Summer Sundays: The Power of a Praying Church
Pastor Steve Cleckner
God
Why should the church pray?
Because we are in a
For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places. —Ephesians 6:12
Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. —1 Peter 5:8
About that time King Herod violently attacked some who belonged to the church, 2 and he executed James, John’s brother, with the sword. —Acts 12:1-2
When he saw that it pleased the Jews, he proceeded to arrest Peter too, during the Festival of Unleavened Bread. 4 After the arrest, he put him in prison and assigned four squads of four soldiers each to guard him, intending to bring him out to the people after the Passover. —Acts 12:3-4
So Peter was kept in prison, but the church was praying fervently to God for him. —Acts 12:5
Pray without ceasing. —1 Thessalonians 5:17
Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer. —Romans 12:2
“Prayer doesn’t prepare us for the greater work. Prayer is the greater work.” Oswald Chambers – My Utmost For His Highest
Because we need God to
When Herod was about to bring him out for trial, that very night Peter, bound with two chains, was sleeping between two soldiers, while the sentries in front of the door guarded the prison. 7 Suddenly an angel of the Lord appeared, and a light shone in the cell. Striking Peter on the side, he woke him up and said, “Quick, get up!” And the chains fell off his wrists. —Acts 12:6-7
“Get dressed,” the angel told him, “and put on your sandals.” And he did. “Wrap your cloak around you,” he told him, “and follow me.” 9 So he went out and followed, and he did not know that what the angel did was really happening, but he thought he was seeing a vision. 10 After they passed the first and second guards, they came to the iron gate that leads into the city, which opened to them by itself. They went outside and passed one street, and suddenly the angel left him.
11 When Peter came to himself, he said, “Now I know for certain that the Lord has sent his angel and rescued me from Herod’s grasp and from all that the Jewish people expected.” —Acts 12:8-11
“Faith is not just trusting God when He opens doors, but trusting Him when He closes them too.” A.W. Tozer
Because we need to be
As soon as he realized this, he went to the house of Mary, the mother of John who was called Mark, where many had assembled and were praying. 13 He knocked at the door of the outer gate, and a servant named Rhoda came to answer. 14 She recognized Peter’s voice, and because of her joy, she did not open the gate but ran in and announced that Peter was standing at the outer gate.
15 “You’re out of your mind!” they told her. But she kept insisting that it was true, and they said, “It’s his angel.” —Acts 12:12-15
Peter, however, kept on knocking, and when they opened the door and saw him, they were amazed.
17 Motioning to them with his hand to be silent, he described to them how the Lord had brought him out of the prison. “Tell these things to James and the brothers,” he said, and he left and went to another place. —Acts 12:16 – 17
Marked Men for Christ Testimonies:
Jesus allowed me to share what I felt was the worst of me and it was received with love.
Jesus unpacked 44 years of garbage that I was unnecessarily giving a home in my heart.
Jesus loved me by revealing my weaknesses that I didn’t realize, and he connected me with a trusted community of HIS men.
I experienced God’s love in a way I never have before, and it changed my entire outlook.
At daylight, there was a great commotion among the soldiers as to what had become of Peter. 19 After Herod had searched and did not find him, he interrogated the guards and ordered their execution. Then Herod went down from Judea to Caesarea and stayed there. —Acts 12:18-19
Because we need obstacles turned into Gospel opportunities.
Herod had been very angry with the people of Tyre and Sidon. Together they presented themselves before him. After winning over Blastus, who was in charge of the king’s bedroom, they asked for peace, because their country was supplied with food from the king’s country. 21 On an appointed day, dressed in royal robes and seated on the throne, Herod delivered a speech to them. —Acts 12:20-21
The assembled people began to shout, “It’s the voice of a god and not of a man!” 23 At once an angel of the Lord struck him because he did not give the glory to God, and he was eaten by worms and died. —Acts 12:22-23
Josephus – “He put on a garment made wholly of silver, and of a contexture truly wonderful, and came into the theatre early in the morning; at which time the silver of his garment, being illuminated by the fresh reflection of the sun’s rays upon it, shone out after a surprising manner, and was so resplendent as to spread a horror over those that looked intently upon him; and presently his flatterers cried out, one form one place, and another from another that he was a god. A severe pain also arose in his belly and began in a most violent manner…when he had been quite worn out by the pain in his belly for five days, he departed this life.” (Antiquities, XIX.8.2)
I am the Lord; that is my name; my glory I give to no other, nor my praise to carved idols. —Isaiah 42:8
For my own sake, for my own sake, I do it, for how should my name be profaned? My glory I will not give to another. —Isaiah 48:11
But the word of God spread and multiplied. —Acts 12:24
And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. —Matthew 16:18
Because God