The Power of the Prayer Meeting
Acts 12:1-24
Exodus 33:7-11 (ESV)
Now Moses used to take the tent and pitch it outside the camp, far off from the camp, and he called it the tent of meeting. And everyone who sought the LORD would go out to
the tent of meeting, which was outside the camp. Whenever Moses went out to the tent, all the people would rise up, and each would stand at his tent door, and watch Moses until he had gone into the tent. When Moses entered the tent, the pillar of cloud would descend and stand at the entrance of the tent, and the LORD would speak with Moses.
Exodus 40:34 (ESV)
Then the cloud covered the tent of meeting, and the glory of the Lord filled the tabernacle.
Leviticus 9:23-24 (ESV)
And Moses and Aaron went into the tent of meeting and when they came out they blessed the people, and the glory of the Lord appeared to all the people. And fire came out from before the Lord and consumed the burnt offering and the pieces of fat on the altar, and when all the people saw it, they shouted and fell on their faces.
Acts 12:1-3 (ESV)
About that time Herod the king laid violent hands on some who belonged to the church. He killed James the brother of John with the sword, and when he saw that it pleased the Jews, he proceeded to arrest Peter also.
Acts 12:3 (ESV)
and when he saw that it pleased the Jews, he proceeded to arrest Peter also.
Acts 12:5 (ESV)
So Peter was kept in prison, but earnest prayer for him was made to God by the church.
1st When the church prays miracles happen
Acts 12:6-11 (ESV)
Now when Herod was about to bring him out, on that very night, Peter was sleeping between two soldiers, bound with two chains, and sentries before the door were guarding the prison. And behold, an angel of the Lord stood next to him, and a light shone in the cell. He struck Peter on the side and woke him, saying, “Get up quickly.” And the chains fell off his hands. And the angel said to him, “Dress yourself and put on your sandals.” And he did so. And he said to him, “Wrap your cloak around you and follow me.” And he went out and followed him. He did not know that what was being done by the angel was real, but thought he was seeing a vision. When they had passed the first and the second guard, they came to the iron gate leading into the city. It opened for them of its own accord, and they went out and went along one street, and immediately the angel left him. When Peter came to himself, he said, “Now I am sure that the Lord has sent his angel and rescued me from the hand of Herod and from all that the Jewish people were expecting.”
Acts 12:12-17
When he realized this, he went to the house of Mary, the mother of John whose 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.
2nd When the church prays God does more than we ask
Ephesians 3:20 (ESV)
Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us,
Acts 12:1 (ESV)
About that time Herod the king laid violent hands on some who belonged to the church.
Acts 12:23 (ESV)
Immediately an angel of the Lord struck him (Herod Agrippa) down, because he did not give God the glory, and he was eaten by worms and breathed his last.
Matthew 6:33 (ESV)
But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.
3rd When the church prays the church grows
Acts 12:24 (ESV)
But the word of God increased and multiplied.
Acts 12:24 (MSG)
Meanwhile, the ministry of God’s Word grew by leaps and bounds.
When people pray together…
1. Miracles happen
2. God does more than we ask
3. The church grows as people are saved
