International Day of Prayer 2019
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Pray — SIS
1 Now Peter and John were going up to the temple for the time of prayer at three in the afternoon.
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Acts 3 — Peter and John went up to the temple and healed a man who waw lame from birth. The man began walking, leaping and praising God and so many people who recognized the man were filled with awe and astonishment at what had happened. So Peter addressed the growing crowd and shared the gospel with them. He pointed them to Jesus for the forgiveness of their sins through faith in His name. But then things went south
1 While they were speaking to the people, the priests, the captain of the temple police, and the Sadducees confronted them, 2 because they were annoyed that they were teaching the people and proclaiming in Jesus the resurrection of the dead. 3 So they seized them and took them into custody until the next day since it was already evening. 4 But many of those who heard the message believed, and the number of the men came to about five thousand.
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Then the Sanhedrin interrogated them and threatened them to not speak in the name of Jesus anymore
17 But so that this does not spread any further among the people, let’s threaten them against speaking to anyone in this name again.” 18 So they called for them and ordered them not to speak or teach at all in the name of Jesus. 19 Peter and John answered them, “Whether it’s right in the sight of God for us to listen to you rather than to God, you decide; 20 for we are unable to stop speaking about what we have seen and heard.”
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After this they went back to their loved ones who had been praying for them and when they returned safely everyone prayed to God and this is what they said…
29 And now, Lord, consider their threats, and grant that your servants may speak your word with all boldness, 30 while you stretch out your hand for healing, and signs and wonders are performed through the name of your holy servant Jesus.” 31 When they had prayed, the place where they were assembled was shaken, and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak the word of God boldly.
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Notice what they prayed for and what they didn’t pray for.
They did not pray for protection, they prayed for boldness
verse 29 — “grant that your servants may speak your word with all boldness… they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak the word of God boldly.”
Paul to the Ephesian church
19 Pray also for me, that the message may be given to me when I open my mouth to make known with boldness the mystery of the gospel. 20 For this I am an ambassador in chains. Pray that I might be bold enough to speak about it as I should.
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pray that I might be bold enough to speak about it as I should — he asked that they would pray for God to give him boldness to overcome his fear
again Paul to the Colossian church
2 Devote yourselves to prayer; stay alert in it with thanksgiving. 3 At the same time, pray also for us that God may open a door to us for the word, to speak the mystery of Christ, for which I am in chains, 4 so that I may make it known as I should.
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Paul found himself before kings, think of how difficult it would have been to muster up the courage to speak boldly to a king, the one deciding whether to release you or kill you who has you in chains.
Paul found himself before more than one king…
24 As he was saying these things in his defense, Festus exclaimed in a loud voice, “You’re out of your mind, Paul! Too much study is driving you mad.” 25 But Paul replied, “I’m not out of my mind, most excellent Festus. On the contrary, I’m speaking words of truth and good judgment. 26 For the king knows about these matters, and I can speak boldly to him. For I am convinced that none of these things has escaped his notice, since this was not done in a corner. 27 King Agrippa, do you believe the prophets? I know you believe.” 28 Agrippa said to Paul, “Are you going to persuade me to become a Christian so easily?” 29 “I wish before God,” replied Paul, “that whether easily or with difficulty, not only you but all who listen to me today might become as I am—except for these chains.” 30 The king, the governor, Bernice, and those sitting with them got up, 31 and when they had left they talked with each other and said, “This man is not doing anything to deserve death or imprisonment.” 32 Agrippa said to Festus, “This man could have been released if he had not appealed to Caesar.”
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Here Paul spoke boldly to king Agrippa, but even king Agrippa was subject to the emperor of Rome, Caesar, who Paul would eventually speak to and after he spoke to Caesar we hear nothing more from Paul.
The first followers of Christ suffered greatly for believing that Jesus was the Messiah and for telling others.
John the Baptist
27 The king immediately sent for an executioner and commanded him to bring John’s head. So he went and beheaded him in prison, 28 brought his head on a platter, and gave it to the girl. Then the girl gave it to her mother. 29 When John’s disciples heard about it, they came and removed his corpse and placed it in a tomb.
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Stephen
54 When they heard these things, they were enraged and gnashed their teeth at him. 55 Stephen, full of the Holy Spirit, gazed into heaven. He saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing at the right hand of God. 56 He said, “Look, I see the heavens opened and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God!” 57 They yelled at the top of their voices, covered their ears, and together rushed against him. 58 They dragged him out of the city and began to stone him. And the witnesses laid their garments at the feet of a young man named Saul. 59 While they were stoning Stephen, he called out: “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit!” 60 He knelt down and cried out with a loud voice, “Lord, do not hold this sin against them!” And after saying this, he died.
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The apostles James, the brother of John — Peter, James, and John
1 About that time King Herod violently attacked some who belonged to the church, 2 and he executed James, John’s brother, with the sword. 3 When he saw that it pleased the Jews, he proceeded to arrest Peter too, during the Festival of Unleavened Bread.
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And Paul had many attempts to kill him
12 When it was morning, the Jews formed a conspiracy and bound themselves under a curse not to eat or drink until they had killed Paul.
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19 Some Jews came from Antioch and Iconium, and when they won over the crowds, they stoned Paul and dragged him out of the city, thinking he was dead.
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And of course Jesus —
15 Wanting to satisfy the crowd, Pilate released Barabbas to them; and after having Jesus flogged, he handed him over to be crucified.
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Jesus warned us to expect the same persecution
1 “I have told you these things to keep you from stumbling. 2 They will ban you from the synagogues. In fact, a time is coming when anyone who kills you will think he is offering service to God.
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We’ve talked recently about how Jesus told us with the parable of the soils that His disciples are those who are both willing to suffer for Him and who repent or turn from sin for Him. Here again He expands on that idea of suffering saying that if we are not willing to suffer for Him but instead deny Him so that we won’t suffer, He will deny us.
23 Then he said to them all, “If anyone wants to follow after me, let him deny himself, take up his cross daily, and follow me. 24 For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life because of me will save it. 25 For what does it benefit someone if he gains the whole world, and yet loses or forfeits himself? 26 For whoever is ashamed of me and my words, the Son of Man will be ashamed of him when he comes in his glory and that of the Father and the holy angels.
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He tells us to endure to the end and not to deny Him
33 But whoever denies me before others, I will also deny him before my Father in heaven.
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again he warns us...
9 “Then they will hand you over to be persecuted, and they will kill you. You will be hated by all nations because of my name. 10 Then many will fall away, betray one another, and hate one another. 11 Many false prophets will rise up and deceive many. 12 Because lawlessness will multiply, the love of many will grow cold. 13 But the one who endures to the end will be saved.
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Again in Luke
16 You will even be betrayed by parents, brothers, relatives, and friends. They will kill some of you. 17 You will be hated by everyone because of my name, 18 but not a hair of your head will be lost. 19 By your endurance, gain your lives.
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Jesus said not to fear people but instead to fear God
4 “I say to you, my friends, don’t fear those who kill the body, and after that can do nothing more. 5 But I will show you the one to fear: Fear him who has authority to throw people into hell after death. Yes, I say to you, this is the one to fear!
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[[[[IDOP]]]]
The author of Hebrews gives us a few reminders about those in Prison and about living and speaking boldly for Christ
3 Remember those in prison, as though you were in prison with them, and the mistreated, as though you yourselves were suffering bodily.
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5 Keep your life free from the love of money. Be satisfied with what you have, for he himself has said, I will never leave you or abandon you. 6 Therefore, we may boldly say, The Lord is my helper; I will not be afraid. What can man do to me?
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