PRAYER CHANGES THINGS

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Acts 12:5 ¶ Peter therefore was kept in prison: but prayer was made without ceasing of the church unto God for him.

There are many cliches within the church of God today. But one of the most well known is the phrase: "Prayer changes things". You see it on bumper stickers, on bookmarks, and T-Shirts.

A lot of modern cliches are empty, but that one certainly is not. And if you are a Christian, with any prayer life at all, then you know that prayer truly changes things.

Prayer can change situations.

Prayer can change people.

But more than likely, Prayer changes the one who is praying.

When you come before God and begin to make requests and petitions for others, those prayers pull you into the presence of God, and that changes you and conforms you to His image.

PRAYER CHANGES CHURCHES

Now here in Chapter 12 of Acts King Herod had just killed James, and he had Peter arrested and was planning on killing him after Passover. And the Church KNEW they had to do something. I want you to notice the difference between the Church then, and the Church today.

The Church didn't COMPROMISE its message so that it would be politically correct.

The Church didn't run and write letters to their congressman and senators.

The Church didn't try to think up some new programs and strategies.

No the Church KNEW where their help came from, and they ran to their help! The Church, the Bible says, had a prayer meeting! They gathered together, and prayed without ceasing.

Prayer was the key, Prayer was primary, and prayer was essential to the Church of God in the beginning.

What happened when the Church prayed? Let's read Acts 12:6-10

Acts 12:6-10 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. 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. 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. 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. 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.

Things started to happen when these Christians prayed. In fact, the miraculous happened, great things happened, the supernatural happened. To the natural man Peter's condition was hopeless, yet he was delivered by an angel of God.

Sometimes in our lives we see obstacles and mountains and troubles and we think that there is no hope; but God has proven over and over again, that with him, there is always hope. God is a God of miracles, and he will give you a miracle if you seek him in prayer, and it is his will.

FREEING THE PRISONERS OF SIN.

Yet the Greatest miracle and the greatest need in the world today, is for God to save sinners. I know we all have family members or friends or loved ones who are in the same condition as old Peter was that day. They are laying flat on their back in darkness. Satan has his demonic guard all around them. They are bound down by the chain of sin, and their day of execution is quickly approaching.

And we look at their situation and we think it is almost hopeless! And Satan tells us there is no use! And that they are a lost cause, but it isn't so.

Prayer changes things! If you love them, and truly want to see them freed, you must do what the Church did for Peter, you must pray for them without ceasing. Pray for them until they are saved.

If you want to see your Church lead men to Christ, then you must be praying for the conversion of souls.

TURN WITH ME TO: EPHESIANS 6:19-20

A PRAYING CHURCH IS THE KEY

Ephesians 6:18-20 Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints; And for me, that utterance may be given unto me, that I may open my mouth boldly, to make known the mystery of the gospel, For which I am an ambassador in bonds: that therein I may speak boldly, as I ought to speak.

Here was Paul, the most educated Apostle, the most gifted speaker, and Paul wanted the Church to pray for his preaching. One of the chief secrets to any successful ministry is a praying church.

Spurgeon, one of the old time revivalists, who lead thousands to Christ was asked what was the secrete to his success. Spurgeon took the inquirer to the basement of the Church and there were about 100 Christians praying for the lost souls that attended the meeting. Is there any wonder that people were being converted! While he was in the act of throwing the gospel net forth, there were people weeping and crying and travailing before God.

Another giant in evangelism was Charles Finney - Just as Moses had his Aaron, Charles Finney had two men that followed him everywhere, and dedicated themselves to praying for the preacher and the souls of those who heard the gospel.

Today most give all the credit to Spurgeon and Finney, but it was praying men behind their ministry that were the real secret to their success! The tears that they shed, the groans that they uttered, are written in the chronicles of God's book above, because the secret to any successful ministry or church is a church that really prays!

PRAYING HAS BECOME OLD FASHIONED

Sadly, the Church world's emphasis has changed today from praying to programs.

Our emphasis has changed from interceding to entertaining.

People are using the flesh, and things of the world to draw men to the Church and to persuade them to make a 'profession' of faith, but they are only creating hypocrites. Programs and entertainment cannot save a single person. Nothing can replace Spirit-filled preaching.

SIN OF NOT PRAYING

1st Samuel 12:23 Moreover as for me, God forbid that I should sin against the LORD in ceasing to pray for you: but I will teach you the good and the right way:

Did you know that you can sin against the Lord by not praying for others, it is disobedience to God's command - in fact, the Lord Jesus commanded that men ought always to pray and not to faint. The Bible tells us to pray without ceasing, and prayer should be made for all.

And it is sin to know to do good and not do it. One of the MOST IMPORTANT things that we SHOULD be doing, is praying. The sin of prayerlessness tragically pervades the church of God in the West.

Now I'm not exonerating myself, because I know that a praying pulpit will beget a praying pew, and I know that this preacher before you needs to pray more. But if the preachers need to pray for themselves and for the people, so do the people! They need to pray for the preachers, they need to pray for the work, and they need to pray for the salvation of the lost!

You know Jesus taught us that if we sow good seed on bad ground that it will not produce a crop. But let me tell you this, Good preaching, without sincere praying, will not produce either.

There is a poem that says:

'The Gospel moves with slow and timid pace

when the saints are not at their prayers early and late"

WHY AREN'T SINNERS BEING SAVED?

Acts 2:37 Now when they heard this, they were pricked in their heart, and said unto Peter and to the rest of the apostles, Men and brethren, what shall we do?

I have sometimes heard Christians wonder, how lost people can sit here, and hear the Gospel, and not give their hearts to the Lord.

Have you thought maybe it is because the Church is not interceding before God for their souls early and late and long? Do you remember the Gospel meeting in your personal prayers? Do you pray specifically for the unsaved? I tell you friends, except you get God in the arrangements and he pricks their heart, they will not be saved!

KNOWING GOD IS IN THIS SANCTUARY

Wouldn't it be tremendous if the unconverted that came into this place were awakened to an awareness of God just like these whose hearts were pricked. But often I wonder, are we even aware.

Do we recognize that God is among us? Do we realize that when we enter the Sanctuary that we are supposed to be gathering in one accord before the Creator.

We may say we believe that we are come into his presence, but the way some of us act, it is clear that we don't believe we're in the presence of God, do we? Is there an awareness that God is here?

PRAYER UNTO GOD

Now I want us to turn back to the verse that we first read before we close. I want to make one last point:

Acts 12:5 ¶ Peter therefore was kept in prison: but prayer was made without ceasing of the church unto God for him.

I think that we have seen and know what can happen when a Church really prays, but now I want you to know what it is to really pray. I guess the way we know if it is a real prayer, is if God hears it.

How many of us wake in the mornings, and simply give God a passing word, as we run along to our own business? We would not treat a stranger that way, but we do God. Does he hear such things?

How about before we lay down at night, do we kneel and talk to God as we would a great King, or do we first lay our heads on our pillow, and then mumble to him as we drift off to sleep?

PRAYING HYDE'S EXAMPLE

Bro. Chapman was once preaching a revival in England, and for days there was an absence of any Divine conviction of sin over those who were unbelievers. The revival was simply dead.

However, a change came in the meeting when a man came along . He was a man of prayer, his name was 'Praying Hyde'. I've talked to you about him before. Chapman says, and I quote: 'When John Hyde came there, God came to town'.

Now you might think that's exalting a man a bit too much, but I tell you this: wouldn't it be wonderful if you had such a relationship with God that you carried His tangible presence everywhere you go? It is said of John Hyde: 'God and Hyde walked together', and as a result when Chapman made his final appeal at the Gospel meeting that particular night there were 50 people who came to Christ!

Because of the difference that was made, Chapman went to Praying Hyde, and he said: 'Would you pray for me?'. Mr Hyde turned his face up to God, and opened his heart before the Throne of Grace. Chapman adds: 'I felt the hot tears running down my face. I knew I was with God. Then with upturned face, down which the tears were streaming, John Hyde said the words: 'O God!'. Then for five minutes at least, he was still, and then when he knew he was talking with God his arm went around my shoulder and there came up from the depths of his heart such petitions for men as I had never before heard. I rose from my knees to know what real prayer was!'.

Oh that we would know what real prayer is! What is it? It's praying unto God - 'prayer was made unto God'. We need to make sure that we're in God's presence, and we need to reverence God's presence.

FROM SENTIMENT TO REALITY

Now listen: many of us talk about this type of prayer, don't we? Oh, and we read about it, and we praise it in others; but will we, this week, get out of the realm of sentiment and get into the realm of reality where prayer really starts to make a difference? 'Unto God', 'without ceasing'

I tell you, God gives us more authority on our knees than we can imagine. For example: The Holy Spirit burdens two people, they unite together in the will of God to pray, and earth or heaven cannot stop God giving the answer if it's in His will. Read the verse again and notice the keys: 'Unto God', 'without ceasing', 'of the church', 'for him' - for Peter! Their praying was specific, they asked for the need that they had, and we need to do the same. Didn't James say that 'Ye have not because, ye ask not' - and the sense is 'specifically'. You're not getting what you need because you haven't asked.

NOW WHAT ARE YOU GOING TO DO?

Are we going to change our prayer life for the better? Are we going to get serious with God about this Church? About the lost people? About this upcoming revival? Are we going to seek God sincerely for the preachers, and are we going to seek God for those who hear the gospel? Are we going to seek God for our own witness?

I know you think I'm right! I know you know that it is a right thing to improve your prayer life, but are you going to go from the realm of sentiment, and make it reality? It is up to you!

In 2 Chronicles 7:14 God said: 'If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land'.