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Introduction
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.
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 .
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.
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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.
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