PRAY LIKE IT MATTERS
Acts 12:5–19 (NIV)
Introduction:
Good morning, everyone. It’s so good to be back with you today.
Acts 12 is a powerful chapter. It’s filled with several important subjects that we could talk about — including: God’s sovereignty, the providential nature of life, the reality of miracles, the the glory of God, and more. But there’s one truth we can’t overlook — and it’s this:
Prayer isn’t optional—it’s really essential!
As we will see in a moment, there is a spiritual battle taking place in the world for the hearts and lives of men and women. And we face a real enemy. His plan is to bring fear into our lives, and to cause disruption and destruction everywhere he can. When he comes against us (as God’s people), he tries to chain our hands, and locks the doors around us, he surrounds you with threats, and often whispers, “We’re done. And, there’s no way out.” But that’s not the end of the story, because we serve a mighty God who has not abandoned us. And, when believers pray, things happen — as God responds!
We caught a glimpse of that not long ago. In early 2023, at Asbury University in Wilmore, Kentucky, a simple chapel service turned into days of nonstop prayer and worship, and supernatural experiences. Get this, there were no special lights, or smoke and flashy media tools — no big names, or special speakers and emotional hype—it was just students hungry for God’s presence. And as they prayed, God worked among them. As the days turned to weeks, the crowds grew to thousands. People came from all over the world, to experience the passion and presence of God among these students…and similar revival moments began to breakout across the nation in a variety of universities and colleges. Why? Because when people pray like it matters, God moves in our lives and our circumstances.
And, that’s exactly what we see in Acts 12. Luke (the writer of Acts), tells us that things were getting tough for the early church. From a human perspective, things were looking hopeless. People of power began persecuting the church with greater intensity. Threats were made to their lives. Believers were arrested, and the enemy was active. But when God’s people pray and He shows up! And that’s the story told in Acts chapter 12.
Context
Well, we get too far along, let me give you a little more context. As the chapter opens, Luke tells us, James—the brother of John—one of the original disciples was arrested and killed…executed by sword, likely beheaded. His death was significant—it marked the first apostle to be martyred. Soon after, King Herod Agrippa, the grandson of the Herod the Great (who tried to kill Jesus as a baby), and the nephew of the Herod Antipas (who executed John the Baptist), had Peter arrested too.
He wanted to execute him the way he had James, but because it was Passover, he was delayed. So, instead…Peter was thrown into prison and placed under maximum security. Luke tells us Herod assigned four squads of four soldiers—sixteen guards in all, to watch him. Two were chained to Peter, and two stood watch at the door, and they rotate in shifts, every 3 hours throughout the night. And it your wondering why so many guards, I think it was because Herod was concerned that Peter might escape (it wouldn’t be his first time). In Acts 5 were told that he and John had been imprisoned, but were miraculously delivered by an angel of God. And so, Herod didn’t want that happening again.
The Point
I tell you the backstory to show you that from a human perspective, things looked really bad, even hopeless! But from God’s perspective, the story was just beginning. And here’s the key thought I want to drive home today:
When God’s people pray, God shows up (revealing His power and presence in our lives).
He often does so in unexpected ways. Understand, prayer doesn’t dictate God’s actions, but it does invite His presence into our circumstances. So, while He may not always answer in the way we expect — He is faithful to work all things for together for our good and His glory (Romans 8).
And, that leads us to the first point of this passage. Which is this:
1. KEEP PRAYING UNTIL GOD MOVES!
We need to understand something right away: A life of faith doesn’t mean a life free from hardship. Scripture makes that clear—trials, heartaches, and opposition are part of the journey. In Acts 12, we see this firsthand! But here’s the truth we can’t miss—even in the middle of severe trials, God is fully aware and fully present with His people. So, what do we do when trouble comes? How do we respond when life feels like it’s closing in? We respond like the early church—with faith and with prayer.
Luke tells us in verse 5:
“So Peter was kept in prison, but the church was earnestly praying to God for him.”
That small word “but” is the hinge of the story. On one side: prison walls, iron chains, armed guards, and political pressure. On the other side: a praying church, faith, and a total reliance on God. And that’s the pivot point where impossibility meets faith.
Prayer is not an option for you and me. We must pray. It’s our lifeline. It reveals our faith and trust in God. It keeps us aligned with His will and in touch with His Spirit. So we must pray…and we must do so unto God moves. Until He reveals Himself and changes our circumstances or changes us! Notice how the church in Acts 12 prayed. Luke says they prayed “earnestly.”
In the original language, this word paints a picture of something being stretched to its absolute limit, like a rubber band stretching as far as it can. (Pull hands apart…they prayed…and prayed….and prayed). The point is that their prayer was intense and continuous. It wasn’t some passing, casual, or routine prayer. It was focused…consistent and intentional. It was that kind of prayer that refused to quit until God responded. Luke used the same word when he described Jesus’ prayer in Gethsemane—the night before he would be arrested and crucified.
When I read that, I have to stop and ask myself:
Does my prayer life look like that? Am I praying with that kind of urgency and persistence? And if not, why not?
Jesus told us in Matthew 7:7 to say,
“Ask, and keep on asking; seek, and keep on seeking; knock, and keep on knocking.”
That’s ongoing, continual prayer. Don’t stop until God answers—until He either changes the situation or changes us in the middle of it. This is why the main point here is simple—we too must pray until God responds. Persistent prayer isn’t about wearing God down—it’s about holding on until His will is done. That’s what the early church did, and it’s what we’re called to do. Prayers demonstrates our dependence upon Him. So pray, and don’t give up.
And I’d add, when you pray — refuse to pray it safe! Pray big, bold prayers.
Once, when the late missionary, Hudson Taylor faced an impossible situation during his time in China, he wrote,
“It is not the difficulty that matters most, but where it drives me—to my knees.”
So, How Do We Pray Like That?I’d suggest a few ideas:
— Pray specifically. Name the situation, the need, or the person that has you concerned. Earnest prayer isn’t vague, it’s laser-focused.
— Pray with others. Bring someone along the journey with you. Share your need, and commit to praying together. In this story, the early church had gathered together to pray for Peter.
— Pray until. Pray, and pray, and pray again. Pray until God moves (either in your situation, or in you)!
Well, the second lesson we learn from this story about prayer, is this: We must…
2. KEEP TRUSTING THAT GOD IS WORKING!
God was working even when the church couldn’t see it.
You know, sometimes the hardest part of praying is the unknown…waiting on God to respond. This is especially true when we pray about things over time… and we don’t see any obvious results from our prayers. It may lead us to wonder—if God is even aware of our needs. But Acts 12 reminds us that God is working even when we cannot see Him.
Look with me at verses 6–11. Luke writes,
6 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. 7 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.
8 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. 9 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. 10 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.
11 Then Peter came to himself and said, “Now I know without a doubt that the Lord has sent his angel and rescued me from Herod’s clutches and from everything the Jewish people were hoping would happen.”
Notice the timing—the night before his trial. Most likely the night before his execution. And Peter is… sleeping. Not pacing. Not worrying. Not calling for his lawyer. Sleeping. That’s not normal—that’s supernatural peace. That’s the kind of peace that Paul describes in Philippians 4:7 when he writes about,
“the peace of God, which transcends all understanding.”
That’s what Peter was experiencing here. But…While he was sleeping, God was working! And, while he was sleeping, and the church was praying, — again, God was working! I think this is where things are the hardest, it’s when our faith is the most difficult, because it’s hard to trust when God seems silent.
God’s silence does not equate to God’s absence.
Even during the stillness and silence of this this story — God was working! That’s just how it is with God. He’s often the most active in places we can’t see—in the spirit realm, in the hearts of people, in difficult circumstances — but God is always working! Think about when a seed is planted in the ground…before anything is ever seen, things are happening deep down in the dark. Invisible to the human eye, change is happening and roots are growing. It won’t be seen until later, but the growth process begins long before the first green leaf breaks through the soil.
In the same way, when we pray—God is working. The Psalmist says of God, in Psalm 121:4,
“He who watches over Israel will neither slumber nor sleep.”
That means while you sleep, God stays awake.
While you rest, or even wrestle—God is awake. He’s aware. He’s active.
You may not see it, you may not feel it, but He’s always working behind the scenes on your behalf.
Application: Maybe right now you are in the midst of a difficult circumstance,stance. And maybe you’ve taken your concern to God, but it feels like nothing is changing. You’ve been praying, but the doors still remain shut. I challenge you to stand in faith – and trust in God’s timing. Just trust Him.
As Charles Haddon Spurgeon once said of God,
“When we cannot trace His hand, we must trust His heart.”
So trust Him. And when that answer does come—be ready to believe and receive His good work. Which leads us to the third call within this passage…and it’s this:
3. KEEP BELIEVING FOR GREATER THINGS!
When you pray — and as you await God to act, I challenge you to believe for greater things. Expect God to come through. Thats faith.
Look again at verses 12–17. Here we read:
12 When this had dawned on him, he went to the house of Mary the mother of John, also called Mark, where many people had gathered and were praying. 13 Peter knocked at the outer entrance, and a servant named Rhoda came to answer the door. 14 When she recognized Peter’s voice, she was so overjoyed she ran back without opening it and exclaimed, “Peter is at the door!”
15 “You’re out of your mind,” they told her. When she kept insisting that it was so, they said, “It must be his angel.”
16 But Peter kept on knocking, and when they opened the door and saw him, they were astonished. 17 Peter motioned with his hand for them to be quiet and described how the Lord had brought him out of prison. “Tell James and the other brothers and sisters about this,” he said, and then he left for another place.
So, God works and sends his angel to deliver Peter. And in a moment…Peter is free—his chains gone, guards are behind him, and the gates wide open before him. It was miraculous.
So where does he go? He goes straight to the place where the believers are praying. Verse 12 tells us it’s the home of Mary, the mother of John Mark—a place well-known as a gathering spot for the early church, a hub of prayer, ministry, and safety. Many scholars even believe this to be where Jesus and the disciples met for the last supper, and where the believers were praying on the day of Pentecost in Acts 2…when they were filled with the HS.
This is significant, because in his time of need, Peter returned to a place where he had seen God move before. And we should do the same—revisit the places and moments where God has proved Himself faithful, because His past faithfulness fuels our present hope. When Peter knocks, a servant named Rhoda recognizes his voice, but in her excitement, forgets to open the door! She rushes back shouting, “Peter is at the door!” Yet those praying for his release don’t believe her. They dismiss it, even suggesting it must be his angel.
Here’s the lesson: sometimes we pray without truly expecting God to answer. We go through the motions, but doubt lingers. And when God DOES move, we’re often caught off guard. James 1:6 warns not to pray like that, not to pray with divided hearts, but instead to believe. He says, we must “believe and not doubt,” because prayer without expectation is like planting seeds in the ground — and then, never bothering to watch for a harvest. It just doesn’t make sense. Conversely — the prayer of faith is powerful and effective.
I like the way Corrie Ten Boom once put it. She said:
“Faith sees the invisible, believes the unbelievable, and receives the impossible.”
That’s the kind of faith we’re called to live—not just talking about God’s power, but actively watching for it!
When Peter finally enters the house — verse 17 says he explained how,
“…the Lord had brought him out of prison.”
He tells the story and leaves no doubt in their minds. It wasn’t that the guards were weak or he was just lucky. He declares that it was the miraculous work of God. And then Peter says,
“Tell James and the other brothers and sisters about this.”
And then, the astonishing thing is, he left! He takes off. Luke says,
“then he left for another place.”
And this really caught my attention this week — because, the miracle didn’t cause him to stop and erect a statue or build a museum to God’s work in that moment. To the contrary — it motivated him to CARRY ON! Because the mission of God and the ministry of His people had to continue!
Here’s the point: God didn’t free Peter so he could simply enjoy a night at home. He freed him so the Gospel could advance! Answered prayers and divine deliverance is never just about our comfort—it’s always about His Kingdom.
Luke confirms this in verse 24, when he writes:
“The word of God continued to spread and flourish.”
You see, Peter’s release wasn’t the end of the story—it was just the spark that fueled even greater Gospel impact. His problems and pain became a platform of God’s power. That’s why this matters: when God answers, don’t just be relieved—be expectant. Celebrate answered prayers — but keep believing for greater things! When God answers your prayers—don’t just stand there in shock. Believe it. Receive it. And give Him the glory.
Tell someone what He’s done. And let your deliverance become a testimony that points others to Him. Every answered prayer is an opportunity to shine a spotlight on the goodness and power of God.
Conclusion:
Well, Acts 12 isn’t just an inspiring story—it’s a pattern of life for you and me. While we will still face opposition and impossible situations in our lives, we can be certain that we serve a God who hears our prayers, is able to breaks the enemy’s chains, and opens doors before us. So be encouraged. And pray like it matters, because it does! Prayer moves heaven—and heaven moves earth. So:
- Pray until God moves. Don’t quit too soon.
- Trust Him while you wait. He’s working even when you can’t see it. And,…
- Expect more when He answers. Because He is more than able..
No matter what circumstance you’re in—God is able to deliver. And when He steps in, chains break, gates open, and miracles take place in ways that allows us to tell His story and give Him the glory.
Closing Prayer
If you’ve been listening — and the Holy Spirit’s been stirring in you, drawing you in with the thought of forgiveness and salvation. If you’d like experience that today — if you’d like to invite Jesus into your life this morning, then would pray with me? And say,
Heavenly Father, I admit that I have sinned and chosen my way over yours too often. But all that changes today. Because, I confess my sin before you (I’ve blown it and missed the mark). But I confess my faith in Jesus. I believe Your Son came from heaven, lived a sinless life, and then went to the cross to shed His blood for me. That He sacrificed Himself in my place. That through His death — I could be forgiven of my sin and guilt. And, I also believe that He rose again — and is alive today. So, I put my faith in Jesus. Forgive me, and save me, and allow Your Spirit to live in me. I pray this in Jesus name, Amen.
If you just prayed that prayer — I AM SO PROUD OF YOU! That’s the greatest decision you’ll ever make.
And now, for the rest of us…let’s pray:
Heavenly Father, we thank You that You are still the God of the impossible. The God who breaks chains and open’s doors. We admit that sometimes we are self-reliant rather than God dependent. We pray small prayers, and are even distracted when we pray. We confess that we often live in doubt rather than faith, and when we pray — we give up too soon, rather than trail in prayer. So forgive us for our weak prayers and for our small faith. Today, we ask you to help us change. Today we declare your greatness. We remind ourselves that you have called us to draw near you in prayer. You have invited us to trust in your power and purposes. And so we will. In the days to come, we will bring You the impossible situations we face. We will pray with persistence, and we will trust You in the waiting. And whether you change us or our circumstances — we will still give You the glory. Thank you for your presence and for your power. We pray this, in Jesus’ name, Amen.