Acts 12:1-19 King Herod began arresting Christians for the purpose of persecuting them. He had James killed with the sword and proceeded to arrest Peter. The church began to pray. From the sound of the account it seems as though this was an extended prayer vigil, not just a, "by the way God, please rescue Peter from jail." James had been executed. They had no reason to believe that the same fate would not be waiting for Peter, and ultimately for themselves. The night before Peter was to be brought to trial, God's answer came. We don't know if Peter had been in jail days or weeks; but we do know that the night of Peter's miraculous deliverance, the church was gathered in prayer. Did the people who were praying really believe that God would answer their prayer? Notice their response to Peter's knocking at the door. Peter arrived at the house and began to knock. Rhoda, a servant girl answered the door and recognized Peter's voice. Without opening the door, she ran in and announced that Peter was at the door. Guess what? No one believed her! When Peter continued knocking, they finally let him in. One needs to ask - Where they really not believing that God would answer? Had they also prayed for James, who was killed, and were expecting to hear of Peter's execution also? Where they expecting some sort of spiritual answer rather than a literal answer? Perhaps the biggest question of all might be, why was it so difficult for them to believe that it was really Peter at the door? We need to ask ourselves these same questions regarding our own prayers. We certainly need to accept God's sovereign right to say no; but I wonder if many of His "no's" aren't because of our unbelief rather than His will to say no.

Do You Believe That God Will Answer Your Prayer?