Surprised by PrayerSurprised by Prayer

TEXT: Acts 12:1-5

HAVE YOU EVER BEEN“SUPRISED” AT HOW GODANSWERED A PRAYER?

Surprised by PrayerActs 12:1-3 1 Now about that time

Herod the king stretched out his hand to harass some from the church. 2 Then he killed James the brother of John with the sword. 3 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.

Surprised by Prayer

Acts 12:4-5 4 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. 5 Peter was therefore kept in prison, but constant prayer was offered to God for him by the church.

Herod in HistoryAll the Herods – from the same family of Edomites (from Esau)

All were despised rulers – cruel, vicious

One attempted to kill the infant Jesus

Another participated in the death of Jesus

Now he executes James

Seeing it pleased the Jews – he arrests Peter

What can the church do?Facing persecution – what can the church do?

Run him out of office? No.

Vote him out at the next election? No.

Their response – prayer

Acts 12:5 Peter was therefore kept in prison, but constant prayer was offered to God for him by the church.

This is the 1st “Prayer Meeting”

1 – Their prayer was intense“Constant” - Without ceasing

Greek word – stretched out – many people, long time, with great emotion

James 5:16b The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much.

Luke 11:8 I say to you, though he will not rise and give to him because he is his friend, yet because of his persistence he will rise and give him as many as he needs.

2 – They were united in prayer“Of the church” - All the congregation, all the members

Church is not a building, a street address

Church is a planned, called assembly for a specific purpose

Public prayer

Must be heard

Should be short to hold attention

Not preach a sermon

Not make announcements

3 – The prayers were real“To God” -

Who else would you pray to?

Self – like the Pharisees did

Others – so they will be impressed

No vain repetitions

Matthew 6:7 And when you pray, do not use vain repetitions as the heathen do. For they think that they will be heard for their many words.

4 – The prayers were specificWe often use generic terms

Bless, be with, help

Watch over

What do you want God to do?

Philippians 4:6 Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God;

4 – The prayers were specificWhat did they pray for?

Peter's life to be spared?

Peter's saftey while in prison?

Peter's release from prison?

Peter's entry to heaven when he dies?

We must pray in faith

James 5:16 And the prayer of faith will save the sick, and the Lord will raise him up. And if he has committed sins, he will be forgiven.

5 – We must pray in faithJames 5:16 And the prayer of faith will save the sick, and the Lord will raise him up. And if he has committed sins, he will be forgiven.

Mark 11:24 Therefore I say to you, whatever things you ask when you pray, believe that you receive them, and you will have them.

5 – We must pray in faithThey did not know HOW God would answer their prayer

First – Rhoda is “beside herself” - crazy, mad

Next – Must be his angel (spirit) – he died

Finally – someone opened the door

Saw Peter – they were “astonished”

5 – We must pray in faithA little faith goes a long way

Matthew 17:20 So Jesus said to them, "Because of your unbelief; for assuredly, I say to you, if you have faith as a mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, 'Move from here to there,' and it will move; and nothing will be impossible for you.

Time for a prayer meeting?We are not facing the persecution and harm that they were facing

We have our own set of problems that threaten the church and our faith

Let us learn the lessons from this prayer meeting in Acts 12

Time for a prayer meeting?Acts 12:5 Peter was therefore kept in prison, but constant prayer was offered to God for him by the church.

Their prayer was intense

They were united in prayer

The prayers were real

The prayers were specific

We must pray believing