. 10

Here God unveils his deliverance to Peter.

Let’s review this for a moment. God has released Peter from his chains, He has prevented that release from waking the soldiers. Peter has left them behind and no alarm is sounded. Now they pass the guard posts and the iron gate and are standing outside!

Several key points here.

God never delivers halfway. Peter’s release is complete.

Peter’s release is complete.

God removes obstacles to deliverance. The gate is open.

God extracts from difficulty. They go down a street.

God provides choices. Peter is left alone.

It is interesting that God doesn’t have the angel take Peter anywhere in particular. Peter is expected to choose where he goes and what he does next.

The angel does what he came to do and leaves.

READ v. 11

Address something that can be overlooked. Read vv. 1-3 with me. James was taken just like Peter. But while James died, Peter is supernaturally released and spared death. Why? James was done and Peter was not. There is a phrase that I like to use to describe faithful Christians.

2. Deliverance unveiled v. 10

3. Deliverance understood v. 11

Believers are safe to the finish.

As we walk faithfully with our God, we are safe until the moment He calls us home! There is nothing to fear! There is nothing that can harm us, we are safe to the finish.

So if you are here this morning, okay, you’re all here. And you are breathing, okay, everyone seems to be breathing. God is not finished with you yet! He still has a plan and purpose for your life and He has things yet to accomplish through you. You are safe to the finish.

You are not done until God says you’re done!

People have been praying for Peter and God has answered. Peter now understands his deliverance.

Notice very carefully what Peter says. The Lord has done this! God is the one who delivers! We do not deliver ourselves.

We need to recognize when God has answered prayer!

This means we must be perceptive.

God answers when we pray. But He can’t answer if we don’t pray, He won’t answer if we don’t have faith, and if we are not perceptive, we will miss the answer!

Now we want to consider God’s second response to prayer.

Response #2…

2. When We Pray, God Acts vv. 12-19

If we call a child and they say “coming” and then no one appears, we wouldn’t really consider that an answer. We don’t just want words, we want action.

God doesn’t just give us empty words, He acts on our behalf.

God acts for three specific purposes.

Purpose #1…

a. God acts to demonstrate vv. 12-15

In vv. 12-15 we are going to see that God wants to present the power of prayer. He wants us to know that it works. To do that he is going to powerfully answer this prayer.

READ v. 12

1. Prayer releases v. 12

READ v. 12

Peter has realized that he is completely free.

Considered – συνοράω (synoraō) comprehend; realize. To realize (understand) v. — to have something impressed on the mind as a reality.

Considered – συνοράω (synoraō)

Peter had to come to grips with this being reality. He had been released.

Prayer releases us. It helps to break the power of sin. It gives us the release of forgiveness. It brings peace as we lay our burdens at the feet of Jesus!

For Peter, prayer literally releases him from prison and certain death.

Here we are introduced to Mark. Some believe he is the one who fled naked from the garden (Mk. 14)

Many people are gathered in prayer at his mother’s house.

This is a woman of faith! Herod is persecuting the church, yet here this woman of wealth allows the church to meet in her house.

It is not often that you are gathered for a prayer meeting only to have the object of your prayers knock on the door. But that is what happens here.

Are you in need of release from something in your life? Take it to the Lord in prayer!

READ v. 13

2. Prayer returns v. 13

READ v. 13

Prayer has returned Peter to the people who were praying for him.

The word girl is literally “female slave”. Her name, Rhoda, means rose.

That’s really it for this verse. Peter shows up and knocks on the door.

3. Prayer rejoices v. 14

READ v. 14

I love this verse. She is so excited, so overjoyed at God’s answer to prayer that she leaves Peter outside the gate and runs to tell everyone!

Do we get this excited when God answers prayer? Does it drive us to proclaim His answer?

Rhoda is so excited that she runs inside to tell everyone what God has done!

Gladness – χαρά (chara) joy. Joy (emotion) n. — the emotion of great happiness and pleasure.

Gladness – χαρά (chara)

Word here = same one used as fruit of the Holy Spirit.

When our prayers are answered, there ought to be this sense of joy!

Rhoda runs into the house to announce to everyone that God has answered their prayers.

I am humbled and challenged by her joy and her bold proclamation of what God has done.

READ v. 15

4. Prayer reveals v. 15

READ v. 15

There Peter is, standing at the door.

No one believes Rhoda. Why not? Isn’t this what they had been praying for? We don’t really know the content of their prayers. What we do know is that they did not expect Peter to come knocking at the door.

They think Rhoda is out of her mind. That’s the idea of “beside yourself”.

Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible Chapter 12

How often do we pray for what we can hardly credit the bestowment of, when it comes in answer to our prayers!

It is hard for us to truly believe that God answers prayer.

When we proclaim that we serve a God who hears and answers prayer, be ready for people to think you are crazy. But that doesn’t stop Rhoda.

She continues to firmly maintain that it is him and so they decide that it is his angel. Because everyone knows that angels knock.

This is not teaching that people become angels after they die. We don’t. God created the angels after day 1 and before day 4. There are a fixed number of angles. The word angel literally means messenger. I believe they are saying it is an angel sent by God with a message about Peter.

God is acting here in answer to their prayers to demonstrate something. Demonstrate what?

Though they were praying earnestly, there

God wants us to know that prayer is powerful! That it works.

Prayer opened the doors of this prison! Prayer set Peter free!

When we pray, God acts and He acts to demonstrate His power. That is the first purpose.

Purpose #2…

b. God acts to deepen vv. 16-17

READ vv. 16-17

What is it that God wants to deepen? Our faith!

When we pray in faith, God’s answers strengthen and deepen our faith.

I love Peter here. Rhoda comes to the gate, hears his voice and runs away! So what does he do? He keeps on knocking.

Strong faith is persistent, even when faced by closed doors.

Peter’s faith has been deepened through this ordeal. Now the faith of those in the church will be strengthened.

They open the door and see Peter and are astonished. They are overwhelmed with amazement at the answer to their prayers standing right before them.

In v. 17 notice who Peter gives the glory to. The Lord!

The Lord!

1. Strengthened by God’s answer v. 16

The Pillar New Testament Commentary: The Acts of the Apostles 2. Unexpected Deliverance (12:6–19)

God is glorified when his people acknowledge and make known his answers to prayer.

The Lord brought him out of prison. Peter had nothing to do with his own release.

2. Strengthened by God’s ability v. 17

The Lord’s activity on our behalf deepens and grows our faith.

He directs those present to tell James and the rest about what has happened.

This is going to strengthen the church!

To know that God can deliver even our of prison! That He can snatch His people from the jaws of death! This is going to deepen faith.

I would suggest that…

One of God’s primary goals in trial is to deepen our faith.

Probably because these are known associates of his, Peter leaves to go somewhere else.

Is our faith growing as God acts on our behalf to answer prayer?

As pray God acts to demonstrate His power, to deepen our faith, and finally…

c. God acts to drive vv. 18-19

READ vv. 18-19

The believers who had prayed for Peter’s release are about to see God take vengeance on Herod.

As we saw in v. 1, Herod is harming and afflicting the church.

God is going to use this situation to to do two things.

1 - God will drive His people to Himself. 2 - God will drive Herod to judgment.

2 - God will drive Herod to judgment.

Peter’s experience reminds us that we can serve the Lord without fear because we know we are safe! How do we know this?

Drive us to Himself. To serve Him without fear because we know we are safe!

Turn to .

Romans 12:17–21 NKJV

Repay no one evil for evil. Have regard for good things in the sight of all men. If it is possible, as much as depends on you, live peaceably with all men. Beloved, do not avenge yourselves, but rather give place to wrath; for it is written, “Vengeance is Mine, I will repay,” says the Lord. Therefore “If your enemy is hungry, feed him; If he is thirsty, give him a drink; For in so doing you will heap coals of fire on his head.” Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.

God will repay those who harm us! We will learn more about that, next week.

When it is discovered that Peter is gone, there is quite a commotion.

Stir – τάραχος (tarachos) commotion; disturbance. Tumult (uproar) n. — a state of commotion and noise and confusion.

Stir – τάραχος (tarachos)

There is an uproar among the soldiers. I picture accusations flying and people fighting. It was a very serious thing to lose a prisoner.

We see that in v. 19.

Herod searches for Peter but cannot find him. After questioning the guards, they are executed, all 16 of them. This was a common practice of that time. If a prisoner escaped, those on guard suffered the punishment the prisoner was facing.

Herod then travels to Caesarea. This sets up what we will look at next week. Herod is all prepared for God’s judgment.

To prepare for judgment

God uses trials to drive us to Himself. He uses answered prayer to drive us to Himself. He uses His Word to drive us to Himself.

1. Prepared through absence v. 18

God doesn’t just want obedience. He wants your heart! He wants my heart!

Prepared through arrival v. 19

But we are selfish creatures. We have a tendency to give Him our hearts a little bit at a time.

And so He lovingly and patiently works, drawing us ever closer and ever deeper in our relationship with Him.

God answers prayer with action.

God acts to drive believers into deeper intimacy with Himself.

How close have we drawn? How deep have we gone?

Conclusion

What do we need to walk out of here with this morning?

Two big ideas.

1 - We are safe to the finish.

Until God is finished with us, until we have accomplished what He has for us, we are safe!

We don’t need to fear or fret or worry. Christ; the King of Glory, the Lord Mighty in battle, the God of eternity, the maker of heaven and earth; He is on our side.

2 - Prayer is our most powerful resource.

Turn to .

James 5:16–18 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. Elijah was a man with a nature like ours, and he prayed earnestly that it would not rain; and it did not rain on the land for three years and six months. And he prayed again, and the heaven gave rain, and the earth produced its fruit.

When we pray persistently, with faith and passion, God answers and He acts.

Elijah was just like us, yet at his earnest prayer, the Lord stopped and started the rain.

I believe that God wants to accomplish great things through Grace Church and that means through each and every one of us. We need to be praying to that end.

May we be bold as we are secure in Christ.

May we pray with passion and power.

May God use us to build and strengthen His Church.

#335 “Turn Your Eyes Upon Jesus” 2x

Acts 12:1–19 NKJV

Now about that time Herod the king stretched out his hand to harass some from the church. Then he killed James the brother of John with the sword. And because he saw that it pleased the Jews, he proceeded further to seize Peter also. Now it was during the Days of Unleavened Bread. So when he had arrested him, he put him in prison, and delivered him to four squads of soldiers to keep him, intending to bring him before the people after Passover. Peter was therefore kept in prison, but constant prayer was offered to God for him by the church. 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.” 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. Then, as soon as it was day, there was no small stir among the soldiers about what had become of Peter. But when Herod had searched for him and not found him, he examined the guards and commanded that they should be put to death. And he went down from Judea to Caesarea, and stayed there.

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