Dedicated To The Men of God Who Preach the Word of God As It Is To Men As They Are

"Preach The Word"

THE POWER OF PRAYER
Acts 12:1-17

0UR hearts are thrilled by the remarkable deliverance of Peter from prison, recorded in Acts
12:1-17. God answered prayer and gave a demonstration of His might and power. It is not
always God's sovereign will to deliver His own from the hand of the enemy. Sometimes, as in
the case of John the Baptist, He lets them become martyrs for His glory. But in Acts 12, the
occasion impresses us vividly with God's concern over His children. May we ever praise Him,
whether we are delivered as were Peter, Paul, and Silas or martyred, as was James.

I. AN UNFAIR RESTRAINT
"Peter therefore was kept in prison" (Acts 12:5). This would be hard on Peter. It wbuld be hard
on any preacher. He had been called to preach, but now found himself in the confines of four
prison walls. It is almost folly for Christians to expect to get a fair and square deal from the
world. "The whole world lieth in wickedness" (I John 5:19). How cou 1 d Peter expect justice?
All the persecution against our Lord was unfair. Even on the day of His sentence to death,
false witnesses were hired to testify against Him. Was Peter not a lawabiding citizen? He
obeyed civil authority. Christ had taught him to render unto Caesar the things that were
Caesar's. Christ had taught him to be subject to the powers that be.
What was it that got Peter into trouble? It was his refusal to stop preaching Christ and Him
crucified. The world sometimes merely laughs at the clear testimony of God's people, and at
other times wrath and indignation are aroused. And in the end, the child of God is persecuted.
When the Sanhedrin ordered Peter and the other apostles to stop preaching, he said, "We
cannot but speak the things which we have seen and heard" (Acts 4:20). A great change had
come over Peter. Once he feared to face a young woman in the courtyard. Peter had grown in
grace since then. Hatred for the gospel had aroused animosity against Peter, and the
government was about to squelch the Christian movement by killing its leaders. James was the
first victim, and Peter was next in line. His execution was going to be held after the Passover.
The enemy of the gospel often oversteps himself and fails to count on the power of God. Let
us see what happened!

II. AN URGENT REQUEST
"Prayer was made without ceasing of the church unto God for him" (Acts 12:5). Peter was in
prison, and there is no doubt that Peter was praying for his own deliverance. The text says the
church was remembering Peter before the throne of grace. Here we see a church on their
knees for their pastor. God is especially pleased when united prayer is made. God is appealing
for united prayer in Hebrews 10:19-25. The closing words of the passage read, "Not forsaking
the assembling of ourselves together" (Heb. 10:25). Examples of united praying are seen
throughout the Bible. In II Chron. 30:23-27, we see the whole assembly of Israel communing
with God. The awakening which followed was tremendous. In the days of Nehemiah, when
they were rebuilding the wall, united prayer was speedily answered. This church prayed
"without ceasing" (Acts 12:5). This was the exact language of the Apostle Paul in I
Thessalonians 5:17. The church of Jesus Christ today needs to return to old-fashioned, united
prayer meetings. Nothing will bring down the power of God and nothing can annihilate the
power of the enemy like prayer. When families pray together, God blesses the home. When
the church's families gather together for prayer, God blesses the church. In Peter's day, the
church got together for prayer. They knew that prayer would bring the answer to their problem.
Prayer led them to the throne of grace, and that is where God releases His power.
When the church fails to pray, she fails to experience and enjoy what God can do. The reason
we do not see things done is that we do not ask God. Jesus said, "Ask, and it shall be given
you" (Matt. 7:7). James, writing on practical Christianity, tells us the reason why many live in
spiritual poverty. "Ye have not, because ye ask not" (James 4:2). Let us ask largely, and God
will give abundantly.

III. AN UNUSUAL RESCUE
God was concerned about His servant Peter and sent an angel down to the prison where Peter
was sleeping. This was the sleep of confidence. Peter didn't get excited because he was in jail.
He was there for a just cause. Suffering is delightful when it overtakes us on the way to duty.
He had the deepest confidence in His Heavenly Father. The Bible says he was sleeping
"between two soldiers" (Acts 12:6). The Lord provided His servant with peace of mind and rest
of heart in the midst of a most trying circumstance. The worst they could do to Peter was to
behead him. But to die is gain! So Peter had nothing to worry about. He slept so soundly that it
took an angel to arouse him! Peter didn't allow little things or big things to disturb his peace of
heart and his confidence in God. God worked miracles related to the release of Peter in
answer to a praying church. The God who lived in Peter's day is just the same today. God
could work miracles and wonders today through preachers if congregations prayed for them as
the church prayed for Peter on that occasion. Let some churches try this, and they will see
what happens to the preacher and through the preacher. The church could hardly believe it
when they saw what had happened. When we bring God into the difficult circumstances of life,
He performs wonders and miracles. Prayer is the mightiest force in the universe. By prayer we
release God's power to work on our behalf.

IV. AN UNPREPARED REUNION
There is something disappointing about the turn of events concluding this account. What is it?
It is the failure of praying people to believe that their prayers have been answered. They seem
to be so human and so faithless. The same could be said of the disciples who, upon hearing
that Jesus' body was no longer in the tomb, believed it had been stolen. But there was a girl
named Rhoda who believed although she only heard Peter's voice. She answered the knock
on the garden gate. She became so excited and overjoyed that she forgot to unlock the gate.
Rhoda's simple faith is an inspiration to us all. She reminds us of the little girl who had faith
enough to take an umbrella to prayer meeting, for they were going to pray for a much-needed
rain. We need to become as little children. The believers would not believe the girl's story until
they opened the gate and saw the answer to their prayer standing before them. But God does
answer prayer. Do you pray believingly?

Sermon by Dr. Andrew Telford