Pray [Sermon Note]

Pastor Lawrence

Acts 12:1-11 NKJV

1 Now about that time Herod the king stretched out his hand to harass some from the church.

2 Then he killed James the brother of John with the sword.

3 And because he saw that it pleased the Jews, he proceeded further to seize Peter also. Now it was during the Days of Unleavened Bread.

4 So when he had arrested him, he put him in prison, and delivered him to four squads of soldiers to keep him, intending to bring him before the people after Passover.

5 Peter was therefore kept in prison, but constant prayer was offered to God for him by the church.

6 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.

7 Now behold, an angel of the Lord stood by him, and a light shone in the prison; and he struck Peter on the side and raised him up, saying, “Arise quickly!” And his chains fell off his hands.

8 Then the angel said to him, “Gird yourself and tie on your sandals”; and so he did. And he said to him, “Put on your garment and follow me.”

9 So he went out and followed him, and did not know that what was done by the angel was real, but thought he was seeing a vision.

10 When they were past the first and the second guard posts, they came to the iron gate that leads to the city, which opened to them of its own accord; and they went out and went down one street, and immediately the angel departed from him.

11 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.”

The early church was church of power miracle signs and wonders. Peter’s shadow could heal the sick.

The early church experienced a great crisis. James was arrested and killed. Peter was also arrested. He was early church leader. He was going to be killed.

How do you respond to crisis?

How can you overcome the challenge that is staring right at you? It is impossible situation

There was no record of church rising up in prayers.

Constant prayer was offered to God for Peter.

They kept on praying. They did not stop.

You are at the edge of seeing your breakthrough when you respond in prayers and faith.

How can they even rescue Peter? They did not even know what to do? The church can pray. When we pray, God hears. When we pray, God answers.

Something miraculous happens when we pray.

There was nothing they could do. God came into the scene. The Lord supernatural opened the gate. Peter walked out.

What an amazing miracle!

Against all odds, Peter was supernaturally delivered.

The church came together to pray!

The church rose up in faith when they prayed!

They could have prayed in the spirit.

When we pray, God does the impossible

When we do not know what to do, we can pray.

Specifically pray in the spirit.

We can pray ! God will reverse, transform and restore!

God will reverse, transform and restore! We shall pray! And God will turn everything around. There is always hope in Jesus Christ!

We can pray. There is hope when we pray!

Man always ought to pray and not lose heart.

Pray in the spirit

Ephesians 6:10-19 NKJV

10 Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might.

11 Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.

12 For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places.

13 Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.

14 Stand therefore, having girded your waist with truth, having put on the breastplate of righteousness,

15 and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace;

16 above all, taking the shield of faith with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one.

17 And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God;

18 praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints—

19 and for me, that utterance may be given to me, that I may open my mouth boldly to make known the mystery of the gospel,

We don’t wrestle against flesh and blood

Righteousness is a gift from God. We are made righteous by believing what Jesus has done

You are at peace with God. Faith here is faith in the gospel in what Jesus Christ has done

This is your shield against the fiery dart of the evil ones.

Helmet of the hope of salvation

One offensive weapon in the armour of God - the sword of the spirit.

Shield of faith. Faith is shield

Hope of salvation is helmet.

The sword is the holy spirit

The holy spirit is the sword

By means of. You take up the sword of the spirit by means of praying always.

Praying in the spirit is to pray in tongues.

How do you cut your enemy? How do you stop him from hurting you? You pray! Keep on praying !

The key is to pray.

God wants you to pray. When you pray, things happen. Every adversity is opportunity for God’s glory reveal.

Keep on praying.

Pray in the spirit

God wants us to pray in the spirit. This is a heavenly language

The same weapon He gives to us is the same weapon in the second coming.

Pray in the heavenly language