Wonder Working Prayer

Acts 12:1-12

05Jan2020

Shield in Pointless Disaster

About that time Herod the king laid violent hands on some who belonged to the church. 2He killed James the brother of John with the sword, 3and when he saw that it pleased the Jews, he proceeded to arrest Peter also. This was during the days of Unleavened Bread. 4And when he had seized him, he put him in prison, delivering him over to four squads of soldiers to guard him, intending after the Passover to bring him out to the people.—Acts 12:1-4

When enemies have chance to get hold of us, they will destroy us as fast as they can.

Produce Perfect Peace

So Peter was kept in prison, but earnest prayer for him was made to God by the church. 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. —Acts 12:5-6

When we place our concerns in God’s hand, He knows how to work it well.  In His disposal He has perfect time, abundant resources, and absolute power.  If we rather pray and  trust Him in prayer instead of worry; we’ll have perfect peace and not distress.

Provide Perfect Deliverance

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.—Acts 12:6-7

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. —Acts 12:12

God alone provides perfect deliverance and total triumph without difficulty because, nothing can stop the working power of His will.

Hope in Christ

20 Oct 2019

 

Remembering without ceasing your work of faith, and labor of love, and patience of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ, in the sight of God and our Father; 4Knowing, brethren beloved, your election of God.—1 Thessalonians 1:3,4

 

Central Idea: Paul, Silas, and Timothy when giving thanks to God, always mention without ceasing the Thessalonians patience of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ that: Strengthens their resolute waiting for Christ’s return and stimulates their vigorous endurance in hardship.

Strengthens Resolute Waiting for Christ’s Return

• And to wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead, even Jesus, which delivered us from the wrath to come.—1 Thessalonians 1:10.
• If we have hoped in Christ in this life only, we are of all men most to be pitied. But now Christ has been raised from the dead, the first fruits of those who are asleep.—1 Cor. 15:19, 20
• For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a loud command, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God, and the dead in Christ will be the first to rise.—1 Thess. 4:16
• For I know that my redeemer liveth, and that he shall stand at the latter day upon the earth—Job 19:25

Stimulates Vigorous Endurance in Hardship

• Therefore we ourselves boast about you in the churches of God for your steadfastness and faith in all your persecutions and in the afflictions that you are enduring.—2 Thess. 1:4
• to those who by perseverance in doing good seek for glory and honor and immortality, eternal life— 2:7
• . . . let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, 2fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.— 12:1, 2
• For in hope we have been saved, but hope that is seen is not hope; for who hopes for what he already sees? 25But if we hope for what we do not see, with perseverance we wait eagerly for it.— 8:24, 25

The Labor of Love

13 Oct 2019

Remembering without ceasing your work of faith, and labour of love, and patience of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ, in the sight of God and our Father;—1 Thessalonians 1:3

Central Idea: Paul, Silas, and Timothy when giving thanks to God always mention without ceasing the Thessalonians labor of love expressed in: An ebullient response to grace of God and an evident affection to all saints.

An Ebullient Response toward the Saving Grace God

. . . how you turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God,—1 Thess. 1:9

• And you became imitators of us and of the Lord, for you received the word in much affliction, with the joy of the Holy Spirit,—1 Thess. 1:6

 

• For you, brothers, became imitators of the churches of God in Christ Jesus that are in Judea.—1 Thess. 2:14

 

An Evident Affection Toward the Saints of God

• For they themselves report concerning us the kind of reception we had among you. . .—1 Thess. 1:9

 

• But now that Timothy has come to us from you, and has brought us the good news of your faith and love and reported that you always remember us kindly and long to see us, as we long to see you—1 Thess. 3:6

 

• and may the Lord make you increase and abound in love for one another and for all, as we do for you—1 Thess. 3:12

 

• since we heard of your faith in Christ Jesus and of the love that you have for all the saints,— 1:4; Eph. 1:15; Philemon 1:5

 

• Now concerning brotherly love you have no need for anyone to write to you, for you yourselves have been taught by God to love one another, or that indeed is what you are doing to all the brothers throughout Macedonia. But we urge you, brothers, to do this more and more,—1 Thess. 4:9, 10

The Work of Faith

03 Oct 2019

Remembering without ceasing your work of faith, and labor of love, and patience of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ, in the sight of God and our Father—1 Thessalonians 1:3

 

Central Idea: Paul, Silas, and Timothy when giving thanks to God, always mention without ceasing the Thessalonians work of Faith which is: A work God originates, a work God designates, and a work worthy of piety.

A Work God Originates

• Then they inquired, “What must we do to perform the works of God?” Jesus answered and said unto them, This is the work of God, that ye believe on him whom he hath sent.”—John 6:28-19
• For I have come down from heaven, not to do My own will, but to do the will of Him who sent Me.—John 6:38

A Work God Designates

• And He has qualified us as ministers of a new covenant, not of the letter but of the Spirit; for the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life. Believing that God intends to help us work in his own way.  Be yourself, and trust yourself as called and qualified by God.—2 Cor. 3:6
• But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus.— 4:19
• To this he called you through our gospel, so that you may obtain the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ. Believing that God will accept and consecrate us as we grapple with our tasks. Faith is the spring of devotion to God.—2 Thess. 2:14
• His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness through the knowledge of Him who called us by His own glory and excellence.—2 Peter 1:3

A Work Worthy of Piety

• You see that his faith was working with his actions, and his faith was perfected by what he did.—James 2:22
• And to the one who is victorious and continues in My work until the end, I will give authority over the nations.—Rev. 2:26

1 Thessalonians 5:1-11

 

Christ’s Coming is Unpredictable but Sure

 

The Lord will come like a thief in the night

• the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night.—verse 2

 

Like labor pain, . . .there is no escape

• then sudden destruction will come upon them as labor pains come upon a pregnant woman, and they will not escape.—verse 3

 

Christ’s Coming is Unsurprising but Inspiring

 

We are Children the Light and the Day

• for you are all sons of light and sons of day. We are not of night nor of darkness; so then let us not sleep as others do, but let us be alert and sober.—verses 5-6

 

We will Live together with Him

• For God has not destined us for wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ, who died for us, so that whether we are awake or asleep, we will live together with Him.—verses 9-10