Read: Acts 12:12-19
But Peter continued knocking: and when they had opened the door, and saw him, they were astonished. Acts 12:16 KJV
The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much. James 5:16 KJV
A story was told about a man who got a permit to open the first tavern in a small town.
Members of a local church strongly opposed to one being opened.
They began to pray that God would handle the matter.
As it happens, a few days before it was scheduled to open, lightning hit it, and it burned to the ground.
The members of the church were surprised.
Surprised until they received a notice that tavern owner was suing them.
His suit indicated that because of their prayers they were responsible for the burning of his tavern.
The members denied the charge.
At the end of the preliminary hearing, the judge, in an amusing way, told them, “At this point I don’t know what my decision will be, but it seems that the tavern owner believes in the power of prayer and these church people don’t.”
The same was holding true in this passage.
During the time that the Apostle Peter was put into prison there was a group of Christians that met to pray for his release.
Their prayers were answered, but when they were told that Peter was knocking at their door, they did not believe it was him (Acts 12:13-15 KJV).
But Peter did not stop knocking.
“Peter continued knocking: and when they had opened the door, and saw him, they were astonished” (Acts 12:16 KJV).
To this day, we are often like the Christians of Peter’s day.
We often pray but really do not feel much will happen.
We have to change our way of thinking.
We have been told “that men ought always to pray, and not to faint” Luke 18:1 KJV).
And it remains true to this day.
It has been said that prayer without expectancy may be unbelief in disguise.
Let that not be the case in our lives.
Let us be the one who remembers that “the effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much” (James 5:16 KJV).
A WORD OF PRAYER
Savior, with expectancy we are praying according to the Father’s will. We know He is working in our lives. He wants us to fulfill the purpose He has set before us. Never forgetting that in times of any dangers You are there, and world can do us no harm. Prayer is key. Our faith unlocks many doors. We humbly Thank You for answering our prayers, especially when our faith is weak. Help us to continue to pray and increase our faith.
In Jesus’ Name We Pray, Amen