Subject - Effective Fervent Prayer Invites Divine Intervention
Scripture - Acts 12:5-11 “So Peter was kept in prison, but the church was earnestly praying to God for him. 6 The night before Herod was to bring him to trial, Peter was sleeping between two soldiers, bound with two chains, and sentries stood guard at the entrance. 7 Suddenly an angel of the Lord appeared and a light shone in the cell. He struck Peter on the side and woke him up. “Quick, get up!” he said, and the chains fell off Peter’s wrists. 8 Then the angel said to him, “Put on your clothes and sandals.” And Peter did so. “Wrap your cloak around you and follow me,” the angel told him. 9 Peter followed him out of the prison, but he had no idea that what the angel was doing was really happening; he thought he was seeing a vision. 10 They passed the first and second guards and came to the iron gate leading to the city. It opened for them by itself, and they went through it. When they had walked the length of one street, suddenly the angel left him. 11 Then Peter came to himself and said, “Now I know without a doubt that the Lord has sent his angel and rescued me from Herod’s clutches and from everything the Jewish people were hoping would happen.”
Introduction: The prayers of righteous people are powerful and effective. “The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.” This passage motivates believers to cry out to God because He uses our prayers to change the world. Through prayer the impossible is made possible. In Acts 12, “Peter therefore was kept in prison: but prayer was made without ceasing of the church unto God for him.” The graphic picture of Acts 12 is not strange to the Church. The church has always faced opposition. Since its inception, evil forces have been trying to stop the church and even to destroy the church. Each persecution has been overcome, then the church to grow more 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.” In this lesson, after hearing the news concerning James’ execution, the Church 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 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 things! It has been said that “prayer changes people and people change things.” One of the most amazing privileges of a believer is his access to God through prayer. We all face trials and tribulations but praying will help us 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. Jesus taught believers to pray and encouraged them to pray.
“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.”
“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.” Mark 11:17
In this crisis, 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 Herod’s hand. We 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.
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 in Jerusalem. Now the persecution of the church in Jerusalem intensifies again. Herod Agrippa was the grand son of Herod the Great who tried Jesus before sending him to Pontius Pilate to be examined again. Herod Agrippa’s uncle was Herod Antipas was the Herod who had John the Baptist beheaded and paraded John’s head on a platter during His birthday party. Now the new Roman Emperor, Caligula made Herod Agrippa king over Judea, Perea, Samaria, and the territories of Galilee. Herod Agrippa’s first challenge was to restore law and order to the region. The Herod family had a lot of enemies in Jerusalem. 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 customs. Historians say that Herod attended all the Jewish feasts, rituals and honor their worship services with his presence. Herod decided to move against the Christians to appease the Jewish leaders who opposed him. He thought his action would solidify his position and earn their support. Maybe Caesar would hear a favorable report about his actions in the region. Herod’s efforts to appease the Jewish leaders seem to have a measure of success. The church was their common enemy! Sometimes people get caught up in pleasing men and never consider what pleases God.
James and John, two of the original twelve followers of Jesus, had asked for positions of authority on his right side and his left, were now put to the test. 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! James was arrested, tried, and executed by Herod Agrippa immediately after his arrest. His fate was sealed, and the Church heard the news after the fact. John would later suffer greatly on the Isle of Patmos. We must be careful of what we ask for!
Why did God allow James to die immediately, and Peter be miraculously saved? Life is full of difficult questions that will only be fully answered in the presence of God. Why is one child physically handicapped and the other athletically gifted? Why do some people soar and live life without limits while others die before they ever realize their full 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. Never allow what you do not know to keep you from believing what we do know. There are some things we know. We know all things work for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose. God knows how to save us, strengthen us and keep us that his mighty works can be glorified. In our suffering we must learn to pray and believe that “the effective fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.” Effective fervent prayer invites divine intervention. Our prayer cannot dictate God’s actions or demand our own way, but we can place the crisis in God’s hand. The church ought to pray with great expectation knowing that God is a good God who loves us, sees our crisis, hears our prayers, and knows what to do. Three things from the text (1) Our Loving God Sees Every 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. Our Loving God Sees Every 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, our loving 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. Our Loving God Hears Every Prayer. 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 groups 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 in God, that he was 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. Our Loving God will hear and answer prayer. When you have confidence in God, you can sleep in a prison or lion’s den with the same grace and peace.
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. Our loving God sees every trials, and God answer every 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 we should pray often and with confidence! The church prayers were answered quicker than they expected and in ways they never expected. While they were still praying, the answer arrived at the door. They could hardly believe it. When the answer comes to your prayers, don't be surprised, just be thankful! Our loving God sees every trial, hears every prayer and knows how to take care of our enemies.
3. Our Loving God knows How to Deal with Our Enemies - No matter how powerful they seem to be, Our loving God knows how to take care of His children and how to deal with every one of their enemies. Although Herod was boastful and proud, God knows how to bring the proud low. Herod was trying to stop the Church, but God stopped Herod. Herod was trying to glorify himself, his position and power, but God was glorified. Herod is trying to make a spectacle of Peter, but God made a spectacle of him in the present of the city. God received the glory due to Himself. In an act of judgment, God was glorified. Through prayer God will break our chains, open iron gates, set his people free and at the same bring judgment on our enemies. The church did not start a protest or send a delegation to Herod for a meeting, the church prayed. Every human effort is limited.
Herod, like all enemies of the church, was not prepared for the wrath of God. He did not 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. Every one 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. Our loving God know how to deal his enemies. The Herod Family was a bad lot, tried Jesus, slaughtered innocent children trying to kill Jesus, beheaded John the Baptist, killed James, yet our loving God withheld his judgment. Herod finally crossed the line and judgment came.
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. The day will come when God’s enemies will be vanquished and subdued. Until then the church can be assured that Our loving God sees every trial, hears every prayer, and deals with every enemy. Though He may not come when we want Him, He will come! If you been praying? Then keep on praying! Have you prayed one time about it? Pray again! And keep praying until the answer comes. Effective fervent prayer of the church invites divine intervention. God still answers prayer and will come to our rescue. The judgment of God is promised, it may not be swift, but it is sure. Hebrews reminds all, “And just as each person is destined to die once and after that comes judgment,” Herod was not ready, will you be ready? Let's Pray!
