The Most Powerful Action the Church Can Take in This Critical Hour

The church is fighting to find a way to make a difference. Methodologies are tested endlessly. Strategies are adjusted continually. Even theologies are compromised periodically. Each is nothing more than a frail attempt to make some kind of difference.

Yet, at our fingertips is the hope to make a difference. Stirred by the words of Acts 12:5, God has placed upon me what I believe is the most powerful action the church can take. What does Acts 12:5 say?

“So Peter was kept in prison, but prayer was being made earnestly to God for him by the church.”

Peter was just hours away from execution under the leadership of King Herod. While he was in prison, the church was praying. The Bible says the church was praying earnestly to God on Peter’s behalf. Which means that with great fervency and intensity, they were stretched out before God, crying out to Him to save the life of Peter!

The Most Powerful Action the Church Can Take is Prayer

I ask you to say these words out loud as you read them: The most powerful action the church can take is prayer! Under the same conditions Peter faced, if they existed in our time, some modern churches would:

• Appoint a study committee to discover the needed actions
• Call a business conference to see what possible solutions may exist
• Contact an attorney to take some kind of legal action

What would your church do? I am convinced that the two most powerful words in Acts 12 are the words, “but prayer.”

Bondage is Everywhere

Peter was in the literal bondage of prison. Yet, people all over our nation and world are living in bondage. Sadly, many of our churches only attempt new methodologies, new strategies, or even adjust their theologies in a futile attempt to help people overcome their problems.

Why Don’t We Pray?

When the most powerful action the church can take is prayer, why don’t we pray? What is it about us that we will try almost anything other than prayer? When we pray, we are depending on God! When we choose not to pray, we are depending on ourselves! God, help the church to become the praying people You intended us to be.

When We Pray, God Does Miracles!

Yes, I write it again and ask you to say it out loud: When we pray, God does miracles! In Acts 12, this is exactly what happened. God freed Peter from prison miraculously, all in response to the prayers of God’s people. God took this ordinary man named Peter, and made him the recipient of an extraordinary work of God because the church prayed.

This Week, I Want To Challenge You

This week, I want to challenge you to take these four actions:

1. Pray for miracles: God is able to do anything, anywhere, at any time, with and for anyone; therefore, pray for miracles!

2. Expect miracles: Because our God is sovereign and in complete control of all things and He desires us to pray to Him about all things, expect miracles when you pray. Refuse to settle, expect God to move, and to answer prayer.

3. Trust God’s sovereign will: Yes, He is in complete control of all things; therefore, when you pray, God moves your heart to receive whatever He so chooses to do in response to your prayers. The ways of God are often explainable; therefore, the sovereign will of God has to be trusted.

4. Church, rise up and pray: The greatest action a church can take is prayer!

Believe it! Do it! I want our people to know that when their lives are falling apart, our church is praying. When the world is uncertain, our church is praying. When families are struggling, our church is praying. When hope is seemingly dissipating, our church is praying. Therefore, rise up and pray!

Now is the Time to Lead,

Ronnie W. Floyd