Blessed Is She Who Believes: Pray, Listen and Believe\

Acts 12:1–24

“Your blessing is at the door. Your answer is at the door. Your miracle is at the door. Open the door and receive it!”

1. SOMEONE IS PRAYING WHILE YOU ARE IN PRISON

Acts 12 opens with a terrible situation.

Herod had stretched out his hand against the church.

James had been killed.

Now Peter was arrested and put in prison.

Peter was not in prison because he had done something wrong.

He was in prison because he was serving God.

Sometimes you can be doing the will of God and still find yourself in a difficult place.

You can be faithful and still face opposition.

You can pray and still find yourself in a prison.

2. WHAT KIND OF A THREAT ARE YOU TO THE ENEMY?

Herod did not put Peter in prison because Peter was insignificant.

He put him there because Peter was dangerous to the kingdom of darkness.

The enemy saw something in Peter.

Peter was carrying something.

Peter had a purpose.

Peter had a calling.

Peter had a future.

Peter himself may not have understood everything God was going to do through him.

But the enemy wanted to stop it.

So he put him in chains.

He surrounded him with guards.

He tried to make sure Peter could not make the next move.

But chains cannot cancel God's purpose!

Guards cannot stop God's plan!

A prison cannot imprison the Word of God!

Acts 12:7 says:

“Now behold, an angel of the Lord stood by him...”

Peter was sleeping between two soldiers.

He was bound with two chains.

Guards were watching the door.

From the natural perspective, there was no way out.

But suddenly...

The angel appeared

The enemy knew what was inside Peter.

What God has ordained for you cannot be cancelled by what the enemy has arranged against you.

A GREAT BLESSING — JESUS CHRIST

Main Scripture: John 3:16–21
Supporting Scriptures: John 3:36; Matthew 16:24

There are many blessings we can receive in life—family, health, opportunities, possessions, relationships, titles and achievements. But there is one blessing greater than all of them: Jesus Christ.

John 3:16 reveals the heart of the Gospel: God loved the world so much that He gave His only Son so that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life.

Jesus is not merely something God gave us. Jesus is God's greatest gift to humanity.

This gift is available to everyone—rich and poor, educated and uneducated, believer and unbeliever, regardless of culture, background or social position.

But receiving Jesus also means allowing Him to change the way we live.

Key Thought: We do not receive Jesus simply to add Him to our lives; we receive Him so that He can transform our lives.

INTRODUCTION

ONLY BELIEVE

Theme: Be Not Afraid, Only Believe

📖 Key Scripture: Mark 5:36

“Be not afraid, only believe.”

You should understand:

1. Why believing is essential to our relationship with God.
2. How unbelief can limit what God wants to do in our lives.
3. How to keep believing when circumstances tell us to be afraid.

📖 Hebrews 11:6

“But without faith it is impossible to please him…”

The sermon teaches that believing is a prerequisite for our relationship with God. Faith is central to salvation, spiritual rebirth, and our walk with Christ.

Jesus said:

📖 John 3:16

Whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.

📖 John 5:24

Whoever hears Christ's Word and believes has eternal life and has passed from death to life.

Faith therefore is not an optional extra in Christianity.

Faith is foundational.

We cannot separate our walk with God from believing Him.

Mark 10:46–52 (NKJV)

INTRODUCTION

Life has a way of placing people in situations that seem impossible to overcome.

Some people are battling sickness, financial hardship, broken relationships, disappointment, rejection, or spiritual struggles.

Many have prayed for years without seeing immediate results, and they are tempted to give up.

The story of Blind Bartimaeus teaches us that persistent faith moves the heart of God.

Bartimaeus refused to allow his condition, the opinions of people, or the obstacles around him to stop him from reaching Jesus.

Faith that refuses to give up is faith that continues to believe even when nothing seems to be changing.

It is faith that keeps praying, keeps trusting, keeps serving, and keeps calling upon the Lord until the breakthrough comes.

- Hebrews 11:6 NKJV [6] But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.

Mark 5:25-34

Human Beings & Human Kings – Part 9How Giants Fall

Theme: Understanding Who God Is and How Great His Name Is

Main Scripture: 📖 1 Samuel 17

Key Thought:
Giants do not fall because we are strong; they fall because our God is greater than every giant.

Introduction

When Goliath challenged Israel, he called them "the servants of Saul." He wanted them to forget that they belonged to the living God.

David saw the situation differently. He saw "the armies of the living God." David's confidence was not in his own ability but in the greatness of God.

The battles we win are often determined by how well we know the God we serve. When our understanding of God grows, our fear of giants becomes smaller.

Drawing Power From Your Personal Alter

Exodus 20:22-26

Human Beings & Human Kings  – Part 8: Hidden Character of Giant Slayers

(Greatness comes in doing right things right consistently)

Main Scripture:

📖 I Samuel 17:12-32 NKJV

Human Beings & Human Kings – Part 7

Loud Mouth Giant Lips vs. the All-Powerful God

Main Scripture: 📖 1 Samuel 17:1–50

Theme:

The enemy often tries to defeat us through intimidation before he ever attacks us physically. God’s voice is always greater than the loudest voice of fear.

Reflective Questions:

1. What is something that looked impossible at first, but you eventually overcame?

2. Have you ever allowed someone’s words to stop you from doing something you believed God wanted you to do?

Read the Scriptures

• 📖 1 Samuel 17:1–50

Supporting Scriptures:

• 📖 Numbers 13:30–33
• 📖 Joshua 14:6–15
• 📖 1 Timothy 4:12–16
• 📖 Psalm 127:3–5
• 📖 Ecclesiastes 12:1

Introduction

- Before Goliath ever threw a spear, he spoke.

- His greatest weapon was intimidation.

- Many of life’s battles are won or lost before they even begin because of the voices we choose to believe.

Fear says: “I can’t.”

Faith says: “God can.”

Today we want to learn how to silence the voice of fear by listening to the voice of God.

Jesus Connection

- David points us to Jesus.

- David defeated one giant.

- Jesus defeated our greatest enemies:

• Sin
• Satan
• Death
• Hell

- David fought for Israel.

- Jesus fought for all humanity.

- David risked his life.

- Jesus gave His life.

Because Jesus has already won the greatest victory, believers do not fight for victory—we fight from victory.

How does Jesus’ victory on the cross give you confidence to face today’s giants?

Personal Reflection

• What giant am I facing?
• What lies have I believed?
• Which promise from God’s Word will I choose to believe instead?
• What practical step of faith will I take this week?

The Transformed Life: Living by the Holy Spirit and Growing Through PrayerMain Scriptures

• Romans 8:9–10
• 2 Corinthians 5:17
• Galatians 5:22–23
• Philippians 1:6
• Zechariah 4:6
• 2 Chronicles 7:14–16
• James 5:16–18