INTRODUCTION: Arthur Burns was chair of the Federal Reserve in the 1970s, and a Jewish economist of great influence in Washington during the tenure of several Presidents. Burns was once asked to pray at a gathering of evangelical politicians. Stunning his hosts, he prayed thus: "Lord, I pray that Jews would come to know Jesus Christ. And I pray that Buddhists would come to know Jesus Christ. And I pray that Muslims would come to know Jesus Christ." And then, most stunning of all: "And Lord, I pray that Christians would come to know Jesus Christ."
One of the lids on our leadership, our relationships, and ministry effectiveness as a church is the depth of our commitment to knowing God in prayer. If we don’t have a commitment to spiritual discipline & spiritual vitality, we may put something together that God will not bless. We see the critical importance of prayer for God’s people in Acts 12 [READ 12:1-5]
Luke has been recording one marvelous conversion after another—the 3000 on Pentecost, the Samaritans, the Ethiopian, Saul of Tarsus, Cornelius—they were witnesses, and the word of God was spreading. Luke is about to describe the next great leap forward we refer to as Paul’s first missionary journey. But first, he chronicles for us a serious setback in the death of James and the imprisonment of Peter, two apostles and leaders in the Jerusalem church. Herod Agrippa I, grandson of Herod the Great and nephew of Herod Antipas, was the tyrant responsible for this double assault on the work of God.
Herod put Peter in prison, intending to bring him out for public trial—what we might call today a “show trial”—after Passover. Following Peter’s trial would come his execution. At the time it must have seemed like a grave crisis. One apostle taken down, another imprisoned awaiting death. The situation looked bleak, even hopeless. There appeared to be no possibility of an escape or jailbreak. What could the powerless little community of Christ do against the armed might of Rome? [READ v.5]
In this corner, we have the world, weighing in with the authority of Herod, the power of the sword, and the security of the prison. And in this corner, we have the church, weighing in with prayer. Let’s get ready to rumble? On paper, this is a mismatch. It’s a ragtag rebellion against the Death Star of the Evil Empire. It’s two little hobbits against all the Dark Forces of Mordor. It’s Michigan hosting App State. No chance, right? But prayer is the one power the powerless possess. When those who are powerless tap the power of prayer, we can expect the unexpected.
I. GOD SHOWS UP WHEN HIS PEOPLE "STRETCH OUT" (5-11)
A. The Greek adverb "ektenos" translated “earnestly” literally means “stretched out,” and it pictures the idea of hands stretched out to God in prayer.
1. It’s the same word Luke used in describing Jesus’ prayer in the garden of Gesthemane.
2. It gives the impression of wholehearted, urgent pleading to God.
3. While Peter was fast asleep in prison in the middle of the night, the church was engaged in earnest, vigilant prayer for him.
B. APP: When was the last time you “stretched out” in prayer? Been earnest, fervent—even desperate in prayer?
1. It’s like saying, “God, I’m at the end of my rope—please have a big net ready.”
2. I was in a Bible study with an exchange student who asked why not wait to pray until all options have been exhausted.
3. APP: We feel like prayer is a terribly precarious second-best. So long as we can fuss and work and rush about, so long as we can lend a hand, we have some hope; but if we have to fall back upon God—well, we don’t want to count on that.
4. APP: How many leaders in the church today could do what they’re doing solely in their own power, without the church ever noticing?
5. In the 1966 Oscar winner for Best Picture, "A Man for All Seasons," Thomas More & Cardinal Wolsey are debating what to do about Queen Catherine’s infertility. Wolsey wants to secure a divorce; More advocates prayer. Wolsey sneers, “Would you pray for a miracle?” More replies, “There ARE precedents.”
>>Yes indeed there are. Let’s see what happens: [READ 12:6-11]
C. The dramatic details Luke includes all seem to emphasize God’s intervention and Peter’s passivity.
1. Peter hadn’t planned this. He was asleep, and the angel has to nudge him awake & tell him how to dress. Peter doesn’t even think it’s real!
2. But then Peter gets it. God showed up when His people stretched out!
3. This is a huge theme for Luke that he repeats again and again: Luke 1:10-11, 3:21, 9:28-29; Acts 4:31, 9:11, 11:5) GOD SHOWS UP WHEN HIS PEOPLE STRETCH OUT!
D. APP: It’s common in applying this passage to focus on God’s deliverance of Peter in answer to “stretched-out” prayer, while ignoring the non-deliverance of James. But the fact that Luke mentions it here reminds us of God’s sovereignty when thinking about God’s help in times of trouble. God shows up, but we must leave it to Him to do what’s best. The question for us is, will we remain stretched out and obedient to God regardless of the outcome of a crisis we face?
>>But there’s some encouragement about prayer we shouldn’t miss: [READ 12:12-17]
II. GOD SHOWS UP WHEN HIS PEOPLE FALL SHORT (12-17)
A. Isn’t this a goofy little piece of the story to keep in? What are we meant to make of this? If I were making this story up, I’d have left this part out.
1. [Re-enact people praying amid Rhoda’s interruptions]
2. You’ll hear some sermons that use this passage to teach that we should pray believing our prayers will be answered, “pray with expectation.” OK, well that’s true enough--I agree with it. But that can’t be Luke’s point--their prayers were answered even if they didn’t believe it would be. So what are we to take from this?
B. God shows up when His people fall short. I think it’s an encouragement to us that God answers our prayers even when our faith isn’t perfect. In fact even when our theology isn’t perfect--I think that the point is that God honored their prayer even if they weren’t giants of faith. I think that the fact that our prayers are answered says far less about the quality of our prayers than it does about the quality of our God! A God who hears! A God who delivers! A God who gives hope!
C. MY Mom was diagnosed with cancer summer 1992. She underwent 3 surgeries in a 24 hour period. Then followed a long, difficult chemotherapy treatment. For over a decade she was cancer free, but then a routine scan in August 2005 showed the cancer had returned, in multiple locations. We prayed, her church prayed, our church prayed, and prayed, and prayed. We stretched out. After several months Mom went to Duke Medical Center for a consult--and wouldn’t you know it? No cancer. They couldn’t see it. A Christmas present from the Lord in December 2005.
D. It’s an encouragement to me that their prayer is described as "earnest" in spite of the fact that they obviously weren’t convinced that God would answer. In my life there are times when I pray earnestly, but the truth of the matter is that it’s hard to see how God’s gonna work things out. I’m glad to know that God still answers my prayers even while my faith is growing. This is not to downplay the importance of faith--faith is unquestionably important in prayer, and our faith grows as we see God answer our prayers. But we can still pray earnestly while our faith is under construction.
CONCLUSION: GOD SHOWS UP WHEN HIS PEOPLE STRETCH OUT, AND GOD SHOWS UP WHEN HIS PEOPLE FALL SHORT. God is not afraid of big jobs. Hear how Luke wraps this up [READ 12:18-24]. The chapter opens with James having been killed, Peter in prison, and Herod triumphant; it closes with Herod dead, Peter free, and the word of God triumphant. What’s the biggest prayer you’ve never dared to pray? Often I think we’re afraid to pray for big things, because our faith wavers; their faith wavered, and God still showed up.
• We could pray for the salvation of people who don’t yet know Jesus—people who seem far away from God and who have been that way for a long time.
• We could pray for our witness as a church to transform not just our community, but the world.
• We could pray for entire nations to repent before God and believe the gospel.
Karl Barth said: “To clasp hands in prayer is the beginning of an uprising against the disorder of the world.” Let’s stretch out in prayer together.
