Praying For Miracles
GTCOTR/ws091102
Acts 12
1 ¶ Now about that time Herod the king stretched forth his hands to vex certain of the church.
2 And he killed James the brother of John with the sword.
3 And because he saw it pleased the Jews, he proceeded further to take Peter also. (Then were the days of unleavened bread.)
4 And when he had apprehended him, he put him in prison, and delivered him to four quaternions of soldiers to keep him; intending after Easter to bring him forth to the people.
5 ¶ Peter therefore was kept in prison: but prayer was made without ceasing of the church unto God for him.
6 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.
7 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.
8 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.
9 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.
10 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.
11 And when Peter was come to himself, he said, Now I know of a surety, that the Lord hath sent his angel, and hath delivered me out of the hand of Herod, and from all the expectation of the people of the Jews.
12 And when he had considered the thing, he came to the house of Mary the mother of John, whose surname was Mark; where many were gathered together praying.
13 And as Peter knocked at the door of the gate, a damsel came to hearken, named Rhoda.
14 And when she knew Peter’s voice, she opened not the gate for gladness, but ran in, and told how Peter stood before the gate.
15 And they said unto her, Thou art mad. But she constantly affirmed that it was even so. Then said they, It is his angel.
16 But Peter continued knocking: and when they had opened the door, and saw him, they were astonished.
* Peter did not recognize his miracle
* The church members did not recognize their miracle
* The world did not recognize their miracle
(people pray every day for miracles, help from God, relief from burden, debt, pain, loss, grief and various problems of life. God sent Jesus as their miracle and many have not recognized their miracle answer)
I. Two Ways To Pray For Miracles Acts 12
A. Pray In Faith
1. If we are praying, we should be believing
2. If we are believing, we should be expecting
3. If we are expecting, we should be prepared
Point # 163. To have confidence in the impossible is not unreasonable if you have faith. (However, a lack of confidence needs to be discussed with Jesus instead of just faking it. Mark 9:24)
Point # 165. When you don’t have faith to pray, pray for faith. Jude 1:20
B. Faithfully Pray
1. When we know what we want but aren’t sure what God wants
2. When we know the problem but don’t know the promise
Point # 159. Sometimes the greatest sacrifice we can offer to God is the question we have which we have no answer for … perhaps this is great faith!
II. Praying For Miracles --- Romans 8:26-28
26 ¶ Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered.
27 And he that searcheth the hearts knoweth what is the mind of the Spirit, because he maketh intercession for the saints according to the will of God.
28 And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.
A. We Pray In Faith When We Know God’s Will
1. Without knowing God’s will we cannot pray in faith
2. Find the level of God’s will you can know and pray for in faith
B. We Pray Faithfully When We Don’t
1. When We Don’t Know God’s Will
2. When We Want God To Reconsider His Will
3. For Willingness To Want God’s Will
III. Answered Prayers
A. God answers your prayers according to His will
1. Do not presume you know His will
2. Do not think your will is His will
3. Do not be afraid to pray ‘Not my will but Thine’ (Lk 22:42)
4. Do not think God will do it anyway without saints praying
A. God’s will is to save people, but without them praying
B. James says, you have not because you ask not
C. God knows what you need before you pray
D. ask and receive that your joy might be full
B. God is looking for someone to pray in faith: James 5:15
C. God is looking for someone to pray faithfully: Ezekiel 22:30 And I sought for a man among them, that should make up the hedge, and stand in the gap before me for the land, that I should not destroy it: but I found none.
D. Keep your eyes open for your miracle
