Acts 12:1-17 | Peace, Prayer, Prisonbreak

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Slides:

Theme: When we are sure of the Lord’s salvation, we can REST, we can OBEY, and we can PROCLAIM.

John 14:27 

"Peace I leave with you; My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Do not let your heart be troubled, nor let it be fearful.

1 Peter 4:12-14, 19 

Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery ordeal among you, which comes upon you for your testing, as though some strange thing were happening to you; but to the degree that you share the sufferings of Christ, keep on rejoicing, so that also at the revelation of His glory you may rejoice with exultation. If you are reviled for the name of Christ, you are blessed, because the Spirit of glory and of God rests on you. ... Therefore, those also who suffer according to the will of God shall entrust their souls to a faithful Creator in doing what is right

Philippians 1:21, 23-24

For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain. ... 23 But I am hard-pressed from both [directions,] having the desire to depart and be with Christ, for [that] is very much better; 24 yet to remain on in the flesh is more necessary for your sake.

The Lord usually leads slowly, speaking through His Word, the Spirit, wise counsel, and circumstance. If the Lord leads abruptly, depend on Him to make it very clear.

God wants you to be where He wants you to be, more than you want to be where He wants you to be. 

Peter obeyed each step in turn, not worrying about what came after.

Joshua 11:21 

Then Joshua came at that time and cut off the Anakim from the hill country, from Hebron, from Debir, from Anab and from all the hill country of Judah and from all the hill country of Israel. Joshua utterly destroyed them with their cities.

Acts 12 is not a formula for prayer, it is a testament to God’s grace.

-Pray anyway.  

Our proclamation is most glorifying to God when we are sure that He has saved us.

John 21:18-19 

"Truly, truly, I say to you, when you were younger, you used to gird yourself and walk wherever you wished; but when you grow old, you will stretch out your hands and someone else will gird you, and bring you where you do not wish to [go.]" Now this He said, signifying by what kind of death he would glorify God. And when He had spoken this, He said to him, "Follow Me!"

John 11:25-26

"I am the resurrection and the life; he who believes in Me will live even if he dies, and everyone who lives and believes in Me will never die."

When we are sure of the Lord’s salvation, we can REST, we can OBEY, we can PROCLAIM.

Romans 8:38-39 

For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor any other created thing, will be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Though the enemy may do harm, our good God is in control. Victory is His, and in Christ, victory is ours as well.