Sermon notes from Sunday morning 14 August 2016
Acts 12 verses 1 - 11
As we turn to Acts I want us to consider
these verses, think here of the church upon its knees, not in defeat but in
victory. The whole realm and effectiveness
of prayer today. The weapon of prayer
lying dormant in the hands of the Christian.
James said "the effective fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth
much." (James 5 verse 16) It is not
a secondary weapon, something we need to have and need to use day and
daily. Paul to Timothy said "I
exhort (I encourage you, challenge you) therefore that first of all supplications,
prayers and intercessions and giving of thanks be made for all men." (1
Timothy 2 verse 1) That is what the
church did here in Acts 12. Not only
does prayer bear much fruit but is pleasing to God. "for this is good and acceptable in the
sight of God our Saviour." (1 Timothy 2 verse 3) Verse 5 "Peter therefore was kept in
prison but prayer was made without ceasing unto God for him." This was prayer in the light of an impossible
problem. Is there something in your life
that somehow you feel you cannot get around?
The church here had a problem like that.
They didn`t stand outside the palace with placards saying `release
Peter`, nor did they take a petition to ask for Peter to be released, nor did
thy get a solicitor or lawyer to get him out.
God had given them a weapon to use at their disposal. Have you used that weapon today? That God might bind every evil spiirt, that
we might see his goods spoiled today, to see souls saved.
Here was prayer in the light of an impossible problem.
Herod was the grandson of Herod the Great. There were many evil traits in this man. In verse 3 we read that he sought to please
the Jews. He was very deceitful. He wanted to please the Jewish nation. He shed the blood of James - verse 2. Why does God not answer prayer we ask? Surely the church needed a man like James yet
God allowed him to be put to death.
Why? We don`t know God`s
plans. Herod pledged to do the same with
Peter. He was making war with the
church. The only thing that stopped him
killing Peter was the fact that it was the Feast of Unleavened bread. He thought it would be a great offence if he
did it now. He would wait until after
Easter. Everything seemed lost but the
church got down to prayer. All is not
lost if we have one in heaven who is open to our thoughts and prayers. This was an impossible problem humanly
speaking but all was not lost when you bring it to the Lord in prayer. The confidence he gives us as children of God
as come seeking him today. Mark 10 verse
27 "with men it is impossible but not with God for with God all things are
possible." A young man came to the
Lord to be saved and he went away sorrowful.
The disciples saw that and they asked "well then who can be saved?" That is the problem today in many homes. Children are not saved, parents are at the
end of their days and there seems to be no hope. Problems that we think unfathomable we know
it is possible with the God of heaven.
Here was prayer in the light of interceeding practice.
A man came to Jesus one time possessed with an evil spirit. The disciples could do nothing for him. The Lord cast the spirit out of the man. The disciples asked why they could not do
this. Jesus replied "this kind
cometh not out but by prayer and fasting." (Matthew 17 verse 21) It is being serious about prayer. These people in Acts 12 were serious about
prayer. They had got to be serious with
God to see results. Maybe it is time we
got serious in prayer. Maybe it is time
we rediscovered this great weapon. This
church prayed without ceasing. They were
determined until they saw something happening.
Here`s a people and they were ready not just to pray for themselves but
for others. Do we take that responsibility
of praying for others seriously this morning?
Not just our own problems and difficulties but praying for others in the
street. They had to give up everything
to pray. Something had to go. Are we prepared to pray? Remember the disciples asked the Lord
"teach us to pray". Paul said
he prayed day and night for other people.
Abraham persisted in prayer until he saw answers. These people persisted until they saw God
answer prayer.
Here is prayer in the light of a intervening power.
James talked about Elijah who was persistent in prayer for rain. Here in this prayer meeting when Peter was
released from prison he went to that home where the prayer meeting was being
held. They wouldn`t even believe it was
him. These were ordinary every day
people praying for Peter. In verse 4 we
read that 16 soldiers guarded Peter. In
verse 6 we read that Peter was bound with 2 chains. In verse 10 Peter came to an iron gate. What protection and security! God stepped in and he left the guards and
chains, then went through the iron gate.
Unless God steps in nothing will happen.
Abraham prayed and God led Lot out of Sodom. Will God step in and do the same to those who
are sleeping just like Peter was in the prison?
Will we be praying serious about our mission? Will God break the chains, open the door for
people to come to know him?
Sermon notes from Sunday 21 August 2016
Colossians 4 verses 1 - 9
Last week we were noticing the great weapon
the Lord has given to us as a church to use - prayer. I am very interested in the news reports and
the effects of violence coming back from various countries around the
world. They speak of a small cell that
was working. That is the outlook the
church should have - a small cell that is working, we need to be a small cell working
for the Lord to reach out to men and women in our community. Paul says in verses 1 and 2 "continue in
prayer and watch in the same with thanksgiving. Withal praying also for us,
that God would open unto us a door of utterance, to speak the mystery of
Christ, for which I am also in bonds."
It must be God who opens the door of utterance for us. He was telling this people to pray to that
end, that others might be reached with the gospel. How important prayer is. If that is so then our declaration of intent
should be "go ye into all the world."
That is what Jesus instructed us to do.
The preparation
that is required for prayer. If you look
at verse 1 it seems to have nothing to do with the coming message -
"Masters, give unto your servants that which is just and equal; knowing
that ye also have a Master in heaven."
Some of the commentators and Greek language students would tell us this
verse is completion of the section that went before. I find it here to make perfect sense to be
included at this point. Paul is saying
there are things that need to be set in order in the church first. We should never lose sight of this. He is asking them to pray for God to open a
door for them to speak. Sometimes we have
never prayed for that door to be opened for us.
Remember Lydia in the prayer meeting.
God opened a door for the word of God to be brought to those people that
day and in particular for Lydia to receive the word of God too. Like the Bereans who studied the scriptures
to see whether what Paul was teaching was really true, we need God to open
doors for us. The only way he will do
that for us is when we come before him in prayer. That is the importance of prayer. Not depending on anything else. Not on the ability of the preacher, those who
come to testify or singers to bring the presence of God to the meeting. Depending on the God of heaven to supply us
with his presence and his grace in the meeting.
We need God to do that for us. We
learn here of something important in verse 1.
The relationships and the people of God before we go into the gospel
mission. Paul could see something that
was happening. Paul is speaking to those
rich and well off. To the slaves in
their houses. They had very little rights
in most cases and were not treated well at all.
Paul said there should be honesty in all things. Ephesians 6 verse 9 tells us the role of
masters and their role to their servants and similarly servants to
masters. In verses 5 - 8 the apostle
Paul is setting the scene. In verse 1 of
Colossians 4 Paul is emphasizing again that there should be harmony amongst the
believers as the children of God. Before
we ask our Lord we must live in harmony with one another, doing things honestly
and jealously and right before God. We
notice in chapter 3 of Colossians 3 verse 3 relationships are brought into
it. In verse 5 we are told to be careful
and in verse 9 "lie not one to another seeing that ye have put off the old
man with his deeds." There has to
be something evident from the new life in Christ. In verses 12 and 13 we are told what to put
on. Paul is getting at divisions,
quarrels and then he comes to chapter 4 verse 2 "continue in prayer." These have to be all sorted then we can get
into the place of prayer. Chapter 3
verse 18 talks of the relationship of wives to husbands, then in verse 19 husbands
to wives, verse 20 children to parents, verse 21 fathers to children, verse 22
servants to masters. Speaking here to
relationships in the church. He wants to
get the social aspect right then we have confidence when we come into place of
prayer.
The persistence
in prayer. Prayer is something we
need the patience for. One of the
principles in coming is to have our prayers answered. James tells us we must ask in faith. Jairus came to the Lord. His daughter was lying sick. He knew the Lord could do something for her
no other doctor could do. He brought the
Lord with him. Just as he was about to
open the door of his home something happened.
One of the servants came out, looked into his eyes and brought the worst
message ever. "She is dead trouble
the master no more." The Lord took
Jairus by the hand and said "only believe". Can you imagine that man Jairus receiving
those words "she is dead" then hearing the Lord telling him against
all the evidence before him "only believe." As we come into the mission and look into the
family circle and see those that are not saved, is the Lord saying "only
believe". Do not give up. We must believe. “But without faith it is impossible to please
him; or he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a
rewarder o them that diligently seek him.” (Hebrews 11 verse 6) Praying for the right reasons, for the right
things with all our hearts. John said
"whatsoever ye shall ask in my name that will I do." That my faith may be glorified. This is the same as someone wanting you to
have so much money and I have given the authority to go and claim that
money. Whenever you go into the bank you
produce a cheque and that cheque has given you authority in the donors name to
take out whatever money is in their name written on the cheque. Are we asking today - that God would be
glorified? Then we have that assurance
God gives us a promise. If you ask
anything in my name I will do it. There
is something missing. Doesn`t say when
he will answer it just whatever ye ask I will do it. That is left open as to when. We need to be persistent and wait. We have this promise if we ask he will do
it. Doesn`t say when because that needs
persistence. That can be seen in the
prodigal sons life. His father never
gave up on him. The father saw him afar
off. He never stopped looking for
him. He always went to that same place
every day looking for his son. That is
the same persistence we need today.
Jesus gave the story of a man knocking on his friends door and because
he kept knocking and was a nuisance to the man inside so he got up and gave him
what he wanted. God says I will give it
to you out of my love for you. Not
because of nuisance but only because you are my child. In Genesis 32 we read of Jacob going to face
his brother the next day. He hadn`t seen
him for many years. The last time Esau
threatened to kill him. He didn`t know
what to expect when he was going to meet his brother the next day. Before that he had a tremendous
experience. He wrestled all night with
God. Sometimes we go out into a
situation we don`t know what we are going to face, we are doubtful and afraid. Here was a man who left it with God. The battle was fought the night before. We need to persist. Jacob didn`t wrestle for 10 minutes but all
night. I wonder will we wrestle with God
in prayer for those who will hear the word of God in our families? W P Nicholson on one particular occasion was
staying with a family. On the morning
the woman of the house went up to tell him his breakfast was ready. There was no sound from the bedroom. Nicholson opened the door and walked down the
stairs to go down for his breakfast. The
sheets on the bed were tied up in a knot - he had been wrestling with God all
night.
The protection
of prayer - "Continue in prayer and watch." We as children of God have an enemy. The last place he wants to see us is on our
knees. He trembles when he sees
that. We need to watch and guard the
place of prayer. The enemy will seek to
disrupt every opportunity we set up. It
has to be protected diligently. "My
voice thou shall hear in the morning. In
the morning will I direct my voice to thee." David made that covenant with God early in
the morning. Before the day starts it is
time to pray. Psalm 55 hurt by an enemy
not someone he loathed or feared, it was someone he trusted, looked up to, respected. "Evening and morning and at noon will I
pray and cry aloud and he shall hear my voice." The important thing is not how many times we
are praying but rather not to let the devil disrupt our time of prayer. Wrestle, continue in prayer.
Sermon notes from Sunday morning 28 August 2016
Luke 11 verses 1 - 13
God has given to every one of us a great
weapon which is sadly placed in the closet in many churches today. We want to take it out again. It is the weapon of prayer. One of the disciples heard the Lord praying
and knew there was something that was not in his life. He didn`t pray like the Lord. He waited until the Lord stopped praying then
he said to him "will you teach us to pray?" Paul as he wrote to the churches saved by the
gracious Lord was instructing and inviting people to pray. Jesus went out into the mountain to get alongside
his father and prayed. Romans 8 verse 26
"we know not how to pray." If ever
there was a day for men and women to pray it is the day in which we are
living. If ever there was a day for
using this great weapon it is the day in which we are living in. When we call a prayer meeitng today it is
just a handful of people meet together.
It is the weapon that makes up the armour of God. It is only complete piece by piece. Paul told us of the various parts of the armour. A girdle of truth, there should be
truthfulness about our life and how we live.
There is the breastplate of righteousness, the boots to be worn, the
shield of faith and the helmet of salvation.
Paul told us to put these on all to stand against the devil. He said to take the sword of God to bind
everything together. Ephesians 6 verse
18 "praying always". In Colossians
4 verses 2 and 3 we see the preparation, patience and persistence in
prayer. There is also the protection in
prayer. The devil will try and distract
us from our praying. It may be something
that is legitimate, something that is taking your mind away from the very issue
you are praying about. That is why we
need to protect ourselves that when we get into prayer we do not begin to
stray. Here today is something else very
important - continue in prayer. In the
same way we need thanksgiving.
We need praise in our prayers. Paul
says in your prayers and pleadings do not forget praise. Sometimes we get into the habit of praying
for our needs but we should remember to praise God for what he has done. In Colossians 1 verses 12 and 13 we are
reminded of what we have in Christ. In
Ephesians 2 they were told to consider what they were in in a bygone day. They were not always Christians. Ephesians 2 verse 2 that is what you were,
you followed “the course of this world”, led by “the prince of the air”, you
went along with his plot for your life.
Where was that course leading you?
The narrow road leads to heaven and home, the broad way leads to
hell. Like the Ephesian believers we
were going to a Christless hell. Consider
what we have now in Christ, if we are saved today we are on our way to heaven and
home. Whenever we stop to pause we can see
what the God of heaven brought me from. In Luke 16 we read of a man who lifted
up his voice to the God of heaven. He
asked for Lazarus to come and dip his finger in water and touch his tongue
because he was in torment. We have preachers
today who don`t want to preach about hell any more they want to keep their
congregations coming back for more. They
don`t want to think of that man in torment. However if you are not saved today
that is exactly where you are going. If
you were to give up your sinful life and trust the Lord today you would be
saved for time and eternity. If that doesn`t
bring you praise in prayer nothing will.
He took me from the dung hill, saved my precious soul and I will spend
one day in all eternity. Are you saved
today by God`s grace? Paul says to give thanks
because God has saved us from this precious world to an inheritance preserved
for us in heaven. Colossians 3 verse 17
"giving thanks to God and the Father by him." Romans 8 verse 28 Paul says "be careful
for nothing but in everything by prayers and thanksgiving make your requests
known unto God." 10 lepers came to
Jesus to be healed one day, only one turned back to give thanks to God and God
asked where the other 9 where.
Paul goes on to speak of a priority in prayer. Verse 3 "with all praising also for us." Imagine here for a moment thinking of Paul
the preacher, theologian, wrote many of the letters in the New Testament to
churches scattered in Asia. He asks them
to pray for him. The great priority he laid
up in prayer. It was no secondary class
to Paul, it was his greatest priority, that is why he valued people to pray for
him. There was nothing greater they
could do for him than that they could pray for him. Nothing more valuable you could do for the
man or woman of God who brings the word of God week in and week out. There is a need for finance yes but we will
never know the value of prayer until we reach heaven`s shore one day. Paul lays great emphasis on prayer. You might give great gifts and that is OK but
take time to pray for me. Whenever Mary
ruled Scotland she did with an iron fist.
She met a man called John Knox who wanted to introduce the reformation
teachings to Scotland. God had touched
him and raised him, he wanted to turn the tide of idolatrous worship in
Scotland. It was said of John Knox that
he prayed daily "give me Scotland or I die". Such was his love for the gospel. By the time he did die Scotland had embraced
the reformation doctrines. Some of the
earliest missionaries to America came from Scotland. During that reformation period I am sure the
devil hated the prayer meeting, hated the sight of those gathered to pray for
the gospel service. Mary said "I
fear the prayers of John Knox more than all the armies of England." What could she do against this man on his
knees, she had no answer for that. In 2
Kings 19 Assyria marched on Jerusalem.
Hezekiah knew the priority of prayer.
He sent for Isaiah to pray for the nation. We are living in a day of trouble for our nation. We need the weapon of prayer. Dust it down and get back into usage
again. At the dedication of the temple
Solomon began to pray to God of heaven "Lord if this people sin, if the
enemy comes against us, if the windows of heaven are closed, if they get
together in this house and pray will you hear our prayers?" God answered that prayer. God said to Solomon "if my people which
are called by my name shall humble themselves and turn then will I hear from
heaven and heal their land". Are
you prepared to do that today? To rise
up, to take God at his word, to come to the throne of grace, to cry out to the
God of heaven? To say to God "you
have given us a promise - will you fulfil it Lord?" Hezekiah knew the best thing he could do was
to pray.
There is a purpose in prayer. "That
God would open unto us a door of utterance." You need a purpose to pray. Praying, asking for a door for us to be opened
to proclaim God`s teachings. The key was
prayer in God`s people. When God opens the
door no man can shut it and when he shuts a door there is no man that can open
it. When we shoot an arrow we look for
where it hits. When you see a ship set
of you look for its return. When we sow
a seed we look for a harvest. When we
pray we should be looking for answers.
We need a purpose in prayer. Is
that what we have? In Acts 12 the church
prayed for Peter and the power of God came down. An angel came right down to where Peter was and
delivered him. The people got before God
of heaven and they prayed for Peter`s release.
They didn`t believe it would happen but that is what they prayed
for. In Acts 4 the people prayed that
God would help them, to strengthen and encourage them, that the word would go
forth with a mighty strength and purpose.
There is the passion in their prayers. That
the gospel goes forth with an utterance that man will hear, understand and
respond to the word of God. Pray God
will give us a burden for people`s souls today.
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