Be a praying church!

Peter had just been arrested, James had just been killed, both for doing the Lord's Work. Herod was doing the work of the devil by doing these things. So what was the church doing at this time?


Acts 12:5

5 Peter was therefore kept in prison, but constant prayer was offered to God for him by the church.



They were in constant prayer over the situation! What an example for us. We have so much to be in prayer about as the church. Missionaries, Pastors, the sick, the hurting, the lost, those being persecuted and even killed for their faith, and the list goes on. We must be in prayer!



So the church was praying for Peter, look what happens:




Acts 12:6-11

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.”



God answered their prayers. When God's people devote themselves to prayer, He moves in awesome ways! Who knows what would have happened if the church had not been in constant prayer.



Oh my brothers and sisters, God can and will do some amazing things if we will be a people of constant prayer. It all starts will me and you. Be a man or woman of prayer and see God move! He desires to hear from His children!



Tom