Unexpected
Acts 12:5 ASV Peter therefore was kept in the prison: but prayer was made earnestly of the church unto God for him.
Acts 12:11 ASV And when Peter was come to himself, he said, Now I know of a truth, that the Lord hath sent forth his angel and delivered me out of the hand of Herod, and from all the expectation of the people of the Jews.
Oftentimes, it seem, the greatest miracles are the result of a cry from hearts that never eloquently presented a scripturally correct prayer that lined out for God all the reasons He should be doing something. Though there is a need for a positive expectation in order for there to be faith in God regarding a specific situation, the power in prayer is not in a belief in the ability to pray, but in the ability of the One to whom the prayer is raised. Rather than getting caught up in who is doing the praying and how inspiring is their delivery, there can be a gaze shifted to the One who already knows the need, how it’s going to be accomplished and the necessary timing for the completion of His purpose in the situation. When the prayer itself becomes an extensive exposition of scripture in the form of a bible study, the attention can be shifted from the One to whom the prayer is being made to the one who is doing the praying. In reality the specificity of words spoken would seem to be less critical than the heart from which the prayer originates. There is no doubt that in verse 5 of Acts 12 the people raised an earnest prayer for Peter, but it would be doubtful if the specific words spoken were as effective as the passion of their hearts for the deliverance of their brother in the Lord. Their surprise at how it came about would greatly indicate that God’s movement was not directed by any of their verbalization.
Quite unexpected was what came to those gathered in the upper room. You would wonder what might have been in the minds of the 120 who were but responding to the directive of Jesus to wait for power from God. These were faithful ones who could not have begun to express a christianeezically correct prayer and yet an incredible visitation of the Holy Spirit came to them in the form of what?- heart words that were totally unknown to the voice used to proclaim them. Although Peter later presented words of clarification that brought understanding to the experience, the sounds that were most effective had only one origin in the Holy Ghost. There was no inhibition of man perception to the sounds that were coming directly from hearts that had patiently waited for this gift. Particularly effective in proclaiming the Gospel to those visiting from foreign lands that day, the power of what they received was not just for the specificity of that moment. There was an ability given to press past the man limitations in prayer to the unrestricted power of heart liberated prayer in the Spirit. There would surely continue to be the more ‘learned’ ones who could publicly express an inspiring prayer, the ability for extended, passionate prayer was given to the simplest soul in need of expression to a limitless God.
For an unlimited amount of needs this day which include nation, president, world tragedies, economic difficulties, family situations, health issues, etc. there is a need for an expression of prayer to God. With an understanding that God already knows exactly what is needed, there is but a need for a heart sound to be raised to the One who is more than enough. Through a simple word or words spoken based upon God’s will expressed in His Word and through Spirit inspired sounds of an unknown tongue there can be an effective prayer raised that can be full of expectation for God’s movement- although how He chooses to bring the deliverance may be quite unexpected and without need of specific direction in prayer.
Matthew 6:7 BBE And in your prayer do not make use of the same words again and again, as the Gentiles do: for they have the idea that God will give attention to them because of the number of their words.