Re:Verse reading–Acts 12:1-19 (day one)
“Peter was kept in prison, but prayer for him was being made fervently by the church to God.”–v 5.
It is a small word in Greek. We saw the same this past Sunday in the Nicodemus story. De is a “disjunctive conjunction”. It separates. Points out contrast or change in direction.
Peter had been arrested by Herod. Bad! Herod had already executed James and was enjoying his “approval rating” bump. Very bad! Peter was being held in a maximum security prison. The worst imaginable! Dangerous, depressing situation.
BUT prayer was being made! An undefeated church. A God for whom nothing is impossible. It ain’t over til it’s over! So they pressed into the Lord. Together. On their knees. Loud cries. Real prayer.
“God does NOTHING except in response to believing prayer, and EVERYTHING with it.”–John Wesley.
Most of us know what happens when we don’t pray. Wonder what would happen if we did?
“Real prayer is union with God.”~~ Mother Teresa