The Church on Mission Prays for the Persecuted Church

Introduction

“it’s been a little more than 2 years since will called to tell us...”

thought they were pregnant

obviously this was something different

explained how he was supposed to meet a friend and he wasn’t there

friend told him to meet him at this house

i’ve been in a lot of rooms with will

-principal’s office

-rooms where we talked about sports or whatever girls we were liking

-lots of little rooms we could find to pray before going on stage to lead worship

-little room at fbc lewisville before me and brooke got married

-same room some months later before he and emily got married

-so i’ve been in lots of rooms with willie

-but here he was that day in a room and i wasnt there with him

door was locked behind them

somehow the door was unlocked

fell into street

taken to police station

mob was waiting

false witness was waiting

he’s telling us almost a month later… had time for wounds to heal

in my flesh i was wishing i was in that room with him… so he wouldn’t have been alone… i would’ve wanted justice

when i think about that door that he clearly remembered them locking… just flying open… i think he wasn’t alone

when i think about some of the passages we will read today i think at the time i didn’t understand… or wasn’t prepared to believe that suffering like that might be part of living a life that follows after Jesus

you know the IMB had a jet fueled are ready to go that day. they said, all you have to do is say the word and you and your family are out of here.

but willie and emily believed their job wasn’t finished yet.

reminds me of acts 14 when Paul dragged out of the city of Lystra and stoned.... left for dead. when the disciples gathered around him, expecting he was dead.... he stood up and walked right back into the city… apparently he didn’t think his job was finished yet.

so our current series is titled....

Series Title: The Church On Mission

and

Today’s title is: The church on mission prays for the persecuted church

The Church on mission prays for the persecuted church because:

persecution can be expected

prayer works

Main sermon

Acts 12:1-

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.

Acts 12:1–4 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.

Persecution can be expected

Herod Agrippa I was the grandson of Herod the Great

James was the first apostle to be martyred

Jesus predicted James and his brother John’s suffering in

Matthew 20:20–23 ESV

20 Then the mother of the sons of Zebedee came up to him with her sons, and kneeling before him she asked him for something. 21 And he said to her, “What do you want?” She said to him, “Say that these two sons of mine are to sit, one at your right hand and one at your left, in your kingdom.” 22 Jesus answered, “You do not know what you are asking. Are you able to drink the cup that I am to drink?” They said to him, “We are able.” 23 He said to them, “You will drink my cup, but to sit at my right hand and at my left is not mine to grant, but it is for those for whom it has been prepared by my Father.”

“You will drink my cup”

Persecution is often political. Because the people supported the killing of James, Herod thought, “alright, let’s get those popularity polls up with the people… let’s kill that Peter guy, too!”

so they arrest Peter but since it’s Passover time, the week of unleavened bread, they put him in prison with plans to kill him as soon as the festival was over.

even today, around the world christians are persecuted for political reasons.

The world hates the gospel, and it will naturally try to stamp it out (3).

1 “I have said all these things to you to keep you from falling away. 2 They will put you out of the synagogues. Indeed, the hour is coming when whoever kills you will think he is offering service to God. 3 And they will do these things because they have not known the Father, nor me.

John 16:1–4 ESV

1 “I have said all these things to you to keep you from falling away. 2 They will put you out of the synagogues. Indeed, the hour is coming when whoever kills you will think he is offering service to God. 3 And they will do these things because they have not known the Father, nor me. 4 But I have said these things to you, that when their hour comes you may remember that I told them to you. “I did not say these things to you from the beginning, because I was with you.

so persecution can be expected.... but it is also a blessing to be persecuted for the sake of Christ

In his sermon on the mount Jesus said,

Matthew 5:10 ESV

10 “Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

Matthew 5:20 ESV

20 For I tell you, unless your righteousness exceeds that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.

In his letter to the church at Philippi, Paul said,

Philippians 1:29 ESV

29 For it has been granted to you that for the sake of Christ you should not only believe in him but also suffer for his sake,

Paul clearly teaches that both believing and suffering were parts of faithful Christian living. His readers had likely already faced some persecution, and may have wondered why they had to suffer if they were faithfully living for God.

Paul makes it clear that godliness and suffering often go together. There are times when we suffer, at the hands of the world, because we are following the will of God.

says, "Indeed, all who desire to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted."

persecution can be expected but it is a blessing

says, "Indeed, all who desire to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted."

Paul will later note in and 10, "For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ. … that I may know him and the power of his resurrection, and may share his sufferings, becoming like him in his death." that’s how paul described gaining Christ

Christ is worthy of whatever suffering a believer may face!

The Church on mission prays for the persecuted church because:

persecution can be expected

prayer works

Acts 12:5-11

Acts 12:5–11 ESV

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.”

Acts 12:6-

Acts 12:6–11 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. 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.”

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 (Jesus’s brother) and to the brothers.” Then he departed and went to another place.

Acts 12:12–17 ESV

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.

the church on mission prays for the persecuted church because prayer works!!

when you pray for the persecuted church...

pray earnestly

pray together

rejoice in answered prayer

The Church on mission prays for the persecuted church because:

persecution can be expected

prayer works

persecution can be expected

prayer works

because prayer works.... this morning we are going to pray, AS THE CHURCH, for the persecuted church

Closing

Open Doors USA

www.heritagecommunity.org/pray

(picture of watch list)

open doors also has an app for your phone that will update you with situations going on around the world and specific ways you can pray for those experiencing persecution

prayer for the persecuted church

On Sunday, attackers broke into a village in the northeast region of the country while Christians gathered for worship. According to the French radio outlet, RFI, the attackers killed 20 people and injured 15 more. The extremists also abducted the pastor and set the church on fire. Several people are still missing.

These attacks are horrendous, but the Christian community in Burkina Faso is persevering through Christ during extreme persecution. But they need the prayers of the Global Church to be strengthened—and to know they’re not alone.

[put these on screen]

1. Please pray for God’s grace on those who lost loved ones.

2. Ask God for a safe release of the pastor.

3. pray for the Lord’s protection and comfort for those injured in the attack.

Prayer [are there 3 people who would be willing to come and pray for these 3 requests?]

now that we have had a time praying for these saints who are experiencing persecution, we will now go into a time of sharing in communion together as a church family remembering the persecution Jesus received on our behalf so that we could share in His glory!

“Parents, if you have children in children’s ministry who have made a decision for the Lord and you’d like to take communion together as a family, you may now be dismissed to pick them up and head over to the Fellowship Hall. Pastor Sidney will meet you there to help lead you guys in that time and the rest of us will take the Lord’s Supper together in here.”

Communion

[instructions]

time of examination

take the elements and go back to seat, or stage, or outside...

you or you and your family, small group....

take the elements

say a prayer together

if you’re moving past the fellowship hall, please be respectful to the families in there

1 Corinthians 11:23–29 ESV

23 For I received from the Lord what I also delivered to you, that the Lord Jesus on the night when he was betrayed took bread, 24 and when he had given thanks, he broke it, and said, “This is my body, which is for you. Do this in remembrance of me.” 25 In the same way also he took the cup, after supper, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood. Do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of me.” 26 For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes. 27 Whoever, therefore, eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty concerning the body and blood of the Lord. 28 Let a person examine himself, then, and so eat of the bread and drink of the cup. 29 For anyone who eats and drinks without discerning the body eats and drinks judgment on himself.

1 corinthians 11:23-

Prayer

Almighty God, unto whom all hearts be open, all desires known, and from whom no secrets are hid: Cleanse the thoughts of our hearts by the inspiration of Your Holy Spirit, that we may perfectly love you, and worthily magnify Your holy Name; through Christ our Lord. Amen.