Subject: Praying With Great Expectations
Acts 12:5-25
Introduction: The graphic scene of Acts 12 is not strange to the Church. The church has always faced opposition. Since its inception, the devil has been trying to stop the church and even to destroy the church. But each persecution has cause the church to grow and become stronger. The New Testament believers learned how to face persecutions and overcome them by fervent prayer. The early church lived with the conviction that “the effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.” So in our lesson, after hearing the news concerning James, they prayed intensely and steadily over Peter’s situation. Their prayers were soon answered. In the early church, the power and presence of God and prayer meeting went together. No amount of preaching, teaching, singing, music, or activity will bring forth the genuine power and presence of the Holy Spirit like the fervent prayers of the righteous. Prayer changes thing! It has been said that, “prayer changes people and people change things. One of the most awesome privileges of a believer is his access to God through prayer. We all face trials and tribulations, but praying will overcome. Why? Because a praying saint can lay down in trouble and wake up to a miracle. Weeping may endure for a night, but joy comes in the morning. The church of God is commanded to pray:
Lu 18:1 ¶ And he spake a parable unto them to this end, that men ought always to pray, and not to faint;
Lu 21:36 Watch ye therefore, and pray always, that ye may be accounted worthy to escape all these things that shall come to pass, and to stand before the Son of man.
The House of God is to be called the house of prayer.
Mr 11:17 And he taught, saying unto them, Is it not written, My house shall be called of all nations the house of prayer? but ye have made it a den of thieves.
Here in this lesson, fervent, sincere and continual prayer was made to God by the church on Peter’s behalf. Peter was trapped in the hands of Herod, and the church united in prayer was determined to wrestle Peter out of his hand. The several lesson we can learn from this scripture (1) that when the church is plunged into deep perplexities, the only help she can hope for must come unto her in the way of prayer. (2) That when God suffers any of the ministers of the church to fall into the hand of persecutors, it is the church’s duty to wrestle with God by prayer in an extraordinary manner on their behalf; "prayer was made without ceasing of the church." (3) That when God intends to bestow any extraordinary mercy upon his church, he stirs up the hearts of his people to pray for it in a very extraordinary manner.
Let’s look at then text again. In acts 12, Luke brings our attention back to the Church of Jerusalem. The gentile church at Antioch was now well established and accepted by the church at Jerusalem. Now the persecution intensifies again. Herod Aggrippa was the grand son of Herod the Great who tried Jesus before senting him to Pontius Pilate. Herod Aggrippa’s uncle was Herod Antipas who had John the Baptist beheaded and his head presented on a charger. The Roman Emperor, Caligula made Herod Aggrippa king over Judea, Perea, Samaria, and the territories of Galilee. One of Herod’s biggest challenges was to restore law and order to the region. Herd had a lot of enemies. Herod’s family was hated and despised by the Jews. One of Herod’s goals was to win the favor of the Jewish leadership, the Pharisees and Sadducees. He was partly Jewish and had a good understanding and a deep respect for Jewish law. It is said that Herod attended all the Jewish feasts, rituals and honor their worship services. Herod move against the Christians in order to please the Jewish leaders who opposed him. He thought his action would solidify his position as king and maybe Caesar would hear a favorable report about him.
Sometimes we all get up in pleasing men more that pleasing God.
James and John were two of the original twelve who follow Jesus and had sought positions to sit on his right and his left. Jesus asked if they were able to drink of the cup of suffering and they replied, Lord, we are able. James and John did indeed suffer! Here James is beheaded, executed by Herod Aggrippa as soon as he was arrested and later John would suffer greatly on the Isle of Patmos. We must be careful of what we ask for!
Why did God allow James to die and yet miraculously save Peter? Life is full of difficult questions that will only be answered in the presence of God. Why is one child physically handicapped and the other athletically gifted? Why some people soar and live life without limits while others die before they ever realize their potential? These are questions we cannot possibly answer in this life because we do not see all that God sees. He has chosen to allow evil and trouble in the world for a time, but we can trust his leading and understand that God is still in Charge. In the meantime, we know all things work for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose. God knows how to strengthen us and give Glory to Himself. In our suffering we must learn to pray. The effective fervent prayer of a righteous man still availeth much. "Fervent Prayer causes Divine intervention." The church ought to pray with great expectation because (1) God sees our trials, (2) God hears our prayers (3) and God will take care of our enemies. I want to share three simple points from this text:
1. God sees our trials. Yes, James the brother of John was executed and Peter was taken prisoner and held for a show trial. But God saw the whole situation. We can take comfort in the fact that His eyes are on the sparrow and I know he watches me. We need not feel deserted or abandoned, for we are not left alone. Our trials may not be open persecution for our faith, it may be sickness and disease, or trouble in our home or on our jobs. No matter what, God sees and he knows. One of Satan’s most effective weapons is to cause believers to feel abandoned and all alone. Settle it in your mind, God sees our trials. He has divine vision, he knows and he cares!
"The Lord is in his holy temple, the Lord’s throne is in heaven: his eyes behold, his eyelids, the children of men." Psalms 11:4
2. God hears our prayers. Herod decided to hold Peter until after the Passover, when the city would be filled with Jews. Peter was known as the leader of the Church and he had also fraternized with the gentiles. He had secured Peter between two soldiers and set two at the entrance of the door, he assigned four group to serve 6 hour shifts. Peter was bound, but prayer was loosed! The death of James and the crisis of Peter prompted the church to pray without ceasing. This lesson teaches us the power of prayer. We should keep on trusting and keep on praying. Peter has such a level of trust, he is soundly sleeping. He has a peaceful conscience, a lively hope, and the consolations of the Holy Spirit. In the full prospect of death, Peter finds himself standing on the promises of God. Jesus had said, "that when you get old, you will be lead about." He is confident that things will work for his good. God will hear and answer prayer. When you have confidence in God, you can sleep in a lion’s den.
While the church was praying in expectation, an angel visits Peter. He awakens Peter and releases him from the guards. The angel causes Peter to dress himself, put on his shoes and gather his belongings. When God delivers you, he wants to bring you out everything, all that belongs to you. Peter walks out of his imprisonment, through the iron gate, thinking it was a dream. Peter was unsure of what was happening but he followed in Faith. Once he passed through the gate, Peter realized that God had sent an angel to deliver him. Peter goes to the house of Mary the mother of John Mark, the place where the Last Supper was held. Peter understood without a doubt that God had rescued him. Now the church is reassured again that God answers prayer. This divine revelation should strengthened our faith. God sees our trials, and God answer our prayers. God’s manifested power in the church always strengthens our faith. We need to pray that God will manifest his power in the church again. We also need to pray when we see fellow believers going through desperate situations. Many times God will respond to the intercessory prayers of his people. A church that is earnest and persistent in prayer gets God attention. Rhonda finally lets Peter in. Peter declared all that God had done for him. Prayer Changes things, so pray often and with confidence! Their prayers were answered even as they prayed. But when the answer arrived at the door, they didn’t believe it. When the answer comes to your prayers, don’t be surprised, be thankful! God sees our trials, God hears our prayer and God will take care of our enemies.
3. God knows how to deals with our enemies - No matter how powerful they seem to be, God will deal with every one of our enemies. Although Herod was boastful and proud, God knows how to bring the proud low. Herod thought to stop the Church, but God stops Herod. Herod tried to receive the glory due to God, but now in judgment, God is glorified. Through prayer God will break our chains and set us free and at the same bring judgment on our enemies. Herod had not prepared for the wrath of God. He did realize that fighting a child of God was really fighting God. When we persist in prayer, the Lord will fight for us. The songwriter says, “The devil can’t harm a praying man.” Herod died a horrible death, in tremendous pain, eaten alive from the inside out. To be eaten by worms was considered a most horrible way to die. His sins of persecution of the righteous and arrogant pride were serious sins, and in this case, God chose to punish him immediately. God does not punish all sin immediately, but the wage of sin is still death. Herod found no place for repentance. His judgment on James has been swift and deliberate. Here, he reaps what he has sown. Today, we have another opportunity to get right with God. Today, we have received brand new mercies. Unlike Herod, we can be forgiven. The Lord offers it today. We ought to accept Christ offer of Forgiveness and not wait another minute. Christ died for our sin. Everyone of us will either die to our sin or in our sin. To be friend of the world is to be an enemy of God. God know how to deal his enemies.
The people of Tyre and Sidon left no stone unturned to please Herod. This occasion was planned to appease Herod. And Herod dressed for occasion: He was arrayed in shimmering silver which glowed in the sight of the people. He looked like a god, spoke like a god, and the people praised him like he was a god, but he was not God. Herod thought he would have the last word. He thought that he could stop the work of God, but he was stopped and the work of God grew and multiplied. God sees our trials; God hears our prayers; and God deals with our enemies! Have you been praying? Then keep on praying! Have you prayed one time about it? Pray again! And keep praying until the answer comes. God still answers prayer.
