WEBVTT 00:00:00.800 --> 00:00:03.759 Hey, welcome to the New North Church podcast. 00:00:03.919 --> 00:00:06.160 It's great to have you listening in with us. 00:00:06.320 --> 00:00:12.720 Our vision at our church is to be an authentic community of Jesus followers who love and serve people. 00:00:12.800 --> 00:00:16.960 So if we can help you in any way at all, just reach out to us. 00:00:17.199 --> 00:00:21.199 The email address is hello at newnorth.church. 00:00:21.359 --> 00:00:24.719 With that, let's go right to this week's message. 00:00:25.760 --> 00:00:27.679 Good morning, New North Church. 00:00:28.079 --> 00:00:29.839 So great to be with you today. 00:00:30.000 --> 00:00:32.479 What a great testimony from Hubert. 00:00:32.640 --> 00:00:36.719 And we're going to uh hear a little bit more about that same theme this morning. 00:00:36.880 --> 00:00:45.280 But first, I just wanna say thank you to New North Church for your support of the Bay Area School of Ministry over the last five years. 00:00:45.439 --> 00:01:01.119 We actually have our five-year anniversary coming up in just about a month, and we're excited about that, and we're so excited to be able to hold classes here starting this fall, and just once again appreciate you all, appreciate the support that you've uh you've had for Bass. 00:01:01.359 --> 00:01:12.719 And we're having so much fun, and as was mentioned, God is expanding our ministry to different sites throughout the Bay Area, and our first new site is right here at New North Church. 00:01:13.680 --> 00:01:21.359 Well, this morning I uh want to talk to you about something called inflection points. 00:01:21.760 --> 00:01:23.280 Inflection points. 00:01:23.519 --> 00:01:39.120 So, like some of you like are probably into math, and so you know that an inflection point is a point on a graph where the line turns dramatically upward or dramatically downward. 00:01:39.840 --> 00:01:43.120 And uh I'm not talking about math this morning, of course. 00:01:43.200 --> 00:02:01.439 I'm talking about personal inflection points or points in time where a significant change takes place in your life that really alters the trajectory of your life, but not only your life, but the lives of future generations after you. 00:02:01.920 --> 00:02:09.039 So I think of Abraham and how he obeyed the call of God and left his home for the promised land. 00:02:09.199 --> 00:02:13.199 That was an inflection point in his life and generations to come. 00:02:13.360 --> 00:02:23.520 Or I think of Esther's for such a time as this moment when she interceded with the king on behalf of her people who were about to be exterminated. 00:02:23.680 --> 00:02:33.120 Or I think of Paul's encounter with Jesus on the Damascus Road that changed his life and future generations after him. 00:02:33.360 --> 00:02:40.159 These are moments of crisis, moments of testing, or moments of calling that redirect our future. 00:02:40.400 --> 00:02:47.520 I think God does some of his most significant work in our lives in these inflection points. 00:02:49.599 --> 00:03:06.800 But today I want to I want to look at a different kind of inflection point, not one that deals with a single person of influence, but one that involves an entire group of people doing something that almost seems routine. 00:03:07.360 --> 00:03:15.039 It happens behind closed doors when a group of ordinary believers are meeting together. 00:03:15.280 --> 00:03:18.080 It's a story that takes place in Acts chapter 12. 00:03:18.240 --> 00:03:20.240 If you have a Bible, you can turn there. 00:03:20.479 --> 00:03:31.520 And it's a crucial inflection point in the life of the early church that actually begins in a home where the church has gathered together to pray. 00:03:32.319 --> 00:03:44.479 And even then, this key moment of inflection in the life of the church is not experienced primarily by a prominent person like Abraham or Esther or Paul, but by a servant girl. 00:03:44.879 --> 00:03:46.560 We're gonna meet shortly. 00:03:46.960 --> 00:03:56.800 So while others are praying and not really expecting an answer, she's the first witness that something special has happened. 00:03:57.039 --> 00:04:17.040 In other words, this inflection point isn't just like the miracle out there, it's the movement of God among his people in here, in our prayers, in our persistence, in our meeting together, and even in the unexpected faith of someone no one would put at the center of this story. 00:04:17.279 --> 00:04:19.519 So, Acts chapter 12. 00:04:19.680 --> 00:04:24.639 In Acts chapter 12, the church is facing a massive crisis. 00:04:24.879 --> 00:04:28.240 So King Herod Agrippa is on the throne. 00:04:28.639 --> 00:04:34.560 He, by the way, was the nephew of Herod Antipas, the one who murdered John the Baptist. 00:04:34.879 --> 00:04:42.879 His grandfather was Herod the Great, who slaughtered the innocents around the time of Jesus' birth. 00:04:43.040 --> 00:04:48.560 But Agrippa, this Grippa, was very popular with the Jewish people. 00:04:48.800 --> 00:04:52.079 He was kind of like the consummate politician. 00:04:52.399 --> 00:04:56.639 And so he begins to strike out at followers of Jesus. 00:04:56.879 --> 00:05:02.160 So listen to what happened in Acts chapter 12, verses 1 through 4. 00:05:02.800 --> 00:05:10.800 It was about this time that King Herod arrested some who belonged to the church, intending to persecute them. 00:05:11.199 --> 00:05:17.360 He had James, the brother of John, put to death with the sword. 00:05:18.000 --> 00:05:24.319 When he saw this, met with the approval among the Jews, he proceeded to seize Peter also. 00:05:24.639 --> 00:05:27.519 This happened during the festival of unleavened bread. 00:05:27.680 --> 00:05:35.199 After arresting him, he put him in prison, handing him over to be guarded by four squads of four soldiers each. 00:05:35.439 --> 00:05:40.879 Herod intended to bring him out for public trial after the Passover. 00:05:41.120 --> 00:05:45.759 So notice the first thing that Herod does is he has James beheaded. 00:05:46.000 --> 00:05:50.879 Now, this was the James, not the Lord's half-brother, who we'll see a little bit later. 00:05:51.040 --> 00:05:54.959 This was the James who was one of the original twelve disciples. 00:05:55.199 --> 00:05:56.800 Remember, his brother was John. 00:05:56.959 --> 00:05:58.399 They were fishermen. 00:05:59.040 --> 00:06:05.360 Jesus predicted, by the way, that both James and John would eventually suffer martyrdom. 00:06:05.519 --> 00:06:08.959 And here we see that James is the first to go. 00:06:09.120 --> 00:06:14.480 Now, trust me, this was a massive blow for the church. 00:06:14.800 --> 00:06:20.560 You have to understand what an incredible sort of shock this would have been to the church. 00:06:20.720 --> 00:06:22.079 James is gone. 00:06:22.319 --> 00:06:28.959 James was one of the three who were part of that inner circle of Jesus with Peter and John as well. 00:06:29.199 --> 00:06:32.160 So this was a huge blow for the church. 00:06:32.319 --> 00:06:34.240 But Herod didn't stop there. 00:06:35.040 --> 00:06:36.720 He arrested Peter. 00:06:37.199 --> 00:06:42.560 And he would have had Peter killed right away, but it was the feast of unleavened bread. 00:06:42.720 --> 00:06:46.959 Public executions were not permitted on religious holidays. 00:06:47.279 --> 00:06:48.639 So Herod waited. 00:06:48.879 --> 00:06:57.600 He put Peter in prison and assigned four squads of soldiers to guard him, 16 men to guard him. 00:06:57.920 --> 00:07:03.839 A few of those men would have actually been chained to Peter while others guarded the door of the prison. 00:07:04.000 --> 00:07:07.600 So Herod's not taking any chances at all with Peter. 00:07:08.959 --> 00:07:14.959 Please understand what an incredible crisis this was for the early church. 00:07:15.279 --> 00:07:16.800 James is dead. 00:07:17.120 --> 00:07:18.480 Peter is in prison. 00:07:18.720 --> 00:07:20.319 He's next in line. 00:07:20.639 --> 00:07:23.199 And Herod is triumphing. 00:07:23.759 --> 00:07:26.240 This is how the chapter begins. 00:07:26.800 --> 00:07:29.279 This is what these believers faced. 00:07:29.680 --> 00:07:30.959 But consider this. 00:07:31.519 --> 00:07:35.439 At the end of the chapter, Herod is dead. 00:07:36.160 --> 00:07:37.680 Peter is free. 00:07:38.160 --> 00:07:41.120 And the word of God is triumphing. 00:07:41.680 --> 00:07:47.279 There is a complete inflection point between verse 4 and verse 24. 00:07:47.439 --> 00:07:53.519 And the question I want to ask to you this morning, for all of us this morning, is how did this happen? 00:07:53.839 --> 00:07:56.399 How did this inflection take place? 00:07:56.639 --> 00:08:00.160 I mean, did the church exert political pressure on Herod? 00:08:00.399 --> 00:08:05.199 Did they try to get one of their more wealthy, powerful members to run for office? 00:08:06.079 --> 00:08:07.279 What did they do? 00:08:07.920 --> 00:08:12.560 Well, the answer to that question comes in verse 5. 00:08:12.800 --> 00:08:13.920 It says this. 00:08:14.319 --> 00:08:23.360 So Peter was kept in prison, but the church was earnestly praying to God for him. 00:08:24.160 --> 00:08:25.839 I love those words. 00:08:26.160 --> 00:08:33.919 But the church, but the church was earnestly praying to God for him. 00:08:34.080 --> 00:08:37.759 The entire chapter hinges on those words. 00:08:38.000 --> 00:08:43.759 And I want you to see that here are two forces at war, each using their own weapons. 00:08:44.000 --> 00:08:47.600 First, there's Herod with the power of the sword. 00:08:48.480 --> 00:08:56.000 But then there's the church, stripped of all earthly power, doing the one thing they believed could make a difference. 00:08:56.879 --> 00:08:57.759 Pray. 00:08:58.879 --> 00:09:02.000 I think we can learn some things from how they prayed. 00:09:02.159 --> 00:09:04.559 I want you to notice they prayed specifically. 00:09:04.799 --> 00:09:07.039 It says they prayed for him. 00:09:07.440 --> 00:09:08.000 For who? 00:09:08.159 --> 00:09:09.440 Well, Peter, of course. 00:09:09.679 --> 00:09:13.279 They mobilized specifically to pray for Peter. 00:09:13.519 --> 00:09:17.600 We're not told what they prayed for, for Peter. 00:09:17.840 --> 00:09:24.159 I would imagine they would have the boldness to ask for his protection, for even his release. 00:09:24.399 --> 00:09:27.840 But I'm sure also in the back of their minds is James. 00:09:28.240 --> 00:09:31.519 Certainly they prayed for James as well. 00:09:32.799 --> 00:09:34.159 They prayed specifically. 00:09:34.320 --> 00:09:36.080 They also prayed continuously. 00:09:36.240 --> 00:09:40.240 Luke actually uses a verb tense indicating ongoing action. 00:09:40.480 --> 00:09:48.320 So as each day went by, bringing them closer to Peter's execution, they kept storming heaven for Peter. 00:09:48.480 --> 00:09:50.879 I believe they prayed day and night. 00:09:51.120 --> 00:09:54.159 There are times to keep on praying. 00:09:54.799 --> 00:09:57.600 Even when it seems like nothing is happening. 00:09:58.320 --> 00:10:00.480 Notice they also prayed earnestly. 00:10:00.639 --> 00:10:03.840 It says the church was praying earnestly for him. 00:10:04.399 --> 00:10:07.279 That word literally means to stretch out. 00:10:07.840 --> 00:10:15.039 In fact, there were times when the apostle Paul would use athletic language to describe prayer. 00:10:15.279 --> 00:10:17.440 Because prayer can be hard work. 00:10:17.600 --> 00:10:19.600 There are times you have to stretch out. 00:10:19.759 --> 00:10:27.200 In Colossians 4, Paul says Epaphras is always wrestling in prayer for the believers. 00:10:27.440 --> 00:10:29.360 You ever wrestled in prayer? 00:10:29.600 --> 00:10:31.759 That word means to agonize. 00:10:31.919 --> 00:10:34.159 It's the Greek word agonitsimi. 00:10:34.559 --> 00:10:36.399 We get our word agony from that. 00:10:36.639 --> 00:10:40.240 So they were agonizing in prayer for Peter. 00:10:40.879 --> 00:10:44.080 And then finally, very simply put, they prayed corporately. 00:10:44.240 --> 00:10:47.279 It says the church was doing this. 00:10:47.440 --> 00:10:56.399 Of course, it's important to pray individually at times, but it's also very important for the church to come together to pray. 00:10:57.600 --> 00:11:03.840 I think it's good for us to ask ourselves the question: do we still believe in the power of prayer? 00:11:04.240 --> 00:11:04.879 Do we? 00:11:05.279 --> 00:11:10.639 I heard a great story and just took place recently in October of 2025. 00:11:11.039 --> 00:11:18.799 Chinese authorities arrested a pastor named Ezra Jin Mingri from Beijing's Zion Church. 00:11:19.039 --> 00:11:24.000 Christians around the world mobilized to pray for his release. 00:11:24.240 --> 00:11:37.120 I don't know if you heard, but just about a month ago, after 266 days in detention, he was unexpectedly released and reunited with his family. 00:11:37.360 --> 00:11:40.720 He thanked those who prayed for him, and I love what he said. 00:11:40.879 --> 00:11:46.399 He said, Mine is a God of miracles, and he constantly surprises me. 00:11:46.799 --> 00:11:47.759 I love that. 00:11:48.320 --> 00:11:49.759 God answers prayer. 00:11:50.000 --> 00:11:53.519 Sometimes he surprises us in that. 00:11:54.000 --> 00:11:59.360 In fact, I want you to look and see what happened to Peter, starting in verse 6. 00:11:59.679 --> 00:12:02.559 The night before Herod was to bring him to trial. 00:12:02.799 --> 00:12:09.600 Peter was sleeping between two soldiers bound with two chains, and sentries stood guard at the entrance. 00:12:09.840 --> 00:12:14.000 Suddenly an angel of the Lord appeared, and a light shone in the cell. 00:12:14.159 --> 00:12:16.480 He struck Peter on the side and woke him up. 00:12:16.639 --> 00:12:20.559 Quick, get up, he said, and the chains fell off Peter's wrists. 00:12:20.720 --> 00:12:24.960 Then the angel said to him, Put on your clothes and sandals, and Peter did so. 00:12:25.200 --> 00:12:28.559 Wrap your cloak around you and follow me, the angel told him. 00:12:28.720 --> 00:12:34.639 Peter followed him out of the prison, but he had no idea what the angel was doing was really happening. 00:12:34.799 --> 00:12:36.480 He thought he was seeing a vision. 00:12:36.639 --> 00:12:40.639 They passed the first and second guards and came to the iron gate leading to the city. 00:12:40.879 --> 00:12:44.559 It opened for them by itself, and they went through it. 00:12:44.720 --> 00:12:49.279 When they had walked the length of one street, suddenly the angel left him. 00:12:49.519 --> 00:13:05.759 Then Peter came to himself and said, Now I know without a doubt that the Lord has sent his angel and rescued me from Herod's clutches and from everything the Jewish people were hoping would happen. 00:13:06.960 --> 00:13:11.919 Notice that God waited till the very last minute to act. 00:13:12.080 --> 00:13:15.120 It's the night before Peter is to be executed. 00:13:15.279 --> 00:13:17.440 He knows what has happened to James. 00:13:17.679 --> 00:13:20.399 He knows it's his turn. 00:13:20.960 --> 00:13:23.600 But did you see what Peter's doing? 00:13:24.159 --> 00:13:26.559 Peter's sleeping like a baby. 00:13:27.039 --> 00:13:30.000 I mean, you have to see a little bit of humor in that, right? 00:13:30.399 --> 00:13:33.279 Peter's chained up to a bunch of guards. 00:13:33.440 --> 00:13:38.240 He's lying on the cold, dirty floor of a prison cell. 00:13:38.559 --> 00:13:41.200 And he's sleeping like a baby. 00:13:41.519 --> 00:13:42.799 Can you believe that? 00:13:43.039 --> 00:13:48.080 I mean, Paul and Silas, remember, they sang in prison, at least they stayed awake. 00:13:48.320 --> 00:13:52.799 But Peter is so content, he cannot even keep his eyes open. 00:13:53.519 --> 00:13:55.600 You know that God can do that for you? 00:13:56.080 --> 00:13:57.039 He can do that for you. 00:13:57.200 --> 00:14:01.279 He can give you peace in the darkest hour of your life. 00:14:01.600 --> 00:14:05.039 Perhaps the greatest answer to prayer is right there. 00:14:05.279 --> 00:14:11.679 Peter is sleeping in the prison cell the night before his execution. 00:14:12.000 --> 00:14:19.279 But suddenly an angel shows up, a glorious light spreads through the prison, and he strikes Peter on the side. 00:14:19.360 --> 00:14:24.559 And by the way, Luke, you know, who was a doctor, uses a very strong word here. 00:14:24.720 --> 00:14:27.679 This was more than just a friendly little nudge, right? 00:14:27.840 --> 00:14:29.200 I mean, he struck him. 00:14:29.360 --> 00:14:34.159 And so Peter wakes up, and the angel's like, hey Peter, man, let's roll, buddy. 00:14:34.480 --> 00:14:36.720 He tells him to get dressed and to follow him. 00:14:36.960 --> 00:14:38.639 Peter throws on his clothes. 00:14:38.799 --> 00:14:40.960 He thinks he's having a dream. 00:14:41.600 --> 00:14:44.159 He passes by the first and second guard. 00:14:44.399 --> 00:14:46.960 We don't know if they're awake or asleep. 00:14:47.200 --> 00:14:48.559 Either way, it's a miracle. 00:14:48.639 --> 00:14:49.759 They don't see him. 00:14:50.080 --> 00:14:54.080 They come to this huge iron gate leading out of the prison. 00:14:54.240 --> 00:14:56.000 How are they going to get through that? 00:14:56.159 --> 00:15:01.279 All of a sudden, it swings open like your automatic garage door opener, right? 00:15:01.519 --> 00:15:04.960 Finally, they're out on the street and the angel vanishes. 00:15:06.159 --> 00:15:08.320 Peter's like, well, thanks a lot. 00:15:08.399 --> 00:15:09.600 What do I do now? 00:15:09.840 --> 00:15:10.159 Right? 00:15:10.480 --> 00:15:12.080 But he collects himself. 00:15:12.320 --> 00:15:15.519 He puts two and two together and he says, I get it. 00:15:15.840 --> 00:15:18.480 God just sent that angel to rescue me. 00:15:18.720 --> 00:15:20.080 Have you ever done that? 00:15:20.399 --> 00:15:30.320 Something happens in your life, something like kind of crazy, kind of amazing happens, and it's not till it's all over that you stand back and you say, I think God was in that. 00:15:30.639 --> 00:15:33.759 I think I just, I think that was a God thing, right? 00:15:34.799 --> 00:15:38.000 I think that's exactly what happened with Peter. 00:15:40.320 --> 00:15:43.840 By the way, God still does stuff like this. 00:15:44.240 --> 00:15:45.440 Do you believe that? 00:15:45.759 --> 00:15:47.679 He still does stuff like that. 00:15:48.000 --> 00:15:54.960 In fact, I wouldn't be a bit surprised if you and I have met angels in our lifetime. 00:15:55.120 --> 00:15:56.159 We just didn't know it. 00:15:56.480 --> 00:15:59.360 Peter didn't know it at first, right? 00:16:00.240 --> 00:16:05.200 God still does amazing, miraculous, crazy things, right? 00:16:07.519 --> 00:16:12.399 So Peter is left out on the street trying to figure out what to do next. 00:16:12.720 --> 00:16:14.320 He thinks of his friends. 00:16:14.639 --> 00:16:17.200 He knows they're probably concerned for him. 00:16:17.440 --> 00:16:19.759 He wants to tell them what God has done. 00:16:20.159 --> 00:16:21.360 But where are they? 00:16:21.600 --> 00:16:23.200 Look at verse 12. 00:16:23.679 --> 00:16:34.879 When this had dawned on him, he went to the house of Mary, the mother of John, also called Mark, where many people had gathered and were praying. 00:16:35.120 --> 00:16:45.039 So as Luke tells us here, uh this Mary is the mother of John Mark, and he would soon accompany Paul on his first missionary journey. 00:16:45.200 --> 00:16:48.080 We know that Mary was a woman of means. 00:16:48.320 --> 00:16:50.080 She had at least one servant. 00:16:50.240 --> 00:16:54.320 Her house was large, so the church found this a good place to meet. 00:16:54.720 --> 00:16:58.879 I think we all know the early church didn't have buildings like this to meet in. 00:16:58.960 --> 00:17:09.200 They met in homes, they met in living rooms, and Peter instinctively knew where a group of Christians could be found, and that was Mary's house. 00:17:09.359 --> 00:17:19.200 No doubt there were several homes around the city that believers were meeting in and praying for Peter, but Peter went to Mary's home. 00:17:19.519 --> 00:17:22.000 He knew he would find his friends there. 00:17:22.480 --> 00:17:26.480 And then again, Luke reminds us here in verse 12 what they were doing. 00:17:26.720 --> 00:17:28.160 They were praying. 00:17:29.119 --> 00:17:36.880 It's easy for us to forget that this is one of the primary things the church does. 00:17:37.039 --> 00:17:38.559 It prays, right? 00:17:38.880 --> 00:17:45.920 We can get so caught up in the trappings of church, buildings, programs, budgets. 00:17:46.240 --> 00:17:52.880 We lose sight of the simplicity of what the fellowship of God's people is to be all about. 00:17:53.039 --> 00:18:01.759 It's about people, people learning to relate to God, to love one another, to be salt and light in the community and to pray. 00:18:02.079 --> 00:18:12.480 In the early church, the way they did that was through groups of believers meeting in homes to worship and pray and hear God's word and bear one another's burdens. 00:18:13.119 --> 00:18:16.880 And of course, that night they had gathered together to pray for Peter. 00:18:17.119 --> 00:18:25.839 I think one of the sad commentaries on the church today is that if this happened to Peter today, he might not have any place to go. 00:18:26.559 --> 00:18:29.519 Unless it was Sunday morning or Wednesday night. 00:18:30.079 --> 00:18:34.799 And if he if he went there, would he find people praying? 00:18:36.000 --> 00:18:40.720 I'm not sure Peter was prepared for what would happen when he actually got to Mary's house, though. 00:18:40.880 --> 00:18:43.359 So let's read this, starting in verse 13. 00:18:44.640 --> 00:18:51.200 Peter knocked at the outer entrance, and a servant named Rhoda came to answer the door. 00:18:51.759 --> 00:19:01.839 When she recognized Peter's voice, she was so overjoyed, she ran back without opening it and exclaimed, Peter is at the door. 00:19:02.160 --> 00:19:04.079 You're out of your mind, they told her. 00:19:04.319 --> 00:19:09.440 When she kept insisting that it was so, they said, It must be his angel. 00:19:09.920 --> 00:19:11.839 But Peter kept on knocking. 00:19:12.000 --> 00:19:16.559 And when they appeared, and when they opened the door and saw him, they were astonished. 00:19:16.720 --> 00:19:22.079 Peter motioned with his hand for them to be quiet and described how the Lord had brought him out of prison. 00:19:22.319 --> 00:19:34.079 Tell James, that's the other James, James, the half-brother of Jesus, tell James and the other brothers and sisters about this, he said, and then he left for another place. 00:19:34.240 --> 00:19:38.319 So don't tell me that God does not have a sense of humor, right? 00:19:38.480 --> 00:19:40.559 I mean, this is almost like a sitcom. 00:19:41.039 --> 00:19:42.880 I hope you see how funny this is. 00:19:43.119 --> 00:19:44.960 Peter arrives at Mary's house. 00:19:45.200 --> 00:19:46.720 He starts knocking at the door. 00:19:46.880 --> 00:19:48.640 I mean, he's under a little bit of stress. 00:19:48.799 --> 00:19:50.480 He's been through a lot, right? 00:19:50.880 --> 00:19:54.480 This door didn't open for him like the other one did. 00:19:54.880 --> 00:19:57.839 The believers are inside, huddled together. 00:19:58.079 --> 00:20:04.160 A servant girl named Rhoda hears the knocking at the door and finally comes to the door. 00:20:05.039 --> 00:20:07.359 Back then, you didn't just open the door. 00:20:07.519 --> 00:20:13.200 No, you had the visitor at the door identify themselves before you open the door. 00:20:13.359 --> 00:20:17.440 So Peter says, Hey, Rhoda, it's me, Peter. 00:20:17.920 --> 00:20:19.119 Open the door. 00:20:19.359 --> 00:20:23.359 I can just hear Rita Rhoda shriek with joy. 00:20:23.599 --> 00:20:27.039 Peter! Peter says, Yeah, Rhoda, it's me, Peter. 00:20:27.200 --> 00:20:28.720 Now open the door. 00:20:29.039 --> 00:20:34.799 But she's so excited, instead of opening the door, she turns back, runs into the house to tell the others. 00:20:34.960 --> 00:20:37.039 Peter's left standing at the door. 00:20:37.359 --> 00:20:39.119 Rhoda, where'd you go? 00:20:39.920 --> 00:20:45.200 Meanwhile, Rhoda interrupts the prayer meeting and says, Guess who's outside? 00:20:45.519 --> 00:20:46.079 Peter. 00:20:46.240 --> 00:20:48.079 He's been set free by an angel. 00:20:48.319 --> 00:20:50.400 They think she's gone crazy. 00:20:50.799 --> 00:20:53.759 I mean, she's just a servant girl, after all. 00:20:54.000 --> 00:20:55.200 What does she know? 00:20:55.359 --> 00:20:57.279 They get into a big argument. 00:20:57.519 --> 00:21:02.880 In my imagination, I think they probably got into a big argument about the thought theology of angels. 00:21:03.119 --> 00:21:07.119 Meanwhile, Peter's outside, about ready to pound the door down. 00:21:08.640 --> 00:21:13.279 This is great because these people are just like you and me. 00:21:13.759 --> 00:21:18.240 Here they were praying for for days with all their heart for Peter. 00:21:18.400 --> 00:21:23.839 But when the answer to their prayers is knocking at the door, they refuse to believe it. 00:21:24.160 --> 00:21:26.000 I'm comforted by this. 00:21:26.240 --> 00:21:27.359 I hope you are. 00:21:27.519 --> 00:21:32.559 How often do I pray for something, but deep down I really don't expect God to answer? 00:21:32.720 --> 00:21:36.000 And when he does, I can hardly believe it. 00:21:36.240 --> 00:21:39.599 I remember years ago, I had this great experience. 00:21:39.759 --> 00:21:45.039 I was working at a young life camp in Colorado for the summer, and my mentor was a guy named Jay. 00:21:45.200 --> 00:21:51.519 And Jay had a little piece of property near the Young Life camp, and we had a day off, and he said, Come with me to the property, help me build this deck. 00:21:51.759 --> 00:21:56.640 So as we left, it was raining, and I'm thinking, man, this is not gonna go well. 00:21:56.720 --> 00:21:59.440 We can't really get any work done with it raining in Colorado. 00:22:00.079 --> 00:22:02.240 Rains a lot in the summer in Colorado, as you know. 00:22:02.400 --> 00:22:08.480 So we finally get to his property, and we got to his property, and it was really, really raining hard. 00:22:08.559 --> 00:22:11.279 And I thought, this is gonna be a wasted trip out here. 00:22:11.359 --> 00:22:12.880 We're not gonna get any work done. 00:22:13.039 --> 00:22:20.079 We had packed our lunches, and so we sat in the trunk, or in the truck, and decided to eat our lunches in the truck. 00:22:20.240 --> 00:22:25.519 And I'll never forget Jay, much older, more mature, wiser believer than me. 00:22:25.839 --> 00:22:27.039 He prayed. 00:22:27.440 --> 00:22:32.799 And he specifically prayed that the rain would stop. 00:22:33.920 --> 00:22:35.279 And I'm not kidding. 00:22:35.359 --> 00:22:42.960 He said amen, and before I could take a bite of my ham sandwich, the rain completely stopped and the skies cleared. 00:22:43.279 --> 00:22:45.680 I was absolutely shocked. 00:22:45.839 --> 00:22:48.720 I mean, when he prayed that prayer, I thought, yeah, right. 00:22:48.960 --> 00:22:51.759 I mean, what chance is there of that actually happening? 00:22:52.000 --> 00:22:53.119 But it happened. 00:22:53.279 --> 00:22:58.319 And he just looked at me as if to say, Well, what did you expect to happen, Mark? 00:22:59.359 --> 00:23:01.680 I've never forgotten that answer to prayer. 00:23:01.839 --> 00:23:09.200 I've never forgotten Jay's quiet confidence that God would respond to his very simple request. 00:23:09.440 --> 00:23:14.720 Isn't it true that sometimes we really don't expect God to answer our prayers? 00:23:14.960 --> 00:23:21.279 Sometimes the answer to our prayers is actually knocking at the door, but we're not listening. 00:23:21.519 --> 00:23:22.799 We're not looking. 00:23:23.039 --> 00:23:24.559 We pray, but we don't listen. 00:23:24.640 --> 00:23:33.200 We don't open the door, and yet it comforts me to know God still took their little mustard seed of faith and he used it to accomplish great things. 00:23:33.440 --> 00:23:34.960 He'll do the same for us. 00:23:35.359 --> 00:23:36.319 I was thinking about it. 00:23:36.400 --> 00:23:40.400 I'll bet there were some spiritual heavyweights that night at Mary's house. 00:23:40.720 --> 00:23:45.839 But it was a servant girl named Rhoda, who had all the faith. 00:23:46.480 --> 00:23:49.440 Don't ever say about anyone. 00:23:50.160 --> 00:23:52.400 She could never minister to me. 00:23:52.640 --> 00:23:54.559 Why should I listen to her? 00:23:54.799 --> 00:23:57.920 As soon as you do, you will eat your words. 00:23:58.160 --> 00:24:02.720 By the way, did you notice the text talks about Rhoda's joy? 00:24:03.279 --> 00:24:05.359 Everyone else had questions. 00:24:05.839 --> 00:24:07.119 She had joy. 00:24:07.359 --> 00:24:08.000 Why? 00:24:08.400 --> 00:24:09.680 Because she believed. 00:24:09.839 --> 00:24:10.559 That's why. 00:24:10.799 --> 00:24:21.759 In fact, in Romans 15, verse 13, Paul prays that the church, that's all of us, would be filled with all joy and peace in believing. 00:24:22.079 --> 00:24:25.680 See, joy and peace come from believing. 00:24:25.920 --> 00:24:28.319 And that's what Rhoda demonstrates for us. 00:24:28.480 --> 00:24:30.240 So finally they let Peter in. 00:24:30.400 --> 00:24:33.759 They're transfixed as he tells them the whole story. 00:24:34.000 --> 00:24:40.880 He reminds them to pass the news on to James, that would be the Lord's brother, half-brother, and the rest of the brethren. 00:24:41.039 --> 00:24:44.720 No doubt they were also meeting somewhere else, praying for Peter. 00:24:44.799 --> 00:24:45.920 And then he leaves. 00:24:46.079 --> 00:24:49.599 Maybe Peter felt the need just to kind of lay low for a while. 00:24:49.839 --> 00:24:55.920 And then the chapter ends with the death of Herod and a brief note about the progress of the gospel. 00:24:56.079 --> 00:24:58.079 Listen to this, starting in verse 21. 00:24:58.319 --> 00:25:05.920 On the appointed day, Herod, wearing his royal robe, sat on his throne and delivered a public address to the people. 00:25:06.160 --> 00:25:09.200 They shouted, This is the voice of God, not a man. 00:25:09.680 --> 00:25:20.640 Immediately, because Herod did not give praise to God, an angel of the Lord struck, yes, same word, struck him down. 00:25:20.880 --> 00:25:22.559 Remember how he struck Peter? 00:25:22.799 --> 00:25:24.559 Here he strikes Herod. 00:25:24.880 --> 00:25:28.480 First time he woke Peter up, second time he kills Herod. 00:25:28.799 --> 00:25:33.279 Struck him down, and he was eaten by worms and died. 00:25:33.440 --> 00:25:39.119 But the word of God continued to spread and to flourish. 00:25:39.440 --> 00:25:45.519 So the angel of the Lord who struck Peter on the side to wake him now strikes Herod down. 00:25:46.640 --> 00:25:52.079 I hope you see the inflection point in all of this for the early church. 00:25:52.240 --> 00:25:58.480 In spite of swords, kings, prisons, the word of God continues to grow. 00:25:58.640 --> 00:26:06.000 Remember at the start of the chapter, James is dead, Peter's in prison, and Herod is triumphing. 00:26:06.400 --> 00:26:13.359 Now, at the end of the chapter, Herod is dead, Peter is free, the Word of God is triumphing. 00:26:13.839 --> 00:26:16.160 This is an inflection point. 00:26:16.559 --> 00:26:20.720 The key to this inflection point was a praying church. 00:26:20.960 --> 00:26:24.079 And so I would just ask you: has anything changed? 00:26:24.559 --> 00:26:36.240 I want you to just step back for a moment, if you could, and uh and just take note of some things that will help us understand, I think, sort of how God works. 00:26:36.480 --> 00:26:36.799 Okay? 00:26:37.519 --> 00:26:42.000 I want you to notice, first of all, the mystery of God's sovereignty. 00:26:42.240 --> 00:26:44.000 The mystery of God's sovereignty. 00:26:44.240 --> 00:26:48.240 Herod has an earthly rule, but God rules over all. 00:26:48.720 --> 00:26:54.240 As our king, we affirm that God has the authority to do anything he pleases. 00:26:54.400 --> 00:26:58.160 And we delight in that because we know God rules with justice and love. 00:26:58.400 --> 00:27:02.079 He's not a petty tyrant, he's not a petty king like Herod. 00:27:02.240 --> 00:27:04.400 But notice the mystery of how he works. 00:27:04.559 --> 00:27:09.039 You can't read this story without being baffled by God's ways. 00:27:09.200 --> 00:27:15.680 Why did God permit James to be executed, but then deliver Peter? 00:27:16.240 --> 00:27:20.960 Why did he answer the prayers for Peter, but not for James? 00:27:21.200 --> 00:27:23.039 Some people have tried to explain it. 00:27:23.200 --> 00:27:25.759 Well, maybe Peter was more important than James. 00:27:25.920 --> 00:27:29.680 Or maybe the church didn't pray as hard for James as they did for Peter. 00:27:29.839 --> 00:27:32.799 I don't think either of those explanations are adequate. 00:27:33.039 --> 00:27:38.319 It's absolutely futile to try to figure out all that God does. 00:27:38.559 --> 00:27:42.960 Why does this person die of cancer and this person gets healed? 00:27:43.200 --> 00:27:47.519 Why does God remove this person so swiftly when we need him so? 00:27:48.079 --> 00:27:57.359 Let's be honest, Peter was eventually executed for his faith, as so many have been since. 00:27:58.720 --> 00:28:00.799 We can question God over all of this. 00:28:00.960 --> 00:28:04.240 It's kind of like we want to take God and put him on trial, right? 00:28:04.480 --> 00:28:07.039 But we can't always explain God's ways. 00:28:07.200 --> 00:28:10.960 In our prayer life, we have to trust God knows best. 00:28:11.119 --> 00:28:12.720 I love what Tim Keller said. 00:28:12.799 --> 00:28:14.400 Listen to this beautiful quote. 00:28:14.559 --> 00:28:23.039 He said, in prayer, God will either give us what we ask or give us what we would have asked if we knew everything he knew. 00:28:23.519 --> 00:28:24.960 Think about that one. 00:28:27.119 --> 00:28:28.720 He knows everything. 00:28:29.920 --> 00:28:31.119 You don't. 00:28:31.519 --> 00:28:35.920 At times, all we can do is submit to his infinite wisdom. 00:28:37.440 --> 00:28:42.319 But notice also here in this story, we see the certainty of God's triumph. 00:28:42.559 --> 00:28:44.079 The certainty of God's triumph. 00:28:44.160 --> 00:28:54.000 Though we may not be able to understand why he does what he does now, we do know in the end that his purpose will be fulfilled. 00:28:54.240 --> 00:28:59.519 It's like I don't know if you do this, but sometimes when I'm reading a novel, like, I'll cheat. 00:28:59.920 --> 00:29:00.720 You ever cheat? 00:29:00.880 --> 00:29:04.079 I'll read the last few pages to see how it ends. 00:29:04.319 --> 00:29:06.400 Well, God has allowed us to cheat. 00:29:06.720 --> 00:29:10.240 He's allowed us to read the last few pages of the story, hasn't he? 00:29:10.480 --> 00:29:12.400 We know how it all ends. 00:29:13.119 --> 00:29:16.160 But we don't understand all that God does now. 00:29:16.319 --> 00:29:19.680 Sometimes it makes no sense, but God has a purpose. 00:29:19.920 --> 00:29:21.039 God has a plan. 00:29:21.359 --> 00:29:25.599 Right now we're in the middle of the novel, so it's hard to see where it's all going. 00:29:25.920 --> 00:29:29.519 But in the end, God will accomplish his good purpose. 00:29:29.920 --> 00:29:34.480 He's not out of control, his hands are not tied, he's not powerless to save. 00:29:34.720 --> 00:29:37.519 Though James is dead, he can still deliver Peter. 00:29:37.759 --> 00:29:42.000 He can judge Herod, and he can cause the gospel to spread. 00:29:42.240 --> 00:29:49.599 Though life can never be understood in the here and now, in the process of living, we don't despair. 00:29:49.920 --> 00:29:57.039 Because we know the same power that delivered Peter from prison and judged Herod is at work in our lives today. 00:29:57.519 --> 00:30:00.079 One day he'll deliver all those who trust in him. 00:30:00.319 --> 00:30:03.119 That's the certainty of God's triumph. 00:30:03.359 --> 00:30:04.640 But here's the clincher. 00:30:04.960 --> 00:30:06.480 Here's the third thing. 00:30:06.799 --> 00:30:15.599 The mystery of God's sovereignty and the certainty of God's triumph mustn't keep the church from using its most powerful weapon. 00:30:15.839 --> 00:30:16.720 What is that? 00:30:17.519 --> 00:30:18.559