But Prayer (April 7, 2024)

Sermon Outline for Sunday, April 7, 2024

Pastor Andy Lambert

PASSAGES: Acts 12:5-17; 1 Corinthians 10:13; 2 Peter 2:9; Psalm 118:8; Philippians 2:12

 

Acts 12:5–17 ~ “5 So Peter was kept in prison, but earnest prayer for him was made to God by the church. 6 Now when Herod was about to bring him out, on that very night, Peter was sleeping between two soldiers, bound with two chains, and sentries before the door were guarding the prison. 7 And behold, an angel of the Lord stood next to him, and a light shone in the cell. He struck Peter on the side and woke him, saying, “Get up quickly.” And the chains fell off his hands. 8 And the angel said to him, “Dress yourself and put on your sandals.” And he did so. And he said to him, “Wrap your cloak around you and follow me.” 9 And he went out and followed him. He did not know that what was being done by the angel was real, but thought he was seeing a vision. 10 When they had passed the first and the second guard, they came to the iron gate leading into the city. It opened for them of its own accord, and they went out and went along one street, and immediately the angel left him. 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 and from all that the Jewish people were expecting.” 12 When he realized this, he went to the house of Mary, the mother of John whose other name was Mark, where many were gathered together and were praying. 13 And when he knocked at the door of the gateway, a servant girl named Rhoda came to answer. 14 Recognizing Peter’s voice, in her joy she did not open the gate but ran in and reported that Peter was standing at the gate. 15 They said to her, “You are out of your mind.” But she kept insisting that it was so, and they kept saying, “It is his angel!” 16 But Peter continued knocking, and when they opened, they saw him and were amazed. 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. And he said, “Tell these things to James and to the brothers.” Then he departed and went to another place.”

 

Never underestimate the power of prayer. Don’t allow yourself to be overwhelmed by the enormity of your problem, but become overwhelmed by the knowledge of how big your God is. Nothing is too hard or impossible with God.

 

In the verses we just read, Peter is in jail and scheduled for death … but the church prayed!

 

God’s pattern for delivering believers through or from problems, trials, persecution is a fourfold process:

 

  • There is the pattern of prayer. Church-wide prayer delivered Peter. Notice three things about prayer.
    • The whole church was praying.
    • The church was doing all it could do, praying specifically for Peter’s deliverance.
    • The words “without ceasing” mean fervently and earnestly continuing in prayer. The idea is intense prayer, prayer that captivates and focuses a person’s concentration.

 

  • There is the pattern of confidence. Confidence in God’s will and care delivered Peter. Note that Peter was asleep and it was the very night before his execution. Christ was meeting His dear servant’s need, infusing him with His very special grace and peace. Peter sensed the very special trust and care of his Lord.

 

Add A Note

 

1 Corinthians 10:13 ~ “No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it.”

 

2 Peter 2:9 ~ “then the Lord knows how to rescue the godly from trials, and to keep the unrighteous under punishment until the day of judgment,”

 

Psalm 118:8 ~ “It is better to take refuge in the Lord than to trust in man.”

 

  • There is the pattern of God’s miraculous work and the believer’s obedience. Both were involved in delivering Peter.
    • The angel did not do for Peter what Peter could do for himself. Peter had to act; he had to obey the commands of the angel.
    • Once Peter was safely delivered out of danger, he was left on his own, left to work out his own deliverance. He was to continue his “walk by faith” …
      • to return to the church and to the believers on his own
      • to seek the Lord about remaining or leaving Jerusalem and in making any other decisions that needed to be made.
    • The point is this: God’s miraculous deliverance involved only what Peter could NOT do for himself. When Peter was helpless, God then took over. This is the point of miracles. Miracles are acts of God, that men cannot do for themselves. They are worked by God and by Him alone; therefore, He and He alone gets the praise and honor.

 

  • There is the pattern of God’s sovereign will. It was God’s sovereign will for Peter to be delivered. It was not His will for James to be delivered, verse 2. The true believer rests in God’s sovereign will, knowing that God’s will results in the greatest blessings. Peter thought he was having a vision, that he was in some semi-conscious state, dreaming of God delivering him. Peter was startled; it took a moment to collect his thoughts and grasp what had happened. When he did, he realized …
    • that God had delivered him by His sovereign will
    • that God still had a purpose for him on earth
    • that he still had a ministry to perform for the Lord.

 

Notice how God expects His people to work our their own salvation (deliverance) when it is in their power to do so.

 

Philippians 2:12 ~ “Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, so now, not only as in my presence but much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling,”

 

Now note the result of God delivering His servant. The Scripture and outline points are sufficient to see the results.  Every miracle performed by God causes the same results – all to varying degrees.

 

We must not assume that God will do something and stop praying – we must pray until He does. We are to ask … seek … knock. God provides while we are praying. While the church prays, God works out the answer. What are you praying for today?

 

Add A Note

 

  

Pastor Andy Lambert ~ pastorandy@cvcog.church

Call/Text: 205.642.8744 ext 101

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