Prayer

Acts 12:12-17

Do you enjoy reading about prayer, the following is a story that has been on the Internet and was used in a sermon by Waylon Bailey.   “A bar called Drummond’s (in Mt. Vernon, Texas,) began construction on an expansion of their building, hoping to increase their business.  In response, the local Southern Baptist Church started a campaign to block the bar from expanding — petitions, prayers, etc.  About a week before the bars grand re-opening, a bolt of lightning struck the bar and burned it to the ground!  Afterward, the church folks were rather smug — bragging about “the power of prayer”.  The angry bar owner eventually sued the church on grounds that the church…” Was ultimately responsible for the demise of his building, through direct actions or indirect means.”  Of course, the church vehemently denied all responsibility or any connection to the building’s demise.  The judge read carefully through the plaintiff’s complaint and the defendant’s reply.  He then opened the hearing by saying:  “I don’t know how I’m going to decide this, but it appears from the paperwork that what we have here is a bar owner who now believes in the power of prayer, and an entire church congregation that does not.”  I honestly don’t know whether the story is true or not, but I do know many people who treat prayer this way. They make it something to be done but not something to be believed.

What shame, if it is true that any church would take that stance.  So why did I tell that story, because after Peter had been freed from sleeping between two soldiers, bound with two chains, and sentries before the door were guarding the prison, but God, yes God sent His angel to rescue Peter.  So on his exit out of the prison, passing both guards, he came to an iron gate leading into the city.  It opened for them of its own accord, and immediately the angel left him.  Now listen to Dr. Luke’s account, “When the Lord sent His angel and rescued me from the hand of Herod and from all that the Jewish people were expecting.  When he realized this, he went to the house of Mary, the mother of John who’s other name was Mark, where many were gathered together and were praying. And when he knocked at the door of the gateway, a servant girl named Rhoda came to answer. Recognizing Peter's voice, in her joy she did not open the gate but ran in and reported that Peter was standing at the gate. They said to her, “You are out of your mind.” But she kept insisting that it was so, and they kept saying, “It is his angel!” But Peter continued knocking, and when they opened, they saw him and were amazed. But motioning to them with his hand to be silent, he described to them how the Lord had brought him out of the prison. And he said, “Tell these things to James and to the brothers.” Then he departed and went to another place.”  (Acts 12:11-17 ESV)


We are told in Scripture that the prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working. (James 5:16b)  And where is our righteousness found, but in Christ, and is it not Christ that gives faith to believe that He will answer?  “Before they call I will answer while they are yet speaking I will hear.”  (Isaiah 65:24 ESV)  It is God’s faithfulness as we see in Luke 11:9-10,  “And I tell you, ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and the one who seeks finds, and to the one who knocks it will be opened.”  And as always Jesus tells us that by abiding in Him and His word, and applying by faith His commands, we can be mighty in prayer. (See John 15:7)

From the Back Porch,
Bob Rice