Boys and girls, waah, great singing, thank you the worship team! Remember our singing is to give our Lord all the praising He deserves from our heart!
Remember what have we learned last Sunday? Oh yes, Teacher Rebecca taught us the church in Antioch grew rapidly. Well Pastor has a curiosity: Why the church grew so powerfully? Yes, it is because the Holy Spirit is so powerful who is working in front or behind the apostles. And the apostles were very very courageous! And the people in town call the believers “Christians.” What does Christian mean? It means little Christ – Christ’s followers.
Again when the churches were so prosperous, the persecution came! King Herod found it is pleasing the Jewish people when he persecuted the Christians. And so he arrested the church leader who is Peter. Oh, no Peter was put into jail! And Herod placed him under the guard of four squads of four soldiers each.
Pastor would like to ask Joyce to read Bible verses Acts 12:4-11 for us. Everyone listen carefully!
Then he imprisoned him, placing him under the guard of four squads of four soldiers each. Herod intended to bring Peter out for public trial after the Passover. 5 But while Peter was in prison, the church prayed very earnestly for him. 6 The night before Peter was to be placed on trial, he was asleep, fastened with two chains between two soldiers. Others stood guard at the prison gate. 7 Suddenly, there was a bright light in the cell, and an angel of the Lord stood before Peter. The angel struck him on the side to awaken him and said, “Quick! Get up!” And the chains fell off his wrists. 8 Then the angel told him, “Get dressed and put on your sandals.” And he did. “Now put on your coat and follow me,” the angel ordered. 9 So Peter left the cell, following the angel. But all the time he thought it was a vision. He didn’t realize it was actually happening. 10 They passed the first and second guard posts and came to the iron gate leading to the city, and this opened for them all by itself. So they passed through and started walking down the street, and then the angel suddenly left him. 11 Peter finally came to his senses. “It’s really true!” he said. “The Lord has sent his angel and saved me from Herod and from what the Jewish leaders had planned to do to me!”
4 Then he imprisoned him, placing him under the guard of four squads of four soldiers each. Herod intended to bring Peter out for public trial after the Passover. 5 But while Peter was in prison, the church prayed very earnestly for him. 6 The night before Peter was to be placed on trial, he was asleep, fastened with two chains between two soldiers. Others stood guard at the prison gate. 7 Suddenly, there was a bright light in the cell, and an angel of the Lord stood before Peter. The angel struck him on the side to awaken him and said, “Quick! Get up!” And the chains fell off his wrists. 8 Then the angel told him, “Get dressed and put on your sandals.” And he did. “Now put on your coat and follow me,” the angel ordered. 9 So Peter left the cell, following the angel. But all the time he thought it was a vision. He didn’t realize it was actually happening. 10 They passed the first and second guard posts and came to the iron gate leading to the city, and this opened for them all by itself. So they passed through and started walking down the street, and then the angel suddenly left him. 11 Peter finally came to his senses. “It’s really true!” he said. “The Lord has sent his angel and saved me from Herod and from what the Jewish leaders had planned to do to me!”
Waah, Peter was prisoned, and 16 soldiers (4 guards each in 4 squads) watched over him. The Christians didn’t have weapons, is there anyway they can rescue Peter? Well, tell pastor when peter was in jail, what were the believers doing? they know a very powerful way – pray, pray and pray! The believers gathered together and pray earnestly for Peter!
Was prayer working? Yes! God answered their prayers by sending an angle to rescue Peter and it was a miracle! Angel woke up Peter and released his chains on his hands and legs. It was so amazing that Peter and the angle went out through all the guards, and nobody found them! The big iron heavy gate was opened by itself, so that angle and Peter went out to the street freely, then angel disappeared. How do you think about Peter throughout the rescue? He thought he was in a dream, until they went out to the street, “oh! It is real! I am not in a dream!” Peter then went to the Mark’s mom, Mary’s house which the believers were gathering and praying. And when the believers saw Peter was alive and free, they were very excited and very encouraged knowing God did answer their prayer and they all gave praise to God!
From the story, what can we learn? Well, pastor have 4 points for you to learn:
- God listens prayers: Praying is powerful, especially when more believers pray together, it is even more powerful. During the time angel was rescuing Peter, what were the believers doing? – They gathered together and continued to pray and pray for Peter! So we see prayer is the key to make this miraculous recue come true! God listens to our prayer! Whenever you are in need, or helpless, don’t panic, Be faithful in praying, and you may even ask someone like Pastor or your Sunday school teacher or your parents to pray with you. Or you have good Christian friends, just like Daniel in the Old Testament always prayed together with his three friends.
- God is all-powerful: Nothing is impossible for God. God showed miraculous rescue to Peter, He can show any miracles to you, as well! Because He is an almighty God in the past, and today and in the future. So whenever you see a supernatural thing happened to you, don’t be surprised just give thanks and praise to God. God is the creator of the universe, surely He can do any miracles He likes, just it is all under His sovereignty, we can only pray with trust and obedience.
- God has plans on you: God had an amazing plan on Peter: Because God used Peter to be the Leader of the church in Jerusalem, God empowered him, protected him and guided and trained him. God has an amazing plan on you, as well. Do you like to be used by God willingly? Surrender to God completely, let God be your planner for your life.
- God watches over you: When difficulties come to you, you need to be aware of God’s providence in your life. God will never leave you attended unless you are determined to ask God to leave alone. Like Peter and his Christian company, Herod wanted to persecute them and put Peter into trial, however, God was watching over him and protecting him. God even revenged against Herod, the persecutor, and God sent worms to attack Herod and killed him.
So boys and girls, from today’s lesson remember these 4 points: 1. God listens prayers; 2. God shows miracles; 3. God has plans on you; and 4. God watches over you.
Let’s bow our head and pray: “Oh, our heavenly father, thank you for watching over your children in the early church. Even there were persecution, We know you are still in control and You listened to the believers’ prayers and watched over Peter and showed miraculous rescue on him. How powerful the prayers are, because you are the almighty God listening our prayer and you are able to answer our prayers in your providence. Oh Lord Jesus, help all our children and teachers fully trust in you and obey to you and we will pray and cry out to you for rescue when we are in danger or in any need. You are always listening our prayer! In Jesus’ name we pray, Amen!