RELIGIOUS PRAYING !

RELIGIOUS PRAYING ! There is such a thing as prayer just to be praying . We might even call it religious praying. It is praying just because it seems like the them to do-- not believing for anything, just praying. Evidently, this was the case in the early church in the book of (Acts 12). " And he (Herod the king), killed James the brother of John with the sword. (And because he Peter) and saw it please the Jews, he proceeded forth to take Peter also. Then were the days of unleavened bread. And when he had apprehended him, he put him in prison, and delivered him to four quaternions of soldiers to keep him; intending after Easter to bring him forth to the people. Peter therefore was kept in prison: but prayer was made without ceasing of the church unto God for him. And when Herod would have brought him forth the same night Peter was sleeping between two soldiers, bound with two chains: and the keepers before the door kept the prison and, behold, the angel of the Lord came unto him, and a light shined in the prison: and he shook Peter on the smote, quickly, and his chains fell off from his hands. We find that the whole church was praying; but it must have been religious praying for, when the angel led Peter out, he went to the house of John Mark's mother where many were praying: it was the prayer of faith that God answered: evidently everyone that was praying had not prayed the prayer of faith someone did. "And as Peter knocked at the door of the gate, a damsel came to hearken, named Rhoda. And when she knew Peter's voice, she opened not the gate for gladness, but ran in, and told how Peter stood before the gate (v v.13-14). Up until now, everything seems to be rather normal, but listen to the confession of those who were praying: "and they said unto her, thou are mad. But she constantly affirmed that it was even so." Then said they, it is his angel. But Peter continued knocking: and when they had opened the door and saw him, they were astonished (v v.15-16). These particular Scriptures does not give us any idea of what words they use in their prayers; evidently, Rhoda was the only one who agreed with what they were praying. There saying Shirley was not in line with their praying, was it ? "You art mad. . . It is his angel." To them, Peter was already dead or still in prison ! I wouldn't want people praying for me like that ! The servant girl, Rhoda, was the only one in the whole house who believe the answer when she prayed, and everyone thought she had gone crazy. I am glad the Bible doesn't hide these things because it lets us know that they were human. They would only believe Rhoda faith confession after they saw Peter. I really believe that Rhoda was the only one in that whole prayer group who had prayed in faith. Evidently, she had already prayed and was cleaning the house while everyone else was too busy being religious to open the door for Peter. The way they talked, I suspect they were praying the problem. If it hadn't been for someone praying and believing the answer, they would have prayed Peter right into his grave. Prayer alone does not bring deliverance. It is the prayer of faith that brings deliverance !