The Effectual Prayer of a Church
“Peter therefore was kept in. prison: but prayer was made without ceasing of the church unto God for him”. (Acts 12 : 5 )
Why was Peter in prison? Herod wanted to kill him. Herod killed James. This pleased the Jews very much. He wanted to please the Jews more by killing Peter. The Jews were always carrying evil reports about the Herodian family to Caesar. So Herod wanted to please the Jews. The Jews felt their religion was in jeopardy because of the disciples of Jesus.
Herod stretched forth his hand to vex the church. His end was near. When a man's end is near, he becomes more active than usual against the Kingdom of God . This is one of the signs that that man's end is near.
Peter was not troubled about his condition. The next day was the day of his death, but he was sleeping soundly. Peter wanted to follow Jesus. Jesus told him that he could not follow Him then, but a time would come when he would be able to follow Him even to death. Peter's desire was now being fulfilled. That night, in his mind, he must have willingly died. His faith had grown so strong. Those who continue in the Word, will find their heart's deepest desires fulfilled. God is greater than our desires. In fulfilling our desires He will far exceed them. Peter had desired this death-daring faith.
Prayer was being made in the church without ceasing. We wonder at the acts of the apostles. But we must know that they took place because the church was praying. The church was one. There was not one person with another mind among them. If there was one man there with a contrary mind, he would have been as a wire that is earthed which discharged the circuit. They will be earth-wires. This was a live church and it was praying for the impossible for Peter in the Roman prison.
Peter was chained to two soldiers on either hand. There were other soldiers on guard and a final gate outside. The prayer of the church will release those in prison. Many are bound by evil spirits and evil desires and vanity. No one can release them. Some families are bound, they cannot understand the gospel. Father, mother and children are all in darkness. Every kind of sin will be there and they will be in great misery. How to release them? The church has to pray for them.
There are two chains that bind people - sins of commission and sins of omission. Some are released from one chain, but still bound by the other. Who will save them? The church can save them. Where faithful men gather and where Christ is, that is the church.
Prayer was being made without ceasing. This was a real church. An angel came and the chains on either side snapped. There may be big churches which cannot break chains. They are not churches.
Peter was asked to put on his sandals. A man who is freed, puts on the sandals of the gospel of peace. Peter crossed the first ward and the second ward. After conversion we have still two wards to cross. We have to be planted together with Him in the likeness of His death and then we have to rise into the newness of the resurrection life. When the church is praying these deliverances will be experienced.
There was still the iron gate to cross. “But now being made free from sin, and become servants to God, ye have your fruit unto holiness, and the end everlasting life” (Romans 6:22). We cross over into the holy life. There is holiness there.
“For this cause we also, since the day we heard it, do not cease to pray for you, and to desire that ye might be filled with the knowledge of his will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding” (Colossians 1:9). We have to join the saints in glory. If we are praying great things will happen.
-Late Mr. N. Daniel
“Peter therefore was kept in. prison: but prayer was made without ceasing of the church unto God for him”. (Acts 12 : 5 )
Why was Peter in prison? Herod wanted to kill him. Herod killed James. This pleased the Jews very much. He wanted to please the Jews more by killing Peter. The Jews were always carrying evil reports about the Herodian family to Caesar. So Herod wanted to please the Jews. The Jews felt their religion was in jeopardy because of the disciples of Jesus.
Herod stretched forth his hand to vex the church. His end was near. When a man's end is near, he becomes more active than usual against the Kingdom of God . This is one of the signs that that man's end is near.
Peter was not troubled about his condition. The next day was the day of his death, but he was sleeping soundly. Peter wanted to follow Jesus. Jesus told him that he could not follow Him then, but a time would come when he would be able to follow Him even to death. Peter's desire was now being fulfilled. That night, in his mind, he must have willingly died. His faith had grown so strong. Those who continue in the Word, will find their heart's deepest desires fulfilled. God is greater than our desires. In fulfilling our desires He will far exceed them. Peter had desired this death-daring faith.
Prayer was being made in the church without ceasing. We wonder at the acts of the apostles. But we must know that they took place because the church was praying. The church was one. There was not one person with another mind among them. If there was one man there with a contrary mind, he would have been as a wire that is earthed which discharged the circuit. They will be earth-wires. This was a live church and it was praying for the impossible for Peter in the Roman prison.
Peter was chained to two soldiers on either hand. There were other soldiers on guard and a final gate outside. The prayer of the church will release those in prison. Many are bound by evil spirits and evil desires and vanity. No one can release them. Some families are bound, they cannot understand the gospel. Father, mother and children are all in darkness. Every kind of sin will be there and they will be in great misery. How to release them? The church has to pray for them.
There are two chains that bind people - sins of commission and sins of omission. Some are released from one chain, but still bound by the other. Who will save them? The church can save them. Where faithful men gather and where Christ is, that is the church.
Prayer was being made without ceasing. This was a real church. An angel came and the chains on either side snapped. There may be big churches which cannot break chains. They are not churches.
Peter was asked to put on his sandals. A man who is freed, puts on the sandals of the gospel of peace. Peter crossed the first ward and the second ward. After conversion we have still two wards to cross. We have to be planted together with Him in the likeness of His death and then we have to rise into the newness of the resurrection life. When the church is praying these deliverances will be experienced.
There was still the iron gate to cross. “But now being made free from sin, and become servants to God, ye have your fruit unto holiness, and the end everlasting life” (Romans 6:22). We cross over into the holy life. There is holiness there.
“For this cause we also, since the day we heard it, do not cease to pray for you, and to desire that ye might be filled with the knowledge of his will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding” (Colossians 1:9). We have to join the saints in glory. If we are praying great things will happen.
-Late Mr. N. Daniel
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