Our Mighty God

Where there is a work of the Lord, there will be a work of the enemy, but there will always be a greater work of the Lord to Follow

God will always demonstrate that He is mighty and that there is none more mighty than Him.

Mighty: Powerful

Recap

Acts 11

On Being a Christian

The Church was living out their faith

Chapter closes with the church in Antioch receiving a prophetic word that famine was coming

They were moved by the Spirit to give generously from what the Lord provided them to the Church in Judea

This is a work of the Lord

They heard and Responded…Faith in Action

Acts 12:1-4

1. Now about that time Herod the king stretched out his hand to harass some from the church.

Stretched out his hand: Wanted to demonstrate His Might and develop goodwill with the Jewish people

He was a powerful leader that expanded the territory that he ruled over.

Saw harassing the church as an opportunity to win favor with the Jewish leaders

2 Then he killed James the brother of John with the sword.

The Enemy wants to take out those that are leading for the Lord

Will use any means possible

Death

Matt 20:23

Jesus foreshadowed that James would die a martyrs death

Disqualified because of Sin

Eph 5:15

See then that you walk circumspectly, not as fools but as wise

Walk wisely

Make wise choses

Chose Godliness

Psalm 1:1-2

1 Blessed is the man Who walks not in the counsel of the ungodly, Nor stands in the path of sinners, Nor sits in the seat of the scornful; 2 But his delight is in the law of the Lord, And in His law he meditates day and night.

3 And because he saw that it pleased the Jews, he proceeded further to seize Peter also. Now it was during the Days of Unleavened Bread. 4 So when he had arrested him, he put him in prison, and delivered him to four squads of soldiers to keep him, intending to bring him before the people after Passover.

Peters fate would have been death like James, but because of the Passover Holiday he could not be tried by the Jewish leaders

4 Squads of Soldiers= 16 Soldiers

Acts 12:5

5 Peter was therefore kept in prison, but constant prayer was offered to God for him by the church.

Our Mighty God: Responds to the Prayers of His People

2 Chronicles 16:9

9 For the eyes of the Lord run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to show Himself strong on behalf of those whose heart is loyal to Him.

Opportunity today, to be loyal to Him

Prayer Counselors

Isaiah 41:10

Fear not, for I am with you; Be not dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, Yes, I will help you,

2020 has been quite a year

Dismayed: To be in fear

What do we do when problems come

No matter your situation or circumstance, call out to him!

He will help you!

Hebrews 13:3

Remember the prisoners as if chained with them—those who are mistreated—since you yourselves are in the body also.

Over 260 Million Persecuted Believers worldwide

Persecution exists today

Be intentional to be in prayer

Acts 12:6-10

6 And when Herod was about to bring him out, that night Peter was sleeping, bound with two chains between two soldiers; and the guards before the door were keeping the prison.7 Now behold, an angel of the Lord stood by him, and a light shone in the prison; and he struck Peter on the side and raised him up, saying, “Arise quickly!” And his chains fell off his hands. 8 Then the angel said to him, “Gird yourself and tie on your sandals”; and so he did. And he said to him, “Put on your garment and follow me.” 9 So he went out and followed him, and did not know that what was done by the angel was real, but thought he was seeing a vision. 10 When they were past the first and the second guard posts, they came to the iron gate that leads to the city, which opened to them of its own accord; and they went out and went down one street, and immediately the angel departed from him.

Our Mighty God: Sees Obstacles as Opportunities to Demonstrate His Power

V:6- When Herod was about to Bring Him Out

The Lord kept him captive till the end

Peter was Sleeping

He was at Peace

Sleeping like a baby (Watching Kids in the monitor)

Not a care in the world

Act like you have been there before- Joe Paterno

When Scoring a Touchdown

What is our response when things get down to the wire?

Take over and take control?

Try to do it in our own flesh and own strength?

Its in the waiting

That our character is displayed

Our faith is built up

Trust grows in Him

Read “Give Me Faith” Lyrics

V:6- Bound with chains between two soldiers-

16 soldiers guarding him, right next to him and two checkpoints

Shouldn’t surprise us- Acts 5

We will see it again in Acts 16

Peter Knew that His Mighty God would not fail to demonstrate His Power

Acts 12:11-19

And when Peter had come to himself, he said, “Now I know for certain that the Lord has sent His angel, and has delivered me from the hand of Herod and from all the expectation of the Jewish people.”12 So, when he had considered this, he came to the house of Mary, the mother of John whose surname was Mark, where many were gathered together praying. 13 And as Peter knocked at the door of the gate, a girl named Rhoda came to answer. 14 When she recognized Peter’s voice, because of her gladness she did not open the gate, but ran in and announced that Peter stood before the gate.(Ecstatic GIF) 15 But they said to her, “You are beside yourself!” Yet she kept insisting that it was so. So they said, “It is his angel.” 16 Now Peter continued knocking; and when they opened the door and saw him, they were astonished. 17 But motioning to them with his hand to keep silent, he declared to them how the Lord had brought him out of the prison. And he said, “Go, tell these things to James and to the brethren.” And he departed and went to another place. 18 Then, as soon as it was day, there was no small stir among the soldiers about what had become of Peter. 19 But when Herod had searched for him and not found him, he examined the guards and commanded that they should be put to death. And he went down from Judea to Caesarea, and stayed there.

Our Mighty God: Deserves All Glory

There is nothing good that happens on the planet that is not of the Lords doing

James 1:17

Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and comes down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow of turning.

V:15- “You are Beside yourself”

NLT- “You are out of your mind”

How often do you find yourself praying, waiting, seeking, asking

And when the Lord shows up we don’t realize it.