Surprised by Prayer

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Surprised by Prayer

• TEXT Acts 121-5
• HAVE YOU EVER BEENSUPRISED AT HOW GODANSWERED
  A PRAYER?

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Surprised by Prayer

• Acts 121-3 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.

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Surprised by Prayer

• Acts 124-5 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.

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Herod in History

• All 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

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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 125 Peter was therefore kept in prison, but
  constant prayer was offered to God for him by the
  church.
• This is the 1st Prayer Meeting

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1 Their prayer was intense

• Constant - Without ceasing
• Greek word stretched out many people, long
  time, with great emotion
• James 516b The effective, fervent prayer of a
  righteous man avails much.
• Luke 118 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.

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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

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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 67 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.

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4 The prayers were specific

• We often use generic terms
• Bless, be with, help
• Watch over
• What do you want God to do?
• Philippians 46 Be anxious for nothing, but in
  everything by prayer and supplication, with
  thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to
  God

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4 The prayers were specific

• What 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 516 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.

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5 We must pray in faith

• James 516 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 1124 Therefore I say to you, whatever
  things you ask when you pray, believe that you
  receive them, and you will have them.

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5 We must pray in faith

• They 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

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5 We must pray in faith

• A little faith goes a long way
• Matthew 1720 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.

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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

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Time for a prayer meeting?

• Acts 125 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