There have been many times when I have prayed for a particular situation and it seems that God is not answering my prayer. Sometimes it takes the perspective of hindsight to understand that He indeed was working out the details while I impatiently wanted Him to respond immediately. Once I found myself in a situation that went on for months. I was looking for a job in a particular profession and the market in that field just dried up. While I was frantically praying not knowing what the future would bring the Lord opened up a position at the International Mission Board which. Taking that position eventually opened the door of becoming Purchasing Manager. Had I taken another job somewhere the many opportunities that opened for me in my time at the IMB would have never come to fruition. I am thankful now that doors closed and the job market was so tight. Sadly I do not always pray with this kind of intensity. Sometimes I find myself praying almost as if I do not expect God to answer. In the churches life am I part of the solution by setting the example for others or am I part of the problem of prayer neglect. I too often fall far short in the area of prayer.<\/p>\n
This is exactly the position many churches find themselves today. We give lip service to prayer but do not pray in a way that we really expect God to do something in the life of the church. There is a tendency to spend more time trying to figure things out for ourselves. The evidence of this mindset is our little time depending on God to help us deal with the issues facing us. James said it very well, \u201cYou do not have because you do not ask.\u201d He is right we may ask but not with the right attitude of worship and dependency on God. It we were to truly ask in \u201cChrist Name\u201d the results in our churches most likely would be quite different than what they are.<\/p>\n
Today we will see the power of prayer at work and how true dependency on God is in direct contrast with given adulation to man. Peter was the recipient of prayer done in faith. Herod received judgment because he forgot he was just a man.<\/p>\n
Before getting into the actual text a little background on Herod will help set the stage for the events that took place. The Bible can be a little confusing because the name Herod is seen in a number of different places. The question would be are these all the same men? The answer is no. The gospels deal with Herod the great and his sons. Herod Agrippa I spoken about in this passage would be the grandson of Herod the great and son of Herod Antipas. He had been trained in Rome but aligned himself very closely with the Jews and was obedient to the Mosaic Law.<\/p>\n
Acts 12:1-3<\/p>\n
Herod\u2019s actions at this time in persecuting the church was not for religious reasons but to gain popularity with the people as seen in his arrest of Peter. His first act against the leadership of the church was to have James the brother of John killed. The Jews now had someone on their side against the church. It is interesting to note that Herod accomplished this while there was an absence of a Roman governor. Festus had died and a new governor had not arrived otherwise his actions would have been illegal under Roman law.<\/p>\n
Acts 12:4<\/p>\n
The timing of his arrest worked in Peter\u2019s favor. It took place during the Passover season, particularly the seven days following called the feast of unleavened bread. During those days no executions could carried out so Peter was put into jail to be held for execution. In the mind of Herod he was such important prisoner that he had him chained and assigned four men to guard him constantly.<\/p>\n
Acts 12:5<\/p>\n
Here is the response of a church truly seeking God\u2019s will. They were in fervent prayer for Peter. Almost assuredly they were praying for his release. This prayer was going on for the whole time of the feast as Peter spent his time in jail waiting.<\/p>\n
Acts 12:6<\/p>\n
The night before the possible execution of Peter, the people were praying, the guards were guarding, and he was sleeping. His actions would indicate some things about what was going on in Peter\u2019s mind.<\/p>\n
So he slept while the guards watched over him.<\/p>\n
Acts 12:7-11<\/p>\n
God sent an angel to rescue Peter from the jail before he could even be brought before Herod. Notice the angel did not just whisk him away but proceeded in an orderly fashion from waking him, to causing the chains to fall away, to having him get dress for travelling outside the jail. What probably led Peter to thinking he was having a vision was the ease at which they moved past the guards and out the gate that opened for them allowing them to enter the streets of the city. It was only after the angel left him that he realized that it was not a dream at all.<\/p>\n
Acts 12:12<\/p>\n
Peter initial reaction was to go to where he knew the church would be meeting. The central meeting place at that time was at the home of Mary, John Marks mother. He would expect that there would be a prayer meeting going on for him.<\/p>\n
Acts 12:13-15<\/p>\n
Sometimes it is difficult for us to believe that God is actually answering our prayers. The responses that are seen here range from joy at the presence of Peter to one of disbelief. Prayers without an expectancy that God is going to answer them are only wishful thinking.<\/p>\n
Acts 12:16-17<\/p>\n
Finally his knocking got their attention and they opened the door not to find an angel but Peter in the flesh. They had been praying but were amazed that he was actually standing before them. He recounted to them all that had happened. His instructions were for them to let James and the other leaders to know that he was alright. Luke then says, \u201cHe left went to another place.\u201d We are not told where he went but it was probably somewhere out of Herod\u2019s jurisdiction.<\/p>\n
Acts 12:18-19<\/p>\n
Of course the fact Peter was not to be found in the morning caused quite a stir among the soldiers. They knew that to lose a prisoner would lead to their own execution. When Herod found out that Peter was not in jail, he questioned the guards and had them executed. His actions show his lack of regard for human life. First he had James killed for no reason. Then he had Peter put in jail with plans to kill him. When he could not be found the guards were killed. The last statement in verse 19 shows the callousness on his heart.\u00a0\u00a0 After Herod had caused such a disturbance with his acts he left Judea and went back to Caesarea.<\/p>\n
Peter and the church provide us with the example of a people who depended on God for the answer of prayer and the guidance in life\u2019s issues. In the final verses of this chapter is seen those who took just the opposite approach to a difficult situation.<\/p>\n
Acts 12:20-21<\/p>\n
For some reason, which is not explained, Herod became angry with those who lived in Tyre and Sidon. The two cities were part of the country that fell under his rule. Evidently he had cut off food rations to them. They came and won over Blastus an official in Herod\u2019s government. They were seeking to make peace with him so that he would continue to provide for them.<\/p>\n
Acts 12:21-22<\/p>\n
In contrast to what we have seen earlier, Herod\u2019s subjects were so anxious about those things which the Bible tells us we are not to be concern ourselves like food and clothing. (Matthew 6:25-32) Because their hearts were not right with God they became dependent on the capricious nature of a man like Herod. It is obvious that they would use any means to get what they wanted. Remember that the famine that had been prophesied by Agabus was taking place in Tyre and Sidon also. They even went as far as proclaiming him to being a god.<\/p>\n
Acts 12:23<\/p>\n
Judgment came to Herod. He died in great pain.<\/p>\n
Acts 12:24<\/p>\n
With all that occurred Luke almost as an afterthought stated and by the way the church continued to grow. What an understatement. James had been killed and Herod had then gone after one of the main leaders of the church and had him arrested in order to kill him. Herod then was judged and died. In spite of all that Herod had tried the church responded by growing even stronger.<\/p>\n
Acts 12:25<\/p>\n
It is interesting that during all of these events Saul and Barnabas had been in Jerusalem. They finally returned to Antioch after delivering the gift from the church located there.<\/p>\n
The future we want for Bethany Place is found in Acts 12:25 which tells us that the church continued to grow and multiply. The church that grows will be the one that faces difficult situations by depending on God not fallible man. There is but one sure fire way to make this happen. We are to become like the Jerusalem church which came together to pray fervently for the needs of the church. We must believe with all our hearts that God has not given up on us and wants to release us to accomplish His work in the place He has placed the church.<\/p>\n
Additional Notes:<\/p>\n
DM-Herod joined in the persecution of the church. He first had James killed with the sword. When he saw how popular that act was with the Jews, he had Peter arrested. His purpose for arresting him, besides pleasing the enemies of the church, was to have him killed also. The thinking was that surely if the leadership of this Jesus movement were eliminated it would fall apart. As we know God\u2019s church cannot be stopped. God had greater plans for Peter and the other Apostles and untimely death was not part of them. There was a gospel to be shared with the world. (Acts 12:1-4, 6, 11)<\/p>\n
RT-Why was Peter spared while James, the brother of John, was killed by Herod?\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 (Acts 12:2, 6-11)<\/p>\n
RT-Paul and Barnabas were sent forth by the Holy Spirit and not man. (Acts 12:4)<\/p>\n
GC-It is important to believe that God will answer our prayers.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 (Acts 12:5, 12, 15; James 1:6; 5:15)<\/p>\n
OC-Peter was delivered from certain death because of the prayers of the church.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 (Acts 12:5-12)<\/p>\n
RT-The angel was a spiritual being who was not limited by time and space. Peter possessed none of those characteristics as a human being, so the gates had to be unlocked for him to pass through. What may have seemed to be a dream was in fact a reality.\u00a0\u00a0 (Acts 12:10-11, 17)<\/p>\n
GC-Corporate and private prayer are both part of a believers life. (Acts 12:12)<\/p>\n
RT-Praying without faith is no better than not praying at all. (Acts 12:12-16)<\/p>\n
RT-Even if it were a heavenly messenger as the people contended, Peter should have not had to continue knocking. They should have responded by checking out what was happening rather than having continued discussion with Rhoda. Their delay could have put him in eminent danger. (Acts 12:15-16)<\/p>\n
RT-Why would the people have any reason to believe that Rhoda was lying? Is this a situation where reality appeared to be too good to be true. (Acts 12:15-16)<\/p>\n
RT-Peter did not berate the people for delaying in opening the gate. It was more important for them to understand what God had done in bringing about his release.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 (Acts 12:16-17)<\/p>\n
C-After Peter escaped from prison with the help of an angel he had to leave the area because for the time being it was not safe for him to be found with other believers. This would have also put them in jeopardy. (Acts 12:17)<\/p>\n
C-Herod had those guarding Peter, who according to the law were guilty of letting a prisoner escape, were executed by Herod. (Acts 12:19)<\/p>\n
GC-One the aspects of a follower of Christ is the fact that only the One true God is worshipped. (Acts 12:22-23)<\/p>\n
C-Because Herod was willing to receive worship and acclamation of the Sidonians as they began to calling him a god, God struck him down and he died. (Acts 12:22-23)<\/p>\n
DM-Herod\u2019s undoing was the acceptance of the worship to him by the people. He rather than the Apostles died in a horrible way. (Acts 12:22-23)<\/p>\n
RT-The description given of Herod as appearing to being the very voice of god was unfounded. Shortly after the words were spoken by the people he died. Following this event we find the words that are contained in vs. 24. (Acts 12:23)<\/p>\n
C-Herod, who persecuted the church, died at the hands of the Lord, but the word of God continued to grow exponentially. (Acts 12:24)<\/p>\n
RT-The perpetrator of death, King Herod, was gone but the life giving word of God lived and grew. (Acts 12:23-24)<\/p>\n
RT-The evidence of God working in the lives of those were following Him in true worship cause His word to continue to manifest it the lives of His people and cause exponential growth in the Church. (Acts 12:24)<\/p>\n
RT- There is a phrase that might appear to be strange in its emphasis. He said, \u201cBut the word of the Lord continued to grow and to be multiplied (Acts 12:24)<\/p>\n
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Lesson 24 The Power of Prayer Acts 12:1-25 There have been many times when I have prayed for a particular situation and it seems that God is not answering my prayer. Sometimes it takes the perspective of hindsight to understand that He indeed was working out the details while I impatiently wanted Him to respond […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[25],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-677","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-acts"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/biblicalmastery.com\/blog\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/677","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/biblicalmastery.com\/blog\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/biblicalmastery.com\/blog\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/biblicalmastery.com\/blog\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/biblicalmastery.com\/blog\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=677"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/biblicalmastery.com\/blog\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/677\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":678,"href":"https:\/\/biblicalmastery.com\/blog\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/677\/revisions\/678"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/biblicalmastery.com\/blog\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=677"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/biblicalmastery.com\/blog\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=677"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/biblicalmastery.com\/blog\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=677"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}