One Powerful Prayer Meeting

S-Scripture:  Acts 12:5; 12, v5, “Peter was therefore kept in prison, but constant prayer was offered to God for him by the church.”  v12, “12 So, when he had considered this, he came to the house of Mary, the mother of John whose surname was Mark, where many were gathered together praying.”  (NKJV)

O-Observation:  This chapter begins with the death of James, the brother of John.  The disciples of the Lord were becoming more and more bold to speak the name of Jesus, and because of their boldness, they were being persecuted.  Herod had James put to death, and seeing that it pleased the Jewish leaders, he imprisoned Peter.  The Bible tells us that the church had gathered together for prayer.  This prayer meeting was a prayer for the deliverance of Peter.  Little did they know, their prayers were being answered.  The Lord sent Peter one of his angels to release him from prison.  As Peter was awakened from sleep, the Angel led him out of the prison, and he made his way to Mary’s house (the mother of John Mark).  For more information on this story, click here to read Acts 12.

A-Application:  How many times do we underestimate the power of prayer?  Why is individual prayer so hard?  It may be because we are so selfish.  We do not want to spend our minutes in “constant prayer”, but it is the answer to many marvellous events.  I love praying with others, especially people within my church family.  There’s something special when you can pour your heart out with other brothers and sisters in Christ.  E.M. Bounds said, “Prayer is not preparing for the battle, it is the battle.” 

P-Prayer:  Heavenly Father, thank you for reminding me about the power of prayer.  There are so many times when we are just like Rhoda.  We need to be reminded on a regular basis of the power of a prayer person, and the power of a praying church.  Lord, your Word says in Ephesians 3:20, “20 Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us,”  (NKJV)  You want to bless us!  You want to enlarge our borders.  You want to give us favor.  You want to deliver us from evil.  Lord, please increase our faith, and give us a desire to be constant in our prayer lives.  In Jesus name.  Amen.