Prayer Is A Wonderful Privilege!

It is strange that, while praying, we seldom ask for change of character, but always a change in circumstance.  -Baptist Challenge, December 1981

Prayer is a wonderful privilege. God has opened the door to His throne room and invited His children to enter His presence with their petitions, (Hebrews 4:16). He has promised to hear us when we call, (Jeremiah 33:3). And, he has promised to answer our prayers when we pray according to His will, (1 John 5:14-15). We all know that there are many privileges and promises associated with prayer. But, prayer is also a very powerful endeavor!

We have all experienced the power of private prayer. We have experienced those times when we called on the Lord in the secret place of prayer, and He heard us, and He answered us in power for His glory. There is something special about entering God’s presence, by yourself, to talk to Him in secret. It’s something we should all do, and should do often.

In fact, I strongly believe that something truly happens when God's people pray. I refer you to Acts 12:1-24, for today's message. This passage reminds us that there is power in corporate prayer. There is a special dynamic that comes into play when God’s children come together, united in faith and purpose, to seek the face of the Lord in prayer.

Let me share a few truths that present themselves in this passage. Acts 12: 1-5, tells us that it was a time of many problems. There were attacks: James the brother of John, one of the Lord’s inner circle, is put to death by Herod. Peter has also been imprisoned and is sitting on death row awaiting his own execution. The Jews pressed these attacks against the early church because they hated the Gospel they preached. Herod persecuted the early church because it gave him a political advantage.

There was also apprehension: The church did not know what the future held. As a result, there was fear and concern for the future of the church. After all, these people had left their Jewish roots to follow the way of Jesus Christ. Perhaps they were afraid that the hatred of the Jews, and the king, might eventually turn away from the leaders of the church; and settle on the members of the church.

There was an adversary: We are told that Herod is the one who killed James and arrested Peter. We are also told that his actions pleased the Jews. So, Herod and the Jews were responsible for the persecution, but they were merely the human instruments. The one who organized and empowered this persecution was Satan himself. He hated the church, the Gospel it preached and the Lord it worshiped. He was out to destroy the church while it was still in its infancy. In order to do that, he stirred up his forces and set them in array against the people of God.

Only someone who is willfully ignorant could look at the modern church without seeing the problems we face. We operate in a world that is hostile to our message. Society has no use for us, or for the message we preach. Financially, numerically, and spiritually, the church in the 21st Century is in deep trouble. The only churches that are growing are those who have embraced a more worldly atmosphere and message. Fundamental churches that still cling to the Word of God, and preaching as the foundational elements of their worship, are dying at an alarming rate!

Acts 12:5 also tell us, though, that it was a time of prayer. What kind of prayer? Basically, two types are demonstrated here. First, It was fervent prayer: We are told that that “prayer was made without ceasing...” The word “ceasing” means “to stretch forth”. It is a medical term that refers to a stretched ligament or a pulled muscle. It has the idea of “going beyond the boundaries”. When applied to prayer, it is a picture of fervency. It is the picture of people pouring out their hearts in prayer before the Lord as they seek His face for their needs.

Seriously, that’s the kind of praying we need to undertake. The promise of God is that “the effectual fervent prayer of a righteous men availeth much,” (James 5:16). The words “effectual fervent” refer to “energetic passionate” prayer. It is not prayer that is sluggish, lifeless, unconcerned, casual, halfhearted, blasé and apathetic; it is prayer that pours forth from a burdened heart. That kind of prayer reaches heaven and moves the hand of God.

Secondly, It was faithful prayer: By faithful praying, I mean theirs was a prayer of faith. Their prayers were made “to God”. This seems obvious, but there are times when it seems like our prayers are designed to be heard by other people, or even by us. This congregation joined their voices and reached up as one to touch God for their church and for Peter. When we pray, we must pray in faith. Faith is the essential ingredient that marks the difference between answered and unanswered prayer.

Finally, it was a time of power. In Acts 12:6-11,  there was powerful salvation : When the church prayed, God heard them and answered their prayers. Peter was delivered from prison through a tremendous, miraculous intervention. God saved Peter because the church asked Him to!

In Acts 12:12-17,  there were powerful surprises: When Peter was released from prison, he went to the house where the church had met to pray. He knocked on the gate, Rhoda came out to see who was there, heard his voice and went and told the church that Peter was outside. They didn't believe her, but assumed that he must be dead, and that it was his guardian angel at the gate. You see, the Jews believed that every person had a guardian angel that could assume that person’s form. Poor Peter!

Acts 12:18-24 show us that  there was powerful sovereignty: This passage closes with God giving His church even more  evidence that He is sovereign over everything His church faces.

In conclusion, we need to be able to get a hold of the Lord. We need that as individuals, and we need that as a church. The only way that will ever happen is for us to come together like the early church and make seeking God our priority. How?

• We need to examine our hearts and be sure there is nothing in us against another brother or sister in Jesus.
• We need to seek God as a family.
• We need to call on God by faith, believing Him for all things.
• We need to look beyond our own needs and lift up those around us who are in need.
• We need to pray through our problems until we see the Lord move in power.

Something happens when God’s people pray. Let’s pray together and see what happens!

Have a blessed day!

Shelley