A People of Prayer

Acts 12 begins with one of Jesus’ three closest apostles killed and martyred for their belief in Jesus. I expected Luke—the author of Acts—to dwell on this, describing some of the drama like he did with Stephen’s death back in chapter 7. But instead, the death of a key figure from the gospels is recorded so quickly that a skimming reader might miss it—13 words to describe what happened; a single verse.
     But let us never forget what James—Jesus' brother, who wrote The Epistle of James says, “You do not have, because you do not ask God,” (James 4:2). In His wisdom, God has designed that His people shall participate in what He does. He is impressing upon His people here that when danger threatens the church, the program of God, or the people of God—it’s a call to prayer. God will hear that prayer and answer it and set people free, when He would not have done so otherwise.
     Why is this tragedy not amplified in Acts 12? I think the answer is obvious: because this defeat is no defeat. Individual Christians might die, local churches might fall, but Jesus promised in Matthew 16:18 that the gates of Hell would never overcome His church; the church in all its forms prevails, overcomes and rises above the challenges faced. 

Acts 12 
It was about this time that King Herod arrested some who belonged to the church, intending to persecute them. ² He had James, the brother of John, put to death with the sword. ³ When he saw that this met with approval among the Jews, he proceeded to seize Peter also. This happened during the Festival of Unleavened Bread. ⁴ After arresting him, he put him in prison, handing him over to be guarded by four squads of four soldiers each. Herod intended to bring him out for public trial after the Passover.
      ⁵ So Peter was kept in prison, but the church was earnestly praying to God for him.   
   ⁶ The night before Herod was to bring him to trial, Peter was sleeping between two soldiers, bound with two chains, and sentries stood guard at the entrance. ⁷ Suddenly an angel of the Lord appeared and a light shone in the cell. He struck Peter on the side and woke him up. “Quick, get up!” he said, and the chains fell off Peter’s wrists. 
     ⁸ Then the angel said to him, “Put on your clothes and sandals.” And Peter did so. “Wrap your cloak around you and follow me,” the angel told him. ⁹ Peter followed him out of the prison, but he had no idea that what the angel was doing was really happening; he thought he was seeing a vision.¹⁰ They passed the first and second guards and came to the iron gate leading to the city. It opened for them by itself, and they went through it. When they had walked the length of one street, suddenly the angel left him.
     ¹¹ Then Peter came to himself and said, “Now I know without a doubt that the Lord has sent his angel and rescued me from Herod’s clutches and from everything the Jewish people were hoping would happen.” 
    ¹² When this had dawned on him, he went to the house of Mary the mother of John, also called Mark, where many people had gathered and were praying. ¹³ Peter knocked at the outer entrance, and a servant named Rhoda came to answer the door. ¹⁴ When she recognized Peter’s voice, she was so overjoyed she ran back without opening it and exclaimed, “Peter is at the door!”
     ¹⁵ “You’re out of your mind,” they told her. When she kept insisting that it was so, they said, “It must be his angel.”
     ¹⁶ But Peter kept on knocking, and when they opened the door and saw him, they were astonished. ¹⁷ Peter motioned with his hand for them to be quiet and described how the Lord had brought him out of prison. “Tell James and the other brothers and sisters about this,” he said, and then he left for another place.
    ¹⁸ In the morning, there was no small commotion among the soldiers as to what had become of Peter. ¹⁹ After Herod had a thorough search made for him and did not find him, he cross-examined the guards and ordered that they be executed.
     Throughout the ages, churches have faced persecution—but they have always persevered. Sometimes driven underground, sometimes few in number, but the right side of history is ultimately on God’s side. 
     Herod Agrippa, who killed James, was himself killed by God for his blasphemy. But when that king died, the Word of God grew and multiplied.
     Recently, I read about Charles Law, an experimental gas law used in chemistry which in essence means—the greater the heat, the greater the expansion. Over and over again, God’s people have proven this to be true for us. The enemies of God’s people may seem triumphant for a minute, but joy comes in the morning.
     Today, I want to encourage you to persevere. To hang in there. To never stop believing. To never stop dreaming of the day when we’ll return. Even though we’re not meeting face-to-face at Castle Hill—we’re together in spirit.
     The easiest thing to do is to give up, walk away. To forget our church family and what we mean to each other. For some, it’s already happened. They’ve walked away from Jesus, changed their theological views on Him, or are confused with all that’s happening around them and the world. 
     We’ve always worshipped together. We’ve appreciated the vast styles of music, preaching and sharing. In essence, we’re a tight family that values everyone from baby Sienna Kross to Leonie Rocke. We have a strong sense of community and encourage involvement and ownership of church life. And we celebrate life together—birthdays, achievements, weddings, engagements, anniversaries, our HSC students and all that life brings.
     There’s much happening in the world around us. Unemployment, persecution of Christians, COVID-19, sickness, death, fear and loneliness. We are not to take the events of our day for granted, as though there were nothing we could do about them.
     Prayer becomes a mighty, powerful thrust on the part of the people of God at Castle Hill—to change events. Prayer is the most natural response of a heart dependent upon God.
     If you are really counting on God to do something, then you will pray about it. You will trust Him; you will communicate with Him. If you are not counting on Him, you probably won’t pray.
     If you are really counting on something else, or on someone else—if you think that by your own clever manoeuvring you can get out of a situation, or if you are trusting other human beings to come through—you probably won’t pray.
     The basic motive of prayer is a sense of dependence upon God.
      I love Lysa TerKeurst’s view on the topic, "The reality is, my prayers don't change God.  But, I am convinced prayer changes me.  Praying boldly boots me out of that stale place of religious habit into authentic connection with God Himself."
     Corrie ten Boom asks, "Is prayer your steering wheel or your spare tire?"
     If you really think that God, and God alone, can work, and that there are elements of a situation in which only He can change things. Then you pray.
     This is what happened to the early church. When they realised James had been put to death, and that this vicious attack of the enemy could be successful, it suddenly crystallised in their minds they had a part to play in God's program. They were to go to God in earnest prayer that Peter might be delivered. They were to go to God in earnest prayer that they may keep on growing and believing—regardless of the circumstances surrounding them.
     God heard their prayers. Their requests. And He set Peter free in a wonderful way.
     Having pondered on Acts 12, I strongly believe God can set me free from the pressures of this world. He can set you free.

     Free to do His will.
     Free to serve Him.
     Free to pray.
     Free to love others.
     Free from the slavery of sin, sinful habits and its consequences.
     Free to share your faith.
     Free to help others who are struggling with...