The early believers in the book of Acts really knew how to release resurrection power. If you doubt it, read what they did when Herod (after murdering the apostle James) put Peter in prison intending to kill him. That was truly a time when resurrection power was needed!
In the natural, there was no way Peter could escape execution. He was locked up behind iron bars. He was bound with chains. And he was surrounded by four squads of soldiers.
Apart from a miracle, Peter was as good as dead.
The Church, however, was unwilling to accept that death sentence. They had already lost one apostle and they were determined not to lose another. So with their hearts set on saving Peter, they prayed without ceasing for him.
As far as I know, those early Christians had never been to any special prayer seminars. They weren’t super saints or specially trained pray-ers. They were just ordinary believers who knew how to pray in the spirit. Yet by nightfall, their prayers had released a marvelous supply of bondage-breaking, demon-conquering resurrection power.
They made enough power available to bring an angel to Peter’s side.
They generated enough power to cause the chains to fall off his wrists.
They sent so much resurrection power into that prison that the iron gate opened for Peter all by itself!
Those believers proved the power that flows from us when we pray is truly the power that raised Jesus and seated Him at God’s right hand. They proved that power is “far above all principality, and power, and might and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this world, but also in that which is to come” (Ephesians 1:21 KJV).
Every demonic bondage that held Peter captive fell in the face of the power released by those tenacious, praying saints. Every natural circumstance and physical force had to bow its knee to the supply of the Spirit that flowed into the situation through their prayers. Peter was resurrected from a death sentence by the flood of living water they released.
Let’s set our hearts on following their example. Let’s dare to believe that we too can open prison doors. Instead of passively accepting the Devil’s deadly decrees over our family members, our friends, our church, and our country, let’s pray for them without giving up, unlock the very gates of hell, and set the captives free.
Scripture Reading: Acts 12:1 – 19
On the chilly March night in 1972 when Lynne Hammond took her first step into a life of Spirit-led prayer, she had no idea what was about to happen. All she knew was the hunger in her heart for God wouldn’t let her sleep. In the few short months she’d been born again, her desire to fellowship with Him had grown so strong she could hardly contain it. “Help me, God!” she cried. “I want to know you. I want to be able to talk to you. Please, teach me to pray!”
Suddenly, a heavenly presence flooded the room. Lynne sensed waves of spiritual fire sweeping over her and a beautiful language began to flow like a river from within her. Although she’d never heard of the baptism of the Holy Spirit, she knew instantly, without a doubt—this was God!
What began that night soon blossomed into a life of prayer that ultimately became a ministry of prayer when, in 1980, Lynne and her husband, Mac, founded Living Word Christian Center in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Under Lynne’s leadership, the prayer ministry at Living Word has become an internationally recognized model for developing effective pray-ers in the local church.
A teacher and an author, Lynne publishes a newsletter called Prayer Notes, has written numerous books, and currently serves as the national prayer director for Daughters for Zion. Her passion for inspiring and leading others into the life of Spirit-led prayer continues to take her around the world to minister to believers whose heart cry, like hers, is “Lord, teach me to pray!”