In this age and time, we pray and believe God for answers to certain petitions placed before Him, but we are usually too dazed at the manner by which the divine approval comes.
I have discovered that in life, we have all got desires, struggles and things we are trusting God for. It might be about our family, finances, marriage or health conditions. It might even be a loved one in a serious health condition. Due to the mentioned situations above, we raise prayer alters to God, for deliverance and divine intervention. In addition to that, our family, friends and even the church also get involved in this prayer chain in order to complement our individual efforts. The overall aim of these prayers is that God will deliver us from the unwanted situation, and as a result, the prayers are rendered persistently, trusting and hoping that one day, a miracle will happen.
In Acts 12, when King Herod detained Peter in the prison, without any offence, planning to kill him at a later date and the church prayed, “Now about that time Herod the king stretched out his hand to harass some from the church. Then he killed James the brother of John with the sword. And because he saw that it pleased the Jews, he proceeded further to seize Peter also…” Acts 12:1-3). Killing then became a thing of pleasure to King Herod, and therefore decided to put Peter in prison first, and then kill him later. However, that was the greatest mistake of his life…as it is never going to be possible to put air in a jar, without it oozing out. So are the children of the Most High God. We can never be tamed or trapped, as long as we consistently stand on the promises of God, leaning on His grace in Christ Jesus.
Prayer and Its Potency
While Peter was imprisoned, the brethren kept on praying for him without ceasing. Herod visited him in the prison to conclude arrangement on killing him. He found Peter sleeping and snoring, with chains on his hands and legs, lying in the midst of two soldiers, … “And when Herod was about to bring him out, that night Peter was sleeping, bound with two chains between two soldiers; and the guards before the door were keeping the prison.” (Acts 12:6). So while Peter was asleep in the prison, an angel appeared to him and woke him up, and took him out of the prison as the gates opened up of its own accord. “This is absolutely unbelievable” said Peter – because he thought it was a vision, but it then became a reality, eventually. “And when Peter had come to himself, he said, “Now I know for certain that the Lord has sent His angel, and has delivered me from the hand of Herod and from all the expectation of the Jewish people.” (Acts 12:11).
Being Expectant
Peter did trust God for his deliverance, but he was overwhelmed at the timing, and the dimension at which it came. In this age and time, we pray and believe God for answers to certain petitions placed before Him, but we are usually too dazed at the manner by which the divine approval comes. That was the experience of Peter here, and this also extended to the brethren praying for his deliverance from the hand of Herod, who wanted to terminate his life.
Peter became a free man, thanks to the angel that led him out of the prison. He headed home to meet the brethren. On getting to the door, he knocked on the door and a beautiful girl, Rhoda, who was among the brethren, praying for Peter heard that someone was at the door. Though, she was praying, at the same time, she was expectant that Peter would be delivered out of the prison. At the door, she discovered that it was Peter, and she was overjoyed and ran back to the praying and never-expectant brethren, and totally forgot to even open the door. When Rhoda broke the news to the people praying, that Peter was at the door, the shocking response from them was “Thou art mad” “And they said unto her, Thou art mad. But she constantly affirmed that it was even so. Then said they, It is his angel.” (Acts 12:15). The truth here is that they prayed for Peter to be delivered from the prison, but they were not expectant. Prayer and an expectant heart are precedence for a result. Have you been praying regarding an issue? Has the church been involved in seeking the face of God on a matter that bothers on its vision and mission, an expectant heart is the only requirement for a result to surface.
Too Good to be True?
Though the brethren prayed for Peter, but they were not expecting Peter. Hence, they told Rhoda… “Thou art mad”. When we pray, do we really back it up with faith and expectation? “For surely there is an end; and thine expectation shall not be cut off.” (Proverbs 23:18). Have you recently glanced through your prayer requests list to tick off those prayers which have been answered by God? Have you gone for another medical test to check the status of your heart condition? Have you considered consulting your doctor for another blood test to check if your sugar level is now normal? Most of the time, the miracles have come, but due to our unexpectant heart, we are not aware that the miracle is right at the door, and at other times we say “this is too good to be true”, hence we keep praying. You are not mad or crazy, the crux of the matter is that you do not have enough trust in Jesus…that He has the power to deliver and deliver completely.
