About that time Herod the king laid violent hands on some who belonged to the church. He killed James the brother of John with the sword, and when he saw that it pleased the Jews, he proceeded to arrest Peter also. This was during the days of Unleavened Bread. And when he had seized him, he put him in prison, delivering him over to four squads of soldiers to guard him, intending after the Passover to bring him out to the people. So Peter was kept in prison, but earnest prayer for him was made to God by the church. (Acts 12:1-5 ESV)
Earnest prayer. The passage goes on to describe what that looks like - God's people gathered together praying, even though that groups them together and makes them more vulnerable to discovery. It means praying so intently you almost miss the answer when it comes knocking at the door. It means praying to the point that when it is answered, there is no doubt in anyone's mind what has happened: God answered. We rarely pray like this, even in the most dire situations. But when we are committed to the truth and to true fellowship as believers this is part of the package - crying out to God together when any obstacle to the proclamation of the Gospel occurs. What hindrances do we need to pray about so the truth can be proclaimed boldly, freely?
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