Scripture: Acts 12:1-19

One of my favorite stories about prayer is of church in a small Texas town. A bar began construction of a new bar right next door to the church, so this church started a campaign to block the bar from opening with lots of prayers and prayer meetings. Work progressed right up till the week before the bar was to open when lightning struck it and it burned to the ground.

After losing his building the bar owner sued the church on the grounds that the church was ultimately responsible for the demise of his building. But the church vehemently denied all responsibility in its reply to the court. After looking at all the facts, the judge commented, “I don’t know how I’m going to decide this because it appears we have a bar owner who believes in the power of prayer and a church that doesn’t.”

Do we believe in the power of prayer? Or is that just something we say in church?

We’re committing together to build an addition. God has to do it. To be candid, we’re dependent and desperate to see God work. We believe God is leading us to move forward with this addition to help us fulfill our mission. So, say it with me: Grace Church exists to glorify our Heavenly Father by continually making more followers of the Lord Jesus Christ.

The most vital steps forward aren’t physical or financial, they’re spiritual. If we’re going to be successful in Building Changed Lives 2-Gether, we must start on our knees together. It’s my prayer that this message will encourage and motivate us to pray and pray together. Have you been praying about Phase 2? It’d be so encouraging to know that you are. Would you please note: I’ve been prayingfor our new addition on your Connection Card?

Before we start, let me be candid and say I feel very inadequate when it comes to prayer. I don’t want this message to convey that I’ve got it all together because I don’t.

How do you see prayer? Let me ask a vital question: Have you ever faced a problem that seemed impossible to solve? You felt overwhelmed, like there was no way out. You were going under. It’s a dead end.

Maybe a doctor shared the results of tests that confirmed the presence of cancer or some illness. Perhaps you’ve felt your marriage has reached a dead end. Maybe your crisis concerns your finances. Or your child is breaking your heart, and you don’t know what to do.

If any of these situations describe your life, if you’ve faced a hopeless, impossible situation, then please listen to today’s message. Turn again in your Bibles to one of the church’s first prayer meetings, Acts 12:1-19 (p. 866). This passage records a time in the early church when Christians faced a seemingly impossible situation. The way they dealt with this nightmare highlights a truth we need, one that helps us face our impossibilities. Heaven hears the church that prays together.

This chapter in the history of the early church begins with King Herod persecuting the church. Herod was a politician. He worked hard to win popularity with the Jews he ruled, but he didn’t do it because he loved Jews. No, he was appointed to his “kingship” by Rome and wanted to please his Roman masters. He knew Caesar wanted a peaceful Palestine, so Herod, worked to keep the Jews happy.

To gain more popularity, Herod decided to take steps to attack the rivals of the Jewish rulers, the Church. He arrested some Christians and discovered that among them was James the brother of John. Perhaps James was leading a prayer gathering of Christians when soldiers arrested them all. Herod ordered that James be executed and his approval rating soared. He tried to raise it higher by arresting Peter, but this time Herod didn’t have Peter killed immediately as he did James.

This temporary stay of execution wasn’t because of a hidden streak of kindness in Herod. It was Herod trying to be popular with the Jewish leaders. Peter was arrested during Passover. According to Jewish Law no trial or execution could be carried out during Passover. Herod couldn’t kill Peter until the week had passed, or he’d offend the Jews.

Peter was guarded by four squads of soldiers. A squad was made up of four soldiers and then four squads were assigned to guard him. Each soldier was on duty three hours and off nine. It was to ensure that the soldier’s would be attentive and alert!

Normally a prisoner was chained by his right hand to his guard’s left hand. But Peter was chained by both hands to a guard on each side. The other two guards kept watch at one of the two gates leading to his cell.

Why would Herod go to such lengths to guard this old fisherman? Perhaps it was because of something that happened earlier. Acts 5 records that when the Apostles, including Peter, were preaching in the temple, it enraged the high priest, so they arrested Peter and the other disciples and put them in jail. But during the night an angel opened the prison doors.

Perhaps the high priest heard Herod had arrested Peter and said, “Listen Herod, it’s great you have Peter behind bars but let me give you some advice. An angel got this guy out of jail last time, so guard him well.”

Look at verse 5. It’s the focal point of this chapter. Peter was in prison the night before his trial and was sure to be sentenced to death. Notice that next word, BUT. Draw a circle around that little word! In the Bible But introduces something very significant. History often turns in the Bible on this little word: BUT.

On one side we have wicked Herod backed by the seemingly limitless power of Rome. He’s out to destroy the church. On the other side is the church—unarmed, meek, seemingly powerless. Herod seems to be ahead in this “battle.” He’s already killed James. James was one of the inner three Jesus took with Him everywhere: Peter, James and John. James had seen Jesus do things that only two other people had seen. He’d heard Jesus say things that only those other two had heard. But now James is dead. That this giant of the faith was executed was a severe shock to their faith and stability! Now things are worse.

Peter, their leader, is in prison, the Antonia Fortress, the same fortress Jesus was held in before His crucifixion. Peter is not in just one cell, he’s being held behind a massive iron gate that served as a “front door.” His cell is located deep within this prison behind two other locked gates. And he’s shackled between two soldiers, 24/7. Plus, there was a guard watching each gate.

Peter is on death row. In the morning Herod will execute him like he did James. In modern terms, he’s had his last meal! The situation looks grim and then that little three letter word pops up, BUT. It reminds us that something else is going on.

This morning let this little word teach you that life is not determined by the reality of what we see. The happenings of life aren’t always determined by those massive forces of evil in this fallen world. There’s more to be factored into any impossible situation!

When we see a problem as impossible, we’re falling into a subtle trap, focusing on externals. Paul told the Corinthians, You are looking at things as they are outwardly (2 Corinthians 10:7a). We do the same thing when we only see the impossible and not God, Who is Lord of every situation!

The situation is grim. But! It seemed to be an impossible dead end—BUT…BUT WHAT? The church was in prayer! Verse 5, but earnest prayer for him was made to God by the church. Prayers were being cried out to God by the church for Peter!

Let’s pause to consider an important truth. The Bible says the church was united in praying for Peter. Christians must pray and need to pray together!

When Jesus drove the moneychangers out of the Temple, remember what He said? My house shall be a house of prayer and you have made it a den of thieves (Matthew 21:13). A key purpose for us to gather together is to pray together!

You’ll notice in the book of Acts that it’s impossible to imagine members of the church not gathering to pray together. Praying was one of the reasons they gathered. Meeting together and not praying was unthinkable.

Congregational prayerlessness should be just as unthinkable for us because when two or three, or two or three hundred pray together they experience powerful unity through which God can do amazing things. Prayer gets us on the same page. It gets us all plugged into God’s power and His way of thinking.

If you’ve ever prayed with a group of Christians on a regular basis, you know what I mean. When Christians pray together they experience a unique bond through which God can do great things. The church has always been at its best when its people came together to pray. If we want to see God’s power then we must pray as they prayed. We should see prayer as they did, as an indispensable source of unbelievable power.

Acts 2 says those early Christians gave themselves continually to prayer (Acts 2:42). We must give ourselves to prayer with each other…in our homes, small groups, on Sundays, or any time we gather together. If we’re going to be a powerful church, we must be a prayerful church.

So, on one side was mighty Rome and wicked Herod. BUT on the other side was the church, the people of God praying for Peter.

Some may say, “Well, there is a lack of realism to think that a little band of people praying could change the force of the Roman government and change the destiny of nations and break open prison doors….” It’s hard to believe that prayer can be that powerful, but it can and is! Prayer is the most powerful force in this world. Charles Spurgeon said, Prayer moves the hand that moves the world. This all leads us to the first truth we want to mark down.

1. Prayer really does change things. 

When it looks like everything is against us, when it appears we can’t win, when it looks like it’s the end, it’s then that we need to remember prayer really does change things…because prayer releases God’s power. However, it comes; God’s prevailing power is released in His people who pray. Prayer changes things.

It’s the case in Peter’s situation. God sent an angel to free him. This angel led sleepy-eyed Peter through the fortress, past guards. Doors opened all by themselves. It was so amazing Peter thought it was a dream. He didn’t wake up until he was a few blocks away, but when he “woke up” and realized what had happened, he hurried to John Mark’s house.

What happened next is hilarious. Try to picture it. Peter knocked and a servant girl named Rhoda answered. She recognized his voice but got so excited she left him standing there exposed to re-capture to run tell everyone. When she entered the room she said something like, “Peter’s here! He’s out of prison!” But they replied, “That’s impossible! Don’t interrupt us! Can’t you see we’re praying?” Then, they go back to praying for Peter…“God, we know you’re able to free Peter, please do it.”

But Rhoda insists, “Listen, it’s Peter. I’d know his voice anywhere.” They still refused to believe and said, “Come on Rhoda, get real. It must be his ghost!” Rhoda said, “Oh, no! I left him standing outside!” So, she rushes back to the door to let Peter in.

Don’t miss this! God answers our prayers even when we don’t believe He can, even when we lack faith. Jesus said we don’t need a great deal of faith when we pray.  In Matthew 17 Jesus said if you only have, faith as small as a mustard seed nothing will be impossible. Often our faith is so weak all it enables us to do is ask and God acts in response to our prayers…but we must ask!

Why does God want us to pray? Because He created us to rely on and fellowship with Him. It’s what Jesus meant when He told Peter, Whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven. Our prayers make a difference. God acts in response to them!

One of the best biblical pictures of this is found in Revelation 8 where John describes a scene in heaven after the seals have been broken on the scrolls. An angel with a golden censer comes to the altar which is a representation of prayers arising from earth. Revelation 8:4 says, and the smoke of the incense, with the prayers of the saints, rose before God from the hand of the angel.

Powerful actions by God come in response to the prayers of His people. Usually, we think of events on earth being interrupted because of actions in heaven. In the book of Revelation, it’s the other way around. Heaven comes to a standstill. Why? God’s people are praying. Heaven stops to hear the prayers of the saints, your prayers and mine.   Prayers uttered by Christ-followers like us. Heart filled prayer, prayers of desperation interrupt heaven. What happens next on earth happens because people pray.

Walter Wink says, History belongs to the intercessors; those who believe and pray the future into being. God acts in response to His people praying.

We may never know how many people were strengthened because we asked God to encourage them, or how many have received healing or how many spiritual runaways have come home. We will never know how many lost souls came to Christ because we prayed.

I have a list of lost friends that I continually pray will come to Christ. Last week I was able to take a name off that list. My friend has trusted Christ!

You and I will never know what God can do unless we pray. It’s why we’re asking you to partner in praying for this new addition. We’ll never know the difference our prayers made until we get to heaven. The second fact I want us to take from this study is that…

2. Prayer really changes people. 

This is a comforting truth because if prayer doesn’t change people why are we praying. Acts 12:24, But the Word of God increased and multiplied. After this prayer and miracle, we see a great example of this in those early believers. Before this answer to prayer, they were huddled in a room fearing for their lives. After this though they were bold in their witness and the Word of God spread.

They changed because of the power of prayer. The answer to their prayers became a watershed, moving believers toward greater faith.

While imprisoned, Peter was so full of faith and peace he could sleep, even though he’d be executed the next day. A few years earlier, he’d lied, deserted Jesus in fear. After this experience he was even more fearless. He heads to Rome to boldly share Jesus’. Prayer changes people!

Prayer in which we open our hearts to God makes us more like Him. Prayer enables us to think His thoughts after Him.

It was the darkest time in modern history. The Nazis were sweeping across Europe. One by one, nations were falling. Britain stood alone.

Hitler’s forces were ready to invade. The situation seemed hopeless. But in a quiet part of Wales, a Christian named Rees Howells, and the Bible College of Wales were fighting the war in a different way, on their knees. They had no weapons, but they believed in the power of intercession. Every day, sometimes for hours, they prayed.

When the British army was trapped on the beaches of Dunkirk, Rees and those students cried out to God for deliverance. While leaders debated strategy, this group of believers prayed God would act. And then came the “miracle of Dunkirk”.  A strange calm fell over the English Channel. Hitler’s tanks inexplicably stopped advancing. Civilians, fishermen, boaters, anyone with a boat, crossed the English Channel and rescued over 330,000 soldiers.

Rees and his student continued to pray throughout the war. During the Battle of Britain, they prayed nightly through air raids. When Hitler targeted Russia, Rees prayed that the enemy would be turned back. Though the war raged, history records one unlikely turn after another, weather shifts, enemy delays, split-second decisions, that tipped the scales again and again. Most only read about the strategies of generals, but there was another army, unseen and unknown, whose battlefield was prayer. They believed history could be shaped by intercession. They were right!

Maybe you’re here and facing some horrible thing. It seems hopeless. I’d encourage you to pray, talk to God about it. I promise you He can answer your prayer, to show you things aren’t always as they seem.

You can pray about anything. Philippians 4:6, Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God and the peace of God will be yours.

Wouldn’t you like to know that peace today? You don’t have to hesitate; you can run into your Heavenly Father’s presence. Hebrews 4:16 says, Let us approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.

Conclusion

The early church prayed together and God changed things. He wants to do the same for us. We need to pray for this new addition. The first commitment we’re asking you to make is to pray about this addition.

Our prayer co-chair, Susan Kumba is going to be leading us on a journey of prayer. I hope you’ll join us.

Why should our church family pray together? There are many benefits of our church praying together. Let me share three significant ones:

• Praying together invites the presence and power of the Holy Spirit.There’s a different atmosphere in churches that pray together and who have praying believers. God will work as we pray as a church family.
• Praying together increases the faith of a church family to trust God more. The most significant thing lost in a church that does not pray and does not have corporate prayer together is faith. One reason a church is stagnant and doesn’t see God at work in wondrous ways is they don’t pray. Faith always grows as we pray together.
• Praying together moves people from seeking their purposes to desiring God’s purposes. Most people’s prayers seek the best fix for a situation. We often pray with little thought of What does God wants? Something happens when people pray together. They start to let go of their plans and begin to open up to what God wants. The value of prayer to a church is huge when it comes to ministry and decision making.

If people pray together, it opens them up to God’s will. As we pray together, we’ll see our faith and unity grow.

Jeremiah 29:11-13 is a promise for a group of believers. For I know the plans I have for you,’ declares the LORD, ‘plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.’  In that all God is saying if all of you will seek me, you’ll find the plans I have for you.

If we want to see God’s blessing in our church, if we want to see Jesus’ transforming power, the dynamic ministry of the Spirit in our midst, then we must pray together. If we want to see God bless and intervene in this addition, we must pray together…so please pray!

So let me close with some specific things you might pray.

Some of you are saying, “I know that we need it, I see it, but I’m financially limited.” So, pray, Lord, increase my faith, and supply my needs when I give. He’s promised too. As you see Him do it, it will increase your faith. The Story of God is the story of faith.

Then, some of you are saying, “I’m old, I’m not going to be around anyway. How does this matter to me?” So, pray, Lord, give me a generational vision and commitment.The work of God is always about yesterday, today and tomorrow.

Finally, some may be thinking, “I don’t think we can afford it.” Pray, Lord, help me to see what our church leaders see, increase my faith to trust you to pay the bills. Pray that God will then increase your faith and vision!

Heaven hears the church that prays together. Will you join us? Will you pray with us as we seek God’s will and leading in our Building Changed Lives Together 2?