Acts 12 | An Earnestly Praying Church

“But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” Acts 1:8

“So Peter was kept in prison, but the church was earnestly praying to God for him.” Acts 12:5

Read Acts 12:1-18

Scattered believers full of the Holy Spirit were traveling to Phoenicia, Cyprus, and Antioch and witnessing to the Good News about the Lord Jesus Christ. The kingdom of light was advancing to the ends of the earth just as Jesus had told his disciples.

In this account, as the gospel was advancing in Jerusalem, King Herod arrested some who belonged to the church and intended to persecute them. He had James, the disciple of Jesus, killed, and he arrested Peter. The King Herod of this passage is the grandson of the King Herod of Judea at the time of Jesus’s birth. This earthly dynasty is known for its violent leaders who were full of hate, pride, jealousy and wickedness. This was a kingdom of darkness that came to kill, steal and destroy.

These violent hands came against the church, and we see Peter chained in prison and heavily guarded by sixteen soldiers. In Herod’s mind, there was no chance for Peter to escape again!

And what happened in this seemingly hopeless situation where Herod’s mightiest soldiers and most powerful organization came against the kingdom of God?

The light overcomes the darkness! The Lord commands his angel concerning Peter while the church was earnestly praying to God for him! The angel of the Lord pierces the darkness of Peter’s prison cell, his chains fall off, and the angel with Peter pass the guards to exit the prison gates!

Children of God, “our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms” (Ephesians 6:12). It’s time to, “pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord’s people” (Ephesians 6:18).

Prayer: Father God, there are many that are imprisoned physically and spiritually. We ask for a mighty move of the Lord to set the captives free and release the prisoners from darkness. May Your kingdom come on earth as it is in heaven! Praise the Lord! The LORD has established His throne in heaven, and His kingdom rules over all. Awaken Your church to taking back the inheritance that is ours in Christ Jesus. In His Most Powerful Name, Amen.

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