We Need to Pray

Notes: We Need to Pray

Valor Men's Group

Pastor Mike Jonker

Harvest OC

January 13, 2015

Acts 12

Acts is the story of God working to empower men and women to follow Him and spread His Gospel.

Satan attacks all of us as we work to get closer to God. As God builds and helps us build, satan works on attacking and tearing us down.

In Acts we see God move forward in men and in their effectiveness to spread the Gospel.

In Acts we see Jew and Gentile come to faith in Jesus Christ. The gospel was spreading like wild fire and we see people having to struggle and being incarcerated for their faith.

In Acts 12 we will get to see more of the power of God.

The stars in chapter 12 are Peter, an Angel, and King Herod Agrippa.

Acts 12:1-4 NKJV

[1] Now about that time Herod the king stretched out his hand to harass some from the church. [2] Then he killed James the brother of John with the sword. [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.

Peter was on fire for Jesus and satan was on the attack. The church was sharing the resurrection of Jesus Christ.

They had arrested Peter with the intention of killing him.

Herod Agrippa was the grandson of Herod the great, the one that was ruling when Jesus Christ was born.

Herod did not like Christians, had James killed and wanted to eliminate all the Christians. If it wasn't Passover he probably would have already killed Peter. Satan was behind this hatred.

Jesus Christ warned them,

John 15:20 NKJV

[20] Remember the word that I said to you, 'A servant is not greater than his master.' If they persecuted Me, they will also persecute you. If they kept My word, they will keep yours also.

John 10:10 NKJV

[10] The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly.

Jesus Christ knew there would be opposition and warned them.

We need to know and understand there is opposition to us following Jesus Christ.

Ephesians 6:12-13 NKJV

[12] For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places. [13] Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.

Satan is powerful and his minions are powerful, we need to understand that his agenda is to reap havoc in our lives. He has had a lot of success in the world and in the church.

What are we allowing into our eyes, our minds, and our heart?

When we allow lust and sin into our lives it is like throwing water on our flame for following Jesus Christ.

God knows what is going through our minds. We allow things in our lives that we shouldn't and satan is encouraging that we do. We need to commit those things to the Lord.

Satan comes at us with the lust of the eyes and lust of the flesh. We love to eat, we love to sleep. 

Eating is good but it can destroy us. Sleeping is good, but should we be in the Word instead of sleeping. If it is throwing water on our fire then we need to Gove it to the Lord.

Satan has no problem with making sin look innocent. He did it to King David and King Saul. Sin always has a price to pay.

It is a hard thing to repent from most sin. Struggling on your own can harden it.

We should not rationalize against God's Word. 

Acts 12:5-11 NKJV

[5] Peter was therefore kept in prison, but constant prayer was offered to God for him by the church. [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. [11] 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."

The power of God was at work here and Peter was sleeping. Lesser things keep us up then being imprisoned.

Proverbs 3:21-24 NKJV

[21] My son, let them not depart from your eyes- Keep sound wisdom and discretion; [22] So they will be life to your soul And grace to your neck. [23] Then you will walk safely in your way, And your foot will not stumble. [24] When you lie down, you will not be afraid; Yes, you will lie down and your sleep will be sweet.

Getting into Gods Word can help you sleep, God will take your worries.

Isaiah 26:3 NKJV

[3] You will keep him in perfect peace, Whose mind is stayed on You, Because he trusts in You.

Peter was so sound asleep that the angel had to strike him to awake him.

Hebrews 1:5-14 NKJV

[5] For to which of the angels did He ever say: "You are My Son, Today I have begotten You"? And again: "I will be to Him a Father, And He shall be to Me a Son"? [6] But when He again brings the firstborn into the world, He says: "Let all the angels of God worship Him." [7] And of the angels He says: "Who makes His angels spirits And His ministers a flame of fire." [8] But to the Son He says: "Your throne, O God, is forever and ever; A scepter of righteousness is the scepter of Your kingdom. [9] You have loved righteousness and hated lawlessness; Therefore God, Your God, has anointed You With the oil of gladness more than Your companions." [10] And: "You, LORD, in the beginning laid the foundation of the earth, And the heavens are the work of Your hands. [11] They will perish, but You remain; And they will all grow old like a garment; [12] Like a cloak You will fold them up, And they will be changed. But You are the same, And Your years will not fail." [13] But to which of the angels has He ever said: "Sit at My right hand, Till I make Your enemies Your footstool"? [14] Are they not all ministering spirits sent forth to minister for those who will inherit salvation?

We have angles around us. God tells us in scripture that He is there for us and He sends help. God uses Angels to do His work.

You should appreciate the Lord has sent Angels to help us. It is Biblical.

God has the power and resources to help us even in our darkest hours.

Acts 12:12-19 NKJV

[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. [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.

Pastor Mike says he thinks one of the greatest neglects of men is our willingness to pray.

7 things we can pray for:

1. Marriage and families

2. Our jobs and work

3. Our country and our leaders.

4. For the gospel to go out.

5. Our church

6. Our community 

7. Each other, holiness, purity and purpose.

We need to pray! 

Will we be those men?