Peter therefore was kept in prison, but prayer was made without ceasing of the church unto God for him. Acts 12:5
Peter’s deliverance from the prison is a wonderful account of a miracle occurring in answer to prayer. Miracles do not occur every time we pray. So why was this prayer answered with a miracle? Our text holds the key; in fact it holds four keys, and we can use these four keys when we pray, and perhaps we will experience more miracles.
The first key is found in the phrase ‘unto God’. But isn’t all prayer unto God? We think so, but no. Many of our prayers are mere form or ritual, expressions that we make that convey little real meaning or emotion to ourselves or anyone else. Other prayers are crafted for the ears of those around us, not necessarily for the heart of God. We use appropriate phrasing and expressions, and hope those around us think it is a good prayer. But the Christians in Jerusalem made sure that their prayers were directed unto God. The wording was not important to them. But what was important was that they make contact with God. Only God could deliver Peter, they knew, and so they took their case directly into the throne room of Heaven. If we would experience answers to our prayers, we must make sure that we capture Heaven’s attention. If we fail to reach unto God, we have not prayed.
The second key to miraculously answered prayer lies in the expression ‘without ceasing’. The Greek word that is translated ‘without ceasing’ is more accurately translated ‘stretched out to the limit’. Not only did the Christians pray without ceasing, they also prayed to the very extent of their abilities to pray. Nothing was held back in their passion and striving with God to have Him respond to their entreaties. R.A. Torrey suggests the words ‘instant and earnest prayer’ would be a good description of their efforts. This brings before us the words of James 5:16: The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much. Is it any wonder that God was prevailed upon to respond to those prayers? Billy Sunday used to say that our prayers would do more good if we pulled out some of the groans and pushed in a few shouts. And so they would.
The third key to miraculously answered prayer lies in the expression ‘of the church’. These were not individual prayers but the united petitions of the entire Assembly. There was no variation in what they were seeking, nor was there any variation in how earnestly they were praying. Unitedly, they strove, in accordance with Matthew 18:19: if two of you shall agree on earth as touching any thing that they shall ask, it shall be done for them of my Father which is in heaven.
The fourth key lies in the specific direction contained in the words ‘for him’. This was not a general ‘bless everybody’ kind of prayer. These saints knew what they needed and they asked specifically for that.
Do our prayers come up short of these four keys? No wonder that we see no miracles! -Jim MacIntosh