But The Church Prayed

The book of Acts reads like an adventure movie meant for the big screen.  Beginning with the supernatural birth of the Church and continuing through its amazing growth and impact, each page is alive detailing the action of the Holy Spirit in the lives of everyday, ordinary human beings.  The book is filled with heroes and villains, inspiration and drama as well as information and instruction.  It is a powerful account of life directed by the Holy Spirit.

One of my favorite stories in Acts is found in the 12^th chapter.  It begins with a wicked king bringing persecution to the Church.  King Herod killed James and has plans to do the same to Peter.  He has Peter arrested and placed in prison.  He carefully and strategically placed the apostle in an inner cell surrounded by armed guards and the plan is to execute him after Passover…but the Church prayed.

The night before Peter was set to appear before the king, an angel of the Lord entered the prison cell and miraculously removed Peter’s chains and led him safely outside the prison – without the guards even seeing it!  You really need to read this story!  It is just one example in the book of Acts of God’s response to a praying Church.

The obvious point of Acts is the powerful working of the Holy Spirit.  But as you carefully dissect the recorded moments of the New Testament Church, an underlying element that must not be missed is this Church prayed.  Prayer was not relegated to an event or a duty, it was a lifestyle.  Prayer was not seen as a last resort after everything else was tried, it was the first line of defense and a primary weapon in their arsenal.  Prayer was not seen as religious activity; it was what they were called to do…and God answered their prayers.

Throughout history the people of God have faced great challenges but have overcome because they called on God in prayer and He answered them.

In the Old Testament –

God’s people are surrounded and being attacked by enemy nations…but they prayed and God delivered them.

They came under the authority of wicked kings and governments who brought idols and massive perversion to the forefront…but they prayed and God intervened.

They faced times of famine and pestilence…but they prayed and God provided and protected.

They failed God and turned away from Him…but they prayed and repented and God restored them.

They followed God’s direction and built a tabernacle for God to dwell in…and as they prayed and offered their sacrifices to Him, fire fell from Heaven and the presence of God went with them.

In the New Testament –

The Church faced immense persecution…but they prayed and God delivered them.

They faced times of great need…but they prayed and God brought great miracles to them.

They faced times of controversy and question…but they prayed and God gave direction.

They faced times of sickness – even death…but they prayed and God healed and brought resurrection.

They hungered for God and His power…and as they prayed God manifested His presence and brought revival – one time even causing the place to shake where they prayed!

In our own lifetime we have witnessed and experienced perilous times.  We have seen political unrest, natural disasters and moral depravity.  We have walked through the valley of the shadow of death and had our faith stretched to the nth degree.  We have encountered attacks from without and within yet we are still standing.  We are overcomers, not because of our personal strength and ability, but because the Church prayed.  Prayer has been the secret sauce (not really a secret) that has sustained us and carried us through every storm.

Today, the Church finds itself in a strange land.  Like the people of God in Psalm 137, some have lost hope – hung their harps in the willows – and accepted the fact our best days are behind us.  These have stopped singing the Lord’s song and have moved into survival mode. 

While some in today’s Church are simply hanging on, others have allowed themselves (maybe without even realizing it) to become distracted by things that seem important but have little, if any, eternal value.  While the world is on a collision course with disaster, these have chosen to spend their time debating worship aesthetics, who gets a seat at the table and what our titles should be.  These arguments are rarely settled and lend more to divide us than bring us together.

I think it is time to take a deep breath and revisit some history.  A trip through the Scriptures and a walk down memory lane will reveal to us past conflicts and battles have been settled when the Church prayed.  Prayer has unveiled strategies for victory and enlisted the army of Heaven to come to our defense.  Prayer has changed attitudes and brought unity to the Body when it did not seem possible.  Every believer can testify to the fact, prayer has been the common denominator to every divine intervention.

The Church – the Body of Christ not the institution – is a force in this world.  When it shakes off passivity and operates in its God-ordained authority, it has the power to loose and bind.  All the combined forces of hell are no match for the Church.  This power is our heritage, available because of the presence of the Holy Spirit but activated when the Church prays.

The challenges of this age are intense.  We are being bombarded everyday with hellish attacks intended to take us out.  It is not going to get better – evil will get worse and worse.  But as in times past, the Church will pray – not just study it, preach about it or meditate on it.  We will pray in faith.  We will pray boldly.  We will pray together in agreement.  And just as in times past, God will answer by confirming His Word and “do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us.” (Ephesians 3:20)

It’s not time to stop singing the Lord’s song.  It’s not time to give in to beaucratic or institutional tendencies.  It’s certainly not time to operate in fear.  It is time to pray.  When the Church prays, things change.  We have evidence to this fact.  But the church prayed…