ACTS: DON'T BE SURPRISED BY ANSWERED PRAYER.
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POWER OF PRAYER
POWER OF PRAYER
A legendary tale tells the story that occured in a small Texas town (Mt. Vernon). Drummond’s Bar began construction on a new building to increase their business. The local Baptist church started a campaign to block the bar from opening with petitions and prayers.
Work progressed right up till the week before opening when lightning struck the bar and it burned to the ground. The church folks were rather smug in their outlook after that, until the bar owner sued the church on the grounds that the church was ultimately responsible for the demise of his building, either through direct or indirect actions or means. The church vehemently denied all responsibility or any connection to the building’s demise in its reply to the court.
As the case made its way into court, the judge looked over the paperwork. At the hearing he commented, “I don’t know how I’m going to decide this case. It appears that we have a bar owner who believes in the power of prayer, and an entire church congregation that does not.”
We all want God to answer our prayers. But how often do we expect Him to answer miraculously?
That is not an issue unique to 21st Century Western society. We find a similar surprise in Acts 12.
Now this chapter does not come down to all roses. James becomes the first apostle martyred by Herod.
The IVP Bible Background Commentary: New Testament 12:1–17—Peter’s Deliverance
This Herod is Agrippa I, not Herod Antipas of the Gospels. Agrippa is the brother-in-law and son of a half-brother of Antipas. Agrippa and Antipas do not share love for each other. >>>>Antipas, the Herod of the Gospels wanted the power and land Agrippa gained in his allotment. So Antipas went to war with Agrippa and lost. Agrippa had friends in high places. He had been part of I had Caligula’s frat parties in Rome; so when Caligula became emperor, Agrippa I became the first official Jewish “king” since his grandfather Herod the Great.
So Agrippa had the right lineage and thus very popular with the people, on behalf of whom he used his influence. He was pro-Pharisee and frequented the temple. So he enjoyed persecuting the early Christians on their behalf.
5 So Peter was kept in the prison, but prayer for him was being made fervently by the church to God.
6 On the very night when Herod was about to bring him forward, Peter was sleeping between two soldiers, bound with two chains, and guards in front of the door were watching over the prison.
7 And behold, an angel of the Lord suddenly appeared and a light shone in the cell; and he struck Peter’s side and woke him up, saying, “Get up quickly.” And his chains fell off his hands.
8 And the angel said to him, “Gird yourself and put on your sandals.” And he did so. And he said to him, “Wrap your cloak around you and follow me.”
9 And he went out and continued to follow, and he did not know that what was being done by the angel was real, but thought he was seeing a vision.
10 When they had passed the first and second guard, they came to the iron gate that leads into the city, which opened for them by itself; and they went out and went along one street, and immediately the angel departed from him.
11 When Peter came to himself, he said, “Now I know for sure that the Lord has sent forth His angel and rescued me from the hand of Herod and from all that the Jewish people were expecting.”
12 And when he realized this, he went to the house of Mary, the mother of John who was also called Mark, where many were gathered together and were praying.
13 When he knocked at the door of the gate, a servant-girl named Rhoda came to answer.
14 When she recognized Peter’s voice, because of her joy she did not open the gate, but ran in and announced that Peter was standing in front of the gate.
15 They said to her, “You are out of your mind!” But she kept insisting that it was so. They kept saying, “It is his angel.”
16 But Peter continued knocking; and when they had opened the door, they saw him and were amazed.
17 But motioning to them with his hand to be silent, he described to them how the Lord had led him out of the prison. And he said, “Report these things to James and the brethren.” Then he left and went to another place.
You will face PROBLEMS that challenge your faith.
Your attitude in prayer reveals your trust in God’s POWER.
6 But he must ask in faith without any doubting, for the one who doubts is like the surf of the sea, driven and tossed by the wind.
7 For that man ought not to expect that he will receive anything from the Lord,
God always PROVIDES an answers: yes, no, wait, and my grace is sufficient for you (2Cor 12:9; Acts 12:2)
During Covid quarantine, questions arise. I’ve had a vision of having a large multipurpose room for over 20 years. I dreamed of a place we could worship, have large youth events, concerts, fellowship meals, upward basketball and other great opportunities to lead others to Christ through relationships. I for one would never had imagined all the hindrances. I understood money would be a hurdle. But it became legion.
Well, the other week, I had the conversation with the Lord. I also cleaned up my garage some. One thing in particular always bugged me in my garage, my long tools: shovels, rakes, sledgehammer, axe, etc… I had purchased this cheap plastic holder. You put the handle down and the heavy part upward. Whenever I’d grab something, I’d have to be careful, otherwise it would tip over and I have a mess. Anyone that knows me right away knows I had more messes than careful.
Well, as I mentioned to God that issue as well, I said you know why doesn’t someone make a caddy where the heavy part goes down etc… I thought I won’t find it and probably wouldn’t want to pay for what a good one would cost.
Guess what a neighbor put at the end of his driveway a little later in the day. Now, I drove by it once. I said, I should grab that. But I didn’t. I waited thinking, Nahhhh. But if its there on my way back, I’m grabbing it. It was.
Why didn’t I just reach out, receive and rejoice in the blessing of specific, immediate answered prayer? Lack of confident faith that God really cares about the sparrow and the hairs on my head! That’s what.
Your PREPARATION for an answer reveals your hearts expectation.
Your response reveals your
Open the Door to God’s PROVISION. (Rhoda)
Don’t be of such heavenly mindedness that you are of no earthly good.
Dr. Hill our missions professor in Seminary loved to share his experiences. He recollected his trips. He shared about his love of photography and how they would take early morning walks on their travels. They began one journey in a small city and fresh break wafted through the air. They decided to follow the delightful aroma. When they arrived, a young street urchin and his sibling stood outside hungrily looking through the picture window at the fresh bread. He quickly snapped the picture. He knew this would be a great image to generate interest in sharing the Gospel. He used John 6 to get the meaning across.
34 Then they said to Him, “Lord, always give us this bread.”
35 Jesus said to them, “I am the bread of life; he who comes to Me will not hunger, and he who believes in Me will never thirst.
36 “But I said to you that you have seen Me, and yet do not believe.
He loved sharing that slide at the end of his missionary presentations until one question and answer time. I lady raised her hand and asked a simple question,
“Did you give them some bread?” He realized that in the excitement of the moment, he did not.
See you can pray that God draws someone. He will use miraculous means at time and some simple means. You had the angel unlocking prison gates, but Rhoda leaving the house gate locked. You need to act when God moves. If he draws a couple a kids and you together, you need to give them some bread and the bread of life. It’s not complicated:)
That’s also a form of praise. Acknowledging God for His power by humbly responding.
Remember to Praise GOD for what He does! (v.17; 23)
Why would you expect God to honor another prayer if you didn’t praise Him today? Look at Herod. He really loved to get the glory for Himself. Josephus shares that he died a horrible death.
Where has God answered prayers and you’ve forgot to thank Him?
Where Has God acted on your behalf, have you responded?
What prayers have you prayed that you want an answer? Is there a command you need to obey? A promise you need to claim? A principle you need to apply? An attitude you need to change?