When the Answer Comes Knocking at Your Door...

I received this story from my brother, George who received it from a friend in an email.  I've tried to verify the story, but haven't been able to determine if its true or just another "East Texas Tall Tale." 

 A TEXAS BEER JOINT SUES A CHURCH.....   In a small Texas town, ( Mt. Vernon ) Drummond's bar began construction on a new building to increase their business.. The local Baptist church started a campaign to block the bar from opening with petitions and prayers. Work progressed right up till the week before opening when lightning struck the bar and it burned to the ground.  The church folks were rather smug  in their outlook after that, until the bar owner sued the church on the grounds that the church was ultimately responsible for the demise of his building, either through direct or indirect actions or means.  The church vehemently denied all responsibility or any connection to the building's demise in its reply to the court.  As the case  made its way into court, the judge looked over the paperwork.. At the hearing he commented, 'I don't know how I'm going to decide this, but as it appears from the paperwork, we have a bar owner who believes in the power of prayer, and an entire church congregation that does not.'

Whether this story is true or just another "preacher's story," it makes for a great parable about prayer.
Unfortunately, I believe there are many Christians who say they  believe in the power of prayer but who don't see it's power evidenced in their lives.  Too often, we seek God in prayer for miracles and then are surprised when they happen.  Do we really believe in the power of prayer?

In the book of Acts, we find an authentic story about real people, just like us, who were surprised when the answer to their prayers came knocking at their front door.  The story is found in Acts 12.  Here's the setting, the followers of Christ are experiencing harassment from the Jewish king, Herod and the religious leaders who are threatened by those who have proclaimed the gospel of the risen Christ.  Peter and the other disciples have become targets of this persecution are being arrested, beaten and released.  Some like Stephen, have been killed. Peter, one of the leaders of the followers of Christ, has been arrested and placed in chain in Herod's prison. The followers of Christ are deeply concerned for his well being.  In Acts 12:5, we find that..."So Peter was kept in prison, but the church was earnestly praying to God for him."

At the very time that the church was praying, Peter was asleep, chained to the prison walls with soldiers guarding him.  An angel appears to Peter, releases him from his shackles, leads him out of the prison without his guards without be noticed. (It is important to note, that even Peter thought this may have been a dream. vs.9)  Once out of the prison, Peter made his way to the place where he knew he could find refuge, the house of Mary, which happened to be the place where many had gathered to pray for his deliverance.  Peter knocks on the door, and Rhoda, a servant girl, answers the door and recognizes that it is Peter.  In her joy, she runs to tell others without letting Peter inside.  She exclaims, "Peter is at the door!"

Now don't miss this...this group of believers who have been praying for Peter's deliverance respond, "You're out of your mind."  When little Rhoda kept insisting, they tried to convince her that it was Peter's angel.  While the church was trying to convince the servant girl that it couldn't be Peter.  Peter was still outside knocking at the door.  The answer to their prayers was knocking at the door. When they finally opened the door and saw him, they were astonished. (Read it yourself in Acts 12:14-16)

It makes me laugh, not only because it's funny, but isn't it true of us as well?  Aren't we surprised when God answers our prayers?  Could it be that the reason that we are surprised is because when we pray, we believe that God can answer our prayers, instead of believing that God will answer our prayers.

Jesus said, "Therefore, I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours."  Mark 11:24

The key to recognizing when God answers prayer, is not believing that God can, but that He will.  His word assures us of that fact.  Faith isn't believing God can, it is believing God will do just what he said He would do.  Let's start praying believing that the answer will come knocking at your door.