The Power Of United Prayer

First Church of God in Harvey

Sunday morning, September 28th, 2008

Welcome...

This is the day which the Lord hath made; we will rejoice and be glad in it. This is the day...elaborate..

How are you today? Has God been good to you? Do you still love the Lord? Do you intend to make heaven your home? Let’s take time to praise the Lord....

Let us pray

If there is a time we need to pray, it is now. If there is a time we need to seek God’s face, it is now. If there is a time we need to trust God completely, it is now. Our nation is in trouble, and we need to pray to God for our nation. The Bi-ble says in 2 Chronicles 7 verse 14, If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and

pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will hear their land.

Today we will be using as our to-pic, The power of united prayer, and our scripture will be taken from Acts 12: verses 1 through 17 from the King James Version......Acts 12: 1 through 17, let’s all stand and read together. Please tell someone, prayer can break iron chains.

The power of united prayer can Number One - Brings Deliverance. The power of united prayer can Number Two - Bring Surprise, and the power of united prayer can Number Three - Bring A Testimony.

After 911, it seems people were spending time in prayer, but what has happened over the past seven years? Are we still a praying nation, or do we only pray when problems strike? Prayer has become a very popular topic, but thank God there are people who are truly taking the time to pray. I believe our nation is still what it is because people are taking the time to pray for our nation, and our nation does need prayer.

As a people, when we pray, do we pray sincerely, or do we reduce God; the all wise God as some kind of heavenly Santa Claus whose main function is to give us "what we want when we want it." In our text for today, we find that the Christians in the early church were praying for Simon Peter, but when God answered their prayers they could not

believe it. In our text we find that Herod had just killed James the brother of John, and this pleased the Jews. Because the Jews were so pleased, he decided to arrest Peter with the intention of killing him after the Jewish celebration was ended.

So here we find Peter was in prison, and the Bible says prayer was made without ceasing of the church unto God for him. I wonder what was the church praying about? Were they praying for Peter’s release or were they praying for his protection, that God would spare his life? It seems it was a hopeless situation for Peter. Peter was in jail. He was locked up in a jail cell, sleeping between two soldiers, and he was bound with chains. The saints who were praying, knew that God could do anything. They knew that God could release Peter from the jail, because he had done it before. In Acts 5 verse 19 we read, But the angel of the Lord by night opened the prison doors, and brought them forth...

Sometimes in life it seems we are faced with a hopeless situation; sometimes it might seems there is no way out, but the power of united prayer can change hopelessness to hope. Maybe you have given up, maybe you have said it is too much to bear, but the power of united prayer can bring about a change....elaborate...

So here we have God’s people praying in earnest for Peter. They were having a round the clock prayer meeting, praying for the one they love. The people of God were united in prayer. Many times we might say it is not the length of the prayer, but the quality of the prayer, that sounds good. The saints here were spending quality time in prayer. As they

prayed, as they called upon God, as they were united in prayer, deliverance came. I want someone to know today, that the power of united prayer will bring deliverance.

Verse 7...(read).. The power of united prayer will break iron chains. Iron chains will fall off when God’s people are united in prayer. Herod might have thought there was no way out for Peter, but maybe did not realize the power of prayer. Prayer knows no distance. Prayer cannot be barred out. When God’s people come together and pray extraordianry

things will take place. In the classroom you are not allowed to pray out loud, but thank God you can whisper a little prayer to the Lord, and he will make things all right. Just have a little talk with Jesus, and he will make things alright....elaborate....