THE SEND: Luke & ActsSample

How important do you think your prayer life really is?

There’s a lot we could focus on in Acts 11-13 today. Prison doors opened by angels! Crowds of Gentiles saved! Paul is taking the Gospel to modern-day Turkey! But I want us to see that the all-in lifestyle modeled by the first disciples was impossible without prayer.

Prayer is how we are commissioned

Do you think it’s a coincidence that Barnabas and Saul were sent out on their first major trip to share the Gospel during a time of worship, prayer, and fasting (Acts 13:2-3)? Or is it a coincidence that the Holy Spirit chose to speak to them in that space—where they were seeking God together?

And look who was there: Barnabas the Levite, Simeon the black African, Lucius from Cyrene, Manaen the friend of Herod (an enemy of the Jews), and Saul the persecutor-turned-apostle. This group had plenty of reasons to be divided. But they were united in prayer, worship, and fasting. In this unity, the Spirit spoke and sent out Barnabas and Saul (Acts 13:4). Prayer was the launchpad of mission.

Prayer is where we contend for breakthrough

At the beginning of Acts 12, James is killed, and Peter is imprisoned. How does the community respond? They pray. And when Peter meets Mary, what’s he interrupting? A prayer meeting (Acts 12:12). We can’t know for sure, but it seems pretty likely that they were praying for Peter (Acts 12:5), who then shows them just how powerful their prayer was—by turning up!

I think Luke wants us to notice a contrast here: Herod, a man whom people praise like he’s a god (Acts 12:22), versus the church, a people who know how to pray to the true God. Herod thinks he has the power to destroy, but the church knows God has the power to save. A breakthrough happens to Peter because his community prays. Peter is released, and the word of God continues to spread (Acts 12:24).

Now, Peter is miraculously rescued. But James isn’t. And we’re never told why. But I’ve become convinced from the Bible, and from experience, that the only way to wrestle with difficult questions is to be in a community marked by prayer. It takes an enormous amount of humility to trust in God when things don’t go as we expect (James) while simultaneously contending for a breakthrough (Peter). Real trust. Real contending. It only happens in a real community.

How is God speaking to you today about how you pray?