Being a Part of a Praying Church Text: Acts 12:1-17
1 Now about that time Herod the king stretched out his hand to harass some from the church. 2 Then he killed James the brother of John with the sword. 3 And because he saw that it pleased the Jews, he proceeded further to seize Peter also. Now it was during the Days of Unleavened Bread. 4 So when he had arrested him, he put him in prison, and delivered him to four squads of soldiers to keep him, intending to bring him before the people after Passover. 5 Peter was therefore kept in prison, but constant prayer was offered to God for him by the church. 6 And when Herod was about to bring him out, that night Peter was sleeping, bound with two chains between two soldiers; and the guards before the door were keeping the prison. 7 Now behold, an angel of the Lord stood by him, and a light shone in the prison; and he struck Peter on the side and raised him up, saying, “Arise quickly!” And his chains fell off his hands. 8 Then the angel said to him, “Gird yourself and tie on your sandals”; and so he did. And he said to him, “Put on your garment and follow me.” 9 So he went out and followed him, and did not know that what was done by the angel was real, but thought he was seeing a vision. 10 When they were past the first and the second guard posts, they came to the Iron Gate that leads to the city, which opened to them of its own accord; and they went out and went down one street, and immediately the angel departed from him. 11 And when Peter had come to himself, he said, “Now I know for certain that the Lord has sent His angel, and has delivered me from the hand of Herod and from all the expectation of the Jewish people.”
12 So, when he had considered this, he came to the house of Mary, the mother of John whose surname was Mark, where many were gathered together praying. 13 And as Peter knocked at the door of the gate, a girl named Rhoda came to answer. 14 When she recognized Peter’s voice, because of her gladness she did not open the gate, but ran in and announced that Peter stood before the gate. 15 But they said to her, “You are beside yourself!” Yet she kept insisting that it was so. So they said, “It is his angel.” 16 Now Peter continued knocking; and when they opened the door and saw him, they were astonished. 17 But motioning to them with his hand to keep silent, he declared to them how the Lord had brought him out of the prison. And he said, “Go, tell these things to James and to the brethren.” And he departed and went to another place.
I. Here at Crane Eater our mission statement is Love, Prayer and Grace. I thank God that our mission statement isn’t just a statement, but it’s the biggest reason good things are happening here! Simply put, “Prayer means you are talking to the creator, and there isn’t any conversation with the creator that is void or futile! He listens and hears!
A. Acts 12:1-4 Now about that time Herod the king stretched out his hand to harass some from the church. 2 Then he killed James the brother of John with the sword. 3 And because he saw that it pleased the Jews, he proceeded further to seize Peter also. Now it was during the Days of Unleavened Bread. 4 So when he had arrested him, he put him in prison, and delivered him to four squads of soldiers to keep him, intending to bring him before the people after Passover.
B. This could read “Now at this time the devil stretched out his hand to harass some from the church.” He killed James, and saw that it pleased the Jews. Then satan caught Peter, placed him in prison with 4 soldiers guarding him in 8 hour shifts/ 16 in all!
C. #1. Start expecting an answer! Why is prayer so important? Because when we work, we work. But when we pray, God works! When you are a part of a praying church you should expect an answer! It might not always be a yes it might be a no answer!
D. One thing for sure the church was praying! Could it be that men and women had to hear about James’ dying before they came together! Could it be that James dyed because of no prayer; no agreement!
E. Jesus said in Matthew 18:18-20 18 “Assuredly, I say to you, whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven. 19 “Again I say to you that if two of you agree on earth concerning anything that they ask, it will be done for them by My Father in heaven. 20 For where two or three are gathered together in my name, I am there in the midst of them.”
F. #2. Be a person who agrees with God’s word every time! We come together to do business, sitting, clapping, praising, tithing worshipping, teaching, leading, planning, building, eating and listening, but all this is done with prayer in mind. Jesus said, “If two or three are gathered in My name, I am there in the midst!”
G. Think about this, you are here today to make executive decisions with the king! How many “agreers” do we have in here today?
H. Acts 12: 5-7 Peter was therefore kept in prison, but constant prayer was offered to God for him by the church. 6 And when Herod was about to bring him out, that night Peter was sleeping, bound with two chains between two soldiers; and the guards before the door were keeping the prison. 7 Now behold, an angel of the Lord stood by him, and a light shone in the prison; and he struck Peter on the side and raised him up, saying, “Arise quickly!” And his chains fell off his hands.
I. #3. Sometimes we have to be asleep before God can do something. (Resting in Zion!) He was sleeping bound with two chains between two solders and two guards at the prison door. (Peter was a Spiritual threat unto them!)
J. Listen to vs. 7 Now behold, an angel of the Lord stood by him, and a light shone in the prison; and he struck Peter on the side and raised him up, saying, “Arise quickly!” And his chains fell off his hands.
K. #4. Can I remind you that God still answers prayer; He still hears the prayers of His saints! (So when you know God has done something don’t just sit there give Him praise!) Who’s got a testimony? Give Him glory!
L. Psalm 103:20-22 Bless the LORD, you His angels, who excel in strength, who do His word, heeding the voice of His word.21 Bless the LORD, all you His hosts, You ministers of His, who do His pleasure. 22 Bless the LORD, all His works, in all places of His dominion. Bless the LORD, O my soul! Hebrews 12:1 Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, ( Right now, God has angel’s to help you do your work.)
M. Acts 12:8-10 Then the angel said to him, “Gird yourself and tie on your sandals”; and so he did. And he said to him, “Put on your garment and follow me.” 9 So he went out and followed him, and did not know that what was done by the angel was real, but thought he was seeing a vision. 10 When they were past the first and the second guard posts, they came to the Iron Gate that leads to the city, which opened to them of its own accord; and they went out and went down one street, and immediately the angel departed from him.
N. #5.Walk right past the enemy! Gird yourself up, put on your shoes, put on your garment, get ready for an angels help! Peter and the angel go past the first and second guard post, and now an iron gate that leads to the city opens, and the angel leaves! As fast as an angel came, an angel left. When there is a need God’s angels or on alert, and will be dispatched!
O. Acts 12: 11 And when Peter had come to himself, he said, “Now I know for certain that the Lord has sent His angel, and has delivered me from the hand of Herod and from all the expectation of the Jewish people.”
P. #6. God has an expectation for your life and He’s not finished! Jer. 1:12 Then said the LORD unto me, Thou hast well seen: for I will hasten my word to perform it. Isa. 55:10-11 For as the rain comes down, and the snow from heaven, And do not return there, But water the earth, And make it bring forth and bud, That it may give seed to the sower And bread to the eater, 11 So shall My word be that goes forth from My mouth; It shall not return to Me void, But it shall accomplish what I please, And it shall prosper in the thing for which I sent it.
Q. Peter goes to the house of prayer; Rhoda comes to the door as Peter knocks. She gets so excited she doesn’t open the door but she runs to tell the others, “It’s Peter!” But their too busy praying to believe her. Finally Peter walks inside because this church was a praying church! (When the church is being the church she want even know she did anything.) God wants all praise and glory!
