So Peter was kept in prison, but those in the church were earnestly praying to God for him. On that very night before Herod was going to bring him out for trial, Peter was sleeping between two soldiers, bound with two chains, while guards in front of the door were keeping watch over the prison. Suddenly an angel of the Lord appeared, and a light shone in the prison cell. He struck Peter on the side and woke him up, saying, “Get up quickly!” And the chains fell off Peter’s wrists. The angel said to him, “Fasten your belt and put on your sandals.” Peter did so. Then the angel said to him, “Put on your cloak and follow me.” Peter went out and followed him; he did not realize that what was happening through the angel was real, but thought he was seeing a vision. After they had passed the first and second guards, they came to the iron gate leading into the city. It opened for them by itself, and they went outside and walked down one narrow street, when at once the angel left him. When Peter came to himself, he said, “Now I know for certain that the Lord has sent his angel and rescued me from the hand of Herod and from everything the Jewish people were expecting to happen.”
Acts 12:5-11 NET
This is a chunk out of a longer tale, but (mark that word) there is a very important thought we need to grab. James had been executed, and Peter was imprisoned with the same thought in Herod’s mind for him. The rest of this tale flows directly from the word that follow’s prison: BUT. As Christians, our lives don’t just flow along haphazardly, driven by the forces of nature, human or otherwise. There is always room for a “but.”
In this case, the “but” was the prayers of the church. Heaven was activated, the angels responded, and Peter was miraculously delivered. Prayer changes things. As Christians we get to take part in all sorts of good things. We sing, we shout, we listen to good preaching, we read our Bibles, we help those in need, BUT if we don’t pray, we are going to have to do most of it on our own. Unfortunately, we are wholly incapable of making Kingdom impact without Kingdom power.
As we get together with the saints today to do whatever we usually do on Sunday, how about we add a “but” before we go? Pray for God to move in your service, for those condemned to destruction to be set free, for the sick to be healed, and for you to hear from Heaven for your own life. For sure, pray for your preacher to speak as the oracles of God. Anything less is living without a “but.” You don’t want that.
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