Prayer Week 1 - Corporate Prayer
Read
Acts 12:5
12 About that time King Herod violently attacked some who belonged to the church, 2 and he executed James, John’s brother, with the sword. 3 When he saw that it pleased the Jews, he proceeded to arrest Peter too, during the Festival of Unleavened Bread. 4 After the arrest, he put him in prison and assigned four squads of four soldiers each to guard him, intending to bring him out to the people after the Passover. 5 So Peter was kept in prison, but the church was praying fervently to God for him. 6 When Herod was about to bring him out for trial, that very night Peter, bound with two chains, was sleeping between two soldiers, while the sentries in front of the door guarded the prison. 7 Suddenly an angel of the Lord appeared, and a light shone in the cell. Striking Peter on the side, he woke him up and said, “Quick, get up!” And the chains fell off his wrists. 8 “Get dressed,” the angel told him, “and put on your sandals.” And he did. “Wrap your cloak around you,” he told him, “and follow me.” 9 So he went out and followed, and he did not know that what the angel did was really happening, but he thought he was seeing a vision. 10 After they passed the first and second guards, they came to the iron gate that leads into the city, which opened to them by itself. They went outside and passed one street, and suddenly the angel left him. 11 When Peter came to himself, he said, “Now I know for certain that the Lord has sent his angel and rescued me from Herod’s grasp and from all that the Jewish people expected.” 12 As soon as he realized this, he went to the house of Mary, the mother of John who was called Mark, where many had assembled and were praying. 13 He knocked at the door of the outer gate, and a servant named Rhoda came to answer. 14 She recognized Peter’s voice, and because of her joy, she did not open the gate but ran in and announced that Peter was standing at the outer gate.
15 “You’re out of your mind!” they told her. But she kept insisting that it was true, and they said, “It’s his angel.” 16 Peter, however, kept on knocking, and when they opened the door and saw him, they were amazed. 17 Motioning to them with his hand to be silent, he described to them how the Lord had brought him out of the prison. “Tell these things to James and the brothers,” he said, and he left and went to another place. 18 At daylight, there was a great commotion among the soldiers as to what had become of Peter. 19 After Herod had searched and did not find him, he interrogated the guards and ordered their execution. Then Herod went down from Judea to Caesarea and stayed there. 20 Herod had been very angry with the people of Tyre and Sidon. Together they presented themselves before him. After winning over Blastus, who was in charge of the king’s bedroom, they asked for peace, because their country was supplied with food from the king’s country. 21 On an appointed day, dressed in royal robes and seated on the throne, Herod delivered a speech to them. 22 The assembled people began to shout, “It’s the voice of a god and not of a man!” 23 At once an angel of the Lord struck him because he did not give the glory to God, and he was eaten by worms and died. 24 But the word of God spread and multiplied. 25 After they had completed their relief mission, Barnabas and Saul returned to Jerusalem, taking along John who was called Mark
Acts 12:1
1 About that time King Herod violently attacked some who belonged to the church,
Acts 12:1
23 At once an angel of the Lord struck him because he did not give the glory to God, and he was eaten by worms and died.
Summary
This week we started a new series entitled PRAYER. A praying church experiences miracles, movements, mission, the miracle of salvations, reconciliation, restoration, and what seems like an earthly disappointment can also be a blessing. We will be in Acts chapter 12 focusing on verses 5 & 12.
Our first point A Praying Church Experiences Miracles is found in verses 6-17. We see the power of a praying church. While Peter was in prison the church was gathered and were praying for Him. All the while God was already at work, rescuing Peter. As the church prayed for Peters release and safety, God was in the process of answering their prayers. The answer came in the form of a Miracle!
Our second point is A Praying Church Experiences Movement. When a church prays, God does more than we ask, Eph 3:20. We also see a praying church in Acts12:1, 12:23. Do not mistake a movement of God with superstition or tradition. What we’re experiencing at BT with salvations and baptisms is a result of the movement of God in His people. As a CG you are experiencing and are a part of the movement of God.
Our third point is A Praying Church Experiences Mission. In verse 24, we see that despite what Herod had done, the Word of God flourished and was multiplied. A praying church knows it exists to glorify God, when a church forgets that the glory of God is the chief concern, that church gets eliminated.
What does all of this mean for us? We need to be careful, God eliminated Herod because he failed to give God glory, God will do the same to a church that won’t give Him glory. God’s will, will always be done, and it is always what is best. We need to have Powerful Prayer. We pray to the Person: to the Father, through the Son, in the power of the Spirit. We pray with a Purpose, and with Passion.
Discussion
Are you a person of PRAYER? Share
Have you experienced MIRACLES from answered PRAYERS? Share
Are you experiencing a MOVEMENT in your life as a result of PRAYER? Share
Has PRAYER made you aware of your MISSION? Share
How can you make your PRAYER, POWERFUL? Share
Announcements
As a part of the MOVEMENT here at BT, please be sure that you and your group are a part of the PRAYER GATHERING that takes place the first Wednesday of every month.
We have started new adult classes that are meeting on Sundays and Wednesdays.
What is Authentic Community Sunday Mornings at 11am (McAllen Campus)
Parenting Class Wednesday nights at 6:30pm (McAllen Campus)
The Book of Ruth Wednesday nights at 6:30 (Alice Campus)
Let’s continue to pray for each other and send prayer requests through our WhatsApp thread. If you are a CG Leader and are not on our WhatsApp thread please contact Meichelle at meichelle.vasquez@bt.church
Pastor Isuaro Medina
Isauro.medina@bt.church
Cell: (956) 984-9380
