Surprised by Prayer
Opening Illustration:
A minister dies and is waiting in line at the Pearly Gates. Ahead of him is a guy who's dressed in sunglasses, a loud shirt, leather jacket, and jeans. Saint Peter addresses this guy, "Your name, please, so that I determine your place in the Kingdom of Heaven?" The guy replies, "Aey, Joe Cohen, taxi-driver, Brooklyn." Saint Peter consults his list. He smiles and says to the taxi-driver, "Take this silken robe and golden staff, yours is the marble mansion on the hill over there."
The taxi-driver goes into Heaven with his robe and staff, and it's the minister's turn. He stands tall and booms out, "I am Joseph Snow, pastor of Grace Presbyterian for the last forty-three years." Saint Peter consults his list. He says to the minister, "Take this burlap bag and go to the shack down that back alley." "Just a minute," says the minister. "That man was a taxi-driver, and he gets a silken robe and a mansion. I’m a pastor and I get a shack? How can this be?" "Up here, we work by results," says Saint Peter. "When you preached, people slept; when he drove, people prayed."
Herod was a bad man
All the Herods – from the same family of Edomites
All were despised rulers – cruel, vicious
One attempted to kill the infant Jesus
Another participated in the death of Jesus
Now he executes James
Seeing it pleased the Jews – he arrests Peter
What can the church do?
Facing this persecution – what can the church do?
Run him out of office? No.
Vote him out at the next election?
Their response – prayer – Acts 12:5
This is the origin of “prayer meeting” - former name for Wednesday night
Four things to learn about this prayer meeting:
The prayers were intense
Without ceasing
Greek word = stretched out – many people, long time, with great emotion
James 5:16
Luke 11:8
The praying was united
“Of the church” implies the entire congregation, all the members
Church is not the building, street address
Church is a planned, called assembly for a specific purpose
Joint – public prayer
Requires a leader to say out loud what all are feeling
Must be heard by all
Should be short to hold attention
Not preach a sermon
Not make announcements
Requires all agree (say Amen) with the sentiments
The prayers were real
“Unto God”
Who else would you pray to?
Self – like the Pharisees did
Others – so they will be impressed with your devotion
No vein repetitions are needed – Matthew 6:5, 7
Prayer must “seek God's face” - 2 Chronicles 7:14
The prayers were specific
We often use “generic” terms
Bless, be with, help – What do you want God to do?
Puny prayers come from a puny faith
Philippians 4:6-7 - “Let your requests be made known to God”
What were they praying for in Acts 12?
Peter's life
Peter's safety
Peter's release from prison
We must pray in faith
What did they believe would happen?
They, like us, don't know HOW God will answer their prayer.
At first – thought Rhoda was “beside herself” - mad, crazy
Then some thought it was His spirit (angel) – meaning he died but is safe
Finally – someone opened the door and saw Peter
They were ASTONISHED
Just a little faith goes a long way – Matthew 17:20 “mustard seed”
This sermon was developed from an article published in REVIVAL magazine, Issue 6, by Dr. Rick Flanders.