They've Been With Jesus: Prayer | Pastor Tyler Johnson | 05.10.26

May 11, 2026

Devotional

Day 1: Chains That Fall at Midnight

Peter slept between two soldiers, chains on his wrists. Four squads guarded him. Herod planned his execution after Passover. But the church gathered in Mary’s house—the same upper room where Jesus ate His last meal—and prayed without ceasing. At midnight, an angel struck Peter’s side. Chains clattered to the floor. Iron gates swung open. Prayer moved what hands could not. [53:27]

The church didn’t strategize or protest. They prayed. Their united cries reached heaven’s throne room, and heaven sent an angel to break chains. Peter walked free because ordinary believers chose to storm heaven together. Your prayers are not whispers—they shake prison walls.

When did you last ask others to pray with you? Pride isolates, but humility invites. This week, choose one burden to share with your small group or a friend. Who needs your prayers tonight?

“Peter was kept in prison, but the church was earnestly praying to God for him... Suddenly an angel of the Lord appeared... and the chains fell off Peter’s wrists.”
(Acts 12:5-7, NIV)

Prayer: Ask God to give you boldness to share a need with another believer.
Challenge: Text one person today: “Will you pray with me about something?”

Day 2: Sleeping Through the Storm

Peter snored between armed guards. James had just been killed. Herod’s sword waited at dawn. Yet Peter slept like a man on vacation, not death row. Years earlier, he’d panicked in a storm while Jesus napped. Now he rested—not because circumstances changed, but because he’d learned to trust the One who walks on waves. [52:27]

Peace isn’t the absence of danger but the presence of surrender. Peter remembered Jesus’ promise: “You’ll grow old” (John 21:18). He chose faith over fear. Your storms may rage, but Christ’s word anchors deeper than your anxiety.

What keeps you awake at night? Name it. Then pray, “Your will, not mine,” and close your eyes. Will you let His faithfulness be your pillow?

“In peace I will lie down and sleep, for you alone, Lord, make me dwell in safety.”
(Psalm 4:8, NIV)

Prayer: Confess one fear to Jesus. Thank Him for holding tomorrow.
Challenge: Before bed, write down a worry and pray: “I trust You with this.”

Day 3: Rhoda’s Unopened Door

Rhoda heard Peter’s voice and left him knocking. The praying church called her crazy—yet they’d just begged God for this miracle. Their faith expected answers but doubted delivery. Peter kept knocking until they opened the door. Prayer works even when our faith wavers, because God’s power doesn’t depend on our perfection. [55:25]

God often answers in ways that surprise us. Rhoda’s joy made her forget the door; the church’s doubt delayed celebration. But Peter still walked in. Don’t box God into your expectations. He’s bigger than your unbelief.

What prayer have you stopped expecting God to answer? Knock again. What if He’s waiting at your door?

“They told her, ‘You’re out of your mind!’... But Peter kept on knocking.”
(Acts 12:15-16, NIV)

Prayer: Thank God for a past answered prayer you initially doubted.
Challenge: Write “EXPECT MIRACLES” on your mirror. Read it aloud daily.

Day 4: Flourishing After the Fight

Herod died, eaten by worms. The church flourished. The man who murdered James and jailed Peter fell, but the praying people rose. Political power rots. Prayer power remains. Every attack meant to silence them only amplified their witness. [01:21:24]

Satan’s plans crumble when saints kneel. Your battles aren’t setbacks—they’re setups for God to display His glory. The church didn’t defeat Herod; they simply prayed, and God fought. Your job isn’t to win. It’s to worship.

What “Herod” have you been fighting in your strength? Lay down your weapons. Pick up prayer.

“The word of God continued to spread and flourish.”
(Acts 12:24, NIV)

Prayer: Pray for a leader you disagree with. Ask God to humble or heal them.
Challenge: Fast from complaining today. Replace grumbles with gratitude.

Day 5: Kneeling Power

Paul knelt, not before Herod’s throne but the Father’s. He prayed for power—not political influence or earthly riches, but strength to grasp Christ’s love. The same power that freed Peter, toppled Herod, and fueled the early church lives in you. [01:24:30]

Kneeling prayer isn’t weakness. It’s accessing resurrection strength. You don’t need more resources—you need to tap into the “glorious riches” already yours in Christ. His power works when we stop striving and start surrendering.

Where are you relying on human effort instead of heavenly power? Bend your knee.

“I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being.”
(Ephesians 3:16, NIV)

Prayer: Kneel physically. Ask God to fill you with His Spirit’s power.
Challenge: Read Ephesians 3:14-20 aloud. Circle every “power” in the passage.

Sermon Summary

We gather around worship as an offering, not entertainment, and we accept the invitation in Hebrews 12 to worship with reverence and awe. We recognize that worship fans into flame the devotion the enemy tries to numb, and that returning to worship warms what had grown cold. We commit to fasting as a spiritual discipline this week because fasting resets appetite, refocuses the heart, and removes distractions so we seek God with intention. We name prayer and fasting as paired foundations: fasting prepares the soil and prayer stirs the roots.

We look to the book of Acts and see prayer at the center of a growing church. Prayer does not sit on the sidelines; prayer fights the battle itself. Acts 12 shows human intention against divine intervention: Herod intends persecution and death, but the church’s earnest prayer opens prison doors and lets God move in ways that overturn human plans. We refuse to rely on might or influence; we choose kneeling prayer as the source of true power.

We learn practical pathways to pray. Philippians 4 calls us to pray about everything, not only crises or celebrations, and the Lord’s Prayer, the Ten Commandments, and the Beatitudes give tangible content for sustained prayer. We refuse to reserve prayer for one-star or five-star days; we bring three- and four-star days to God so he can transform the ordinary into the extraordinary. We also identify community as essential: when we share burdens and pray for one another, prayer becomes both weapon and balm, and souls find strength and hope.

We confront the reality of time and priorities. Life contains many small drains that steal decades, but reclaiming minutes for prayer yields peace that guards the heart and frees us to sleep like infants in God’s care. Ephesians 3 frames a kneeling prayer that asks God to strengthen us with power through his Spirit, promising more than we can ask or imagine. We choose to be a praying people so the word of God continues to spread and flourish in our city.

Key Takeaways

1. Worship rekindles our spiritual fire We place worship before God as reverent offering, and that posture warms the dormant places of our souls. Worship invites the Spirit to restore longing, displace numbness, and set desire back on God himself. When we enter worship expecting transformation, we allow God to fan our first love into flame. [18:54]
2. Fasting resets our appetite for God We remove ordinary sustenance and distractions so spiritual hunger rises and our dependence on God becomes clear. Fasting recalibrates desire, strengthens the spirit over the flesh, and reorients decisions toward kingdom-longing rather than comfort. When fasting joins prayer, our petitions gain urgency and clarity. [42:55]
3. Prayer is the church's engine We make prayer the practice that moves the needle rather than a last resort. Acts 12 shows prayer confronting political power, freeing prisoners, and overturning human schemes; prayer advances God’s purposes where strength and strategy fail. Consistent, earnest prayer mobilizes heaven and reshapes earthly outcomes. [46:42]
4. Kneeling prayer releases kingdom power We adopt the posture of dependence, asking God to work beyond our imagination and strength. Ephesians models a kneeling intercession that requests inner strengthening by the Spirit so Christ may dwell richly in us. Prayer that petitions for God’s power produces flourishing that outlasts human plans. [82:32]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[17:48] - Worship as offering
[18:54] - Worship rekindles our fire
[34:13] - Mother's Day celebration
[42:27] - Revival and Baptize America
[42:55] - Fasting: reset and refocus
[45:08] - Acts: prayer as church life
[47:18] - Herod's intention versus prayer
[53:27] - Peter freed: communal prayer
[57:56] - Pray about everything (Philippians)
[64:09] - Redeem time for prayer
[82:32] - Kneeling prayer releases power

Bible Study Guide

Bible Reading
Acts 12:1-5, 11-17 (ESV)
1 About that time Herod the king laid violent hands on some who belonged to the church. 2 He killed James the brother of John with the sword, 3 and when he saw that it pleased the Jews, he proceeded to arrest Peter also... 5 So Peter was kept in prison, but earnest prayer for him was made to God by the church... 11 When Peter came to himself, he said, “Now I am sure that the Lord has sent his angel and rescued me from the hand of Herod...” 12 When he realized this, he went to the house of Mary... where many were gathered together and were praying. 17 But motioning to them with his hand to be silent, he described to them how the Lord had brought him out of the prison.

Philippians 4:6-7 (ESV)
6 Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. 7 And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

Observation Questions

In Acts 12:5, how did the church respond to Peter’s imprisonment, and what does this reveal about their priorities?
What details in Acts 12:6-11 highlight God’s supernatural intervention despite Herod’s plans?
According to Philippians 4:6-7, what posture does Paul command believers to take toward anxiety, and what promise follows?
The sermon emphasized praying about “three-star days” (ordinary moments) rather than reserving prayer for crises or celebrations. What example was given to illustrate this? [01:00:58]

Interpretation Questions

Why do you think Peter was able to sleep peacefully in prison (Acts 12:6) despite facing execution, and how does this contrast with typical human responses to danger?
The sermon described prayer as “the engine of the church” rather than a “spare tire.” How does Acts 12:1-17 support this metaphor? [46:42]
In Philippians 4:6-7, how does thanking God in prayer relate to receiving His peace? Why might gratitude be essential in overcoming anxiety?
The early church prayed together for Peter (Acts 12:12). What does this suggest about the relationship between communal prayer and God’s power?

Application Questions

Fasting was described as a way to “reset appetite for God.” What distraction or habit could you temporarily set aside this week to create space for intentional prayer? [42:55]
How can you incorporate prayers of gratitude into ordinary, “three-star” moments this week (e.g., commuting, chores, work breaks)? [01:00:58]
Who in your life needs consistent, earnest prayer right now, and how could you invite others to join you in interceding for them (like the early church did for Peter)?
The sermon warned against letting “small drains” like social media or streaming steal decades of time. What 10-minute daily window could you reclaim for prayer? [01:04:09]
How might kneeling physically during prayer (as in Ephesians 3:14) deepen your sense of dependence on God’s power rather than your own strength? [01:22:32]
When facing a situation that feels “unfair,” how could you shift your focus from fairness to purpose, as Peter did in prison? [51:21]
What practical step could you take this week to build a community where burdens are shared and prayed over (e.g., joining a small group, initiating a prayer text thread)? [01:12:30]

Sermon Clips

27s

#PrayerIsOxygen

“If Scotty, I mean, if Michael Jordan had Scottie Pippen, if Mario had Luigi and Batman had Robin, the early church had prayer. It It was synonymous with their name that it's just what they did, and and I wanna encourage you that that prayer was not just something they didn't. It was the oxygen to their soul. It wasn't the preparation for battle. It was the battle. Yeah. Prayer was not tokenary. They knew that it was what moved the needle.”

32s

#PowerInTheKneel

“Herod looked like the powerful one in Acts 12. If you look with your natural eyes, your boss looks like the powerful one and why you're getting promoted or not promoted. If you look with your natural eyes, the one that has the more influence in our society or through Instagram or through our city, they're the powerful one. But if you look through scripture, power is not found in a political seat, in a boss's seat, or an influential seat. Power is found in this right here. And what Paul is saying, he's saying, do you see it? It's the kneeling prayer.”

23s

#PrayNotPanic

“They prayed earnestly for him. And so you had you had Herod's command versus a bunch of ragtag church people saying, God, would you free Peter? And as one prayed, free Peter, and one said, kill Peter, one was more powerful than the other. I'm here to tell you, you may get a diagnosis, and power's not found in stressing. It's found in prayer. Your kid may be wandering, but there's power in prayer.”

28s

#PrayThenRest

“And I'm here to tell you, the the Christian life, it's fascinating. Throw your stones, slay your Goliaths. But one of the greatest ways to fight your battle is simply this. God, I've prayed. I've obeyed. I've surrendered your will. I trust you. I'm going to sleep because I know you can do more in my sleeping than you can than you can in my stressing. And you go to sleep, and you wake up, and your God's gonna take care of it.”

28s

#FastToFocus

“Fasting is powerful for your soul. It resets your appetite. It refocuses your heart. It reminds you what really sustains you. It's about removing something to seek God more intentionally. Denying the flesh to strengthen the spirit, unplugging from the world and plugging into heaven. Oh, and I don't wanna get legalistic about it. There's a ton of different ways you could fast. The Daniel fast, eating all vegetables, sunrise to sundown fast, social media fast. Trust me. Do a social media fast. You'll hear the birds chirping again.”

29s

#GodsPlanPrevails

“Hear me real quick. God's purpose will always oo overrule human plan. This is man's intention versus the church's intervention. Before Instagram, the church had intercession. Before posting, the church had prayer. It's Herod's persecution versus the church's prayer. I could just preach on this for the rest of the time. Man's intention. Oh, hear this real quick. God does not bend to man's will.”

30s

#WeakFaithStrongGod

“All of this gives me hope because I picture the early church as perfect. Never doubted. They'd wake up quoting Leviticus, floated during their worship times. Their prayer times were like always Mount Carmel, Elijah, fire from heaven. But this shows us an imperfect people. It shows us that even with weak faith in the hands of a strong God, it's still powerful. Because God uses imperfect people with imperfect faith to still turn cities upside down.”

22s

#PrayAboutEverything

“And I'm here to tell you, what God is saying is that every single part everything needs prayer. Yeah. That's good. You want your job to go from three star to five star? Well, on a three star day, start praying for a five star moment. Yeah. God, use me today. Because the reality is is that the Bible says pray about everything, but most believers are very selective about what they pray about and what they praise about.”

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They've Been With Jesus: Prayer | Pastor Tyler Johnson | 05.10.26

Devotional

Day 1: Chains That Fall at Midnight

Day 2: Sleeping Through the Storm

Day 3: Rhoda’s Unopened Door

Day 4: Flourishing After the Fight

Day 5: Kneeling Power

Sermon Summary

Key Takeaways

Youtube Chapters

Bible Study Guide

Sermon Clips

They've Been With Jesus: Prayer | Pastor Tyler Johnson | 05.10.26

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