1 00:00:02,040 --> 00:00:03,279 Speaker 1: Hey, this is Stephen Ferdik. 2 00:00:03,320 --> 00:00:06,279 Speaker 2: I'm the pastor of Elevation Church and this is our podcast. 3 00:00:06,400 --> 00:00:08,800 Speaker 1: I wanted to thank you for joining us today. Hope 4 00:00:08,840 --> 00:00:11,160 Speaker 1: this inspires you. Hope it builds your faith. 5 00:00:11,240 --> 00:00:13,600 Speaker 2: Hope it gives your perspective to see God is moving. 6 00:00:13,400 --> 00:00:15,200 Speaker 1: In your life. Enjoy the message. 7 00:00:17,800 --> 00:00:20,599 Speaker 2: The message that I have to share with you comes 8 00:00:20,600 --> 00:00:24,640 Speaker 2: from Acts chapter twelve. And why I want to share 9 00:00:24,680 --> 00:00:28,160 Speaker 2: this passage today is because God told me to. How's 10 00:00:28,160 --> 00:00:31,760 Speaker 2: that no other logic, no other reason, but just I 11 00:00:31,760 --> 00:00:34,680 Speaker 2: found myself coming to this passage for our time together today, 12 00:00:35,479 --> 00:00:36,599 Speaker 2: and I. 13 00:00:36,560 --> 00:00:37,960 Speaker 1: Want you to give it your attention. 14 00:00:38,040 --> 00:00:42,280 Speaker 2: This story in the Bible may relate to the situation 15 00:00:42,400 --> 00:00:43,600 Speaker 2: in your life. 16 00:00:44,440 --> 00:00:45,800 Speaker 1: Acts chapter twelve, Verse one. 17 00:00:45,840 --> 00:00:48,559 Speaker 2: It was about this time the King Herod arrested some 18 00:00:48,640 --> 00:00:53,360 Speaker 2: who belonged to the church, intending to persecute them. He 19 00:00:53,400 --> 00:00:59,280 Speaker 2: intended to persecute them. And yet God's purpose will always 20 00:00:59,400 --> 00:01:04,240 Speaker 2: overrule human intention. And no matter what people do to you, 21 00:01:05,080 --> 00:01:08,560 Speaker 2: and no matter what people conspire against you, all of 22 00:01:08,600 --> 00:01:11,600 Speaker 2: it is working for the purpose of the God, who 23 00:01:11,640 --> 00:01:15,559 Speaker 2: is greater than any person. That's what it means to say. 24 00:01:15,680 --> 00:01:18,880 Speaker 2: If God is for me, who can be against me. 25 00:01:19,920 --> 00:01:22,480 Speaker 2: You can try to stand against me, but in the 26 00:01:22,600 --> 00:01:25,840 Speaker 2: end it will be God's purpose for me that will prevail. 27 00:01:26,120 --> 00:01:32,880 Speaker 2: How many believe that? How many believe that? Now y'all 28 00:01:32,880 --> 00:01:34,319 Speaker 2: got to calm down, because that was one. 29 00:01:34,280 --> 00:01:37,120 Speaker 1: Verse and it's a long chapter. I'm just so glad 30 00:01:37,120 --> 00:01:38,240 Speaker 1: to be back. I love the Bible. 31 00:01:38,480 --> 00:01:42,160 Speaker 2: It says that Herod intended to persecute them, and it 32 00:01:42,200 --> 00:01:45,119 Speaker 2: says in verse two he had James, the brother of John, 33 00:01:45,200 --> 00:01:48,200 Speaker 2: put to death with the sword. When he saw that 34 00:01:48,280 --> 00:01:51,800 Speaker 2: this pleased the Jews and gained him political clout, he 35 00:01:51,880 --> 00:01:53,000 Speaker 2: proceeded to seize Peter. 36 00:01:53,120 --> 00:01:53,440 Speaker 1: Also. 37 00:01:54,640 --> 00:01:57,280 Speaker 2: This happened during the feasts of Unloved Bread, and after 38 00:01:57,360 --> 00:02:00,440 Speaker 2: arresting him, he put him in prison, handing him over 39 00:02:00,600 --> 00:02:01,840 Speaker 2: to be guarded by four. 40 00:02:01,680 --> 00:02:04,040 Speaker 1: Squads of four soldiers. 41 00:02:04,760 --> 00:02:08,400 Speaker 2: Herod intended to bring him to public trial after the passover. 42 00:02:09,560 --> 00:02:15,520 Speaker 2: So verse five, Peter was kept in prison, but the 43 00:02:15,720 --> 00:02:21,840 Speaker 2: church was earnestly praying to God for him. And so 44 00:02:22,080 --> 00:02:27,160 Speaker 2: now we've got a showdown. It's Herod's prison versus the 45 00:02:27,240 --> 00:02:34,160 Speaker 2: church's prayers. It's a cage match between Herod's intention and 46 00:02:34,240 --> 00:02:39,120 Speaker 2: God's purpose. And it says that they were earnestly praying 47 00:02:39,480 --> 00:02:42,520 Speaker 2: to God. It doesn't mean that they were saying one 48 00:02:42,560 --> 00:02:47,120 Speaker 2: of those nice, quiet whisper prayers. It means that they 49 00:02:47,120 --> 00:02:50,760 Speaker 2: wouldn't stop. It means that even though it hurt, they prayed. 50 00:02:51,440 --> 00:02:54,680 Speaker 2: Even though they were disappointed, they prayed. Even though they 51 00:02:54,680 --> 00:02:56,680 Speaker 2: had no clue if it was working, they prayed. 52 00:02:57,400 --> 00:02:59,359 Speaker 1: It's the same word. 53 00:02:58,880 --> 00:03:01,560 Speaker 2: That describes prayer when Jesus knelt in the garden of 54 00:03:01,600 --> 00:03:04,200 Speaker 2: gethsemone and said, not what I will. 55 00:03:04,360 --> 00:03:07,160 Speaker 1: But what you will be done. They prayed like that. 56 00:03:08,240 --> 00:03:11,280 Speaker 2: It's the kind of prayer that Jesus described in Matthew 57 00:03:11,360 --> 00:03:15,000 Speaker 2: chapter seven, verse seven. He said, Ask and it will 58 00:03:15,040 --> 00:03:19,680 Speaker 2: be given to you. Seek and you will find. Knock 59 00:03:21,840 --> 00:03:24,720 Speaker 2: and the door will be open to you. That's my 60 00:03:24,840 --> 00:03:28,880 Speaker 2: topic for today. The title of this message is Knock knocked. 61 00:03:31,160 --> 00:03:33,760 Speaker 2: Look at your neighbors, say who's there. You may be seated. 62 00:03:35,600 --> 00:03:42,000 Speaker 2: You may be seated. One of the weird things about 63 00:03:42,080 --> 00:03:48,040 Speaker 2: living with other human beings in the same house is 64 00:03:48,080 --> 00:03:52,120 Speaker 2: the idiosyncrasies that you notice about them, whether you want 65 00:03:52,120 --> 00:03:52,520 Speaker 2: to or not. 66 00:03:53,920 --> 00:04:01,120 Speaker 1: Oh that sounded tender processor over here. 67 00:04:01,160 --> 00:04:06,600 Speaker 2: Watch out, yeah, because like my kids, I can tell 68 00:04:06,680 --> 00:04:09,560 Speaker 2: which one of them is knocking on the door. Just 69 00:04:09,600 --> 00:04:13,120 Speaker 2: by the way they knock, just by how they use 70 00:04:13,160 --> 00:04:16,120 Speaker 2: their knuckles. I know my kids by their knock. 71 00:04:16,240 --> 00:04:16,760 Speaker 1: In that weird. 72 00:04:16,760 --> 00:04:21,000 Speaker 2: As a parent, you you learn to identify which kid 73 00:04:21,360 --> 00:04:25,440 Speaker 2: because Abby has a very polite knock, very gentle knock. 74 00:04:25,960 --> 00:04:29,239 Speaker 1: It's very it's a very delicate knock. It's a beautiful knock. 75 00:04:29,600 --> 00:04:31,880 Speaker 2: It's a knock that says, if you have the time 76 00:04:32,080 --> 00:04:34,520 Speaker 2: to open the door, and this is the opportune time, 77 00:04:35,480 --> 00:04:37,200 Speaker 2: would be possible that you do. 78 00:04:37,279 --> 00:04:39,599 Speaker 1: So it's just a very gentle knock. It's a tender knock. 79 00:04:40,480 --> 00:04:43,760 Speaker 1: And then Elijah was totally different. 80 00:04:44,200 --> 00:04:47,720 Speaker 2: Now he's very chill, but when he was smaller, his 81 00:04:47,839 --> 00:04:54,039 Speaker 2: knock was undeniable, meaning he's not stopping until you open 82 00:04:54,080 --> 00:04:59,000 Speaker 2: the door. And even back then, he's actually really good 83 00:04:59,000 --> 00:05:01,799 Speaker 2: at making beat and he's making a lot of beats 84 00:05:01,800 --> 00:05:04,360 Speaker 2: these days. Do the dash on YouTube, by the way, 85 00:05:04,600 --> 00:05:07,560 Speaker 2: you owe me for that. 86 00:05:07,560 --> 00:05:09,640 Speaker 1: That's a big plug man. This is international. 87 00:05:10,240 --> 00:05:12,200 Speaker 2: But when you used to knock on the door, you 88 00:05:12,320 --> 00:05:13,960 Speaker 2: used to make beats on the door. That's when you 89 00:05:14,000 --> 00:05:16,200 Speaker 2: started making your beats just on the door, and they 90 00:05:16,520 --> 00:05:17,400 Speaker 2: were relentless. 91 00:05:17,600 --> 00:05:18,640 Speaker 1: I mean, he's not stopping. 92 00:05:18,720 --> 00:05:21,000 Speaker 2: It's like a trap beat on the door just to 93 00:05:21,000 --> 00:05:26,160 Speaker 2: get him to let you in. But then Graham, Graham 94 00:05:26,240 --> 00:05:30,600 Speaker 2: is the one who doesn't knock, and you don't even 95 00:05:30,600 --> 00:05:32,520 Speaker 2: know he was at the door until three weeks later 96 00:05:32,760 --> 00:05:34,160 Speaker 2: when he says something that. 97 00:05:34,120 --> 00:05:36,440 Speaker 1: He overheard in the conversation that he wasn't supposed to hear. 98 00:05:37,680 --> 00:05:41,040 Speaker 2: And you know, like, because you get to know somebody 99 00:05:41,240 --> 00:05:43,640 Speaker 2: when you're living with them, so you can tell who's 100 00:05:43,680 --> 00:05:47,920 Speaker 2: at the door just by how the knock sounds. Living 101 00:05:48,680 --> 00:05:54,360 Speaker 2: in relationship with God, you learn to discern when it's 102 00:05:54,440 --> 00:05:58,960 Speaker 2: him knocking. And if you don't, you'll open the door 103 00:05:59,440 --> 00:06:03,599 Speaker 2: to people who don't have the best intentions in mind, 104 00:06:04,400 --> 00:06:06,560 Speaker 2: and you'll open the door to the enemy who may 105 00:06:06,600 --> 00:06:10,960 Speaker 2: bring you what you want in your feelings that is 106 00:06:11,000 --> 00:06:14,560 Speaker 2: destructive to your faith. And if God lives in your heart, 107 00:06:14,560 --> 00:06:20,080 Speaker 2: over time, you'll learn to discern his knock. At first, 108 00:06:20,160 --> 00:06:24,479 Speaker 2: you think that God knocks with a sledgehammer, because that's 109 00:06:24,480 --> 00:06:28,000 Speaker 2: what church teaches you about God pretty early on, at 110 00:06:28,080 --> 00:06:31,039 Speaker 2: least in the Southeastern United States, if it's a fired 111 00:06:31,120 --> 00:06:34,239 Speaker 2: up church, they teach about God coming through the door. 112 00:06:34,640 --> 00:06:36,800 Speaker 1: You know, with a have you ever seen this kind 113 00:06:36,839 --> 00:06:39,840 Speaker 1: of God? That God? He is a battering ram and 114 00:06:40,080 --> 00:06:41,719 Speaker 1: people say things like, oh, I love. 115 00:06:41,600 --> 00:06:44,600 Speaker 2: That sermon today, pastor God was just kicking my butt 116 00:06:44,640 --> 00:06:45,520 Speaker 2: all over the place. 117 00:06:46,040 --> 00:06:48,919 Speaker 1: And yet you learn that when you really live with God, 118 00:06:51,200 --> 00:06:58,800 Speaker 1: his knock doesn't take much because you know his knock, knock, knock. 119 00:07:01,200 --> 00:07:05,040 Speaker 2: And you also learn that a lot of times what 120 00:07:05,080 --> 00:07:08,520 Speaker 2: you will initially think is the devil knocking on your 121 00:07:08,560 --> 00:07:13,440 Speaker 2: door to attack you is actually God knocking on your 122 00:07:13,480 --> 00:07:18,760 Speaker 2: door to develop you. And what knocks on the door 123 00:07:19,000 --> 00:07:24,440 Speaker 2: looking like trouble sometimes is training to teach you to 124 00:07:24,560 --> 00:07:29,440 Speaker 2: trust in God. And this takes time walking with God 125 00:07:29,640 --> 00:07:33,119 Speaker 2: to learn that sometimes even if you don't like what's 126 00:07:33,160 --> 00:07:35,280 Speaker 2: standing at the door when. 127 00:07:35,120 --> 00:07:38,440 Speaker 1: You hear the knock, that by the time God gets. 128 00:07:38,240 --> 00:07:42,520 Speaker 2: Done working in your situation, that even what the enemy 129 00:07:42,560 --> 00:07:46,680 Speaker 2: meant for evil, God will turn it for good. And 130 00:07:46,720 --> 00:07:49,120 Speaker 2: it enables you to live with a kind of faith 131 00:07:49,160 --> 00:07:52,440 Speaker 2: that is very peculiar to people who think that everything 132 00:07:52,480 --> 00:07:56,320 Speaker 2: that God brings into your life looks nice, because sometimes 133 00:07:56,360 --> 00:08:00,200 Speaker 2: when you pray for an opportunity, you'll be surprised to 134 00:08:00,240 --> 00:08:02,880 Speaker 2: open the door and find opposition instead. 135 00:08:03,480 --> 00:08:05,160 Speaker 1: Have you ever prayed for patience? 136 00:08:05,240 --> 00:08:12,800 Speaker 2: That's a dumb idea. I never pray for patience because 137 00:08:12,840 --> 00:08:14,960 Speaker 2: I know exactly what God is gonna send to the 138 00:08:15,000 --> 00:08:19,680 Speaker 2: door if I do trouble. God is going to send 139 00:08:19,760 --> 00:08:22,840 Speaker 2: something to get on my nerves so bad. God is 140 00:08:22,880 --> 00:08:25,000 Speaker 2: gonna send a bad driver in front of me on 141 00:08:25,080 --> 00:08:27,120 Speaker 2: Providence Road with an elevation sticker. 142 00:08:27,760 --> 00:08:29,480 Speaker 1: Y'all. The other day, I. 143 00:08:29,440 --> 00:08:32,240 Speaker 2: Was coming to church and I was singing in the car, 144 00:08:32,480 --> 00:08:34,120 Speaker 2: and I was singing, this is i' mna see a 145 00:08:34,200 --> 00:08:36,280 Speaker 2: victory or something like that, one of these good songs 146 00:08:36,280 --> 00:08:38,440 Speaker 2: that we sing around here. And the person in front 147 00:08:38,480 --> 00:08:40,960 Speaker 2: of me was such a bad driver. I lost all 148 00:08:41,000 --> 00:08:43,400 Speaker 2: of the Holy Spirit. I lost twelve percent of my 149 00:08:43,480 --> 00:08:45,880 Speaker 2: anointing per minute that I was behind this person. 150 00:08:46,320 --> 00:08:47,160 Speaker 1: And I was so mad. 151 00:08:47,200 --> 00:08:49,439 Speaker 2: I came right up on them, and then I passed them, 152 00:08:49,440 --> 00:08:51,680 Speaker 2: and I slowed down just to teach them a lesson. 153 00:08:51,960 --> 00:08:53,800 Speaker 2: And then they turned into the parking lot with me, 154 00:08:53,880 --> 00:08:55,839 Speaker 2: and they were coming to church and they were volunteered. 155 00:08:56,240 --> 00:09:00,360 Speaker 1: So I'm having to learn. 156 00:09:04,480 --> 00:09:06,800 Speaker 2: That you might not like the package that your prayer 157 00:09:06,880 --> 00:09:08,920 Speaker 2: request shows up in when it comes to your door, 158 00:09:09,040 --> 00:09:14,240 Speaker 2: knock knock, But no matter the delivery system, you can 159 00:09:14,280 --> 00:09:18,520 Speaker 2: trust that God is the one who is superintending. Now, 160 00:09:18,559 --> 00:09:20,040 Speaker 2: the early Church had to believe this in a way 161 00:09:20,040 --> 00:09:22,600 Speaker 2: that very few of us will ever have to lay 162 00:09:22,640 --> 00:09:25,960 Speaker 2: hold of it, because they were experiencing such a time 163 00:09:25,960 --> 00:09:29,360 Speaker 2: of persecution and a time where they had to trust 164 00:09:29,360 --> 00:09:30,600 Speaker 2: God for their very provision. 165 00:09:30,679 --> 00:09:32,800 Speaker 1: Especially in Jerusalem. There's a famine. 166 00:09:32,800 --> 00:09:36,439 Speaker 2: In chapter eleven, they're taking up offerings just so the 167 00:09:36,520 --> 00:09:39,439 Speaker 2: church can make it, and around about that time they're 168 00:09:39,480 --> 00:09:40,760 Speaker 2: getting the famine sorted out. 169 00:09:41,720 --> 00:09:43,880 Speaker 1: The writer here, Luke of Acts. 170 00:09:43,480 --> 00:09:46,679 Speaker 2: Says about that same time, he connects the events. He said, 171 00:09:47,440 --> 00:09:49,400 Speaker 2: while they're dealing with the famine on one hand, they 172 00:09:49,400 --> 00:09:51,040 Speaker 2: have to deal with the fight on the other hand. 173 00:09:51,320 --> 00:09:54,840 Speaker 2: And now Herod starts throwing their leaders in jail. Some 174 00:09:54,920 --> 00:09:57,080 Speaker 2: of the disciples, if they were thrown in jail, you 175 00:09:57,120 --> 00:10:00,320 Speaker 2: probably wouldn't miss them, because Bartholome, you really, you know, 176 00:10:00,800 --> 00:10:03,800 Speaker 2: I'm sure he's a good guy. But James is one 177 00:10:03,840 --> 00:10:07,120 Speaker 2: of the three. When Jesus got ready to go up 178 00:10:07,120 --> 00:10:10,200 Speaker 2: on the mountain and transfigure in front of them to 179 00:10:10,280 --> 00:10:14,360 Speaker 2: reveal his glory, James, John and Peter got to go 180 00:10:14,440 --> 00:10:15,000 Speaker 2: up and see it. 181 00:10:16,080 --> 00:10:18,120 Speaker 1: One of the sons of Zebedee, the sons of Thunder. 182 00:10:19,000 --> 00:10:21,559 Speaker 1: James was one of the guys. 183 00:10:22,240 --> 00:10:26,280 Speaker 2: And he's dead and now they got Peter too, and 184 00:10:26,400 --> 00:10:31,600 Speaker 2: remember Peter is their preacher, and so it's one thing 185 00:10:31,640 --> 00:10:36,200 Speaker 2: to lose James, it's painful, but to lose Peter threatens 186 00:10:36,240 --> 00:10:40,800 Speaker 2: the very purpose of God. And there's so much opportunity 187 00:10:40,840 --> 00:10:45,960 Speaker 2: because the Kingdom of God is spreading and advancing, and 188 00:10:46,000 --> 00:10:50,880 Speaker 2: there's so much opposition, and there's so much opportunity, and 189 00:10:50,920 --> 00:10:54,880 Speaker 2: there's so much opposition. Don't you know that when opportunity 190 00:10:54,920 --> 00:10:59,440 Speaker 2: comes to the door, opposition comes with it. Don't you 191 00:10:59,520 --> 00:11:05,000 Speaker 2: know that sometimes they are one and the same. This 192 00:11:05,080 --> 00:11:10,000 Speaker 2: is what I'm learning. I'm learning that a lot of times, 193 00:11:10,040 --> 00:11:13,240 Speaker 2: when I open the door and see something that I 194 00:11:13,240 --> 00:11:16,200 Speaker 2: would love to send away in my life, a challenge 195 00:11:16,280 --> 00:11:21,840 Speaker 2: that I wish didn't come, it is actually the opportunity 196 00:11:22,160 --> 00:11:26,640 Speaker 2: for God to teach me to trust him. Kind Of 197 00:11:26,679 --> 00:11:30,440 Speaker 2: hard to say amen to that, because usually you want 198 00:11:30,480 --> 00:11:32,480 Speaker 2: God to knock and come in with a flower bouquet. 199 00:11:34,440 --> 00:11:37,199 Speaker 2: It's kind of hard to know that it's God knocking 200 00:11:37,280 --> 00:11:40,520 Speaker 2: unless you walk with him a while, and then you 201 00:11:41,320 --> 00:11:45,280 Speaker 2: hear the knock the next time, and you know, whatever 202 00:11:46,040 --> 00:11:48,920 Speaker 2: is at the door, even if God didn't send it, 203 00:11:49,559 --> 00:11:55,920 Speaker 2: He's going to use it. And the church is praying 204 00:11:56,920 --> 00:12:01,800 Speaker 2: for Peter, but they're still broken hearted about James. Did 205 00:12:01,800 --> 00:12:03,839 Speaker 2: you notice that part in the passage where it said 206 00:12:03,880 --> 00:12:06,680 Speaker 2: that he had just killed James with the sword. 207 00:12:07,120 --> 00:12:10,319 Speaker 1: That means he cut his head off. That means that 208 00:12:10,640 --> 00:12:12,000 Speaker 1: he was coming after the head. 209 00:12:12,320 --> 00:12:16,920 Speaker 2: He was trying to stop the movement of Christianity because 210 00:12:16,920 --> 00:12:20,240 Speaker 2: he knew it would appease the Jews, and he knew 211 00:12:20,240 --> 00:12:23,640 Speaker 2: that in this great time of opportunity for the church, 212 00:12:23,720 --> 00:12:26,560 Speaker 2: it was a time of opportunity for him to advance 213 00:12:26,679 --> 00:12:32,440 Speaker 2: his human agenda. And so the church is praying. That 214 00:12:32,480 --> 00:12:36,240 Speaker 2: the church is knocking on the door of Heaven asking 215 00:12:36,240 --> 00:12:41,040 Speaker 2: God to do something in the situation, and Peter is 216 00:12:41,080 --> 00:12:44,360 Speaker 2: in prison while the church is praying. 217 00:12:45,360 --> 00:12:46,800 Speaker 1: Now, one interesting thing. 218 00:12:46,640 --> 00:12:48,240 Speaker 2: About this text, is it right if I teach the 219 00:12:48,240 --> 00:12:52,360 Speaker 2: Bible for a minute? Okay, because it's interesting to note 220 00:12:52,440 --> 00:12:56,360 Speaker 2: that Peter has no idea at this moment what the 221 00:12:56,400 --> 00:12:59,959 Speaker 2: people are doing, and the people have no idea how 222 00:13:00,080 --> 00:13:03,120 Speaker 2: Peter is doing. Sometimes you've got to pray by faith, 223 00:13:03,880 --> 00:13:06,600 Speaker 2: not even knowing if it's doing any good in your life. 224 00:13:08,160 --> 00:13:11,880 Speaker 2: And sometimes the proof that your prayers and faith are 225 00:13:11,960 --> 00:13:16,480 Speaker 2: working is that the opposition increases. Good God, help me 226 00:13:16,520 --> 00:13:19,600 Speaker 2: get this message to the back row because somebody has 227 00:13:19,640 --> 00:13:21,640 Speaker 2: been wondering, is God even still with me? 228 00:13:22,080 --> 00:13:24,400 Speaker 1: Is God using me? Is this even worth it? 229 00:13:24,600 --> 00:13:27,360 Speaker 2: But there's something about that that should let you know 230 00:13:27,720 --> 00:13:30,280 Speaker 2: that if the devil showed up in the first place, 231 00:13:30,760 --> 00:13:34,479 Speaker 2: there must be something important and he must be defending 232 00:13:34,520 --> 00:13:44,679 Speaker 2: his territory or else he wouldn't bother with you. So 233 00:13:44,720 --> 00:13:52,160 Speaker 2: Peter was in prison, but the church was praying, and 234 00:13:52,880 --> 00:13:54,160 Speaker 2: now would be a good time for us to check 235 00:13:54,160 --> 00:13:56,400 Speaker 2: on Peter, right because we got to see we know 236 00:13:56,400 --> 00:13:59,120 Speaker 2: what the church was doing. They gathered together for prayer meeting, 237 00:13:59,200 --> 00:14:01,200 Speaker 2: and they got in there and they started joining their 238 00:14:01,200 --> 00:14:05,720 Speaker 2: faith together. And Peter is in prison and he's just 239 00:14:05,880 --> 00:14:10,000 Speaker 2: hours away from his trial, and if it turns out 240 00:14:10,000 --> 00:14:12,079 Speaker 2: the same way that James has turned out, this will 241 00:14:12,120 --> 00:14:16,400 Speaker 2: be his last night on the planet. So it's that 242 00:14:16,480 --> 00:14:20,440 Speaker 2: kind of pressure. Let's see what he's doing. Let's check 243 00:14:20,440 --> 00:14:25,720 Speaker 2: in on a nannycam on Peter the Rock. Let's check 244 00:14:25,760 --> 00:14:30,440 Speaker 2: on Peter on the eve of his potential probable execution. 245 00:14:30,840 --> 00:14:31,280 Speaker 1: Verse six. 246 00:14:32,120 --> 00:14:34,880 Speaker 2: The night before Herod was to bring him to trial, 247 00:14:35,040 --> 00:14:42,520 Speaker 2: Peter was I need somebody to fix that in the back. 248 00:14:42,560 --> 00:14:46,360 Speaker 2: That can't be what the verses how Are you going 249 00:14:46,440 --> 00:14:52,680 Speaker 2: to sleep when your life is on the line? Y'all 250 00:14:52,680 --> 00:14:55,840 Speaker 2: need to fix that verse, because that's not That's not possible, 251 00:14:55,920 --> 00:14:59,680 Speaker 2: is it. The night before Herod was to bring him 252 00:14:59,680 --> 00:15:02,280 Speaker 2: to trial, Peter was what. 253 00:15:03,760 --> 00:15:14,760 Speaker 3: Pacing, praising, praying how can you sleep at a time 254 00:15:14,880 --> 00:15:15,160 Speaker 3: like this? 255 00:15:17,360 --> 00:15:20,480 Speaker 2: That really got me because I did not expect Peter 256 00:15:20,560 --> 00:15:22,880 Speaker 2: to be sleeping at this moment. 257 00:15:24,080 --> 00:15:26,320 Speaker 1: I there is let me tell you this right now, 258 00:15:26,320 --> 00:15:28,160 Speaker 1: and this is just a confession. There is not enough 259 00:15:28,240 --> 00:15:29,760 Speaker 1: lunesta in the pharmacy. 260 00:15:30,400 --> 00:15:34,400 Speaker 2: There is not enough ambient on earth that I could 261 00:15:34,440 --> 00:15:38,760 Speaker 2: sleep when I have to, especially after what happened to James, 262 00:15:39,720 --> 00:15:42,480 Speaker 2: especially knowing this might not turn out well. 263 00:15:42,800 --> 00:15:45,200 Speaker 1: We prayed for James, and look what happened to him, 264 00:15:45,400 --> 00:15:47,480 Speaker 1: And now they got me too. And Peter put it 265 00:15:47,520 --> 00:15:47,840 Speaker 1: back up. 266 00:15:47,840 --> 00:15:55,280 Speaker 2: There is sleeping between two soldiers. How about that? Have 267 00:15:55,400 --> 00:16:01,720 Speaker 2: you ever had to sleep in between? Come on, y'all, 268 00:16:01,800 --> 00:16:03,640 Speaker 2: I came back to preach. I didn't come back to 269 00:16:03,680 --> 00:16:08,760 Speaker 2: have coffee. Have you ever had to sleep between? I 270 00:16:08,800 --> 00:16:10,600 Speaker 2: don't know how this is gonna turn out, but I 271 00:16:10,640 --> 00:16:12,920 Speaker 2: got to sleep in between. 272 00:16:13,080 --> 00:16:15,240 Speaker 1: I gotta sleep. I don't really know if this. 273 00:16:15,240 --> 00:16:17,680 Speaker 2: Situation is gonna get better or what the doctor's gonna 274 00:16:17,680 --> 00:16:19,720 Speaker 2: say next time I go back. But I got to 275 00:16:19,800 --> 00:16:23,040 Speaker 2: sleep in between. I'm in a tight space and I 276 00:16:23,040 --> 00:16:24,840 Speaker 2: don't know if I'm gonna make it out, but I 277 00:16:24,880 --> 00:16:33,160 Speaker 2: got to sleep in between. Peter was sleeping in between. No, 278 00:16:33,280 --> 00:16:37,000 Speaker 2: he's come a long way, hasn't he. Remember when Jesus 279 00:16:37,080 --> 00:16:40,200 Speaker 2: was telling Peter, you gotta go to the cross, and 280 00:16:40,240 --> 00:16:43,920 Speaker 2: Peter's arguing with Jesus and he's trying to tell Jesus 281 00:16:44,120 --> 00:16:46,720 Speaker 2: you'll never go to the cross. He's trying to give 282 00:16:46,840 --> 00:16:50,080 Speaker 2: Jesus his plan for Jesus. He's trying to create the 283 00:16:50,120 --> 00:16:53,200 Speaker 2: itinerary for the son of God who created time and space. 284 00:16:53,480 --> 00:17:00,600 Speaker 2: And now he's sleeping. What did Peter know enabled him 285 00:17:00,640 --> 00:17:07,439 Speaker 2: to sleep between two soldiers? He was sleeping. Put it 286 00:17:07,480 --> 00:17:09,679 Speaker 2: back up. I'm not done with that verse. He was 287 00:17:09,800 --> 00:17:14,080 Speaker 2: sleeping in the greatest trial of his life. He was 288 00:17:14,119 --> 00:17:20,560 Speaker 2: sleeping between two soldiers bound with two chains. Some scholars 289 00:17:20,600 --> 00:17:23,000 Speaker 2: think that Lil Wayne could have been in the next cell. 290 00:17:24,760 --> 00:17:28,679 Speaker 2: A lot of people were there, and Sentry stood guard 291 00:17:28,760 --> 00:17:31,800 Speaker 2: at the entrance, and so he was sleeping. 292 00:17:31,920 --> 00:17:32,760 Speaker 1: What did he know. 293 00:17:34,840 --> 00:17:39,200 Speaker 2: That enabled him to sleep in between? 294 00:17:40,520 --> 00:17:41,040 Speaker 1: What did he. 295 00:17:43,160 --> 00:17:49,800 Speaker 2: Maybe suggestion he wasn't sleeping because of something he knew 296 00:17:49,920 --> 00:17:53,439 Speaker 2: with his senses. Maybe he was sleeping because of something 297 00:17:53,520 --> 00:18:01,600 Speaker 2: that he saw in his spirit. And maybe what he 298 00:18:01,760 --> 00:18:05,800 Speaker 2: saw in his spirit was a direct reflection of an 299 00:18:05,840 --> 00:18:11,919 Speaker 2: experience that he had with Jesus. Because remember in the 300 00:18:11,920 --> 00:18:16,399 Speaker 2: boat one night when they were going to the other side, 301 00:18:17,520 --> 00:18:21,280 Speaker 2: but then in between where they were and where they 302 00:18:21,280 --> 00:18:25,680 Speaker 2: were going, they hit a storm. Sometimes you set out 303 00:18:25,800 --> 00:18:29,720 Speaker 2: for the destination, but it's in between that your faith 304 00:18:30,080 --> 00:18:34,200 Speaker 2: has to kick in to believe God. And when all 305 00:18:34,280 --> 00:18:39,000 Speaker 2: the disciples were straining, the Bible says they were straining 306 00:18:39,359 --> 00:18:42,960 Speaker 2: at the ore. They were straining against the wind, they 307 00:18:43,000 --> 00:18:45,000 Speaker 2: were straining against the waves. 308 00:18:45,240 --> 00:18:46,240 Speaker 1: And while they were. 309 00:18:46,200 --> 00:18:50,040 Speaker 2: Straining, they went down to check out Jesus, and they 310 00:18:50,040 --> 00:18:53,720 Speaker 2: were surprised to find out that while they were straining, 311 00:18:54,359 --> 00:19:02,840 Speaker 2: Jesus was sleeping. So maybe when Peter found out, they 312 00:19:02,920 --> 00:19:06,960 Speaker 2: might kill me. He decided, there's only so much I 313 00:19:07,000 --> 00:19:09,879 Speaker 2: can do about this, and when I get to the 314 00:19:09,920 --> 00:19:14,080 Speaker 2: other side, I'm gonna need all my strength, So I'm 315 00:19:14,119 --> 00:19:16,120 Speaker 2: gonna sleep in between. 316 00:19:16,760 --> 00:19:18,639 Speaker 1: This is God's word for somebody. 317 00:19:19,040 --> 00:19:22,160 Speaker 2: God said, I can do more while you're sleeping than 318 00:19:22,200 --> 00:19:24,920 Speaker 2: you can while you're straining. And if you will get 319 00:19:25,000 --> 00:19:27,679 Speaker 2: out of the way and out of your flesh and 320 00:19:27,800 --> 00:19:37,280 Speaker 2: out of your anxiety, the disciple said, Jesus, don't you 321 00:19:37,480 --> 00:19:40,480 Speaker 2: care we're in this storm. Jesus said, this is how 322 00:19:40,520 --> 00:19:48,840 Speaker 2: I fight mine. 323 00:19:49,440 --> 00:19:51,800 Speaker 1: My friend Joseph Prince says, rip. 324 00:19:53,040 --> 00:20:02,800 Speaker 2: Rest is power, and so it's a beautiful picture that 325 00:20:02,880 --> 00:20:08,800 Speaker 2: he would sleep and trust God. When Herod comes knocking, 326 00:20:10,119 --> 00:20:16,320 Speaker 2: Peter's faith answers the doorknock coming to get you, Peter, 327 00:20:17,480 --> 00:20:24,200 Speaker 2: but he's learned something. He's learned that obedience always comes 328 00:20:24,320 --> 00:20:27,359 Speaker 2: before freedom. 329 00:20:28,200 --> 00:20:28,320 Speaker 1: Now. 330 00:20:28,359 --> 00:20:30,520 Speaker 2: I mentioned this because I see a lot of people 331 00:20:30,760 --> 00:20:36,760 Speaker 2: on Instagram. I haven't been on Instagram in two months, y'all. 332 00:20:36,760 --> 00:20:41,520 Speaker 2: And let me tell you, it's amazing. The birds are chirping, 333 00:20:42,000 --> 00:20:45,800 Speaker 2: the sun is beautiful. You'd be shocked how nice the 334 00:20:45,840 --> 00:20:48,359 Speaker 2: world looks when there's not a screen in front of 335 00:20:48,400 --> 00:20:51,240 Speaker 2: your face, a pretend universe. 336 00:20:51,920 --> 00:20:54,640 Speaker 1: Just a thought. I've had a great summer. 337 00:20:56,080 --> 00:20:59,359 Speaker 2: I got ten I detoxed from everybody's pretend life, and 338 00:20:59,400 --> 00:21:05,320 Speaker 2: I'm just happy about it. And then, and then, and 339 00:21:05,359 --> 00:21:09,119 Speaker 2: then Peter has to do something that's very difficult to 340 00:21:09,119 --> 00:21:12,920 Speaker 2: do because you know, we all, we all want opportunities 341 00:21:12,920 --> 00:21:16,199 Speaker 2: to come our way, and opportunities are weird because they 342 00:21:16,240 --> 00:21:19,600 Speaker 2: don't show up looking like opportunities. When they knock, they 343 00:21:19,640 --> 00:21:24,120 Speaker 2: just look like obedience. Everybody will say like I want 344 00:21:24,160 --> 00:21:26,399 Speaker 2: to kill my goliath. I want to take down my giant. 345 00:21:26,440 --> 00:21:28,440 Speaker 2: You know, in church we say stuff like that. I 346 00:21:28,520 --> 00:21:30,720 Speaker 2: probably don't say that if they don't go to church. 347 00:21:30,800 --> 00:21:35,480 Speaker 2: But you know, well, Goliath didn't come knocking on David's door. 348 00:21:36,760 --> 00:21:38,280 Speaker 1: Hey David, I'm Deliath. If you come me today, you 349 00:21:38,280 --> 00:21:40,199 Speaker 1: can become a king of Israel and have great status. 350 00:21:40,200 --> 00:21:41,000 Speaker 1: And well that's it. 351 00:21:42,200 --> 00:21:45,480 Speaker 2: David's dad came to his door, say get this bread 352 00:21:45,480 --> 00:21:48,679 Speaker 2: down to your brothers. Because when opportunity knocks, it just 353 00:21:48,680 --> 00:21:49,600 Speaker 2: looks like obedience. 354 00:21:50,480 --> 00:21:52,440 Speaker 1: That's all. It looks like. It doesn't look like something big, 355 00:21:52,440 --> 00:21:54,639 Speaker 1: It doesn't look like something extraordinary. Now, Peter's about to 356 00:21:54,680 --> 00:21:56,280 Speaker 1: get a big miracle, but I want you to notice 357 00:21:56,320 --> 00:21:58,040 Speaker 1: how he gets it, and most of us would not 358 00:21:58,080 --> 00:22:00,280 Speaker 1: have gotten it because spoiler alert, Peter's a about to 359 00:22:00,280 --> 00:22:01,600 Speaker 1: get out of jail. He's not going to die. He's 360 00:22:01,600 --> 00:22:02,359 Speaker 1: still got work to do. 361 00:22:04,640 --> 00:22:07,160 Speaker 2: Peter's not going to die in this moment because God 362 00:22:07,200 --> 00:22:11,160 Speaker 2: still has a purpose, because Peter is invincible until God's 363 00:22:11,200 --> 00:22:14,160 Speaker 2: purpose for him is completed. And so Peter's not going 364 00:22:14,160 --> 00:22:15,919 Speaker 2: to die in this but he doesn't know that yet. 365 00:22:16,280 --> 00:22:18,000 Speaker 1: As far as he knows, it's over. But he's sleeping. 366 00:22:18,760 --> 00:22:21,199 Speaker 2: And so while he's asleep, look at verse six and 367 00:22:21,280 --> 00:22:24,919 Speaker 2: how God interrupts his what do you call it? 368 00:22:25,000 --> 00:22:28,280 Speaker 1: Rim cycle? Because Peter's in a deep sleep. I'll show 369 00:22:28,280 --> 00:22:29,280 Speaker 1: you in a minutes in the text. 370 00:22:29,320 --> 00:22:31,040 Speaker 2: Bible is so fun to read. I want you to 371 00:22:31,080 --> 00:22:35,440 Speaker 2: read it between Sundays. It's real good. It's real good 372 00:22:35,520 --> 00:22:39,119 Speaker 2: without me here talking about it. It's real good. So 373 00:22:39,160 --> 00:22:45,880 Speaker 2: it says suddenly verse seven, just like in a deep sleep. Ah, Suddenly, 374 00:22:46,520 --> 00:22:49,919 Speaker 2: an angel of the Lord appeared. And he didn't not 375 00:22:50,640 --> 00:22:54,240 Speaker 2: he just came in and a light shone in the cell. 376 00:22:55,200 --> 00:22:58,199 Speaker 2: He struck Peter on the side and woke him up. 377 00:22:59,320 --> 00:23:03,679 Speaker 2: And and I guess Peter wasn't all the way awake 378 00:23:03,960 --> 00:23:08,879 Speaker 2: because the angel said, quick get up, and the chains 379 00:23:08,880 --> 00:23:12,399 Speaker 2: fell off Peter's wrists. Now, please leave that verse on 380 00:23:12,400 --> 00:23:15,280 Speaker 2: the screen, because I want to show you something. It said, 381 00:23:16,320 --> 00:23:19,560 Speaker 2: quick get up, and the chains fell off Peter's wrist. 382 00:23:20,800 --> 00:23:25,480 Speaker 2: Now the natural sequence would be the chains fell off 383 00:23:25,520 --> 00:23:28,120 Speaker 2: Peter's wrist, and so he got. 384 00:23:28,000 --> 00:23:30,080 Speaker 1: Up, But it doesn't say that. 385 00:23:30,920 --> 00:23:33,919 Speaker 2: It says that the angel told him get up, and 386 00:23:33,960 --> 00:23:36,760 Speaker 2: when he got up, the chains fell off his wrist. 387 00:23:37,800 --> 00:23:42,359 Speaker 1: You see it. So we think the chains. 388 00:23:42,119 --> 00:23:45,520 Speaker 2: Are gonna fall off and it's gonna get easier, and 389 00:23:45,600 --> 00:23:49,639 Speaker 2: we're gonna feel free, and then we can obey God. No, 390 00:23:50,200 --> 00:23:56,000 Speaker 2: you get up and then chains fall off, because obedience 391 00:23:56,080 --> 00:24:01,440 Speaker 2: comes before freedom to answer the door and knock even 392 00:24:01,480 --> 00:24:04,480 Speaker 2: if you're not sure it's God. You gotta be kind 393 00:24:04,480 --> 00:24:06,040 Speaker 2: to people, even if you don't know if they're gonna 394 00:24:06,040 --> 00:24:07,560 Speaker 2: do anything for you in return. 395 00:24:08,680 --> 00:24:09,920 Speaker 1: It so obedience that. 396 00:24:09,840 --> 00:24:12,800 Speaker 2: Creates freedom, freedom from what, freedom from needing to know 397 00:24:12,880 --> 00:24:18,679 Speaker 2: the outcome before you take the step. So if he 398 00:24:18,720 --> 00:24:21,399 Speaker 2: doesn't get up, the chain stay on. And if you 399 00:24:21,400 --> 00:24:23,440 Speaker 2: don't do what God has told you to do right now, 400 00:24:23,480 --> 00:24:25,320 Speaker 2: God can't do what he's going to do that you 401 00:24:25,359 --> 00:24:28,520 Speaker 2: don't know he's going to do. God already intended to 402 00:24:28,560 --> 00:24:30,960 Speaker 2: take his chains off. But if he waits till the 403 00:24:31,040 --> 00:24:32,120 Speaker 2: chains fall off. 404 00:24:31,920 --> 00:24:32,800 Speaker 1: To get up, he's. 405 00:24:32,600 --> 00:24:35,000 Speaker 2: Never gonna get up because the chains aren't gonna fall off. 406 00:24:35,800 --> 00:24:38,800 Speaker 2: When I get my financial situation in order, I'll tell 407 00:24:38,800 --> 00:24:41,600 Speaker 2: you I'm gonna put God first, because I've heard about 408 00:24:41,600 --> 00:24:44,040 Speaker 2: that and praising the Lord and putting him first with 409 00:24:44,080 --> 00:24:47,240 Speaker 2: the first fruits of my womb, and all the and 410 00:24:47,280 --> 00:24:49,720 Speaker 2: all the things that the Bible says, I'm gonna do it. No, 411 00:24:49,800 --> 00:24:51,960 Speaker 2: you're not not if you won't do it with the 412 00:24:52,040 --> 00:24:59,199 Speaker 2: little Because he who is faithful in a little. So's 413 00:24:59,200 --> 00:25:05,320 Speaker 2: that first step. It's getting up, Get up and the 414 00:25:05,440 --> 00:25:09,600 Speaker 2: change will fall off. Get up and you say, God, 415 00:25:09,680 --> 00:25:10,600 Speaker 2: take the chains. 416 00:25:10,359 --> 00:25:13,239 Speaker 1: Off, and I'll get up. No, get up, and the 417 00:25:13,320 --> 00:25:14,360 Speaker 1: change will fall up. 418 00:25:14,640 --> 00:25:17,560 Speaker 2: And I love this part because there is no indication 419 00:25:17,760 --> 00:25:20,240 Speaker 2: in this text that Peter had faith to be free 420 00:25:20,280 --> 00:25:25,040 Speaker 2: from prison. All he's doing is going through the motions. 421 00:25:26,800 --> 00:25:31,280 Speaker 2: And sometimes that's all you can do. Sometimes all you 422 00:25:31,320 --> 00:25:37,800 Speaker 2: can do is come to church and fake, I mean 423 00:25:37,960 --> 00:25:49,119 Speaker 2: faith it until you feel it. Now, most of us 424 00:25:49,119 --> 00:25:50,719 Speaker 2: wouldn't have gotten a miracle if we were in Act 425 00:25:50,840 --> 00:25:52,320 Speaker 2: chapter twelve, if we were in here at a grip 426 00:25:52,320 --> 00:25:57,560 Speaker 2: of the first prison, we'd stay right there because we wouldn't. 427 00:25:58,400 --> 00:26:00,840 Speaker 1: We wouldn't follow instructions until we knew details. 428 00:26:03,280 --> 00:26:06,440 Speaker 2: We'll be like, get up, why who are you? 429 00:26:06,960 --> 00:26:08,040 Speaker 1: You see some identification? 430 00:26:10,560 --> 00:26:10,760 Speaker 2: No? 431 00:26:10,760 --> 00:26:12,160 Speaker 1: No, no, is this God? 432 00:26:12,240 --> 00:26:12,800 Speaker 2: Is this? No? No? 433 00:26:12,840 --> 00:26:17,639 Speaker 1: You just get up, get up and when you're in 434 00:26:17,640 --> 00:26:22,560 Speaker 1: a place of rest, you're able to respond without overthinking it. 435 00:26:22,640 --> 00:26:26,440 Speaker 1: Just just get up. Some of y'all think too hard 436 00:26:26,480 --> 00:26:30,520 Speaker 1: when we're worshiping in here. You know you're thinking too hard. 437 00:26:30,800 --> 00:26:33,840 Speaker 1: You're thinking too hard. I'm gonna see a victim. I 438 00:26:33,840 --> 00:26:35,280 Speaker 1: can't sing that. I don't know if I really am. 439 00:26:35,440 --> 00:26:38,840 Speaker 1: You need to start singing it so you can start 440 00:26:38,880 --> 00:26:39,440 Speaker 1: seeing it. 441 00:26:41,400 --> 00:26:46,000 Speaker 2: Because faith is the substance of things hoped for and 442 00:26:46,040 --> 00:26:48,160 Speaker 2: the evidence of things not seeing. 443 00:26:54,880 --> 00:26:57,680 Speaker 1: So help me showing God. 444 00:26:57,880 --> 00:27:00,720 Speaker 2: The old Peter, remember the old Peter who argued all 445 00:27:00,760 --> 00:27:01,159 Speaker 2: the time. 446 00:27:01,320 --> 00:27:03,439 Speaker 1: The old Peter would have been like, get up for what? 447 00:27:03,720 --> 00:27:04,280 Speaker 1: Go up for what? 448 00:27:04,520 --> 00:27:06,639 Speaker 2: I don't understand. I was getting some sleep while I 449 00:27:06,720 --> 00:27:08,439 Speaker 2: interrupt my sleep. I'm trying to get in a good, 450 00:27:08,520 --> 00:27:10,040 Speaker 2: nice sleep. I got a big day tomorrow. It's a 451 00:27:10,040 --> 00:27:10,760 Speaker 2: really important day. 452 00:27:10,800 --> 00:27:12,600 Speaker 1: I need to be sharp so I can offend myself. 453 00:27:12,720 --> 00:27:14,560 Speaker 2: But he just did it in this place. In fact, 454 00:27:14,560 --> 00:27:16,800 Speaker 2: that's exactly what the Bible said. It's a quick get up. 455 00:27:16,840 --> 00:27:18,760 Speaker 2: And the chains fell off vers eve, and then the 456 00:27:18,920 --> 00:27:24,399 Speaker 2: Angel said to him, put on your clothes and sandals. 457 00:27:24,440 --> 00:27:29,520 Speaker 2: He has still not told him his destination. But faith 458 00:27:29,640 --> 00:27:33,600 Speaker 2: is getting dressed even when you don't know where you're going. 459 00:27:40,400 --> 00:27:45,119 Speaker 2: And Peter did so. He got dressed with no destination. 460 00:27:46,240 --> 00:27:52,440 Speaker 2: Is this God, I hope? So no details, just obedience, 461 00:27:53,760 --> 00:27:58,159 Speaker 2: not a Peter, get up, get dressed. 462 00:27:59,119 --> 00:28:03,000 Speaker 1: You know how God knocks just little things, and you know. 463 00:28:02,960 --> 00:28:06,840 Speaker 2: As him, you know as him, just little things, The 464 00:28:06,880 --> 00:28:08,879 Speaker 2: littlest thing can happen. Get up, good dress, put on 465 00:28:08,920 --> 00:28:11,000 Speaker 2: your cloak and sandals. To me, this all, this whole, 466 00:28:11,040 --> 00:28:13,920 Speaker 2: this whole thing seems like very small, Like I don't 467 00:28:13,960 --> 00:28:15,479 Speaker 2: mind getting out of here in my underwear. If we're 468 00:28:15,480 --> 00:28:17,440 Speaker 2: getting out of prison, why am I getting dressed for it? 469 00:28:20,320 --> 00:28:23,520 Speaker 2: But but that's that's us trying to make sense of things. 470 00:28:24,960 --> 00:28:27,480 Speaker 2: This is a different kind of freedom. This is not 471 00:28:27,520 --> 00:28:30,000 Speaker 2: a freedom that can be achieved in your mind. The 472 00:28:30,040 --> 00:28:33,360 Speaker 2: Angel said to him, put on your clothes and sandals, 473 00:28:33,359 --> 00:28:37,760 Speaker 2: and Peter did so, just that simple, wrap your cloak 474 00:28:37,800 --> 00:28:40,160 Speaker 2: around you, and follow me, the Angel told him. And 475 00:28:40,200 --> 00:28:42,160 Speaker 2: notice what Peter didn't ask, where are we going? 476 00:28:43,600 --> 00:28:48,080 Speaker 1: Just follow I'm just following Grace, I'm just following Mercy. 477 00:28:48,120 --> 00:28:50,640 Speaker 1: I'm just I'm just following cooperating with God. 478 00:28:50,880 --> 00:28:52,680 Speaker 2: I'm getting my heart in harmony with what he's doing 479 00:28:52,680 --> 00:28:55,080 Speaker 2: in this season I'm coming into agreement and acceptance of 480 00:28:55,120 --> 00:28:58,400 Speaker 2: the situation that he's placed me in, step by step. 481 00:29:00,480 --> 00:29:03,560 Speaker 2: You know the thing on your GPS where you know 482 00:29:03,560 --> 00:29:05,400 Speaker 2: if you put it on at least on mind I 483 00:29:05,520 --> 00:29:10,680 Speaker 2: use Google Maps looking for a sponsorship, where it just 484 00:29:10,720 --> 00:29:13,360 Speaker 2: tells you the next turn, But then if you click 485 00:29:13,400 --> 00:29:15,960 Speaker 2: on and you can see details, and that'll tell you 486 00:29:16,000 --> 00:29:18,440 Speaker 2: every turn. And for somebody like me that has no 487 00:29:18,480 --> 00:29:21,440 Speaker 2: sense of direction, I never put on the details because 488 00:29:21,440 --> 00:29:24,960 Speaker 2: it'll get me lost. I can't think seven turns ahead. 489 00:29:26,200 --> 00:29:30,600 Speaker 2: I just need to know the next one. We all, 490 00:29:30,640 --> 00:29:35,920 Speaker 2: like sheep, have gone astray, and so all Peter has 491 00:29:35,960 --> 00:29:40,120 Speaker 2: to do is the next thing. That's all you have 492 00:29:40,200 --> 00:29:45,200 Speaker 2: to do, the next thing. Anything else is too much 493 00:29:45,280 --> 00:29:48,440 Speaker 2: right now, you don't have to be Peter to be 494 00:29:48,480 --> 00:29:53,360 Speaker 2: in prison. You don't have to be some important apostle 495 00:29:53,400 --> 00:29:58,440 Speaker 2: to be in prison. Addiction is a prison. Depression is 496 00:29:58,480 --> 00:30:01,240 Speaker 2: a prison. You don't have to be Peter to be 497 00:30:01,280 --> 00:30:07,840 Speaker 2: in prison. Mindsets are a prison, Rumination is a prison. 498 00:30:09,120 --> 00:30:10,520 Speaker 2: Trauma can be a prison. 499 00:30:11,960 --> 00:30:12,320 Speaker 1: Prison. 500 00:30:12,560 --> 00:30:18,120 Speaker 2: Isolation can be a prison. Never really engaging in real 501 00:30:18,160 --> 00:30:22,560 Speaker 2: relationships can be a prison. Hiding and concealing it can 502 00:30:22,600 --> 00:30:25,440 Speaker 2: be a prison. But if you've been in prison lately. 503 00:30:25,880 --> 00:30:29,719 Speaker 2: All you need to do is the next thing. You 504 00:30:29,760 --> 00:30:32,920 Speaker 2: can't predict the path of your freedom. You can only 505 00:30:33,000 --> 00:30:35,960 Speaker 2: respond to the light that you have that's shown in yourself. 506 00:30:36,480 --> 00:30:38,440 Speaker 2: And so when Peter got up, this is a very 507 00:30:38,480 --> 00:30:41,040 Speaker 2: profound moment in Peter's life, and he doesn't know it yet. 508 00:30:41,160 --> 00:30:44,680 Speaker 2: For all he knows, he's just dreaming. He doesn't even 509 00:30:44,800 --> 00:30:47,320 Speaker 2: know yet. Read it in the passage with me. Peter 510 00:30:47,400 --> 00:30:49,720 Speaker 2: followed him out of the prison, but he had no 511 00:30:50,120 --> 00:30:54,560 Speaker 2: idea that what the angel was doing was really happening. 512 00:30:55,520 --> 00:30:59,400 Speaker 2: He thought he was seeing a vision. You know, most 513 00:30:59,400 --> 00:31:01,120 Speaker 2: of the time you don't even know that it was 514 00:31:01,200 --> 00:31:06,120 Speaker 2: God until after the fact. While you're in it, it 515 00:31:06,160 --> 00:31:09,520 Speaker 2: feels so confusing and so uncertain, and. 516 00:31:09,440 --> 00:31:11,360 Speaker 1: You're like, I don't even know, I don't know what 517 00:31:11,400 --> 00:31:12,360 Speaker 1: this is right now. 518 00:31:12,760 --> 00:31:15,440 Speaker 2: It is only after you have been through it that 519 00:31:15,560 --> 00:31:18,680 Speaker 2: Romans eight twenty eight makes sense, and then you can 520 00:31:18,800 --> 00:31:24,000 Speaker 2: say all things work together for the good. But it's 521 00:31:24,040 --> 00:31:27,040 Speaker 2: hard to say that in the process of it. And 522 00:31:27,040 --> 00:31:30,360 Speaker 2: Peter's just going through the motions. He's just worshiping, he's 523 00:31:30,400 --> 00:31:32,720 Speaker 2: just moving, he's just obeying, he's. 524 00:31:32,560 --> 00:31:34,440 Speaker 1: Just doing the next practical thing. 525 00:31:35,000 --> 00:31:39,080 Speaker 2: And then he kind of has this moment when he 526 00:31:39,160 --> 00:31:42,840 Speaker 2: passes verse ten. The first and second guards and came 527 00:31:42,880 --> 00:31:45,440 Speaker 2: to the iron gate leading to the city. And watch 528 00:31:45,480 --> 00:31:49,560 Speaker 2: what happened to the gate. It opened for them by itself. 529 00:31:51,080 --> 00:31:52,880 Speaker 2: You know, God will do for you what you can't 530 00:31:52,920 --> 00:31:59,280 Speaker 2: do for you. Now, y'all uncle clap for this one, 531 00:31:59,360 --> 00:32:01,000 Speaker 2: but he won't do for you what you can do 532 00:32:01,080 --> 00:32:08,760 Speaker 2: for you. So God opened the gate for Peter. But 533 00:32:08,840 --> 00:32:11,520 Speaker 2: watch what Peter did when they had walked through it. 534 00:32:13,200 --> 00:32:15,080 Speaker 2: They walked through it. 535 00:32:16,360 --> 00:32:16,800 Speaker 1: Angel did. 536 00:32:16,800 --> 00:32:23,720 Speaker 2: Can't carry Peter through the gate piggyback style. Peter's too 537 00:32:23,720 --> 00:32:26,560 Speaker 2: big to be carried through the gate. Now you got 538 00:32:26,560 --> 00:32:30,520 Speaker 2: to go through it. Do me a real truth favor. 539 00:32:30,680 --> 00:32:32,840 Speaker 2: Look at your neighbor with eye contact, say you got 540 00:32:32,840 --> 00:32:39,160 Speaker 2: to go through it. You know how many people that 541 00:32:39,200 --> 00:32:42,280 Speaker 2: are listening to me preach right now are standing and 542 00:32:42,360 --> 00:32:45,120 Speaker 2: knocking at a door that's already opened. 543 00:32:50,080 --> 00:32:50,920 Speaker 1: The gate was open. 544 00:32:52,000 --> 00:32:54,520 Speaker 2: You can stand there and knock all you want, but 545 00:32:54,560 --> 00:32:57,880 Speaker 2: you got to go through it. And every second we 546 00:32:57,960 --> 00:33:01,360 Speaker 2: spend not going through it, every second that we spend 547 00:33:01,400 --> 00:33:05,040 Speaker 2: wishing that it wasn't there, every second we've been waiting 548 00:33:05,040 --> 00:33:06,480 Speaker 2: for something miraculous to happen. 549 00:33:06,520 --> 00:33:09,720 Speaker 1: It already happened. It already happened. 550 00:33:10,560 --> 00:33:13,920 Speaker 2: The worst thing that could happen already happened on the cross. 551 00:33:14,600 --> 00:33:18,920 Speaker 2: It was already transformed into resurrection power in your spirit. 552 00:33:19,640 --> 00:33:23,720 Speaker 2: So it already happened, is already open. But you've got 553 00:33:23,760 --> 00:33:26,680 Speaker 2: to go through it. And when you go through it, 554 00:33:26,880 --> 00:33:30,120 Speaker 2: that is the proof that you trust God even while 555 00:33:30,120 --> 00:33:35,160 Speaker 2: you're in it, that you stay in the fire, that 556 00:33:35,240 --> 00:33:38,200 Speaker 2: you stay in the furnace, and you still survive. 557 00:33:38,640 --> 00:33:40,000 Speaker 1: And he walked through the gate. 558 00:33:40,240 --> 00:33:42,960 Speaker 2: Now the power of God did not prevent the attack, 559 00:33:43,080 --> 00:33:46,200 Speaker 2: but it protected Peter within it and it enabled him 560 00:33:46,240 --> 00:33:46,959 Speaker 2: to go through it. 561 00:33:47,280 --> 00:33:49,160 Speaker 1: God is going to get me through this. 562 00:33:49,720 --> 00:33:53,120 Speaker 2: I don't know how, I don't know when, but God 563 00:33:53,280 --> 00:33:56,520 Speaker 2: is going to get me through this. The gate is open, 564 00:33:56,840 --> 00:34:00,000 Speaker 2: the way is made. Faith has already provided for me 565 00:34:00,200 --> 00:34:08,360 Speaker 2: the grace that I need. And when they had walked 566 00:34:08,520 --> 00:34:12,200 Speaker 2: the length tenby of one street, suddenly the angel left 567 00:34:12,280 --> 00:34:15,160 Speaker 2: him and now he's got to figure out where to go. 568 00:34:16,520 --> 00:34:19,560 Speaker 2: And suddenly wakes up and he comes to this moment 569 00:34:20,200 --> 00:34:22,760 Speaker 2: that I believe we come to sometimes when when God 570 00:34:24,000 --> 00:34:27,439 Speaker 2: knocks on our situation, or when the when the enemy 571 00:34:27,520 --> 00:34:29,319 Speaker 2: knocks to come get us, but God won't let him. 572 00:34:30,360 --> 00:34:34,359 Speaker 2: He comes to this realization, He's like, I gotta go, 573 00:34:36,080 --> 00:34:42,759 Speaker 2: and I wonder what door he's gonna knock on. See, 574 00:34:42,760 --> 00:34:46,640 Speaker 2: it's really important that you know where to knock when 575 00:34:46,640 --> 00:34:51,839 Speaker 2: you're in trouble. That's how some of us got our 576 00:34:51,880 --> 00:34:54,920 Speaker 2: hearts broken and our minds messed up because we knocked 577 00:34:54,920 --> 00:34:55,680 Speaker 2: on the wrong door. 578 00:34:58,200 --> 00:35:00,080 Speaker 1: And you know what was really weird about it. 579 00:35:00,560 --> 00:35:04,880 Speaker 2: Sometimes we run back to the same door that disappointed 580 00:35:04,960 --> 00:35:10,360 Speaker 2: us last time, knocking on it as if there's anything 581 00:35:10,400 --> 00:35:13,440 Speaker 2: inside that's crazy. 582 00:35:13,600 --> 00:35:16,000 Speaker 1: And Christians will do this, they'll pray the. 583 00:35:16,000 --> 00:35:20,040 Speaker 2: Devil away and when and he knocks on the door, 584 00:35:20,600 --> 00:35:22,839 Speaker 2: leave it wide open for him to come in, and 585 00:35:22,880 --> 00:35:25,160 Speaker 2: put out a fruit basket and welcome him as a 586 00:35:25,160 --> 00:35:28,680 Speaker 2: guest with the monogram towel, just leaving yourself wide open 587 00:35:28,719 --> 00:35:29,400 Speaker 2: to everything. 588 00:35:29,560 --> 00:35:32,000 Speaker 1: But when you run around knocking on the wrong doors 589 00:35:32,360 --> 00:35:32,759 Speaker 1: and the. 590 00:35:32,760 --> 00:35:35,160 Speaker 2: Wrong people and the wrong patterns, and you keep going 591 00:35:35,200 --> 00:35:38,560 Speaker 2: back to that place, it's very important that you know 592 00:35:38,600 --> 00:35:42,000 Speaker 2: where to knock. And thank God that Peter knew where 593 00:35:42,040 --> 00:35:47,200 Speaker 2: to knock. See, he knew about John Mark's mother's house. 594 00:35:48,000 --> 00:35:52,200 Speaker 2: Apparently this was the same place that they had been 595 00:35:52,280 --> 00:35:56,400 Speaker 2: praying for James, and he knew that if he would 596 00:35:56,680 --> 00:35:59,960 Speaker 2: knock on that door there would be some praying people. 597 00:36:00,760 --> 00:36:02,319 Speaker 2: I want to say something to everybody who came to 598 00:36:02,400 --> 00:36:04,080 Speaker 2: church today. Okay, I don't know what your life is 599 00:36:04,160 --> 00:36:05,560 Speaker 2: like right now, and I don't know what you need 600 00:36:05,560 --> 00:36:07,960 Speaker 2: God to do, but you knocked on the right door today, 601 00:36:09,120 --> 00:36:11,600 Speaker 2: because everything you need is in the presence of God. 602 00:36:12,760 --> 00:36:14,640 Speaker 2: Come on, look at somebody say, you knocked on the 603 00:36:14,719 --> 00:36:18,719 Speaker 2: right door today. God has got what you need. The 604 00:36:18,800 --> 00:36:22,320 Speaker 2: fridge is full, the bet is me, there's a prayer 605 00:36:22,360 --> 00:36:29,719 Speaker 2: meeting going on. There's a fire in the kitchen. So 606 00:36:31,000 --> 00:36:33,840 Speaker 2: watch this. I gotta show you something. Somebody say, knock knock. 607 00:36:35,000 --> 00:36:38,080 Speaker 2: Peter said, Now I know without a doubt it was 608 00:36:38,160 --> 00:36:41,759 Speaker 2: the Lord coming into my prison cell. It wasn't Herod's 609 00:36:41,760 --> 00:36:45,359 Speaker 2: intention that brought me here. It was God's purpose. The 610 00:36:45,400 --> 00:36:48,960 Speaker 2: Lord sent his angel and rescued me from Herod's clutches 611 00:36:49,239 --> 00:36:52,520 Speaker 2: and from everything the Jewish people were anticipating. You know 612 00:36:52,560 --> 00:36:55,600 Speaker 2: what he was saying, Herod came knocking. He came to 613 00:36:55,640 --> 00:36:58,320 Speaker 2: get me. It came to kill me, but it couldn't 614 00:36:58,360 --> 00:37:00,799 Speaker 2: have me. That's how I know God was with me, 615 00:37:01,120 --> 00:37:03,680 Speaker 2: because it came for me, but it couldn't kill me. 616 00:37:03,960 --> 00:37:06,359 Speaker 2: It came for me, but it couldn't take me out. 617 00:37:06,680 --> 00:37:08,960 Speaker 2: It came for me, but it couldn't have me. And 618 00:37:09,000 --> 00:37:14,319 Speaker 2: now I know that God was with me. And when 619 00:37:14,320 --> 00:37:16,279 Speaker 2: this had dawned on in verse twelve, he went to 620 00:37:16,280 --> 00:37:20,640 Speaker 2: the house of Mary, the mother of John, also called Mark, 621 00:37:20,640 --> 00:37:24,960 Speaker 2: where many people had gathered and were praying. Ended amazing 622 00:37:25,000 --> 00:37:31,480 Speaker 2: that they were still praying, still asking, still seeking, still knocking, 623 00:37:33,960 --> 00:37:37,200 Speaker 2: because like, really, I don't know if I would have 624 00:37:39,320 --> 00:37:41,359 Speaker 2: if I prayed for James and they cut his head off. 625 00:37:43,239 --> 00:37:44,640 Speaker 2: I don't know if I would have faith to pray 626 00:37:44,640 --> 00:37:52,760 Speaker 2: for Peter. I think a lot of us pray for things, 627 00:37:54,360 --> 00:37:57,799 Speaker 2: or hope for things, or secretly wish for things that 628 00:37:57,840 --> 00:38:03,560 Speaker 2: we really don't believe could even happen. We sing things 629 00:38:04,600 --> 00:38:09,719 Speaker 2: that we no longer believe really happened. We sing a freedom, 630 00:38:09,880 --> 00:38:11,880 Speaker 2: but we learned a long time ago to stop dreaming 631 00:38:11,880 --> 00:38:18,120 Speaker 2: about it. And Peter is out of prison, but they 632 00:38:18,120 --> 00:38:20,840 Speaker 2: don't know it yet, but they're still praying. 633 00:38:21,960 --> 00:38:25,839 Speaker 1: Oh that takes faith, man. It takes faith to pray 634 00:38:25,880 --> 00:38:28,120 Speaker 1: for Peter when you just lost James. 635 00:38:30,160 --> 00:38:34,000 Speaker 2: It takes faith to believe in this situation because you know, 636 00:38:35,040 --> 00:38:36,720 Speaker 2: when you've seen him move the mountain and you believe 637 00:38:36,719 --> 00:38:37,919 Speaker 2: he can do it again, It's one thing. 638 00:38:39,080 --> 00:38:41,239 Speaker 1: But when that mountain's still there and you got to 639 00:38:41,280 --> 00:38:43,920 Speaker 1: pray about that one, this is a difficult moment. 640 00:38:45,040 --> 00:38:47,120 Speaker 2: And yet it didn't stop their prayer, It didn't stop 641 00:38:47,160 --> 00:38:47,960 Speaker 2: their persistence. 642 00:38:48,000 --> 00:38:53,160 Speaker 1: It didn't stop. So Peter shows up and they're still praying. 643 00:38:54,000 --> 00:38:57,480 Speaker 2: And when he got there verse thirteen, the Bible says, Peter, 644 00:39:02,320 --> 00:39:05,200 Speaker 2: my knuckle is so sore, I'm gonna have to ice 645 00:39:05,239 --> 00:39:08,480 Speaker 2: it before the eleven thirty. 646 00:39:09,120 --> 00:39:16,720 Speaker 1: Peter, Well, come on, this is Peter. You know. Peter's loud. Peter. 647 00:39:18,640 --> 00:39:21,799 Speaker 2: Peter's not knocking like Abby. Peter's banging on the door 648 00:39:21,800 --> 00:39:23,680 Speaker 2: because they're still looking for him. He just broke out 649 00:39:23,719 --> 00:39:31,239 Speaker 2: of prison. You're knock different when you're desperate. You pray 650 00:39:31,320 --> 00:39:39,600 Speaker 2: different when you know you need God. Peter knocked at 651 00:39:39,640 --> 00:39:42,520 Speaker 2: the outer entrance and a servant girl named Rhoda came 652 00:39:42,560 --> 00:39:44,560 Speaker 2: to answer the door while they were praying for Peter, 653 00:39:45,280 --> 00:39:51,440 Speaker 2: and he's at the door. Their prayer request is standing 654 00:39:51,480 --> 00:39:54,160 Speaker 2: in the form of an answer on the other side 655 00:39:54,200 --> 00:39:58,279 Speaker 2: of the door, and when looking forwarteen, when she recognized 656 00:39:58,280 --> 00:40:01,960 Speaker 2: Peter's voice, I think she recognized as not and nobody 657 00:40:02,040 --> 00:40:05,600 Speaker 2: knocking as loud as Peter. Nobody knocks like Peter. Nobody 658 00:40:05,680 --> 00:40:08,719 Speaker 2: is persistent like Peter. Nobody makes it through denying him 659 00:40:08,760 --> 00:40:11,640 Speaker 2: three times and comes back to preach on Pentecost. My 660 00:40:11,680 --> 00:40:16,080 Speaker 2: failures taught me persistence. Nobody knocks like Peter. Nobody knocks 661 00:40:16,120 --> 00:40:19,440 Speaker 2: like the one who knows that even through my mistakes, 662 00:40:19,680 --> 00:40:23,200 Speaker 2: God it's working the miracles in this moment, nobody knocks 663 00:40:23,239 --> 00:40:30,239 Speaker 2: like Peter. And when she recognized his voice, Hey, she 664 00:40:30,520 --> 00:40:35,240 Speaker 2: was so overjoyed that she ran back without opening it. 665 00:40:36,840 --> 00:40:41,879 Speaker 1: And told the people, Peter is at the door. It's Peter. Y'all, 666 00:40:42,920 --> 00:40:43,880 Speaker 1: Hey guys, it's Peter. 667 00:40:45,160 --> 00:40:47,399 Speaker 2: Hey guys, Peter wrote as a fourteen year old white 668 00:40:47,400 --> 00:40:52,000 Speaker 2: girl in my mind, Hey guys, it's Peter. And watch 669 00:40:52,080 --> 00:40:55,080 Speaker 2: what they say. You're out of your mind. Well that's 670 00:40:55,080 --> 00:40:59,160 Speaker 2: a compliment because my mind has been my prison all along. 671 00:41:02,800 --> 00:41:05,120 Speaker 2: That's what I've been trying to get is out of 672 00:41:05,160 --> 00:41:08,560 Speaker 2: my mind. That's what's making me miserable, being in my 673 00:41:08,680 --> 00:41:12,719 Speaker 2: mind and my thoughts, for his thoughts are higher than 674 00:41:12,800 --> 00:41:17,000 Speaker 2: my thoughts, and his ways are higher than my ways. 675 00:41:25,320 --> 00:41:26,640 Speaker 1: I'm out of my mind. 676 00:41:28,040 --> 00:41:34,239 Speaker 4: I Rhoda said no, no, She kept insisting that it 677 00:41:34,320 --> 00:41:38,040 Speaker 4: was so, and they said, watch how much faith they had. 678 00:41:38,440 --> 00:41:39,480 Speaker 1: It must be his angel. 679 00:41:43,000 --> 00:41:46,360 Speaker 2: It was easier for them to believe that Peter died 680 00:41:46,480 --> 00:41:48,799 Speaker 2: and his angel came to the door than it was 681 00:41:48,840 --> 00:41:54,120 Speaker 2: actually him. Sometimes it is easier for you to believe 682 00:41:55,000 --> 00:41:58,640 Speaker 2: that you are worthless. It is easier for you to 683 00:41:58,680 --> 00:42:02,560 Speaker 2: believe that it's than it is for you to believe 684 00:42:02,600 --> 00:42:04,480 Speaker 2: that dry bones can live again at the word of 685 00:42:04,480 --> 00:42:04,920 Speaker 2: the Lord. 686 00:42:12,320 --> 00:42:15,799 Speaker 1: But Peter kept on. 687 00:42:18,360 --> 00:42:24,719 Speaker 2: Knocking, and I hear God saying to somebody today, don't 688 00:42:24,719 --> 00:42:25,400 Speaker 2: stop knocking. 689 00:42:27,160 --> 00:42:30,640 Speaker 1: You're at the right door. 690 00:42:32,480 --> 00:42:37,120 Speaker 2: Don't stop knocking just because Rhoda ran back and the 691 00:42:37,160 --> 00:42:43,920 Speaker 2: people didn't believe. God can use even the imperfect faith 692 00:42:44,800 --> 00:42:48,240 Speaker 2: of a hurting church to break Peter out of prison. 693 00:42:50,080 --> 00:42:58,440 Speaker 1: And if you keep knocking, if you keep knocking, keep asking. 694 00:42:58,520 --> 00:43:00,520 Speaker 2: Yeah, I know you don't have the answers yet, but 695 00:43:00,600 --> 00:43:06,839 Speaker 2: now you're learning the questions. If you keep seeking, if 696 00:43:06,880 --> 00:43:10,840 Speaker 2: you keep knocking, I declare in the name of Jesus, 697 00:43:11,520 --> 00:43:16,719 Speaker 2: Peter is at the door. Peter is at the door, 698 00:43:22,239 --> 00:43:24,480 Speaker 2: and the only way for you to find out is 699 00:43:24,520 --> 00:43:29,880 Speaker 2: to open it. But when James died, you stop believing. 700 00:43:31,640 --> 00:43:33,919 Speaker 1: In this season of your life. 701 00:43:34,120 --> 00:43:38,480 Speaker 2: I believe Revelation three twenty that Jesus stands at the 702 00:43:38,520 --> 00:43:43,400 Speaker 2: door and knocks. Now, I would have to think that today, 703 00:43:44,280 --> 00:43:48,600 Speaker 2: somewhere in this building online, at one of our locations 704 00:43:48,640 --> 00:43:51,800 Speaker 2: that meet all across this nation, I have to believe 705 00:43:52,800 --> 00:43:56,719 Speaker 2: that God is knocking on the door of someone's faith 706 00:43:58,200 --> 00:44:00,200 Speaker 2: to believe again in an area of your life where 707 00:44:00,200 --> 00:44:02,680 Speaker 2: it has been easier for you to just lock the door, 708 00:44:03,800 --> 00:44:06,799 Speaker 2: and you've just been going through motions, just kind of 709 00:44:06,800 --> 00:44:10,560 Speaker 2: holding to the facade of your faith. But I sense 710 00:44:10,840 --> 00:44:17,759 Speaker 2: the spirit of the Lord. Knock, knock, who's there? And 711 00:44:17,760 --> 00:44:21,880 Speaker 2: Peter said, boo. Rota said Boo. 712 00:44:21,920 --> 00:44:30,799 Speaker 1: Peter said, don't cry, I'm alive. Open the door in 713 00:44:30,880 --> 00:44:31,480 Speaker 1: this moment. 714 00:44:33,080 --> 00:44:35,279 Speaker 2: Yes, it's hard to trust people again when people have 715 00:44:35,400 --> 00:44:37,320 Speaker 2: let you down. But what are you gonna do Stay 716 00:44:37,360 --> 00:44:40,760 Speaker 2: in there and die and just pretend like you're living 717 00:44:40,960 --> 00:44:43,520 Speaker 2: and really on the inside. No, I stand at the 718 00:44:43,520 --> 00:44:45,800 Speaker 2: door and knock, And if you will open the door 719 00:44:45,840 --> 00:44:48,239 Speaker 2: to me, Jesus said, I will sit down and I 720 00:44:48,320 --> 00:44:50,920 Speaker 2: will eat with you. And I have prepared a table 721 00:44:51,000 --> 00:44:53,920 Speaker 2: for you in the presence of your enemies, and I 722 00:44:53,960 --> 00:44:57,040 Speaker 2: am your Shepherd, and I am your Angel, and I 723 00:44:57,080 --> 00:45:00,279 Speaker 2: am your Light, and I am your defender, and I 724 00:45:00,320 --> 00:45:02,680 Speaker 2: am your Hope, and I am your promise. 725 00:45:03,000 --> 00:45:05,640 Speaker 1: And upon this rock I will build my. 726 00:45:05,800 --> 00:45:09,719 Speaker 2: Church, and the case of hell will not prevail against it. 727 00:45:10,200 --> 00:45:14,440 Speaker 2: For I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning, in the end, 728 00:45:14,840 --> 00:45:16,280 Speaker 2: the first and the last. 729 00:45:16,640 --> 00:45:19,920 Speaker 1: I died and I live. Peter is at the door 730 00:45:24,800 --> 00:45:26,000 Speaker 1: because guess what church. 731 00:45:27,239 --> 00:45:31,720 Speaker 2: At the end of Acts chapter twelve, Peter wasn't dead. 732 00:45:33,040 --> 00:45:39,840 Speaker 1: Herod was because let me tell you why. 733 00:45:40,640 --> 00:45:44,279 Speaker 2: The only reason that God allowed the trial was to 734 00:45:44,320 --> 00:45:46,040 Speaker 2: free you from what was holding you. 735 00:45:46,239 --> 00:45:48,640 Speaker 1: Captain. God is a mighty warrior. 736 00:45:57,560 --> 00:46:02,279 Speaker 2: When God knocks, he keeps knocking. He doesn't give up 737 00:46:02,320 --> 00:46:08,800 Speaker 2: on people. God doesn't not one time. Two times you failed. 738 00:46:09,320 --> 00:46:12,640 Speaker 2: That's all right, He's still knocking. If your heart is 739 00:46:12,719 --> 00:46:17,719 Speaker 2: still beating, God is still knocking. He is not going 740 00:46:17,800 --> 00:46:22,759 Speaker 2: to let you go until He accomplishes his purpose for 741 00:46:22,920 --> 00:46:23,400 Speaker 2: your life. 742 00:46:24,920 --> 00:46:26,040 Speaker 1: Thank you for joining us. 743 00:46:26,320 --> 00:46:28,759 Speaker 2: Special thanks to those of you who give generously to 744 00:46:28,840 --> 00:46:32,320 Speaker 2: this ministry. Is because of you that this ministry is possible. 745 00:46:32,800 --> 00:46:35,319 Speaker 2: You can click the link in the description to give now, 746 00:46:35,880 --> 00:46:39,239 Speaker 2: or visit Elevation Church dot org slash podcast for more 747 00:46:39,239 --> 00:46:43,080 Speaker 2: information and if you enjoyed the podcast, you can subscribe. 748 00:46:43,320 --> 00:46:44,640 Speaker 1: You can share it with your friends. 749 00:46:44,920 --> 00:46:47,200 Speaker 2: You can click the share button, take a screenshot and 750 00:46:47,280 --> 00:46:49,399 Speaker 2: share it on your social stories and tag us at 751 00:46:49,400 --> 00:46:50,280 Speaker 2: Elevation Church. 752 00:46:50,320 --> 00:46:57,000 Speaker 1: Thanks again for listening. God bless you.