The Power and Priority of Prayer

THE ACTS:  POWER

“The Power and Priority of Prayer”

Acts 12:1-19

February 26, 2017

The People Pleaser

• Herod the Great – had babies killed trying to kill Jesus
• Herod Antipas – beheaded John the Baptist
• Herod Agrippa I – killed James & imprisoned Peter
• Herod Agrippa II – later in the book of Acts – Paul gives his defense too 

The Persecution Becomes Pointed

Apostles – James & Then Peter

Matthew 24:9; John 15:20; Timothy 3;12; Matthew 20:20-28

The Puzzling Problem & God’s Providence

Why is James killed but Peter spared?  

Acts 4:24-31; Romans 8:28

The Power Play Struggle 

Power of Herod versus the Power of God

Psalm 20:6-9; I Samuel 2:9; Jeremiah 29:11

The Passionate Prayers of the Church

The reason we don’t pray enough really isn’t because we are too busy, it’s because we are too confident and not desperate enough!

Luke 22;44; 1 Thessalonians 5:17; Matthew 18:19;  Mark 11:24; John 15:7; 1 John 3:22; James 5:16c

Peter Was at Peace & His Perspective

Peter’s Prior Prison Preparation & Jesus’ Promise

Psalm 4:8; Isaiah 26:3; 1 Peter 5:7; I Peter 3:12; John 21:18-19; Philippians 4:6-7

The Pathway for God’s Provision

He sends an angel – Acts 5:19; 8:26; 10:3,7; Psalm 34:7; Hebrews 1:14

• Get Up
• Get Dressed
• Get Out of Here
• Go On Your Way

The Picture They Didn’t Predict

Mark 9:24

The Praise for Answered Prayer

Philippians 1:3-5