FAITH CAPSULE: A church that does not make prayer a constant offering cannot prevail.

Acts 12:1-19

It is written, “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) Herod the King did not seize Peter for decoration but he seized him with the intention to kill him just as he killed James. The church must have been prayerfully asleep when James was killed by Herod the King. The death of James prompted the church to act on behalf of Peter. The Bible states, “Peter was therefore kept in prison, but constant prayer was offered to God for him by the church.” (Acts 12:5) A church that does not make prayer a constant offering cannot prevail. Just as the church was prayerfully asleep, Peter was also prayerfully and physically asleep instead of praying and praising God like Paul and Silas did for their self-deliverance from prison and untimely death. Peter’s destiny was set to be terminated by the hand of Herod the King because there was no visible way of escape.
Acts 12:6-7, “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 “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.” Man shut the door on Peter, but only heaven could open it. With no way of escape, Peter fell asleep but prayer of the church prevailed on his behalf. When the angel brought deliverance, it was like a dream. During his walk with the angel through the gates of the prison, Peter was not himself because he was asleep instead of in prayer. Have you given up your hope for sleep? God has never failed and your deliverance will be certain in Jesus’ name. The angel led Peter through the Iron Gate for deliverance from the hand of Herod. It is written, “And when Peter had come to himself, he said, ‘Now I know for certain that the Lord had sent His angel, and has delivered me from the hand of Herod and from all the expectation of the Jewish people. So, when he had considered this, he came to the house of Mary, the mother of John whose surname was Mark, where many were gathered together praying.” (Acts 12:11-12)  Peter escaped and went to his brethren whom he found in prayer. Peter’s escape was a miracle rooted in prayer.

Prayer for today: Ask for the grace to be constant and consistent in your prayer life.