Download Fervent Prayer I. Intro II. 1 – God Provides His Peace 2 – God

Fervent Prayer
Acts 12:1 – 5
I. Intro
A. This morning: Prevailing Prayer – prayer that's continual, effective and
effectual, overcome our opponent – sin and the world, prayer that never
gives up until we've overcome
B. Tonight: Fervent prayer - James 5:16 (NKJV)
16 … The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much.
C. Fervent (Webster) – exhibiting or marked by great intensity of feeling;
very hot (glowing)
D. Tonight see what happens when we pray fervently
II.
1 – God Provides His Peace
A. Not just peace as in the absence of any turmoil – but it's an eternal,
continuous peace that only can come from God
B. John 14:27 (NIV)
27 Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the
world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.
C. READ Acts 12:1 – 6
D. v. 6: The night before Herod was to bring him to trial, Peter was sleeping …
E. v. 1: Herod arresting some who belonged to the early church intending to
persecute them … even had James killed with the sword; in all probability
same was about to happen to Peter and he's sleeping like a baby
F. Question: Ever found yourself in a very tense situation, but yet you still
felt a peace and calm in the middle of it?
G. ASK: Do you think Peter would have been freed from prison if his fellow
believers had not been praying fervently? Does this mean that we'll
always get what we ask for as long as we pray fervently?
2 – God Activates His Angels
III.
A. ASK: Do you feel God's angels are still active in today's world?
B. READ Acts 12:7 – 9
C. Other scriptural examples when God activated His angels
i. Daniel in the lion's den: Daniel 6:22
ii. Jesus after tempted by Satan: Matthew 4:11
D. Hebrews 1:14 (NIV)
14
Are not all angels ministering spirits sent to serve those who will inherit
salvation?
E. Jesus praying in garden of Gethsemene just before His arrest: Luke
22:43-44 (NIV)
43
An angel from heaven appeared to him and strengthened him.
And being in anguish, he prayed more earnestly, and his sweat was like
drops of blood falling to the ground.
F. Then: Luke 22:45 (NIV)
45 When he rose from prayer and went back to the disciples, he found them
asleep, exhausted from sorrow.
G. ASK: What difference do we see between Jesus and His disciples?
H. ASK: To which do you think most believers are more like – Jesus or the
disciples?
I. Word translated as earnest means to “stretch ourselves” in prayer
J. Josh Hunt quote on earnest prayer:
44
IV.
3 – God Surprises His Servants
A. READ Acts 12:12 – 16
B. Ephesians 3:20-21 (NIV)
20 Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or
imagine, according to his power that is at work within us,
21 to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations,
for ever and ever! Amen.
C. Question: Isn't it ironic that when we seek the Lord in earnest, fervent
prayer, that when He answers we act surprised?
D. ASK: How is our praying reflective of our faith?
V. 4 – God Vindicates His People
A. ASK: What does vindicate mean? ANS: (Webster) To show someone
shouldn't be blamed for crime or mistake; to show not guilty
B. READ Acts 12:19, 21 – 24 (Notice God's use of an angel again to strike
down Herod)
C. ASK: In gaining better understanding about what fervent prayer is and
the power of fervent prayer, how can praying fervently change us?
D. ASK: Does fervent prayer change God?
VI.
Close
A. When we pray earnestly, fervently, passionately God's heart is moved –
that is when He moves on our behalf