But the church...

When Herod put James, one of the Apostles, to death with the sword, his approval ratings went through the roof. So, he went out and got Peter.

But the church was earnestly praying to God for him.

He was guarded by four squads of four soldiers. One prisoner guarder by 16 soldiers.

But the church was earnestly praying to God for him.

Peter slept between two soldiers, bound in chains, with guards standing at the entrance.

But the church was earnestly praying to God for him.

Acts 12:5 So Peter was kept in prison, but the church was earnestly praying to God for him.

Peter seemed destined to the same ending as his old fishing buddy.

But the church was earnestly praying to God for him.

That's where the story turns. The events of history turned on that one event. The church earnestly prayed and everything changed. What follows in Acts 12:6-11 is quite possibly the motivation behind the song, "God Will Make a Way". An angel comes. The chains fall off. Gates open. Houdini would be jealous.

Oh, that we could tag this phrase to the end of today's plights.

The sex trade was thriving in Eastern Europe, but the church was earnestly praying to God.
The world closed their eyes to what was happening in Darfur, but the church was earnestly praying to God.

The destruction wrought by Katrina brought chaos and lawlessness to New Orleans, but the church was earnestly praying to God.

Egypt outlawed evangelism under penalty of death, but the church was earnestly praying to God.

Can you imagine?