Let us remember that nothing is a substitute for earnest prayer. Nothing can take its place. Today’s church does many important things, but we must make prayer a priority.

Main Points:

1. This is a remarkable story of God’s power and deliverance, but what stands out to me the most from this story is the commitment of the church to prayer. This miracle happened in the middle of the night. The church was not asleep because they knew the next day Peter would be put on trial. The church was having an all-night prayer meeting to ask God to protect Peter.

2. It was a desperate situation but I believe they remembered that Jesus told them to “ask and it will be given you.” The Greek word tells us that they were “straining in prayer”. It was not a casual prayer, “Lord, bless Peter tonight.” No, it was a desperate prayer, a fervent prayer, and an earnest prayer. They were seeking God. They were crying out to God for Peter’s deliverance. This is intercessory prayer.

3. When was the last time you gathered with other believers and prayed an earnest prayer? Let’s recommit ourselves to prayer. The God who hears will answer.

Today’s Scripture Verses:

Acts 12:5-10 - “So Peter was kept in prison, but the church was earnestly praying to God for him. 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. 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.”

James 5:16 - “The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much.”

Mark 11:17 - “My house shall be called a house of prayer.”

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What would the world be like if we viewed everyone as our neighbors? And, what if we truly loved our neighbors as we love ourselves?

Main Points:

1. Our relationship with God is inseparable from our relationships to the people in our lives. We can’t be in a love relationship with God and not act in love towards other people. This is what Jesus calls the greatest commandments: love God, and because you love God – you will love people.

2. Sometimes you may not feel like loving someone. You may not feel any sympathy or compassion. We demonstrate our love for God when we love others with our actions, regardless of our feelings. God will often provide the love we need to feel when we act before we feel. What would I do, if I did have appropriate? feelings toward them?

3. Let’s ask this important question: What kind of neighbor am I? Listen for the voice of the Holy Spirit and let God direct you to be a neighbor to someone in need.

Today’s Scripture Verses:

Matthew 22:37-39 - “Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.”

John 13:35 - “By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.”

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The God we serve is a gift-giver. He loves to give gifts to His children, but not just any gifts. He always gives good gifts. He will never give you a gift you don’t need and can’t use. In fact, he knows what we need better than we do.

Main Points:

1. In Several places in the New Testament, the Holy Spirit is called a gift. To be filled with the presence and power of God is an incredible gift.

2. I’ve seen people be hesitant and even afraid of the Holy Spirit. Let’s trust the character of our good Heavenly Father. He knows what we need and has wonderful gifts to give us, including the gift of the Holy Spirit.

3. The Spirit is given to empower believers to be a witness for Christ. The task of evangelism we are called to cannot be accomplished in our strength alone. We need a power greater than our own. We need the power of the Holy Spirit.

Today’s Scripture Verses:

James 1:17 - “Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows.”

Acts 2:38 - “Then Peter said to them, “Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.”

Acts 10:45 - “And those of the circumcision who believed were astonished, as many as came with Peter, because the gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured out on the Gentiles also.”

Joel 2:28-29 - “ I will pour out my Spirit on all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy, your old men will dream dreams, your young men will see visions. Even on my servants, both men and women, I will pour out my Spirit in those days.”

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Divine healing is a gift of God’s grace for all. Just as salvation comes to us by God’s grace, healing does as well. We do not deserve it and cannot earn it. In the NT people did not view healing as a right, but as an act of God’s grace. We are in no position to demand God to give us healing.

Main Points:

1. In the church today there is a lot of false teaching about healing. What the Bible teaches us is that healing occurs according to the will of God. There is no magic formula. God is concerned about our needs. We bring them to him. We pray. But God is the healer.

2. Admittedly, the sovereignty of God is difficult to understand. Why does He heal some and not heal others? I do not know. But this is not for me to figure out or question. My responsibility is to do what I have been instructed to do in Scripture.

3. Let’s remain confident in our belief that God has the power to heal the sick and that this blessing is offered to us.

Today’s Scripture Verses:

James 5:13-15 - “Is anyone among you in trouble? Let them pray. Is anyone happy? Let them sing songs of praise. Is anyone among you sick? Let them call the elders of the church to pray over them and anoint them with oil in the name of the Lord. And the prayer offered in faith will make the sick person well; the Lord will raise them up. If they have sinned, they will be forgiven.”

Isaiah 53:5 - “But He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities; The chastisement for our peace was upon Him, And by His stripes, we are healed.”

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Can I give you a word of encouragement? Your unsaved family members are on the mind of God. While He won’t force anyone to believe in Him, He is actively pursuing them through His Holy Spirit. In fact, scripture tells us this is the reason God has delayed the return of Christ.

Main Points:

1. First, let me encourage you to pray faithfully and consistently. Resist the temptation to give up. Don’t let the enemy convince you that your prayers don't matter or that God is not listening. He is listening, He cares, and prayer is powerful.

2. Second, pray that God will soften their hardened heart. Pray they will begin to have a spiritual hunger that would cause them to seek and search for God.

3. Believe God will save them. The enemy of our souls will try to convince you that your unsaved family members will never be saved. We resist this temptation. Our faith is in a God who can save anyone. He loves your family. He sent His son Jesus to the cross to die as a sacrifice for their sins. Let’s believe that all things are possible through Jesus.

Today’s Scripture Verses:

2 Peter 3:9 - God is “patient, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.”

Luke 19:10 - “For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost.”

1 Timothy 2:3-4 - “This is good, and pleases God our Savior, who wants all men to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth.”

2 Corinthians 4:4 - “In their case, the god of this age has blinded the minds of the unbelievers to keep them from seeing the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God.”

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Jealousy has been defined as “resenting God’s goodness in others’ lives and ignoring God’s goodness in my own life. Jealousy is an enemy of our hearts because it causes a lack of contentment and gratitude toward God.

Main Points:

1. Jealousy can lead us to become angry, bitter, and unforgiving. It can lead us to gossip, lie, or be malicious. Jealousy can lead us to steal, commit adultery, and even murder.

2. The cure for a heart struggling with jealousy is to resist the temptation to compare yourself with others.

3. Here is a great truth: “I already have more than I deserve.” So, why am I complaining and being jealous of others when God has given me more than I can ever possibly deserve?

Today’s Scripture Verses:

James 3:16 – “For where jealousy and selfish ambition exist, there is disorder and every evil thing.”

Proverbs 23:17 - “Do not let your heart envy sinners, but always be zealous for the fear of the Lord.”

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God invites us into this intimacy. He calls for us to be close to Him. This is what differentiates Christianity from any other religion in the world. God is not cold and distant. He welcomes closeness with himself. He calls and invites us to seek Him and pursue Him.

Main Points:

1. Can you hear His voice? In your loneliness, in your anxiety, in your frustration, and in your desperation, God is calling you to come to Him. I pray that you will respond like David and say, “Your face, LORD, I will seek.”

2. There are so many today who have lots of Bible knowledge. Maybe they were raised attending church. They know the Word of God and can quote many scriptures, but they are empty spiritually because they have no relationship with God.

3. God wants to be known. He makes himself available to us. He rewards our seeking with His presence. Your relationship with God can be rich and full. It can be powerful and inspiring; it just requires us to seek Him.

Today’s Scripture Verses:

Psalm 27:8 - “When you said, ‘Seek My face,’ My heart said to You, “Your face, LORD, I will seek.”

James 4:8 - “Draw near to God and He will draw near to you.”

Psalm 119:37 - “Turn my eyes away from worthless things.”

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As we read the Bible, it is very clear, Jesus is coming back. While many scoff and disbelieve, it doesn’t change the truth of what Jesus has said. We don’t know when He is coming, but we do know He is coming soon.

Main Points:

1. We live in a world today that scoffs at the idea of Jesus returning. Their cynicism fulfills the prophecy scripture gave concerning the end times.

2. I believe in the imminent return of Christ, meaning I believe Jesus could return at any time. Jesus could return today. He could return while you are listening to this episode.

3. Don’t give up hope. Don’t let go of your belief in the promise of Christ’s return. He said he would come back, and he will. When is Jesus coming back? He is coming back soon.

Today’s Scripture Verses:

Acts 1:10-11 tells the story. “They were looking intently up into the sky as he was going, when suddenly two men dressed in white stood beside them. “Men of Galilee,” they said, “why do you stand here looking into the sky? This same Jesus, who has been taken from you into heaven, will come back in the same way you have seen him go into heaven.”

Revelation 22:20-21 - “He who testifies to these things says, “Yes, I am coming soon.” “Amen, come, Lord Jesus.”

2 Peter 3:4 - “They will say, “Where is this ‘coming’ he promised? Ever since our ancestors died, everything goes on as it has since the beginning of creation.”

Matthew 24:44 - “So you also must be ready, because the Son of Man will come at an hour when you do not expect him.”

2 Peter 3:9 - "The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.”

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