The Church at Prayer (March 21st 2021)
Well, we are trying to weave a sermon series that fits with our prayer emphasis. So we're going through the book of Acts and we're just taking four chapters in the book. Each chapter has a special appearance of special teaching on prayer. I'll just remind you that we are in a season of prayer here in Weston Heights. We learned in our first message Acts chapter one that disruption and decisions both call for prayer and our team has made several resources available for you. There's a prayer theme for each week. As I mentioned the prayer theme for this week is everybody in our church. There are prayer items for each day. If you're here with us in the building, I noticed that they are in the foyer. You can take one on the way out for everyone else. Everything is on our website. The sermon series is on Ox we've designed devotionals for you to be familiar with the chapter were preaching on so that this week there was a devotional on Acts chapter 12 for this coming week. It's a very unusual devotional almost no words almost all diagrams, and I think you'll really enjoy it and it'll prepare you to hear next week's message on act when 7 Checker website out for that I think that today's prayer today's message. I think I hope they're all appropriate, but I think today's message is so appropriate for the world and the time that we're living in right now because today's message shows us power versus Power. And yet there's something inherently interesting about when power hits power in a sometimes the very best offense of football team will play the very best defensive football team in a playoff game and it's just interesting to see how it's going to turn out. Sometimes in a baseball game you'll have the very best hitter facing the very best picture and you wonder how was all this going to turn out? And it's not always just in sports. I mean, I'm interested in technology. There's there's several technology plays playing out right now this power against Power. I don't want to bore you but Apple computer has left the Intel platform and Intel's fighting back and it's kind of best against this. I'm really interested to see how it all turns out. Will this morning is power versus Power? In this corner, we have maximum political power King Herod. On the other Corner, we have a Praying Church.
In this corner, we have someone who has the power of position has the power of influence. Has the power over legislature has access to military, but in this other Corner, we have a Praying Church. And today we're going to see how it all turns out when power meets power. Know about that time Herod the king know this is confusing Herod the king. There are actually three herod's in the New Testament and you'll see in the sermon several times. I think three or four times I pause to explain who the characters are because not all John's are John the guy who wrote the Gospel and there's several people have the same name that appear in the chapter. So let's try to keep all this straight. There's actually three herod's in the New Testament. The first one is the grandfather of this guy. That's Herod the Great Herod the Great was the guy that the wise men went to see Herod the Great the guy is there the great is the guy that said hey no new Kings on my watch and he's the one that killed the babies cuz that's what you're looking for killed the babies. That's the grandfather never son is Herod Antipas the son of Herod the Great that's the guy that John the Baptist said to it's not right that you should marry this woman. That's the guy who when he heard biblical truth about marriage Kill the Messenger. Herod the Great's son Herod Antipas is the guy that killed John the Baptist. Well, this is the grandson Herod, Agrippa. We're Herod the king in this verse and you'll see in the very next verse is about to kill John. But this isn't Central to the sermon but can I just heard your parents? Aim to build a Godly heritage.
godliness and wickedness both tend to flow along Family Lines here is a wicked family the grandfather Herod the Great. Mary 10 women murdered at least one of them. Murdered two of his sons when he thought that they were conspiring against them. And then opposes the birth of Jesus by trying to kill the babies. Herod Antipas, here's biblical truths about the nature of marriage and rather than falling on his knees and repentance kills the man who told him
and here we have the grandson carrying on the family business of wickedness. Both wickedness and righteousness tend to flow along Family Lines parents. I know your kids are free moral agents. You do not own what they do, but I'm urging you do everything that you can do to raise up a Heritage of righteousness. Well this Herod the King kills James know who is James James is James the disciple. He was one of the 12. Is one of the first disciple to actually lose his life for the gospel that eventually they all do but James is the first to lose his life in the in the sake of the gospel. And he's the brother of John John is the guy who wrote the Gospel of John first second and third John Revelation. That's that John James by the way was a real big wig. He was not only one of the 12 disciples. He was on the inner circle. If you look at the list of disciples in the New Testament there in different orders, but the first three names in some order always Peter James and John, And they had experiences that other disciples didn't have it was just Peter James and John that were at the Mount of transfiguration. This man Jesus and he was in trouble and he died. By the way, why? You wouldn't think a holy guy like James God's going to Lucien here and save them he didn't. Parrot says I'm going to kill you and he does. Later in the chapter. Peter is put in prison and he saved why is that? Why is that? what will develop it as we go along the sermon but friends every one of us has our own path.
a servitude to Jesus for some it will end in martyrdom for some it won't for some it will be physical illness after physical illness for some it won't. God has ordained a path for us and we're not called the question that were called to be faithful in it.
James dies in verse 2 just has to go back and change his life a little bit. Let's pick a little anecdote from his life.
the mother of the sons of Zebedee who were the sons of Zebedee This is John. and James the guy who died Their mother comes to Jesus one day and says I have a favor to ask Jesus says what do you want? And she says when you come into your kingdom promise me that your son's will be on either side. Jesus says you don't know what you're asking of these guys ready to suffer and they say, oh no problem. And then Jesus says you will drink my cup. Acts 12 and 2 is the cup for James.
Jesus Promised suffering and he's keeping that promise in Acts 12 and 2. This is his cup. By the way, John had his cup to but he was not murdered. He was exiled he died at an old age. Why why? I don't know. But God has a path for you. You will have joy you will have suffering. Ours is not to question the path are just to be faithful in the past. Everyone has their cross to bear. I encourage you to embrace your cross.
Get better not bitter.
We don't know why by James is killed and Peter is rescued. But that's the way it turns out.
And when he that's Herod saw that it that is killing James pleased the Jews. Let's just pause on this for a second. We're living in Acts chapter 12. We're at a time where the Roman government is aware of the church, but not feeling particularly threatened by it. They're weird but harmless but there are powerful by the way that will change in the next hundred years or so. The Roman government will see it as a threat and overtly persecute the church, but right now they're kind of were a bit of an oddity and our numbers are too small to really be a big deal. Anyways, yes, but there are powerful influences on the government that is manipulating the government to persecute the church and here it's the juice. By the way, is this sounding familiar? The church is on the outs in the western world, but most western governments don't have it in for the church. But they are being influenced by powers that do. To legislate laws in to make rules that make it impossible to share the gospel.
What he perceives to arrest Peter also, by the way, put your in self in Peter's shoes. You just see what happens to James and now the long arm of the law is coming for you. And this was during the days of unleavened bread. Let me just explain that. The Feast of unleavened bread is 7 days after Passover. So there's Passover and then there's seven days of the Feast of unleavened bread and it was thought to be In bad taste to have any executions during that time and since Harrods trying to please the Jews. He doesn't want to kill Peter during the feast cuz I would be kind of an offense. So he's just waiting they one day to day three on day 8. You're out of here.
And when do you cease to me put him in prison delivering him over to four squads of soldiers to guard him intending that after the Passover to bring them out to the people. By the way, a squad is probably for soldiers and you have four groups of for each of them. Probably watching Peter for 4 hours to guard him during the night time. The way it work was when you have the prisoner in this situation the way it would work is one squads on duty and two guards are chained to the prisoner one on this side one on that side. And the other two guards are just outside the room to make sure nothing happens inside the room and then their shift would end and you get to the four new guys to change room to outside. This is maximum security. You are chained to two Burly Roman guards, and there's two more outside. There is no hope there is no way. Well, that's what this is same here. Put him in prison. This is power. power Sir, Peter was put Captain prison. This is power.
bought Wait a minute. There's something I need to tell you about this the power has a competitor. Earnest prayer
power position the power of the military the power of the legislature the power of influence the power of office versus a little strikly church. That's praying. power versus Power What will happen? Notice that the church is Ernest in prayer for Peter. You know where that is because they knew their Bible. The Bible says that we should call upon him in the day of trouble kids. You got a lot of words to write out and I won't have this verse up long. So right now this is in your notes. Me neither Old Testament where it says call upon me in the day of trouble and they were in the day of trouble so they were praying.
And God has a promise. I will deliver you and I have to deliver you. You're going to glorify me. They knew their Old Testament. They also knew the words of Jesus.
Jesus spoke about prayer a lot that sometime he would give him a parable to the effect that they that they ought always to pray and not lose heart. If ever a time there was to lose heart it was now but they didn't do that. They prayed they knew the command of the scripture to pray at all times in the spirit with all prayer and supplication. There's suck making supplication for Peter to go then keep alert with all perseverance. Don't give up don't give up make supplication for all the saints. That's what this week is about. It is us going into our prayer closet as individuals. It is US Gathering Together on a Wednesday night. It is Austin smaller groups throughout the week praying for each other. That's the power we have we don't have the power government. We don't have access to a military.
We don't we can't write laws.
But we can pray.
power versus Power No one heard was about to bring them out. So the seven days are gone on that very night.
God is on time and he is on target. At exactly the right time. God sent an angel to rescue Peter.
sleeping that is so easy to read these almost as cartoon stories. But can I just remind you that Peter has just seen James his good friend. fellow member of the Inner Circle killed
and he's sleeping.
Think of his physical circumstances. I don't know whether he's standing up or lying down. But either way he's chained to two guards. That would be a little uncomfortable. Don't you think and I'm not sure that these were Posturepedic mattresses in Roman and he's sleeping. Contrast that to us who do have Posturepedic mattresses, and we can't sleep. Why is that? Why is that?
Because Peter knew and had learned to live in the truth of scripture.
It is in vain that you rise up early and go to late go late to rest eating the bread of anxious toil for he gives to his beloved sleep.
Can I just show her a little life secret with you? The secret to life is knowing what your job is in doing it. And knowing what your job is not and praying over it and not to worry about it.
Could you say that again the secret to life is to know what your job is and do it you be faithful, but you also know what your job is not and that's your prayer list, and don't worry about it. And Peter had learned this it's not his job to get out of prison to stop to be faithful and I'm doing that. This is God's problem. This is not my problem. And so he found sleep.
This is the testimony of Peter. Peter is going to be released from prison in this chapter. And then he feels like 30 more years of faithful service to Christ near the end of the thirty years. He writes the book of 1st Peter, which I know some we have just preached true and some small groups or studying 1st Peter and he's talking about this if this piece I looked at Jesus when Jesus was reviled they didn't revile and return when he suffered he did not threaten. You know what he did. He entrusted himself to him who just judges justly. I'm not in any situation that God doesn't know about and can't get me out of I trust God to do the just and right thing. Have you noticed you're in prison? I noticed I trust God to do the right and just thing did you notice that you're saying that the two Roman guards? Yeah. I know. That's what I thought. I trust God to do the right thing. Did you notice James just got beheaded? and your next maybe I am but I trust God to do the right thing. That's why Peter can write in his letter and advised us to cast all our anxieties on him because he cares for us. This is not talking points. This is his life. It is not surprising that he can fall asleep between two Roman soldiers the night before he's going to be executed. He gets delivered or he doesn't either way he wins.
The point isn't to figure out why your path is that path? The point is to be faithful in it, whatever it is, and that's what Peter's doing.
Turn Angel comes and let some out and by the way, just just a little Point here. He struck Peter on the side of angels can take physical manifestations and they act in the real physical world. They touch things. They move things Peter felt that he gives to come in get up quickly and then immediately God provides the ability to obey that command that's a pattern in scripture. God doesn't give us commands that we can't obey get up quickly and then God makes it possible to obey by the chains falling off.
It means release him. I just wanted to point out that the purpose of the Angel was not.
Peter's life to save Peter's life. Why didn't he show up for James? The purpose of the Angel was not to restore Peter to comfort Peter doesn't have comfort after this point. He lives for about 30 to 35 years more and it's tough going murdered. He finally is murdered for the Lord. The angel did this because Peter have more work to do.
And may I just reflect I can't prove this scripturally, but James has work was done. and Peters was not and that and that alone explains why James was allowed to die and Peter wasn't If you're here, you got work to do do it with all your might and when you're done, we'll have a wonderful funeral for you and it'll be better for you. Do you got work to do then? You're still here and if you're still here. You've got work to do.
I would just want to say a little bit more about this different pass for different people. Remember James his mom goes to Jesus. Can they stand on your side? Can you suffer? Yes, we are able than the cup that I drink. You will drink. He says to James and James did that. 4 Peter it was different. Remember when Jesus resurrected and he made a fish breakfast for him. And Peter. Jesus says to Peter truly truly. I say to you when you were young, you used to dress yourself and walk wherever you wanted, but when you are old. Jesus is acknowledging that Peter is going to make it to old age is matter of fact, one of the reasons Peter may have been able to sleep. Is he knew that Jesus had already previously promised old age to him? So, I don't know how he's going to save me better do it quick, but I'm going to die an old man. I'll just go to sleep.
My point is is that different paths for different people? You don't need to worry about other people's pass. We don't need to worry about our own path. We just need to be faithful in it. When you realize this The Story Goes On Peters, not quite sure whether this is happening in the real physical world or whether it is a dream or a vision, but then he realizes hey, this is really happening in time and space the gate open. So we goes to the house of Mary. Let me just say this is not Mary the mother of Jesus. This is not Mary the sister of Lazarus and Martha. This is Mary a prominent woman in the church. Who was the mother of John this is not John as in Peter James and John, this is not one of the 12. This is John Mark John Mark wrote the Gospel of Mark. But he goes to a place where they were gathered together and we're praying. Friends, may I just remind you covid or no covid-19 has about Gathering. I understand there's rules. We're going to follow the rules but the emphasis the command to gather doesn't go away. I am so thankful for the leaders in our church who has thought of creative helpful fun meaningful ways that we can continue to gather and respect the rules of the government. It's not about the women's ministry wanted me to remind you of a gathering coming up this Saturday. It's called race around the world happening this Saturday from 6:30 to 8. You'll join via zoom and submit like the virtual virtual Amazing Race when you get into the zoom room, they will be breakout rooms and someone will be there to greet you as you work your way through. This race is a purely social connection opportunity and they would love you to be part of it and invite a friend your mom. Bring your daughter. If you're interested, all you have to do is there's no cost if you're interested, all you need to do is email Cheryl Cheryl at Westney. CA. We Can't Stop gathering this church had problems to their all kinds of restrictions we cannot stop Gathering we want to respect the rules. We think that's wise, but we cannot stop Gathering here's an opportunity women. And when he that's Peter, he's just been released from prison by the angel knocked at the doorway of the gate door of the Gateway a servant girl named Rhoda that's in your kid's name. Rhoda came to answer 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 church moored release Peter theaters at the gate. You're out of your mind. Crazy, what's the matter with you people? Friends, I just wanted to point out.
We don't have to be perfect to pray. Here's a church that have faith in God. kinder they were actually surprised when God answered their prayer. And God said hey, hey, hey. Until you're perfect. I'm not doing nothing. He didn't say that at all.
We need to be faithful in the light that we have. It will be broken. It will be imperfect will be like the man in the gospels. Jesus has do you believe in his I believe help me in my unbelief? Yes. Yes. Yes, we're all mixed bags, but God will bless a searching heart a faithful heart. You're out of your mind, but she kept insisting and so they kept saying it has his Angel certainly not Central to the sermon but this may be a hint that the church believed in Guardian Angels Angels assigned to each person does the bible teach that by the way, it doesn't really teach you but it doesn't really teach against it does not erect. There are some mysterious things like this. Jesus says see that you do not despise one of these little ones for I tell you that in heaven their Angels, what does that mean? What did I do is about Guardian Angels, but in a box 12a may be expressing a belief in our guardian angels and not be exactly true. We don't know. Poppy Peter continue talking and when they are open, they saw him and we're amazed.
Then he says to them tell these things to James into the brothers friends when God is working in your life. And when you see his faithfulness tell the brothers tell the sisters use your life story as an encouragement. This is Hebrews 10 24 and 25 spur one another on one of the ways that we can do. That is when God meets us.
to share that with the brothers
For those of you online don't you note after the sermon because after the sermon Hue Rendell is going to give a moving testimony. About the power of Prayer in his life at a time when he thought he was going to die.
This is 20 or 25 years ago. And I remember I was part of this church then and I got a call and I couldn't tell who was on the other end, but they were obviously crying it was Pastor Jim.
He had just heard of the condition that you'll hear about later this morning. And it was like a Thursday. And you said could you preach I just don't think I can preach on Sunday, so I didn't know nothing from nothing, but I preach my first sermon at Wesley Heights like 25 years ago.
Hugh is going to be taking this advice tell the brothers tell these things to the brothers. I wanted a time. There was no little disturbance among the soldiers. Just just try to internalize their emotions. They wake up. They should not have been sleeping, but somehow they were and Peter's not there. And we will find out later in this chapter and we'll find out in chapter 27 as well in the Roman way of doing things if you lost a prisoner you sacrificed your life.
And that's what happens they die.
So that's power against Power and the prayer and couldn't keep Peter in prison. Prayer power it. Can you believe it prayer power apparently Trump's positional power that apparently Trump's legislative power it apparently Trump's military power cuz here's his little ragtag church. The only leave her the power they have is prayer Harrods got tons of power. And Peters out and the church is growing by the way, whatever happened to her. Will Luke rights chapter 12 so that we can see how both Towers end up. Where are they at? The end of the game Harrods got a political dispute with some people of Tyre and sidon. He comes and gives a speech and they said oh man, you're amazing. This is the voice of a God and not a man. He accepts the praise and an angel comes and he strikes him down right then.
No, one of the things were supposed to do is careful Bible readers to say wait a minute. I've heard this before I've heard this before all yes. It's two chapters early people call Peter a. And I bow down and unlike hair and he says I'm just a man standing up. He does not accept this phrase. Do you see different modus operandi is in these two power structures. So how it all turns out is the word of God increased and multiplied. Nice. Try Herod you lose. What are we saying? We've seen that when the power of the world confronts the power of prayer and when the power of prayer confronts the power of the world, we see three things God's power cannot be contested. You may think you're going to keep them in jail. You may think you're going to kill him I vote no. No way to contest that God's punishment cannot be avoided you may think you're king of the world. Now. You may think you have access you will not Escape my Justice. I am free to act whenever I want to act. The only reason you're not dying now is my Mercy. And God's purpose cannot be frustrated. You may think you're going to throw at the church. You may think you're going to stop the growth. I have news for you. And this is kind of the high-water mark for the church. This is the best of the best. This is the best case scenario know what isn't this happens all the way through the book of Acts. The church is constantly Under Pressure constantly oppressed and the word of God continue to increase constantly Under Pressure constantly under stress. And the word of the Lord was spreading to the whole region constantly Under Pressure constantly under stress. So the word of the Lord continue to increase and Prevail mightily
Friends, this is where we are right now. We do not have the government. We do not have access to military important powerful groups are chirping in the government's ear in Western societies everywhere and laws are being enacted that will make our lives much more difficult. We will win. because the power of Prayer overcomes political positional power
I'm not expensive in scripture anymore. The sermon is over. I'm about to share my opinion. This is very clearly my opinion. It is not scripture. I thought I'd give you 3 predictions for the next 5 or 10 years. In our society in the next 5 or 10 years the Bible or significant portions of the Bible will be declared hate speech. Certain elements of the gospel story will be officially band and bezel. C6 is just the beginning. I think that's going to happen.
Prediction number two, we will lose our charitable status at some point. We're going to lose it which means two important things one. We will not be able to give you receipts and to we will have to pay property taxes, which means our Revenue will go down and our expenses will go up.
Free official institutions of our society will make every effort to silence us from the message of Christ while they symbol taneously indoctrinate our children, so they don't have the problem with this generation that they do with our powers.
Just two observations. They're much more powerful than we are. They have better lawyers. They have more money. They have position of power. We don't have a chance. And the other observation is it doesn't matter. We're going to win.
Friends, we don't have to right every wrong in the world. We don't have to fight every fight. We don't have to understand every Trend. We don't even have to agree on every point in our family. We just need to be faithful. Let's live in our society With No, Malice, no hate only love and unswerving commitment to the truth of faithfulness in the path that God has plotted for us. And I invite you into a week of faithfulness now. Until we see each other again. I invite you into the power of prayer for each other. I invite you into Victory. And as God is faithful. I implore you to share this with your brothers and sisters as he Rendell is about to do right now.