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Victory Through Prayer
Do you have a challenge or problem in your life right now? Do you have a need to be closer to God? Of course, we all do. The answer is prayer. That answer seems so simple, yet it is often hard for us to incorporate in our lives.
The early church learned how to pray. We need to do the same. I really believe that a lack of prayer is the biggest hindrance to the modern day church. Now why is that? Well, I don’t know for sure, but I have some ideas.
For one thing we are just so busy with our daily lives. For another, we can’t always stand back and see the results of our time spent in prayer. When you cut the grass you can stand back afterwards and see what has been accomplished. Prayer does not always seem to be like that.
Prop: We can observe eight aspects of this Victorious Prayer:
1. The foreground of their prayer
Acts 12:1-4
About that time Herod the king laid violent hands on some who belonged to the church. He killed James the brother of John with the sword, and when he saw that it pleased the Jews, he proceeded to arrest Peter also. This was during the days of Unleavened Bread. And when he had seized him, he put him in prison, delivering him over to four squads of soldiers to guard him, intending after the Passover to bring him out to the people.
Now last week we saw the love that the church at Antioch had as they gave sacrificially. But this week we have a stark contrast to that love. This week we see Herod’s hatred for the church. Now there are five Herod’s in the New Testament. All were part of the same dynasty. This Herod is Herod Agrippa I. He was King of Judea from A.D. 41-44. He was the grandson of Herod the Great who ruled at the time of Christ’s birth.
Know the historian, Josephus, wrote extensively about Herod Agrippa I. Herod tried very hard to get on the good side of the Jews. This meant that Herod was going to persecute the Christians.
To begin with Herod killed James. When Herod saw that the Jews approved of this, he figured he would do more. We don’t really know what Herod thought of James, personally. Herod was doing whatever put him in the best political position. I would suspect that some modern day politicians are the same way. In our day, politicians who may actually realize that killing unborn babies in wrong, will give ascent for political reasons. What a terrible tragedy. Unfortunately this is nothing new in politics.
“Now it was during the Days of Unleavened Bread.” This was the feast held during the week following the Passover.
From reading this story we might think that Peter was a serial murderer. They went all out to guard him. Herod assigned sixteen soldiers in all to guard Peter. Two were chained to him and two would stand outside the cell. Now these precautions were probably put in place because they had heard of Peter’s earlier escape. They did not want a repeat of that.
So that gives us the foreground of the disciples prayer. It seems like Peter is in a helpless, hopeless state.
2. The freedom of this prayer - v. 5
Acts 12:5
So Peter was kept in prison, but earnest prayer for him was made to God by the church.
How are they going to get Peter out of prison. Are they going to storm the prison? They had no military might! Are they going to get a petition up using their influence? They had no influence! Are they going to get a collection and try to bribe Herod? They had no money! So what are they going to do? They are going to pray! It was their first and only option.
Friend, I think that many times we think that we have too many options. Satan does not want us on our knees! Satan can lock us up, but no one can stop us from praying as long as we are conscious! We need to make prayer our first resort.
We often do things this way. Let’s just take finances as an example. Let’s say a Christian has a financial problem. Here is often how a typical Christian deals with it:
- Thinks about whether Mom & Dad can help.
- Thinks about any friends or other relatives who can help.
- Thinks about what jobs might bring in more income.
- Thinks about making a budget up.
- When those don’t seem to work, then, often out of emotional despair they cry out to God!
Now listen, dear friend. It is not that the first 4 things I mentioned are totally bad. But the order is out of whack. We need to go to God first! God should not be our last resort. Far too often He has been my last resort.
3. The faithfulness of their prayer v. 5
Acts 12:5
So Peter was kept in prison, but earnest prayer for him was made to God by the church.
It was “constant prayer.” God does not always immediately answer our prayers. (Lk. 18 – parable, we should pray but not faint) We might need to pray more than once for 30 seconds for a particular thing! God’s delays are not denials! Did you get that?
God may be working on us. When we pray we are not working on God, but He is working on us. Communication is the key to any relationship. All of know that that is true. Well, if we are not taking time to talk to God then we won’t be in “tune” with what He has for us.
4. The fervency of their prayers
Acts 12:5
So Peter was kept in prison, but earnest prayer for him was made to God by the church.
“earnest” – they prayed with intensity. Sometimes we are too casual.
In Hebrews we read that Christ prayed with tears. When is the last time you prayed with tears? Prayer is hard. You say what? Yes it is. Prayer takes work. It would seem to be easy, but it is hard.
You know as a pastor there are things that I can do that are “front and center” and people can see that you are quote “doing your job.” But when a pastor prays, people can’t see that. So it is tempting for many pastors to not pray.
Allow me to equate prayer with giving to the Lord. When you give to the Lord, whether it is 10% or 90%, what you have left, God will stretch. And I want to say that often I feel too busy to pray. But you know what; God will make the rest of your time more beneficial.
If I have a five hour block of time to do research and sermon preparation, I will get more accomplished if I spend an hour of that time in prayer. Now it took me too long to learn that lesson. You say well, Pastor I can’t pray for an hour while I am at work. Ok, but you can find time to pray.
In fact, God gave me an illustration of that just last week. Some came up to me who is well versed in Greek. And they pointed to a particular exegetical observation I made in the sermon. They said, “Did you study that in the Greek?” Now I do use my Greek when preparing messages, but time does not allow to look at every point. So, I said “no, I really did not look at that in the Greek.” He said, well you got it right. You explained it properly. Now how did that happen? I believe it is a result of seeking God and His spirit leading me to that truth.
Now don’t misunderstand me, I am not advocating that a pastor should not study. I am merely pointing out how study and prayer go together and how God blesses us through prayer. And it is important to find the balance of us doing, and all the while praying to God.
5. The fellowship of their prayer – v. 5
“by the church” –
We need to pray for each other. Wed. night is not a designated night for prayer. Every night is open for prayer. Some people would have a fit if you didn’t call Wednesday night a “Prayer meeting.” I have never seen in the Bible where the disciples met on Wednesday nights to pray. I see them praying every day they meet.
We must remember how God answers prayers. Listen to 1 John 5:14-15
1 John 5:14-15
And this is the confidence that we have toward him, that if we ask anything according to his will he hears us. And if we know that he hears us in whatever we ask, we know that we have the requests that we have asked of him.
As long as our prayer is according to His will. You say, well I don’t know what God’s will is in every situation. That is why we often “according to your will Lord.” But if we spend more time in prayer we will be more likely to know His will.
6. The faith (focus) of their prayer – v. 5
They prayed “to God.” We really don’t realize what a privilege we have to speak to the Creator of the universe! If the president called you you would probably take the call, wouldn’t you? Friend, God is greater than the president!
7. The focus of their prayer – v. 5
“for him” – The prayer focused on Peter. He was going to be beheaded. This was not a general prayer but a focused prayer. Sometimes our prayers may be too general. Take the specifics to God in prayer. This goes along with fervency. Fervency requires focus!
8. The fulfillment of their prayer – vv. 7-25
The fulfillment of this prayer lead to at least three important things:
A. Lead to Peter’s escape – vv. 6-11
Acts 12:6-7
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. 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.
Now how could Peter be sleeping when he was to beheaded the next day? Because he not only knew the word of God but he was living it. We need to do the same. I cannot get over the fact that He was able to sleep knowing that he could be beheaded in the morning! What faith!
Acts 12:8-11
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." 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. 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. 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."
Peter thought that he was seeing a vision like he had in chapter 10.
There were two guards chained to Peter and two outside the cell.
Now listen, prayer is a necessity but we must put feet to our prayers. Jesus said roll away the stone, but then He said “Lazarus come forth.”
So don’t expect God to do for us what He has already made clear that we must do for ourselves. But we can never do for ourselves what God alone can do. For example, if you need money and you aren’t working, then get a job! Don’t pray for God to drop money from the sky.
Peter realized what had happened. Peter was literally rescued from death, which is what the Jewish people were anticipating.
*Not only did this prayer allow Peter to escape, but it:
B. Allowed the other believers to be encouraged – vv. 12-
Acts 12:12-15
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. And when he knocked at the door of the gateway, a servant girl named Rhoda came to answer. 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. 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!"
Now this is interesting. These faithful believers had been praying for Peter’s safety. God has already answered their prayer. But God, as He often does, answered it in a way that they never imagined! Whether or not they were thinking of a Jewish belief that each person had a guardian angel which looked like them, we don’t know.
Acts 12:16-17
But Peter continued knocking, and when they opened, they saw him and were amazed. 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.
He said tell the others who were praying about this! James was the head of the Jerusalem church at that time. What an encouragement this had to be for these believers!
*Not only did this prayer lead to Peter’s escape, and the other believers’ encouragement, but it:
C. Lead to Herod’s death – vv. 18-24
Acts 12:18-19
Now when day came, there was no little disturbance among the soldiers over what had become of Peter. And after Herod searched for him and did not find him, he examined the sentries and ordered that they should be put to death. Then he went down from Judea to Caesarea and spent time there.
Herod could only conclude that the guards had not done their job faithfully.
Acts 12:20
Now Herod was angry with the people of Tyre and Sidon, and they came to him with one accord, and having persuaded Blastus, the king's chamberlain, they asked for peace, because their country depended on the king's country for food.
The people were attempting to please Herod to get food.
Acts 12:21-23
On an appointed day Herod put on his royal robes, took his seat upon the throne, and delivered an oration to them. And the people were shouting, "The voice of a god, and not of a man!" Immediately an angel of the Lord struck him down, because he did not give God the glory, and he was eaten by worms and breathed his last.
Herod’s own pride eventually did him in. Not only was he killed but he was eaten by worms. Now we don’t know if this was a sudden death or not. Josephus wrote that Herod was terribly sick for 5 days and then died. What a pitiful sight for a King to have his dead body feasted on by worms.
D. Lead to the enlargement of the church – v. 24
Acts 12:24
But the word of God increased and multiplied.
Do you notice the three-fold pattern of this early church?
1. Persecution
2. Prayer
3. Spiritual growth-Numerical growth
The key here is the word of God was increasing. Not a man. Not a particular local church. But the word of God!
