"Something Happens When You Pray"

Acts 12:6-18

English Standard Version (Chapter 12)

6 Now when Herod was about to bring him out, on that very night, Peter was sleeping between two soldiers, bound with two chains, and sentries before the door were guarding the prison.

7 And behold, an angel of the Lord stood next to him, and a light shone in the cell. He struck Peter on the side and woke him, saying, “Get up quickly.” And the chains fell off his hands.

8 And the angel said to him, “Dress 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 followed him. 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 the second guard, they came to the iron gate leading into the city. It opened for them of its own accord, and they went out and went along one street, and immediately the angel left him.

11 When Peter came to himself, he said, “Now I am sure that the Lord has sent his angel and rescued me from the hand of Herod and from all that the Jewish people were expecting.”

12 When he realized this, he went to the house of Mary, the mother of John whose other name was Mark, where many were gathered together and were praying.

13 And when he knocked at the door of the gateway, a servant girl named Rhoda came to answer.

14 Recognizing Peter’s voice, in her joy she did not open the gate but ran in and reported that Peter was standing at the gate.

15 They said to her, “You are out of your mind.” But she kept insisting that it was so, and they kept saying, “It is his angel!”

16 But Peter continued knocking, and when they opened, 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 brought him out of the prison. And he said, “Tell these things to James and to the brothers.” Then he departed and went to another place.

Arrows from God’s Quiver

300 Sermon Illustrations from Charles Spurgeon Arrows from God’s Quiver (Psalm 119:49; 1 Peter 3:7)

Faith is the bow, and strong desire fits to the string the arrow that is to be sent upward. No arrow may be shot toward heaven but that which came down from heaven. Christians take their arrows from God’s quiver, and when they shoot them they shoot them with this on their lips: “Do as you have said. Remember your word to your servant, upon which you have caused me to hope.”

So the successful prayer is the desire of a holy heart, sanctioned by the promise. True prayers are like those carrier pigeons that find their way so well. They cannot fail to go to heaven, for it is from heaven that they came; they are only going home.

Christians must learn how to rest in the midst of restraint and trust God’s ability to deliver.

Peter was caught in an impossible situation, but Peter was able to sleep in the midst of his resistance and restraint. When you trust God, then he grants peace and rest to

Christians must not see prayer as a last resort, but a first priority.

Prayer is the divinely authorized method for accessing heavenly authority for earthly intervention. The believer were gathered in the home of Mary to pray for Peter.

Don’t allow people to make you “unhear” what “you’ve heard.

They had been praying “fervently to God” for Peter. But when God miraculously answered, they couldn’t believe it and told Rhoda she lost her mind. Do you ever pray because you know you’re supposed to, but you don’t actually expect God to answer? Don’t put God in a box. Believe that he is “able to do above and beyond all that we ask or think according to the power that woks in us.” Ephesians 3:20. Meanwhile, as the church responded with skepticism, and told Rhoda she was crazy, Peter kept knocking , wishing someone would let him in. Finally, they opened the door and were amazed.

When you come out on the other side, remember that your story can help someone else cross.