Acts 12:5 (NIV) “So Peter was put in prison, but the church was earnestly praying to God for him.”

DAILY READING; Acts 23:23-24:9; Judges 20; Psalm 45

On October 16th 2021, a group of American missionaries, who worked with Christian Aid Ministries [CAM], were abducted, in Haiti. After a visit to an orphanage, the missionary group of 17 people were returning back, when they were kidnapped by a terror gang in Haiti who demanded millions of dollars in ransom.
Because their captors moved them several times to different locations, it became very difficult for security operatives to find them. Realizing that their help was in the Lord, these missionaries prayed ceaselessly. They organized a continuous around-the-clock prayer chain among themselves, with each person taking turns to pray for about 30 minutes to an hour for their deliverance.
Around the world days of fasting and praying were organized for them, and many people prayed.
As these missionaries sought God in prayer, they eventually began to receive the leading that God wanted them to attempt an escape. Feeling emboldened by this divine direction, they made a daring escape on the night of December 15.
That night, though the door was closed and blocked, they found a way to open it and quickly left the place where they had been held. Despite the fact that numerous guards were close by, miraculously they were unnoticed as they walked into the nearby woods. They kept praying as they walked for 10 miles through the night. Eventually, as the new day began to dawn, they found someone who helped them to call security operatives. Thus, after two months of captivity, these missionaries were finally free! From Haiti, they were immediately flown back to America to reunite with their loved ones.

When Peter was captured and imprisoned by Herod, escape seemed impossible. It was the third time that Peter was being arrested and because he had inexplicably escaped from prison before, this time, Herod applied maximum security.
He not only had many soldiers guarding Peter, he also had soldiers shackled to him. But Herod had no idea of the God’s prevailing power that works through the prayer of the saints.
As soon as the Church heard about Peter’s imprisonment they gathered to pray.
Acts 12:5 says “So Peter was put in prison, but the church was earnestly praying to God for him.”
That word ‘earnestly’ in Greek is the same word that is used of Jesus when He prayed in the garden of Gethsemane. It refers to being in deep agony of soul.
These believers who had recently witnessed the death of James, were determined that Peter would not be Herod’s next victim and so they prayed earnestly.
James 5:16 (NLT) says ‘The earnest prayer of a righteous person has great power and produces wonderful results”

Though Herod had the power of the sword, the Church prevailed through the greater power of prayer. An angel of the Lord invaded the prison and Peter was miraculously rescued from captivity.
Though Acts chapter 12 opens with Peter in prison and Herod triumphing; yet it closes with Herod dead and Peter free.
Indeed through the power of prayer, we will triumph over every enemy of our lives. It doesn’t matter the current condition, when we pray earnestly, things will certainly end in our favor.
Prayer indeed works.
According to Mark 11:22 -24, we can have as much as we desire from God through the awesome privilege of prayer.
Therefore in this season fasting and praying, let us learn to ask God for big things. Nothing is impossible with Him. Let us ask Him for deliverance from every Herod, triumph over every goliath and rescue from every fiery furnace.
We serve the God who cannot fail, and as we call upon Him today, He will show us great and mighty things and release His awesome power for our deliverance from every captivity.

PRAYER: Lord, I thank You for granting me the grace to engage the power of prayer in this season. As I wait upon You, I thank You for my deliverance from every bondage and release of Your power to usher me into greater heights of exploits and glory in Jesus Name.
QUOTE;
‘Until you cry out in the place of prayer certain things won’t happen’ WORDBITE 222.