A PRISON CELLReading: Acts 12: 1-17
After the coming of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost, the church grew very quickly, and Luke has given us such a fascinating and exciting report of how it happened. The life of the believers was characterised by prayer, great joy, commitment and eagerness to spread the good news. But it was by no means easy. They were also under constant persecution that served only to increase faith and multiply the number of believers, a fact borne witness to even today by the remarkable growth of the church in countries where persecution of Christians is rife.
On one occasion Peter was imprisoned by Herod Agrippa, under maximum security. It was almost certain that his fate would be the same as that of James, brother of John, who had been killed a short time earlier. The night before his trial Peter was awakened by an angel who ordered him to do some very practical things; “Get up, get dressed, put on your sandals and your coat and follow me.” Peter’s chains fell off and he did as he was told. Privately he thought that he was dreaming, but as they passed by all the guard posts, as the prison doors opened automatically, and as they walked down the street, it gradually dawned on Peter what had happened. By this time the angel had left him. What should he do? He decided to go to Mark’s mother’s home, where many of his friends were praying for him. Rhoda, the servant girl, came to the door, but was so overjoyed at hearing Peter’s voice that, instead of opening it, she ran back to tell the others. They told her she was dreaming, but he kept on knocking until, finally, they opened the door, and were amazed at the answer to their prayer.
Look at what can happen through faithful, ongoing, believing prayer. Something is loosed in the heavenlies, and vision merges into reality. Peter’s friends, the whole church, were praying earnestly for him. With the eyes of faith they ‘saw’ him being set free, and God sent his messenger to bring it into effect. It was done. But even though they believed, whenever it actually happened, they couldn’t immediately take it in. They were stunned.
There are all sorts of maximum security prisons in our world, actual physical ones, some necessary, but others bolstering up dictatorial regimes, using methods of extreme torture and grossly abusing human dignity. There are other less visible but equally fortified prison cells – those of sectarianism, racism, fanaticism, bitterness, and unforgiveness. The Church of Jesus Christ, in all its branches, needs to be praying earnestly for the release of those whose fate, if they remain where they are, will certainly be either a physical, emotional or spiritual death.
We can pray earnestly, often against seemingly impossible odds. We ‘believe’ God can intervene, and we don’t give up. More often than we realise, as we do so, something is released in the spiritual realms, and answers beyond our wildest dreams present themselves. How it would gladden the heart of God if we trusted him enough not only to hear our prayers but to believe for and accept the answer when it happens.