Works of Prayer Acts 12: 3-16

click to Read the passage: Acts 12  (a new browser window will open)

Evidences in prayer:

v.3-5 1. Prayer is used to stop the advancement of evil.

(And because he saw it pleased the Jews, he proceeded further to take Peter

also. …) (And when he had apprehended him, he put him in prison, …)

v.3-5 2. Prayer believes in the importance of God’s work.

The church was important to God and in God’s plan.

Peter was used of God and was important as well in God’s plan.

The people of God recognized the importance of God’s work being sustained by

God.

The word of God was not in danger, but they were to give the support of their

faith.

v.6 3. In prayer one believes God is greater than any and every limiting circumstance.

(And when Herod would have brought him forth, the same night Peter was 

sleeping between two soldiers, bound with two chains: and the keepers before

the door kept the prison)

The one praying does not know how God will work, but is to believe that He will

work.

 

v.6- 4. Prayer counts God faithful even when His hand is not presently observable.

  10 (and the keepers before the door kept the prison) …

The church had no idea what was going on.

In prayer , realize there is a battle going on.

v.8- 5. Prayer is to be understood as just a means of cooperation with God; the power

                of deliverance is truly with God alone!

(And the angel said unto him, Gird thyself, and bind on thy sandals. And so he

did. …)

Prayer is no so much what the believer does, but what God does.

Believe in the superiority of God’s power and might.  Here God sends an angel.

v.12 6. There is a fellowship with God that occurs in prayer; it is sustained to continue 

                by believing faith.

(And when he had considered the thing, he came to the house of Mary the

mother of John, whose surname was Mark; where many were gathered together

praying.)

v.13- 7. Continuing on in prayer the saints find God faithful and fit into God’s plan, 

16 strengthened for the next faith venture.

   …(But Peter continued knocking: and when they had opened the door, and saw him, they were astonished.)

Their testimony and assurance is increased. They are strengthened in the battle.

They are more convinced of the importance of the work of God through His 

church.