In the book of Acts, Luke the physician gives us a chronological and historical account of the evolution of the church. Luke’s primary purpose is to help believers understand the purpose and mission of the church. Make no mistake about it; no one should be part of an organization without understanding the purpose and mission of that organization.
The problem with the church is that there are too many people who are in it and yet they don’t understand the true purpose and mission of it.
The Church is not a social club. The Church is not a hang out spot. The Church is not a place where you come to exercise authority and control because of your title and position. Just because you are the pastor does not give you any right to mistreat the members of the church. Just because you are a leader of the church does not mean that you are always right; and it does not mean that you can do what you want, when you want.
The church is not a place to get gossip or to play politics. The church is not a place to show off your clothes. The church does not belong to you or me; the church belongs to Jesus Christ. Have you not heard in Matthew 16:18 that Jesus told Peter "upon this rock, I will build my church." Not your Church, not the deacons’ Church, not the elders’ Church, but the Lord’s church. And since it is the Lord’s Church everything that happens in the Church should only be about Jesus, and nothing but Jesus. On one occasion Jesus chased out the money changers out of the temple because he said that my house shall be a house of prayer and not a den of thieves.
I got news for you today saints, if you think that you can do whatever you want in God’s Church, He will chase you out. The reason there are so many problems in our churches today is because we do not understand and/or respect the fact that the Church belongs to God. And since it belongs to God we need to adhere to the purpose and mission of the church.
The mission of the church is to spread the good news of the gospel of Jesus Christ. In Acts 1:8 Jesus told the disciples: But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you; and ye shall be my witnesses not only in Judea and Samaria but also throughout the whole world.
When we come to our text we get a real understanding of what it means to be a disciple of Jesus, what it means to spread the good news of the gospel, and what it means to be part of the church. For you see, when you are part of the Lord’s church you will be persecuted, you will be talked about, and you will be maligned. But Jesus said blessed are those who are persecuted, hated, despised for my namesake. So when people begin to talk about you because of your love for Jesus don’t worry about it. When people begin to mistreat you, to persecute and to hurt you, praise the Lord anyhow.
The saints in the book of Acts where persecuted, arrested and executed for the sake of Christ. The Bible tells us that Herod the king laid violent hands upon certain members of the church. He killed James and John, and when he saw that it pleased the Jews, he arrested Peter and threw him in jail bound in chains with four squads of soldiers guarding him.
Peter had no way of escape. There was nothing that he could do to save his life. Herod had intended to bring him before the people after the Passover perhaps to kill him like he killed James and John. But the Bible tells us that while Peter was in Jail, the church was praying. Things happen when the church prays.
In this case we see three results of the church’s prayer:
1. When the church prays people are set free
2. When the church prays people have joy
3. When the church prays people have victory
over the enemy.
When the church prays people are set free
In verse 1 of this pericope we are told that king Herod stretch forth his hands to terrorize, persecute, harass, and torment the church. He killed James and John, and when he realized that it pleased the Jews, he arrested Peter.
Have you ever been persecuted? Have you ever been harassed and tormented? Have you ever been the target of someone’s evil scheme? Have you ever felt chained up, locked up and imprisoned due to an addiction, due to a bad relationship, due to financial and legal circumstances?
Well, I have good news for you today. For the Bible says that if my people who are called by my name would humble themselves, pray, seek my presence and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven, I will forgive their sins, and I will heal their land. The people of God must be a people of prayer.
1. When the church prays people are set free.
The world is full of people who are seeking relief from their internal and external jail. When they come to the church they are seeking freedom. The church must be steadfast in its ministry of prayer. For the Bible says that the fervent and effectual prayer of the righteous availeth much.
In our text we see that while Peter was chained up with four squads of guards around him, the Lord sent an angelic escape artist to walk in the midst of the jail. The angel smoted the molecular structure of the jail cell and he set Peter free form his chains and took him out onto the street. While all of this was happening the church came together at Mary’s house to pray. They prayed fervently until the Lord set Pastor Peter free.
2. When the church prays people have joy.
When the church prays not only will people be set free, but they will have joy. In verse 13 we are told that while the people were praying, they heard a knock on the door. A young lady named Rhoda went to the door to see who it was. Lo and behold it was Pastor Peter. The text says that she rejoiced and went back to tell the others who were still praying for Pastor Peter. They could not believe that it was Peter. They were astonished and amazed. But Peter proceeded to give them his testimony about how the Lord had set him free. The people were happy.
My brothers and my sisters you need to know that where there is prayer there is joy. Where there is prayer there is happiness. This does not mean that you will not be persecuted. This does not mean that everything will always be fine with you. Yes you will have money problem; yes you will have personal problem; yes you will have legal problem, but the Lord will give joy even when you are going through your problems.
When the church prays the people praise God with joy even in the midst of trouble. When the church prays God turns our midnight into day. God makes us laugh when there ain’t anything funny. He makes us clap when there ain’t anyone on the program. He makes us run when their ain’t no one after us.
Have you ever seen a sick person praise God with gladness and thanksgiving? Have you ever seen a person on their deathbed give praise and honor to God? Have you ever seen a person facing a financial crisis and yet he/she praise God with his/her tithe and offering? Prayer will make you serve God with joy.
When the church prays people will enter the gates of the sanctuary with worries, with heaviness and with tears in their eyes. But, after a little talk with Jesus, they will leave with joy and with a song of praise in their mouth. For just a little talk with Jesus will make everything all right.
1. When the church prays people have victory over the enemy
The devil is a defeated foe who is constanstly trying to still our joy. The church must constantly pray in order that the people of God will have victory over the enemy. The Bible instructs us that we are not fighting against flesh and blood, but against powers and principalities, against evil spirits in high places. The only way to fight these enemies is with prayer. The only way to maintain our joy is with prayer.
The old folks use to say that prayer is the key to the kingdom. Prayer opens doors that the enemy cannot close; and it closes doors that the enemy cannot open. Prayer can turn a curse into a blessing. When your employer makes plan to fire you, the Lord will reward you with a promotion. When your spouse makes plan to leave you for another woman or another man, prayer will make him/her stay and renew their marital vows to you. When the bank makes plan to foreclose on your house, prayer will make them give you an extension and forbearance. When the doctor gives you six months to live, prayer will turn it into six years.
The text tells us that Herod became full of himself and began to make oration unto the Jews. The Jews praised Herod and said that he was a god. But the Bible said that immediately the angel of the Lord smote him, because he did not give God the glory: and he was eaten by worms and he died.
Here is a man who had been persecuting the church and killing the saints of God. Here is a man who thought that he was a god. Here is a man who had power over life and death. But yet this man could not resist the power of prayer. Because the church prayed, God not only undermined his plans, but God destroyed him as well.
Conclusion
My brothers and sisters you need to know that when the church prays people have hope. When the church prays people have joy. When the church prays people are set free. When the church prays the drug pusher will become a deacon. When the church prays the prostitute will become a missionary. When the church prays the murderer will become a life saving preacher of the Gospel. When the church prays God will send down His holy angel to stand in front of us, in back of us and in the side of us to guard, keep and protect us.
David says that the Lord is my shepherd I shall not want. Yeah though I walk to the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil. When the church prays, the people will have no fear of evil. When the church prays the people will have confidence and power. For we have someone who is interceding on our behalf, someone who has the power to stand for us, to fight for us, and to set us free.
This person’s name is Jesus. The Lilly of the valley, the wheel in the middle of the wheel. The bright and morning Star. Jesus, Grand mama’s walking cane. Jesus a friend for the friendless. Jesus our shelter in the time of storm. Jesus, the one who died on the cross for our salvation. And because He lives I can turn to him in prayer for all of my needs.
When the Church prays there will be power in the pulpit and power in the pews. When the church prays sinners will be saved and communities will be transformed. When the Church prays the oppressed will be liberated and the condemned will be forgiven.
Throughout His life on earth, Jesus prayed to His Father consistently. He taught us how to pray and about the importance of prayer. He gave us His Church as a place to pray. So pray until your burdens are lifted and your joy is restored. Pray until your sickness is healed and your enemies are defeated. For the fervent and effectual prayers of the righteous availeth much (James 5:16). Thank God for a praying Church!
