Praying and reading the bible 03 Feb Hearing God Judges 6:11-24 10 Feb Baptisms of JoJo &Fengwei Matthew 3:13-17 17 Feb Prayer zones 24 Feb Hearing God Isaiah 6:1-13 03 Mar The church at prayer Acts 4:23-31 10 Mar Barnabas & Paul listen to God Acts 13&15 17 Mar God breathed scripture 2 Timothy 3:14-4:5 24 Mar Encouragement in scripture Romans 15:1-11 31 Mar Mothering Sunday 07 Apr According to the scriptures 1 Corinth 15:1-11 14 Apr Palm Sunday John 12:12-36 21 Apr Easter Day John 20:1-18 28 Apr Inner healing at the cross 05 May No change in scripture Revelation 22:6-21

3:1 Healing at the Gate beautiful 2:42 They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer.  3:1 Healing at the Gate beautiful 3:15 ”You killed the author of life, but God raised him from the dead. 3:19 “Repent, then, and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped out, that times of refreshing may come from the Lord” 4:3 They seized Peter and John and, because it was evening, they put them in jail until the next day 4:18 They commanded them not to speak or teach at all in the name of Jesus. 4:21 After further threats they let them go. Acts

Abuse of power Task: Bearing witness to Jesus Problem: People in power wanting to stop them Family – Friends Church – Community Workplace – Nation How would I pray? What does the Bible say about power?

Psalm 146 Praise the Lord. Praise the Lord, my soul. 2 I will praise the Lord all my life; I will sing praise to my God as long as I live. 3 Do not put your trust in princes, in human beings, who cannot save. 4 When their spirit departs, they return to the ground; on that very day their plans come to nothing. 5 Blessed are those whose help is the God of Jacob, whose hope is in the Lord their God. 6 He is the Maker of heaven and earth, the sea, and everything in them— he remains faithful forever.

Psalm 2 Why do those with power seek to use it against people rather than for people? 1 Why do the nations conspire and the peoples plot in vain? 2 The kings of the earth rise up and the rulers band together against the Lord and against his anointed, saying, 3 “Let us break their chains and throw off their shackles.”

From the perspective of our Father in Heaven, the one with real power, it is laughable that people should think that this is what power is for. 4 The One enthroned in heaven laughs; the Lord scoffs at them. 5 He rebukes them in his anger and terrifies them in his wrath, saying, 6 “I have installed my king on Zion, my holy mountain.” 7 I will proclaim the Lord’s decree: He said to me, “You are my son; today I have become your father. 8 Ask me, and I will make the nations your inheritance, the ends of the earth your possession. 9 You will break them with a rod of iron; you will dash them to pieces like pottery.”

Imagine that the Son of God is standing before you holding out his hand- go and kiss his hand in loving obedience. Remember that if we give our allegiance to another power or another way of using power, that this will lead to our destruction 10 Therefore, you kings, be wise;     be warned, you rulers of the earth. 11 Serve the Lord with fear     and celebrate his rule with trembling. 12 Kiss his son, or he will be angry     and your way will lead to your destruction, for his wrath can flare up in a moment.     Blessed are all who take refuge in him.

23 On their release, Peter and John went back to their own people and reported all that the chief priests and the elders had said to them. 24 When they heard this, they raised their voices together in prayer to God. “Sovereign Lord,” they said, “you made the heavens and the earth and the sea, and everything in them. 25 You spoke by the Holy Spirit through the mouth of your servant, our father David: “‘Why do the nations rage and the peoples plot in vain? 26 The kings of the earth rise up and the rulers band together against the Lord and against his anointed one. 27 Indeed Herod and Pontius Pilate met together with the Gentiles and the people of Israel in this city to conspire against your holy servant Jesus, whom you anointed. 28 They did what your power and will had decided beforehand should happen. 29 Now, Lord, consider their threats and enable your servants to speak your word with great boldness. 30 Stretch out your hand to heal and perform signs and wonders through the name of your holy servant Jesus.” 31 After they prayed, the place where they were meeting was shaken. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke the word of God boldly. Acts 4 Thank God for his written Word to us

23 On their release, Peter and John went back to their own people & reported all that the chief priests & the elders had said to them.  24 When they heard this, they raised their voices together in prayer to God. “Sovereign Lord,” they said, “you made the heavens and the earth and the sea, and everything in them. 25 You spoke by the Holy Spirit through the mouth of your servant, our father David: “‘Why do the nations rage and the peoples plot in vain? 26 The kings of the earth rise up and the rulers band together against the Lord and against his anointed one. 27 Indeed Herod and Pontius Pilate met together with the Gentiles and the people of Israel in this city to conspire against your holy servant Jesus, whom you anointed. 28 They did what your power and will had decided beforehand should happen.  29 Now, Lord, consider their threats and enable your servants to speak your word with great boldness. 30 Stretch out your hand to heal and perform signs and wonders through the name of your holy servant Jesus.” 31 After they prayed, the place where they were meeting was shaken. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke the word of God boldly.

Prayer What is really important to you? What is troubling you? Tell someone about it. What does the Bible say about this sort of thing? What do I hear God saying to me? What is my desire?

Our Gathered worship has ended, our Worship & Service continue From Amen to Action May you know the blessing of bringing your problems to God of hearing God speaking through the Bible of being satisfied with the love of God May you know the blessing of your Heavenly Father of your Saviour Jesus of the Holy Spirit living in you Today and every day, for ever. Amen? Amen Our Gathered worship has ended, our Worship & Service continue