Faithfulness Acts 12:119 pew Bible p846847

1
FaithfulnessActs 121-19 (pew Bible p846-847)

• True or False
• I suffer because I need a lesson
  ____ ____
• Prayers are answered according to my faith
  ____ ____
• If I pray earnestly, God will answer my prayers
  ____ ____
• My prayers are answered only if I expect it
  ____ ____
• When 2 or 3 agree God will answer
  ____ ____
• Gods grace is sufficient for anything I face
  ____ ____
• My inner peace is dependent on my faith
  ____ ____
• Faith is more powerful than faithfulness
  ____ ____
• What I believe Will determine how I live!

2
Faithfulness

• Acts 12
• A story in faithfulness to what they believed
• James, brother to John, martyred for his faith
• Peter is imprisonedin line for martyrdom
• What now?

3
Faithfulness

• Herod Agrippa believed
• I can do what I wish
• I can gain favour by killing church leaders
• I can securely hold Peter
• I can control my destiny
• I can control your destiny
• I can choose life or death
• I can, I can, I can, I can,its all about me

4
Faithfulness

• The church believed
• God is sovereignover all
• God is the author and giver of life
• God answers prayer
• Gods will is more important than my will
• In God
• In angels
• In prayer
• And so they prayed earnestly around the clock

5
Faithfulness

• Peter believed
• What the church believed
• In Gods protection1 Peter 312
• The eyes of the Lord watch over those who do
  right, and his ears are open to their prayers.
  But the Lord turns his face against those who do
  evil.
• That Herod couldnt kill himJohn 2118-19
• I tell you the truth, when you were young, you
  were able to do as you liked you dressed
  yourself and went wherever you wanted to go. But
  when you are old, you will stretch out your
  hands, and others will dress you and take you
  where you dont want to go. Jesus said this to
  let him know by what kind of death he would
  glorify God. Then Jesus told him, Follow me.

6
Faithfulness

• Peter believed
• Rest is importantv 6
• Visions are realActs 10 129
• Obedience is necessaryv 8 9
• That his story was important enough to sharev 17

7
Faithfulness

• So
• Herod planned
• The Church prayed
• And Peter paused

8
Faithfulness

• Herod planned
• Placed 4 sets of 4 guards
• Held him until after the Passover
• Going for public support
• Killed the guards in Peters place
• Set himself up to be worshiped
• He died the horrible death of being eaten alive!

9
Faithfulness

• The Church prayed
• Earnestly, constantly, fervently
• For Peter
• As we would like to be prayed for if the
  situation were reversedHebrews 133
• Remember those in prison, as if you were there
  yourself. Remember also those being mistreated,
  as if you felt their pain in your own bodies.
• For Gods grace to bear the suffering and to be a
  triumphant witness

10
Faithfulness

• The Church prayed
• For Peter
• That the Spirit will minister His word to him
• Protection and wisdom
• And for deliverance if it is within His will
• For boldness to preachActs 429
• And now, O Lord, hear their threats, and give
  us, your servants, great boldness in preaching
  your word.

11
Faithfulness

• The Church prayed
• Until they got an answer
• The knock on the doorwho could it be?
• The boldnessit could have been Herods men
• The disbeliefat best it was his angelv 15
• Which means that they believed in guardian angels
• Their prayers were still answered
• The excitement
• Didnt let him in, then
• Didnt let him talk

12
Faithfulness

• Peter Paused
• Reflected on what he believed
• That God was in charge
• God knew what was best for His plans
• That he had been promised old age crucifixion
• Trusted God to work out His willPhilippians
  46-7
• Dont worry about anything instead, pray about
  everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him
  for all he has done. Then you will experience
  Gods peace, which exceeds anything we can
  understand. His peace will guard your hearts and
  minds as you live in Christ Jesus.

13
Faithfulness

• Peter Paused
• Psalm 48
• In peace I will lie down and sleep, for you
  alone, O Lord, will keep me safe.
• Isaiah 4110
• Dont be afraid, for I am with you. Dont be
  discouraged, for I am your God. I will
  strengthen you and help you. I will hold you up
  with my victorious right hand.
• Remained faithful to his call
• Rested in the upholding power of the churches
  prayers

14
Faithfulness

• Peter Paused
• Responded in obedience to Gods commands
• Needed to be struck to be awakened
• Got up
• Got dressed and tied his sandals
• Would you have taken the time to be that
  obedient?
• Followed the angel
• Walked and didnt run
• Went to the family
• Knocked and waited
• Probably awakened the neighbours

15
Faithfulness

• Peter Paused
• Told his story
• Told them to repeat it to the others
• Took his wife and went to wherever the Lord led
  him1 Corinthians 95
• Bowed out and gave way to Paul

16
Faithfulness

• True or False
• I suffer because I need a lesson
  ____ ____
• Prayers are answered according to my faith
  ____ ____
• If I pray earnestly, God will answer my prayers
  ____ ____
• My prayers are answered only if I expect it
  ____ ____
• When 2 or 3 agree God will answer
  ____ ____
• Gods grace is sufficient for anything I face
  ____ ____
• My inner peace is dependent on my faith
  ____ ____
• Faith is more powerful than faithfulness
  ____ ____
• What I believe Will determine how I live!

17
Faithfulness

• What do I believe?
• What do I believe when suffering comes?
• What is faithfulness?
• Does my life show that I am, Living Jesus,
  Living Hope, when suffering comes?
• What do I believe?