Murder and a Miracle

Murder and A Miracle Part Two Praying Without Faith Acts 12.1-19 God is not obligated to explain why He does things differently with two of His followers. Peter, James and John were fishermen in business together when Jesus called them. Peter was arrested. His fate seemed to be the same as James. God can step in, even at the last minute. It looked like it was all over. It was going to be a double murder. He was being guarded by 16 soldiers, one fisherman, 16 soldiers The sentence of death was upon him. Paul, the Apostle wrote II Corinthians 1.19 Indeed, we felt we had received the sentence of death. But this happened that we might not rely on ourselves but on God, Who raises the dead. Jesus, Isaac, Peter His situation was helpless and hopeless. Maybe you feel yours is this morning. If so I pray you will receive hope today from the Word. I have been there a few times in my life. It has never helped me when people have asked, “What are you going to do?” I don’t know. Learn this lesson of life. God deals differently with people in the same set of circumstances. God works miracles when He wills. When we look at the circumstances whether good or bad, blessings or burdens, even deep heartbreaking ones we can lose our way in praying. Our focus needs to be on the LORD. Whether in giving thanks for the blessings or coming before Him with our petitions and interecessions, our eyes need to be fixed on Him. Fixing our eyes… Hebrews 12. 2 fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before Him He endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. What were the eyes of the Church at Jerusalem fixed on? Was it the LORD? Was it Stephen and James’ Death by stoning and the sword? Let’s be gracious here…but honest. Death profoundly changes life. Violent death traumatizes us. They were not believing that the LORD was going to deliver Peter. Even if they were praying it, which the LORD lets us wonder about. As God continues to do amazing things through this little church I stand is awe. Photos from Bangladesh Feeding, India Feeding, Kenya on Monday Morning Throughout Kenya and into Southeast Asia the LORD is working in amazing ways. The Church there is exploding with new believers. The LORD is adding daily to the church. They have no gimmicks, no special programs. All they have is God. Other churches in Tanzania and Malawi have connected with us this past week for prayer and encouragement. What about America? Our country and Israel have a different heritage. We were founded in prayer to God from the hearts of people longing to be free… Israel was released from Egypt due to those cries. God’s Hand has been upon this nation. "America is great because she is good. If America ceases to be good, America will cease to be great.” Our Judeo Christian Ethic I love reading about the beginnings of this nation of ours. The Sanctity of Life All men are created equal and endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights: Life, Liberty and the pursuit of happiness… Our country needs to rediscover its roots. God has blessed America America needs God’s help, desperately We pray today for discernment in distinguishing spirits. Money, sex and power is what tempts men of God. I think power is the most insidious. The Oval Office is the most powerful room on Earth. Many have fallen into its lure. Both Presidents and Ministers of the Gospel. Some, amazingly, have not allowed its power to overtake them, but they are few in number. Been reading about Saul and David. Saul trying to take David’s life. David ducking spears and not retaliating against Saul because he was God’s anointed, as was David. * Even When We Are Faithless, God is Faithful. He definitely desires faith from us. Hebrews 11. 6 And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to Him must believe that He exists and that He rewards those who earnestly seek Him. This makes sense. Believe in Him Believe that those who diligently seek Him will be rewarded. There is this verse in II Timothy 2.13 if we are faithless, He remains faithful, for He cannot disown Himself. The church’s lack of faith here shows that they didn’t believe even when God answered their prayers for Peter’s Release… or were they? Maybe they were praying that God would be with him as he went to Heaven. These could have been prayers of grief. Maybe they were praying for his loss ahead of time. Fervent, earnest prayer, continuous Maybe they were praying, “If you can…” like the man who brought his son to the Disciples in Mark 9.23 if you can? All things are possible to him who believes. Whatever they were praying they did not believe he was going to be released, and definitely not miraculously! There is a prayer offered in faith which makes the sick person well according to James 5. If there is a prayer offered in faith then it seems possible that there can be prayers offered without faith. Matthew 21.22 if you ask anything believing you will receive it, 22 If you believe, you will receive whatever you ask for in prayer.” Faith the size of a grain of mustard seed. Prayer for wife of well known pastor in the awakening. The prayer for dying grace. Then God healed her! God has Grace that even when the church misses the mark He calls it back. Look at Revelation 2-3, the letters or messages to the Seven Churches from the LORD. Jesus is offering hope. He is calling them to repent of their sins and shortcomings. He is being faithful when they are not. I believe He is calling many churches back to Acts 2:42-47, not gimmicks or tricks, but sincerity. One of the problems with gimmicks is if you win people to the church with them you have to keep using them and even more if you want to keep them, whereas if you let the LORD add to the church you just need to keep following Him. The Apostles Teaching, The Fellowship, the Breaking of Bread and Prayer. The call for the church to return to its first love… Just as you received Christ Jesus as LORD, continue to live in Him… Colossians 2.6 Herein is a mistake many make. They fail to pray. They need to pray: Search me, God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting. Psalm 139.23-24 David’s Prayer, A man after God’s Own Heart How do we pray with faith? Faith comes by hearing and hearing by the Word of God. Romans 10.17 Get into the Word and prayer. Otherwise you will eventually say, “Sending prayers to you.” Huh? Prayer is to God in Heaven. There is one mediator, Jesus Christ. * God Stirred the City of Jerusalem and His Own People. We want this or at least we say we do but look at the bigger picture here. Are we willing to be persecuted? The early church received a Baptism of Persecution Where persecution is the greatest the church is the strongest. It purifies the church. It strengthens the church. No one would dare join a church when there is persecution unless they are followers of Jesus Christ. There was no casual Christians. The early church embraced the suffering they received. We want to run or be delivered. God did for Peter. James got the better deal. He was home safe. The game of Trouble… get your pieces home! They are safe there. Are we willing to suffer? Jesus was. The LORD’s Supper