#1,057: There Is No Substitute for Fervent Prayer

The 5 Minute Discipleship Podcast

Let us remember that nothing is a substitute for earnest prayer. Nothing can take its place. Today’s church does many important things, but we must make prayer a priority.

Main Points:

1. This is a remarkable story of God’s power and deliverance, but what stands out to me the most from this story is the commitment of the church to prayer. This miracle happened in the middle of the night. The church was not asleep because they knew the next day Peter would be put on trial. The church was having an all-night prayer meeting to ask God to protect Peter.
2. It was a desperate situation but I believe they remembered that Jesus told them to “ask and it will be given you.” The Greek word tells us that they were “straining in prayer”. It was not a casual prayer, “Lord, bless Peter tonight.” No, it was a desperate prayer, a fervent prayer, and an earnest prayer. They were seeking God. They were crying out to God for Peter’s deliverance. This is intercessory prayer.
3. When was the last time you gathered with other believers and prayed an earnest prayer? Let’s recommit ourselves to prayer. The God who hears will answer.

Today’s Scripture Verses:

Acts 12:5-10 - “So Peter was kept in prison, but the church was earnestly praying to God for him. The night before Herod was to bring him to trial, Peter was sleeping between two soldiers, bound with two chains, and sentries stood guard at the entrance. Suddenly an angel of the Lord appeared and a light shone in the cell. He struck Peter on the side and woke him up. “Quick, get up!” he said, and the chains fell off Peter’s wrists. Then the angel said to him, “Put on your clothes and sandals.” And Peter did so. “Wrap your cloak around you and follow me,” the angel told him. Peter followed him out of the prison, but he had no idea that what the angel was doing was really happening; he thought he was seeing a vision. They passed the first and second guards and came to the iron gate leading to the city. It opened for them by itself, and they went through it. When they had walked the length of one street, suddenly the angel left him.”
James 5:16 - “The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much.”

Mark 11:17 - “My house shall be called a house of prayer.”
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