The Language Of Peace Acts 12

2 Peace Movements Good News! Acts 10:36 “This is the word which He sent to the sons of Israel: The Good News of peace through Jesus Christ (He is Lord of all)— 1 Thessalonians 5:3-4 While they are saying, "Peace and safety!" then destruction will come upon them suddenly like labor pains upon a woman with child, and they will not escape. But you, brethren, are not in darkness, that the day would overtake you like a thief;

3 Peace Movements Joyful! Acts 2:46-47a Day by day continuing with one mind in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, they were taking their meals together with gladness and sincerity of heart, praising God and having favor with all the people Woodstock

4 Peace Movements Victorious! Acts 2:46-47b And the Lord was adding to their number day by day those who were being saved. Acts 11:20-21 Some of the believers who went to Antioch began preaching to the Gentiles about the Lord Jesus. The power of the Lord was with them, and a large number of these Gentiles believed and turned to the Lord. Ephesians 2:14 For Christ himself has brought peace to us. He united Jews and Gentiles into one people when, in his own body on the cross, he broke down the wall of hostility that separated us.

5 When Peace Meets Violence…? Acts 12:1-2 Now about that time Herod the king laid hands on some who belonged to the church in order to mistreat them. And he had James the brother of John put to death with a sword. 75 Killed at a Church Giving away food to the poor & earthquake victims 14-yr Old Girl Set Up Charges dropped; witnesses were paid to lie. “Christians have often faced discrimination across the country. They often find it difficult to get access to education or better jobs and are known for having to contend with menial labor such as garbage collecting or street cleaning” (Fox News Web site, 9/26)

6 When Peace Meets Violence…? Acts 12:3-5 When he saw that it pleased the Jews, he proceeded to arrest Peter also. Now it was during the days of Unleavened Bread. When he had seized him, he put him in prison, delivering him to four squads of soldiers to guard him, intending after the Passover to bring him out before the people. So Peter was kept in the prison… 1 Peter 4:1 Therefore, since Christ has suffered in the flesh, arm yourselves also with the same purpose... 1 Peter 4:12 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.

7 The Language of Peace 1 Peter 3:9 Don’t repay evil for evil. Don’t retaliate with insults when people insult you. Instead, pay them back with a blessing. That is what God has called you to do, and he will bless you for it. 1 Peter 3:11 Turn away from evil and do good. Search for peace, and work to maintain it. Forgiveness ‘Father, forgive them…’ Prayer Talking to the God of Peace Luke 23:34 But Jesus was saying, "Father, forgive them; for they do not know what they are doing.” Acts 7:60 Then falling on his knees, Stephen cried out with a loud voice, "Lord, do not hold this sin against them!" Having said this, he fell asleep. “Those who live by the sword die by the sword” Philippians 4:5 Let your gentle spirit be known to all men. The Lord is near.

8 The Language of Peace Acts 12:5 …but prayer for him was being made fervently by the church to God. Forgiveness ‘Father, forgive them…’ Prayer Talking to the God of Peace Phil.4:6-7 Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. NOT Peace

9 The Language of Peace: Does it WORK?  Sometimes, it seems like it doesn’t work… “he had James the brother of John put to death with a sword…”  Prayer is not magic: Incantations to manipulate spirits.  God Is a PERSON With a WILL 2 Timothy 3:12 Indeed, all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will be persecuted. 1 John 5:14 And this is the confidence which we have before Him, that, if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us Acts 14:22 "Through many tribulations we must enter the kingdom of God."

10 The Language of Peace: Does it WORK?  Sometimes, it seems like it doesn’t work… “he had James the brother of John put to death with a sword…”  Prayer is not magic: Incantations to manipulate spirits.  God Is a PERSON With a WILL  Yet God Does Answer Prayer The night before Herod was to bring him to trial, Peter was sleeping between two soldiers, bound with two chains, and sentries stood guard at the entrance. Suddenly an angel of the Lord appeared and a light shone in the cell. He struck Peter on the side and woke him up. "Quick, get up!" he said, and the chains fell off Peter's wrists. Then the angel said to him, "Put on your clothes and sandals." And Peter did so. "Wrap your cloak around you and follow me," the angel told him. Peter followed him out of the prison, but he had no idea that what the angel was doing was really happening; he thought he was seeing a vision.

11 The Language of Peace: Does it WORK?  Sometimes, it seems like it doesn’t work… “he had James the brother of John put to death with a sword…”  Prayer is not magic: Incantations to manipulate spirits.  God Is a PERSON With a WILL  Yet God Does Answer Prayer They passed the first and second guards and came to the iron gate leading to the city. It opened for them by itself, and they went through it. When they had walked the length of one street, suddenly the angel left him. Then Peter came to himself and said, "Now I know without a doubt that the Lord sent his angel and rescued me from Herod's clutches and from everything the Jewish people were anticipating”

12 The Language of Peace: Does it WORK?  Sometimes, it seems like it doesn’t work… “he had James the brother of John put to death with a sword…”  Prayer is not magic: Incantations to manipulate spirits.  God Is a PERSON With a WILL  Yet God Does Answer Prayer When this had dawned on him, he went to the house of Mary the mother of John, also called Mark, where many people had gathered and were praying. Peter knocked at the outer entrance, and a servant girl named Rhoda came to answer the door. When she recognized Peter's voice, she was so overjoyed she ran back without opening it and exclaimed, "Peter is at the door!" "You're out of your mind," they told her. When she kept insisting that it was so, they said, "It must be his angel."

13 The Language of Peace: Does it WORK?  Sometimes, it seems like it doesn’t work… “he had James the brother of John put to death with a sword…”  Prayer is not magic: Incantations to manipulate spirits.  God Is a PERSON With a WILL  Yet God Does Answer Prayer But Peter kept on knocking, and when they opened the door and saw him, they were astonished. Peter motioned with his hand for them to be quiet and described how the Lord had brought him out of prison. "Tell James and the brothers about this," he said, and then he left for another place.

14 The Language of Peace: Does it WORK?  Sometimes, it seems like it doesn’t work… “he had James the brother of John put to death with a sword…”  Prayer is not magic: Incantations to manipulate spirits.  God Is a PERSON With a WILL  Yet God Does Answer Prayer The effective prayer of a righteous man can accomplish much. James 5:16

15 The Effective Language of Peace Is:  From “a Righteous Man…” 1. Trusting in God “But the righteous man shall live by faith." Rom. 1:17 James 5:17-18 Elijah was a man with a nature like ours, and he prayed earnestly that it would not rain, and it did not rain on the earth for three years and six months. Then he prayed again, and the sky poured rain and the earth produced its fruit. But he must ask in faith without any doubting, for the one who doubts is like the surf of the sea, driven and tossed by the wind. For that man ought not to expect that he will receive anything from the Lord, being a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways. James 1:5-8)

16 The Effective Language of Peace Is:  From “a Righteous Man…” 1. Trusting in God 2. On God’s Wavelength James 3:18 And the seed whose fruit is righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace. 1 John 5:14 …if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us

17 The Effective Language of Peace Is: Acts 12:5 …but prayer for him was being made fervently by the church to God.

18 The Effective Language of Peace Is: Acts 12:5 …but prayer for him was being made fervently by the church to God. "When you pray, don't babble on and on as people of other religions do. They think their prayers are answered only by repeating their words again and again. Matthew 6:7 (NLT)

19 The Effective Language of Peace Is: Acts 12:5 …but prayer for him was being made fervently by the church to God. "I also tell you this: If two of you agree down here on earth concerning anything you ask, my Father in heaven will do it for you. For where two or three gather together because they are mine, I am there among them." Matthew 18:19-20 Confess your sins to each other and prayfor each other so that you may be healed…. James 5:16

20 The Effective Language of Peace Is: Acts 12:17 But motioning to them with his hand to be silent, he described to them how the Lord had led him out of the prison. And he said, "Report these things to James and the brethren." Then he left and went to another place. Philippians 4:6 Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.

21 The Effective Language of Peace Is:  1 Peter 5:6-7 Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you at the proper time, casting all your anxiety on Him, because He cares for you.