TGP: Imprisoned for the Gospel

Q. What would you do first in the following scenerios?

Being released early from school because of snow

Failing a test

Winning a million dollars

Getting an unexpected day off work

Getting bad news

Getting the car of your dreams

What we do reveals a lot

Response can be prayer

Early church

Main Point: God heard the church’s prayers and delivered Peter from prison.

Praying to the Lord for deliverance

Acts 12:1–5 (ESV)

1 About that time Herod the king laid violent hands on some who belonged to the church. 2 He killed James the brother of John with the sword, 3 and when he saw that it pleased the Jews, he proceeded to arrest Peter also. This was during the days of Unleavened Bread. 4 And 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. 5 So Peter was kept in prison, but earnest prayer for him was made to God by the church.

James = 1st martyr of the 12

Shaken church to core

Herod arrests Peter

Grandson of Herod the Great (infant Jesus)

Feast of Unleavened bread (after Passover each spring)

Israelite law: all males in Jerusalem

Large crowds

Environment was dangerous and tense

Prayerful response

Q. How do you normally cope with difficult or stressful situations in life?

Junk food, working out, social media

Maybe even drugs or alcohol

Temporary relief

No real peace

Q. How did the church respond to this terrifying situation? What are some reasons this isn’t our first response to difficulties?

Gathered to pray

First response = turn to Father

Often not ours

We forget His longing

Instinct of running to others

Perhaps fearing He won’t answer

Main Point: God heard the church’s prayers and delivered Peter from prison.

Praying to the Lord for deliverance

Following the Lord for deliverance

Acts 12:6–10 (ESV)

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.

Up to 16 men guarding Peter

Yet he rested

Trusted Lord no matter the outcome

Peter trusted and followed

We can, too

Q. Why does it matter that we know how heavily Peter was guarded?

Imagine: 16

Probably more than normal

Herod:

Peter will escape, or...

Miraculous deliverance?

God delivered and displayed

Q. Peter had to follow the angel’s instructions to experience deliverance. How is this similar to the way we find freedom in Christ?

Peter wasn’t sure, but he followed

Peter thought he was dreaming

Miraculous: Peter didn’t do it

Peter’s dependance

Passive, released, instructed, and led to freedom

Experiencing freedom through obedience

May feel trapped, but God calling to trust

Every step helps walk

Main Point: God heard the church’s prayers and delivered Peter from prison.

Praying to the Lord for deliverance

Following the Lord for deliverance

Praising the Lord for deliverance

Acts 12:11–19 (ESV)

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.

18 Now when day came, there was no little disturbance among the soldiers over what had become of Peter. 19 And after Herod searched for him and did not find him, he examined the sentries and ordered that they should be put to death. Then he went down from Judea to Caesarea and spent time there.

Don’t know prayers

Disbelief

Prayed, but have faith?

Q. The group struggled to believe God had answered their prayers, When have you struggled to believe God would answer your prayers?

If we’re honest...

Fear isn’t listening or doesn’t care

Ask, but doubt

Always comes through

Cares and listens

God is faithful and sovereign

May not realize outcome

But can trust

Q. How have you specifically experienced God’s deliverance:?

All believers

But continued deliverance

Victory over sin

Healing

Praise God!

Christ Connection:

When Peter was arrested and put in prison, the church prayed fervently to God for him. God delivered Peter miraculously, but the church failed to believe he had been rescued at first. IN a similar way, Jesus had taught His disciples the He would die and be raised again, but they too failed to believe at first. When they saw and experienced the resurrected Savior, their faith increased.

Head: In what area of your life do you struggle to believe God can bring deliverance?

For others, but not for us

Need deliverance, but aren’t sure

Anxiety, body image, shame, lust, etc.

God can deliver you.

Limitless and unmatched

Wants your trust and obedience

Heart:What has God asked you to do recently? How could taking these steps lead to freedom?

Walk > speak

Nearness > hearing

Laying on heart

Reading Bible

Pull back from relationship

Obey whisper

Steps to freedom

Hands: Whose deliverance can you pray for today?

Many

Family, friends, school, work

Pray

Go to Father on behalf

Ask God to speak to them

Model deliverance