Stretching & Striking

Read Acts 12

In Acts 12:5, we see that “while Peter was in prison, the church prayed very earnestly [ektenṓs] for him.” Unfortunately for Stephen and then James (John’s brother), there is no statement of the church earnestly praying for them. This was a turning point for the church. In its desperation it was learning intercession.

The Greek word “ektenṓs” is derived from ek, meaning “wholly out” and teinō, “to stretch” (which is also the root of English terms, “tension” and “tense”). Completely stretched out to its fullest extent, completely taut, without slack because fully extended to its complete extent. In a sense, we’re stretched between heaven and earth, and though the tension feels as though it may tear us apart, we will not let go. One of the definitions of “ektenṓs” is “at maximum potential”. In this stretching place of prayer, the ekklesia suddenly came in their maximum potential.

The church is the ekklesia, wholly called out of the world and into the Kingdom. And when the “wholly called out ones” gather together in “wholly stretched out” prayer, angels are sent into action. This kind of prayer is for maximum potential.

The Passion Translation says, “The church went into a season of intense intercession, asking God to free him.” This is for a strategic time and season of intense prayer. We’re not designed to remain in this kind of prayer, and even Jesus needed angels to minister to Him; but this prayer is still a necessary expression of ekklesia.

He prayed more fervently, and he was in such agony of spirit that his sweat fell to the ground like great drops of blood.
— Luke 22:44 NLT

Gordon Lindsey, founder of Christ for the Nations, famously said, “Pray at least one violent prayer per day.” We don’t pray for violence but we pray in an aggressive intensity, knowing that violence is occurring in the spiritual realm against powers, principalities, and dark rulers.

When Joshua was near the town of Jericho, he looked up and saw a man standing in front of him with sword in hand. Joshua went up to him and demanded, “Are you friend or foe?” “Neither one,” he replied. “I am the commander of the Lord’s army.” At this, Joshua fell with his face to the ground in reverence. “I am at your command,” Joshua said. “What do you want your servant to do?” The commander of the Lord’s army replied, “Take off your sandals, for the place where you are standing is holy.” And Joshua did as he was told.Now the gates of Jericho were tightly shut because the people were afraid of the Israelites. No one was allowed to go out or in. But the Lord said to Joshua, “I have given you Jericho, its king, and all its strong warriors.”
— Joshua 5:13-15; 6:1-2 NLT

We partner with the Commander of the Lord’s Armies, saying, “I am at Your command.” We’re not praying, “Lord, please be on our side.” We take off our shoes in humility of His awesome holiness, and we come into right alignment under His headship. In the place of wholly surrender, we step into our position in the line of Kingdom communication.

Have you ever seen a military commander calmly give a direction, and then another officer yell out his command to the troops? Repeating commands is a key part of military communication to ensure clarity, accountability, and the efficient execution of orders. Our role is to listen and decree as God’s middlemen on the earth, or as His intercessors.

what are mere mortals that you should think about them, human beings that you should care for them? Yet you made them only a little lower than God and crowned them with glory and honor. You gave them charge of everything you made, putting all things under their authority
— Psalms 8:4-6 NLT

Notice that the gates of Jericho were tightly shut, completely inaccessible, but the Lord said, “I have given you Jericho.” Then they didn’t attack the city, but angelic forces smashed the walls. In Acts 12, chains fall off and city gates are thrown open. As we position ourselves in right alignment under the Commander in Chief, angels are released and they are not gentle nurse angels.

In the Gospels we see angels sent to minister to Jesus after His time of fasting and testing, and again in His time of wholly stretched out prayer. There are angels that comfort and strengthen us when we’re fully stretched in ministry. God sends these ministering angels to us as we fulfill our role and operate in our maximum potential. But our intercession activates striking angels. They are soldiers. They strike Peter to wake him up, and then strike Herod and he dies. I don’t think the ekklesia prayed that angels would strike —that’s just what they do when they’ve been activated. The ekklesia didn’t even realize the power of the role that they had stepped into as the praying church. Remember, they didn’t believe Peter was standing outside their door. That should be encouraging for all of us. Intercessory prayer accomplishes more than we can imagine.

This Acts 12 moment was when the church truly became the ekklesia, the governing body of Christ. They officially entered into the role and authority of their Father’s house, the house of prayer. In Acts 2, they were expectantly waiting in rejoicing prayer, and they received the first outpouring of Holy Spirit. In Acts 4, they are praising God and praying for great boldness, and they received a second outpouring. In Acts 12, they were wholly stretched out in intercessory prayer, and they released angels to strike. There’s a time for expectant waiting, a time for a call to boldness, and a time for wholly stretched out intercessory prayer.

The Greek word for strike is “patassó”, and the only time it’s used in reference to men striking is when Moses strikes and kills an Egyptian and when Peter strikes another man and cuts off his ear. Both of these were brutal acts of men taking things into their own hands. In Numbers 20, Moses was told by God to speak to the rock and fresh water would flow. In his frustration, he struck the rock twice. The Lord said, “Because you did not trust me enough to demonstrate my holiness to the people of Israel, you will not lead them into the land I am giving them!” (Numbers 20:12 NLT) When we strike, we display our lack of trust. When God strikes, He displays His holiness. When the hand of man is light, the hand of God is strong.

We’ve been believing for awakening, revival, and transformation. People are bound like prisoners all around us, and it looks like we’re surrounded by impenetrable gates. We need miraculous heavenly intervention. We need sleeping believers and pastors to have an angelic “patassó” experience, for them to wake up and get dressed, for chains to fall off, and locked doors to swing open.

Now is the time for wholly stretched out intercessory prayer. What does that look like? How do we, as the ekklesia, pray in our maximum potential? Are we willing to be wholly stretched out, even to the point of requiring ministering angels to strengthen us? Are we willing to stretch out before the Lord, saying, “I am at Your command. What do You want Your servant to do? I’m listening. What would You have me speak? Not my will but Yours be done, O Commander of Heavenly Armies!”

Seeking His face!
Matt