DCLM Sincere Milk 17 NOVEMBER 2021 — Expect a Miracle When You Pray
DCLM Sincere Milk 17 NOVEMBER 2021 — Expect a Miracle When You Pray
TOPIC: EXPECT A MIRACLE WHEN YOU PRAY
TEXT: ACTS 12:5-12
5 Peter therefore was kept in prison: but prayer was made without ceasing of the church unto God for him.
6 And when Herod would have brought him forth, the same night Peter was sleeping between two soldiers, bound with two chains: and the keepers before the door kept the prison.
7 And, behold, the angel of the Lord came upon him, and a light shined in the prison: and he smote Peter on the side, and raised him up, saying, Arise up quickly. And his chains fell off from his hands.
8 And the angel said unto him, Gird thyself, and bind on thy sandals. And so he did. And he saith unto him, Cast thy garment about thee, and follow me.
9 And he went out, and followed him; and wist not that it was true which was done by the angel; but thought he saw a vision.
10 When they were past the first and the second ward, they came unto the iron gate that leadeth unto the city; which opened to them of his own accord: and they went out, and passed on through one street; and forthwith the angel departed from him.
11 And when Peter was come to himself, he said, Now I know of a surety, that the Lord hath sent his angel, and hath delivered me out of the hand of Herod, and from all the expectation of the people of the Jews.
12 And when he had considered the thing, he came to the house of Mary the mother of John, whose surname was Mark; where many were gathered together praying.
Key Verse: “Peter therefore was kept in prison: but prayer was made without ceasing of the church unto God for him” (Acts 12:5).
MESSAGE:
Prayer is a mighty force and great weapon in the hand of a believer. The power in prayer can move the whole world. A powerful Queen (Mary, Queen of Scotland), once said of a man of God: “I fear the prayer of John Knox more than all the armies of England”
John Knox was that powerful man of God who prayed to God and said, “Lord, give me Scotland, or I die”. It was said that by the time he died in the year 1572, Scotland had been transformed for Christ through his prayers. A prayerful child is a powerful child.
In our text, the believers were praying for Peter to be released from prison, but Herod had a different plan – to kill Peter. In answer to the prayer of the believers, God sent an angel to release Peter from prison, lead him through the iron gate and took him to the house of John Mark’s mother where a prayer vigil was holding. On seeing Peter, the believers were so surprised that God answered their prayers speedily.
God promises to answer when we pray. Always expect answers to your prayers whenever you pray. This is faith, and God honours the faith of His children. Pray fervently and expect a miracle when you pray!
Prayer: Lord Jesus, help me to trust You for answers to all my prayers.
Further Reading: Acts 16:25-27
1. Admit that you are a sinner. "For all [humans] have sinned, and comes short of the glory of God....[and] the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord" (Romans 3:23)
2. Repent now. "Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out ...[for] if we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness " (Acts 3:19, 1 John 1:9)
3. Believe that God loves you and Jesus died for you. "God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet Sinners, Christ died for us" (Romans 5:8)
4. Invite Jesus into your life through prayer of faith. Jesus says, "Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me" (Revelation 3:20)
