Prayer in the Crisis
Notes
Transcript
Read Acts 12 (Key *v.5)
Pray
Introduction: Crisis in this fallen world of sin - We have but two options in crisis, despair or fervent prayer
Let’s define this type of prayer by the example in our text:
The Disciples’ Prayer was (v.5):
together - (who) by “the church” - It’s good to pray, but far better that we all pray together in unity
for Peter (the subject - what is prayed for) specific to the crisis, Peter was in immediate danger and the church in mourning and turmoil. They didn’t know what could be done, yet they prayed.
to God - (Object - aim) Object of prayer matters. Is the being or object able to act? That’s why it does no good to pray to dead, lifeless objects. That’s why good vibes sent are not very helpful. While positive thoughts may be motivating to us, but they are utterly ineffective for the circumstances of others. (James 4:17 - “Therefore, to one who knows the right thing to do and does not do it, to him it is sin.” In other words, pray and do something, and when there’s nothing you can do, pray to the One who can do something.) They prayed to God.
made earnestly, fervently, without ceasing - (How) from a verb meaning “to stretch out”. Means to they prayed hard and without letting up. They were striving in prayer, laboring to stretch their hearts to heaven, asking, begging, pleading, for their need; reminding God of His promises and character, affirming their own trust in Him. (Ex. Psalm 70)
Pray hard when you’re helpless
Pray hard when you’re helpless
These early believers were in a helpless situation
James’s execution (v.2-3) - by the sword (maybe because of supposed blasphemy, maybe as a disgrace).
King Herod’s Power and Persecution (v.1-3): Herod Agrippa I - grandson of Herod the great. Fled Rome because of debts. Landed in Palestine, which at this time included Judea and Samaria. He needed to stabilize his shaky relationship with Rome, and if killing some Christians would secure the allegiance and favor of the Jews, he was all in.
Peter’s hopeless situation (v.3-4): 4 squads of four soldiers in rotation. Two chained to him, two guarding the door. Prison bars and locked gates. Waiting to be trotted out to an angry mob of Jews for their pleasure and Herod’s political advantage.
Future seemed bleak for Peter and all the church. These believers were about as helpless as can be.
You know that feeling, don’t you. Feeling of helplessness in the middle of a mess: There are times in everyone’s life that they feel utterly helpless - failing relationships, cycles of behavior that we seem to be unable to change (either in ourselves or others), loved ones who are lost and unbelieving, addictions, sins, loss and sorrow. These times are opportunities for witness and growth, because...
Helplessness is the perfect time for prayer.
First, that’s when we truly know our need for God. Other times we can tend to buy into the delusion of self-sufficiency. But in crisis, we more naturally turn our hearts to God.
Second, there’s always more to he story than what we see on the surface.
Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.
Faith looks under the surface, even when it cannot see it. In our helplessness, faith opens the door to hope in the Lord. Prayer is that act of faith that brings hope into our helplessness. It connects our hearts to God in whom we have Hope.
Ex. Pool - murky, filled with algae and dark. Remember when it was clear, but cannot see it from here. Debris floating on the surface. A mess at every level. Then, you apply the shock, which begins to break down the debris, kill the algae and clear the water.
The pool is like our hearts, clouded in sorrow and fears. Unable to see past the ugly surface of sin and brokenness.
Prayer applies the shock of faith and truth to our hearts. It clarifies, it helps us see what, and Who is under the surface - bringing hope into our helplessness.
Deeper darkness requires more time, more shock. Darker the time, the more fervent the prayer - not because God depends on our strength, but because our hearts need that much time, truth and grace to heal and hope in Him.
The disciples could not see a way out of the current situation. The surface looked murky indeed.
James was dead, Peter would certainly be killed. Herod, guards, chains, gates - and yet they knew there was more to the story.
They’d seen that Jesus’s death on the cross was only part of the story. They’d seen and heard of His resurrection, the power of the Spirit. They’d witnessed miracles and the freedom of forgiveness of sins. They were helpless but they knew God, and in Him there is Hope. So they prayed.
Let’s look at this hope...
Pray hard because there’s Hope
Pray hard because there’s Hope
In times of trial we can tend to feel forsaken. Hope becomes distant as our hearts fill with sorrows and fears.
Gavin - Our hearts have broken, and our hope seems buried beneath the muck and mire of this sorrow-filled world and the pain of loss.
Maybe it’s your own family situation, finances, work issues.
For many of our brothers and sisters across the globe, the reality of persecution is a daily experience. They have a Herod who threatens their lives, a Peter in prison for whom they are crying out to God.
For the believer, we can choose between despair and hope. Prayer is the tool that brings hope into our pain. Prayer teaches our heart that God is there.
Prayerfully hope in God’s love
God has not, and will not forsake His own.
“The Lord is the one who goes ahead of you; He will be with you. He will not fail you or forsake you. Do not fear or be dismayed.”
teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”
Let me ask you - Was Jesus forsaken? (He, too felt like He was! - Yet beneath the surface God was using the horror of death on the cross to bring the glory of eternal life to all who believe) Was Stephen, no. Neither was James, the early disciples, nor anyone who has ever put their faith in Jesus Christ. You are not forsaken - you are loved!
“For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life.
In this is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins.
But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.
We do not know why James was killed and Peter delivered. God does. Trust in what and whom we do know. We know that God loves the world, sent Jesus to pay for their sins, that He gloriously saves from His wrath/judgement, gives His Spirit, adopts all who repent and believe into His family and makes us His own children. In love, He gives His Word for instruction, His people, the church for our growth and support. He gives us a purpose for His glory here on this earth and the hope of life that will far surpass it.
Believer - hope in the love of God, that not even a Herod can take away. (Read Romans 8:38-39)
We have hope in God’s love. And yet, for now, we are here in the murky waters of this fallen world - and so, we pray hard.
Prayerfully hope in God’s Power
Not only do we have hope in the love of God in Christ Jesus to us, but we also have hope that this God who loves us has power to act.
No humanly way Peter could escape. (Exactly).
God was not constrained. He who spoke the earth into existence and raised Jesus from the dead is not bound by human bars or overcome by political might.
God heard the cry of these disciples and Peter was miraculously delivered (v.6-11):
Bound between two soldiers, they never notice - light, angel wakes Peter, chains fall off his hands, he gets dressed.
The angel takes him away from these oblivious guards, past two other guards and out through an iron gate that opens like it were an automatic door at Wal-Mart.
Peter finally recognizes what has happened, that it is real. He goes to John Mark’s mom’s house where they are all gathered and praying. Though he knocks and calls, and though the servant girl tells them it’s him, no one believes it.
There’s no way. They couldn’t see a possible path for this to occur. They trusted in God, prayed for Him to help, and as they could not conceive of how it could happen, they could hardly believe it once it did!!!
In my house, we say I have a horrible “looker”. When I look for things, I can rarely find them. So often in our prayers, God has provided, He is working, yet we just have not yet discovered what He has done, or is already doing.
Christian, take heart that God hears, and is working even though our Spiritual “looker” isn’t working very good.
What seems impossible to us is not so with our Almighty Father. Keep praying. Don’t quit. Pray hard, because God hears. He cares. He may yet surprise us with the glorious answer!
Ex. Deb! Shane! ------> Jeremy, Shea, Ashley, our children, neighbors, friends
Healing, strength and help, whatever crisis or darkness...
(What about James? He’s with the Father! - 2 Cor 5:7-8)
The God who purchased your salvation at great cost and in power raised Jesus from the dead, has the ability to act and the wisdom to work all things for your good, and for the Glory of His Great Name. No matter how you feel, Your Father has not, nor will He ever, forsake His children.
Prayerfully trust in His love and power.
But, brother Ryan, this is too much. It is impossible. The crisis too big, the Herod too powerful.
Look what happened to Herod (v. 20-25). Herod died - his power, authority, and terror all failed. Herod was eaten by worms. But God is still on the throne.
I’m not at all trying to downplay the reality of any crisis. Death is real. Sickness is real. Our sin, which condemns us, is real. But so is the astounding power of the good news of Jesus Christ. Acts 12 shows us, that...
Because of Christ, chains fall to the floor.
In Christ, captives are set free.
In Him, condemnation becomes liberty, death turns into life, and fears and sorrows can be replaced with joy and hope and praise and there is nothing or no one that can stop Him.
What do we do? (v.5)
What do we do? (v.5)
Identify the crisis - be specific, call it by name, write it out on the back of your handout
Reach for Hope by committing to take it to your Father in Prayer - Grab ahold of every truth of God’s Word, remind your heart of who God is, what He has done and what He promised to do. Write them down. Remind Him of these things. Trust in His love and power and apply it to your heart by prayer.
Share the burden - Don’t carry this alone but continue to let your brothers and sisters know your need. Church, we must be willing to get into the murky waters of the crisis together and pray!
Keep Praying Hard - hard because it seems nothing is happening, hard because your heart doesn’t feel like praying, hard because the need is so great - Keep on meeting the helplessness with hope in prayer.