1. Faithfulness Acts 12:1-19 (pew Bible p846-847) True or False I suffer because I need a lesson ____ ____ Prayers are answered according to my faith ____ ____ If I pray earnestly, God will answer my prayers ____ ____ My prayers are answered only if I expect it ____ ____ When 2 or 3 agree God will answer ____ ____ God’s grace is sufficient for anything I face ____ ____ My inner peace is dependent on my faith ____ ____ Faith is more powerful than faithfulness ____ ____ What I believe Will determine how I live!

2. Faithfulness Acts 12 AAAA story in faithfulness to what they believed JJJJames, brother to John, martyred for his faith PPPPeter is imprisoned—in line for martyrdom WWWWhat now?

3. Faithfulness Herod Agrippa believed:  I can do what I wish  I can gain favour by killing church leaders  I can securely hold Peter  I can control my destiny  I can control your destiny  I can choose life or death  I can, I can, I can, I can,…it’s all about me

4. Faithfulness The church believed: GGGGod is sovereign—over all GGGGod is the author and giver of life GGGGod answers prayer GGGGod’s will is more important than my will IIIIn God IIIIn angels IIIIn prayer And so they prayed earnestly around the clock

5. Faithfulness Peter believed:  What the church believed  In God’s protection—1 Peter 3:12 “The eyes of the Lord watch over those who do right, and his ears are open to their prayers. But the Lord turns his face against those who do evil.”  That Herod couldn’t kill him—John 21:18-19 “I tell you the truth, when you were young, you were able to do as you liked; you dressed yourself and went wherever you wanted to go. But when you are old, you will stretch out your hands, and others will dress you and take you where you don’t want to go.” Jesus said this to let him know by what kind of death he would glorify God. Then Jesus told him, “Follow me.”

6. Faithfulness Peter believed:  Rest is important—v 6  Visions are real—Acts 10 & 12:9  Obedience is necessary—v 8 & 9  That his story was important enough to share—v 17

7. Faithfulness So…  Herod planned  The Church prayed  And Peter paused

8. Faithfulness  Herod planned  Placed 4 sets of 4 guards  Held him until after the Passover  Going for public support  Killed the guards in Peter’s place  Set himself up to be worshiped He died the horrible death of being eaten alive!

9. Faithfulness TTTThe Church prayed EEEEarnestly, constantly, fervently FFFFor Peter AAAAs we would like to be prayed for if the situation were reversed—Hebrews 13:3 ““““Remember those in prison, as if you were there yourself. Remember also those being mistreated, as if you felt their pain in your own bodies.” FFFFor God’s grace to bear the suffering and to be a triumphant witness

10. Faithfulness TTTThe Church prayed FFFFor Peter TTTThat the Spirit will minister His word to him PPPProtection and wisdom AAAAnd for deliverance if it is within His will FFFFor boldness to preach—Acts 4:29 ““““And now, O Lord, hear their threats, and give us, your servants, great boldness in preaching your word.”

11. Faithfulness TTTThe Church prayed UUUUntil they got an answer TTTThe knock on the door—who could it be? TTTThe boldness—it could have been Herod’s men TTTThe disbelief—at best it was his angel—v 15 WWWWhich means that they believed in guardian angels TTTTheir prayers were still answered TTTThe excitement DDDDidn’t let him in, then DDDDidn’t let him talk

12. Faithfulness Peter Paused  Reflected on what he believed  That God was in charge  God knew what was best for His plans  That he had been promised old age & crucifixion  Trusted God to work out His will—Philippians 4:6-7 “Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus.”

13. Faithfulness Peter Paused  Psalm 4:8 “In peace I will lie down and sleep, for you alone, O Lord, will keep me safe.”  Isaiah 41:10 “Don’t be afraid, for I am with you. Don’t be discouraged, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you. I will hold you up with my victorious right hand.”  Remained faithful to his call  Rested in the upholding power of the churches prayers

14. Faithfulness Peter Paused  Responded in obedience to God’s commands  Needed to be struck to be awakened  Got up  Got dressed and tied his sandals  Would you have taken the time to be that obedient?  Followed the angel  Walked and didn’t run  Went to the family  Knocked and waited  Probably awakened the neighbours

15. Faithfulness Peter Paused  Told his story  Told them to repeat it to the others  Took his wife and went to wherever the Lord led him—1 Corinthians 9:5  Bowed out and gave way to Paul

16. Faithfulness True or False I suffer because I need a lesson ____ ____ Prayers are answered according to my faith ____ ____ If I pray earnestly, God will answer my prayers ____ ____ My prayers are answered only if I expect it ____ ____ When 2 or 3 agree God will answer ____ ____ God’s grace is sufficient for anything I face ____ ____ My inner peace is dependent on my faith ____ ____ Faith is more powerful than faithfulness ____ ____ What I believe Will determine how I live!

17. Faithfulness What do I believe? What do I believe when suffering comes? What is faithfulness? Does my life show that I am, “Living Jesus, Living Hope”, when suffering comes? What do I believe?