Prayer changes things. Prayer changes people. Prayer changes circumstances. Prayer changes you. And all of them need changing.
And so we're going to look at the fact that prayer matters. You're not wasting your time when you pray. Prayers are heard on Yeah. Hello, and welcome to another great day here on Destined for Victory with Pastor Paul Shepard.
Well, if you think prayer can't make a difference, think again. Prayer changes things. God did it for Moses and Abraham because they prayed. He did it for Peter because the church prayed, and He'll do it for you as well. Make no mistake, prayer can change circumstances and even if it doesn't, prayer will almost always certainly change you.
Remember to visit pastorpaul.net, where you can listen to any of our recent messages on demand, including today's. That's pastorpaul.net.
Now, here's today's Destined for Victory message. It's time to pray. Acts chapter twelve. And I'd like you to look with me at verses 1 through 5. It was about this time that King Herod arrested some who belonged to the church.
intending to persecute them. He had James, the brother of John, put to death. With the sword. When he saw that this pleased the Jews, he proceeded to seize Peter also. This happened during the Feast of Unleavened Bread.
After arresting him, he put him in prison, handing him over. to be guarded by four squads of four soldiers each. Herod intended to bring him out for public trial, after the Passover.
So Peter was kept in prison, But the church was earnestly praying to God For him. In the last message, we began exploring the context of the text I just read. We noted that it was A time in the life of the early church when they were. Experiencing great fruitfulness. Expansion.
God was beginning to add Gentiles to the family of God. In fact, the Jews were just getting the revelation that that was the plan of God. They thought that the Messiah who was to come would come to save only the Jewish nation. But God, being such a good God, Had in his mind that he would save both Jew and Gentile. Remember what Paul said in Romans chapter 1: I'm not ashamed of the gospel of Jesus Christ, for it is the power of God unto salvation to everyone who believes.
Do I have any believers in the house? To everyone who believes, he said, to the Jew first, but also to the Greek. I'm glad for the also. I'm in the also group. And the church was beginning to get the revelation that God wants to save both Jew and Gentile, and they were, in fact, being saved in Antioch and in other places.
And so great things were happening in the life of the church. But we noted that when there's great blessing and great expansion and great fruitfulness, don't be surprised when there's also great persecution. Herod decided, I don't like what's going on here, and I'm going to put a stop to it. And so he had one of the apostles killed, whose name was James. And then when he saw that the non-Christian Jews were pleased, and so it's about time that he put his foot down, he said, Oh, my popularity ratings just went up by killing this man.
So let me go get the ringleader, Peter. And we noted that Peter was placed in prison, was not immediately killed because it was the time of the Passover. And so he said, I want to respect the tradition of the Passover among the Jews.
So I'll simply imprison Peter. And after the Passover, I'll bring him out to a mock trial and then have him killed as well. But we noted that this gave the saints of God time to pray. And that's what I'm looking at: the fact that it's time once again to pray. We have time.
I know all hell is breaking loose in your life, but you have time to pray. I know you got personal challenges, but you have time to pray. You have family challenges, but you have time to pray. You have challenges on your job or in your community. We have challenges as a church and in the body of Christ.
There are all kinds of challenges, but we have time to pray. And as we noted, and we're going to pick it up today in our discussion, prayer matters. We talked about the fact that fatalism is not a biblical concept. You know, fatalism says, well, whatever is going to happen is already predetermined, and so you can't do anything to change it. It's set in motion.
It's going to happen. That is not a biblical concept. Child of God, don't go around saying that whatever is going to happen is going to happen because you will never pray if you truly believe that. There would be no point in praying if you truly believe that, because prayer would not impact anything. But your Bible is full of precepts, that is, instructions, and examples of the fact that prayer matters.
Prayer changes things. Prayer changes people. Prayer changes circumstances. Prayer changes you. And all of 'em need changing.
And so we're going to look at the fact that prayer matters. You're not wasting your time when you pray. Prayers are heard on high. God has given His people the key of prayer. I want you to focus on the key of prayer.
You know, in your pocket, perhaps, or in your pocketbook right now, in some bag you have, there is one or more keys. Those keys represent your ability to get into something that you otherwise would not be able to get into. If you have a key to your home, that means you can go use that key and you can gain entrance.
Now, understand this so that you can understand what I'm talking about regarding prayer. You can own the house and lost your key. And although you own the house, You can't easily get in the house. Anybody ever lost your key to your house for a while? And let me see some honest hands.
You temporarily lost your key. If you needed to get in during that time, You were in a panic. You had to find some other relative. Do y'all have your keys with you? You had to find somebody who could get you in because without that key, you're going to have a very difficult time getting in.
One of my mentors, he's gone home to be with the Lord. Bishop Benjamin F. Reed told the story years ago of getting to his house and realizing he didn't have his key. He said, Everybody else in the house was gone, whole family was out. He said, I had been out of town.
I was tired and I pulled up and I just want to get in my house. I've been preaching all week. I want to get in my house and I am locked out. He said this was something that made me downright indignant. He said, I resented the fact that it was my house.
And I couldn't get in. He said, and so this day before cell phones, so nobody was in the house. There was no one he could call and what have you. He didn't know where they were, his family were anyway. He says, so I just backed up.
Way down my walk. Bishop Reed was 350 pounds. He said, I backed up and I took a run toward my door. He said, I hit that door with everything within me. And it exploded.
He got in, but not the way he was supposed to get in. And then he had to, of course, call somebody to come fix his door. But he said, I was too resentful to wait for somebody to come home. How dare I be locked out of my own house? If he had had his key, though, all he'd have had to do is pull out the key, put it in the lock, and turn.
And the door would have been open to him. Let me stick with the key analogy a little while longer. You can have a key and not have legitimate access. You could steal a key, not you, you would never do that, but. A thief could steal a key.
And if that thief knows what the key is to... The thief could gain access even though he or she is not authorized. A stolen key gives you access, but no authority. A broken key. Can give you authority but no access.
I got a key, but it's broken. It's mine. It's legitimate. I didn't steal it. And it goes into that lock, but because it's broken, I can't.
You ever had a broken key? That's why today they're getting real fancy with technology. I was with a group of preachers not long ago, and one of them was talking to a gentleman. About getting some work done on his security system in his home. And he said, Yeah, I think I want you to do this for me and that, and what have you.
He said, So when you get through installing the system, it'll be a code, right? I just punch in. And the man said, No, no, no, no, no, no, no, no. We've advanced beyond that now. He said, you can still get those, but he said, but that's an antiquated system.
He said, the system I'm going to put in your house, you won't even need a code. There won't be a pad to punch in. He said, You'll just walk up to a little unit we will put there and put your thumb on it. He said, and it will read your thumbprint, which is unique to you. and it will gain you access.
You won't ever have to worry about losing your keys. Or all you got to do is keep your thumbs on your body, and you're all right. I thought, my goodness, what kind of world is this? We are moving into as a kid. I used to watch the Jetsons And just think about, wow, I wonder if that stuff will ever happen.
It's slowly creeping up on us. I don't know that we'll be flying little vehicles through the air, but. Technology is really creeping up on us. And he said, all you're going to need is just your thumb. And you'll be alright.
But if you've ever had a broken key, you know that you have authority, but you don't have access. You are listening to Destined for Victory, featuring the teaching ministry of Pastor Paul Shepard. And there's more to come, so stay tuned. And if you can't, remember you can always listen on demand to any recent Destined for Victory message at pastorpaul.net. That's pastorpaul.net.
And the podcast is available at Spotify, at Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get podcasts. All of us at Destined for Victory are grateful for your prayers and financial support, gifts that help us keep on the air the whole year through. Summertime is especially difficult for our media ministry, so as this season of the year comes to a close, we ask that you prayerfully consider sending a generous gift today. And when you do, we have a great thank you gift to share with you. To make your gift, visit pastorpaul.net or call 855-339-5500.
You may not know it, you may not feel like it, but in Christ you have authority, and it just might be more powerful than you think. Let's get you back to the rest of Pastor Paul's Destined for Victory message: It's Time to Pray.
Well, here's my point. In Christ, because you are saved by grace, and if you're not saved, you can get saved right now. And when you are in Christ, you get both authority and the ability, the key of prayer. You get authority. The book of John, chapter 1, says, In the beginning was the word, the word was with God, the word was God.
Same was in the beginning with God. All things were made by him. Without him was not anything made. That was made, in him was life. The life was the light of men.
The light shines in darkness. The darkness comprehended it not. And then it goes on to talk a little bit about John. There was a man sent from God whose name was John. The same came to bear witness of the light.
He was not that light, but came to bear witness of the light, which is the true light that lights up every person in the world. Then it goes on to say, He, the light, Jesus Christ, came to his own, and his own received him not. Watch this, but as many as received him. To them gave he what? Power to become sons of God.
Now that's King James, I just quoted, power to become sons of God. But if you study it, the word power, translated power there, is really a Greek word, exousia, that means authority. When you get saved, you are given authority to be a son of God, a child of God. In other words, you are a legitimate son or daughter of God, even though you're a Gentile, as is the case with us. You are a legitimate.
Son or daughter of God. You have legitimacy in Christ. When I go into the Lord's presence in prayer, I'm coming as one authorized. Because I'm his child. When your child needs you, if you're a good parent.
You drop what you're doing to see what they need. That's the picture. I'm authorized. You can have an important parent who normally doesn't let anyone into their office during work hours. They're in there unless they invite you.
You're not supposed to go in. But a child can go to their mother or father's office, walk past the receptionist. I don't need an appointment. I belong to them. And just walk in.
Friend of mine was in an appointment. With an important guy. He said, The guy had told me that I'm gonna give you. I think he said 20 minutes. He said, I'm sitting there beginning to pick his brain on some things.
And I was only a couple of minutes in when in walked his child. He said the man stopped right on the dime, stopped talking to me, started talking to this child. He said the child didn't want much. Just talking about a little bit of everything. They did want to load something, but it wasn't anything major.
And my friend was sitting there saying, now this man said I only have 20 minutes. And now this kid is taking up my time. He said, I hope he's going to extend, you know, just push pause in his mind. And when the child leaves, he's going to give me my remaining 18 minutes. He said when the child left, the man looked at his watch.
and said, you now have 11 minutes. He said and he made it too. I was leaving at the time he originally said I was leaving, and the fact that his chow interrupted my time, oh well. Guess what? In God, you have that same entree, that same authority.
And you can get a hearing in heaven. I want to let you know God hears you because He has given you authority. He has given you a key called prayer.
Now, in our text, the church wanted to have Peter's life spared. What's the problem? The problem is James is dead. Peter is imprisoned, and his sentence is all but dead. The only issue is the king is waiting until Passover has concluded.
The church knows that this is a critical situation, and the church begins to call on God in earnest. What do they want? They want the Lord to spare Peter's life. They realize Peter and everybody else is going to die sooner or later, but they didn't take a nonchalant attitude and say, well, you know, he's going to die. God will just raise up other leadership.
You know, if he dies, we still got 10 other apostles. No, they didn't take a nonchalant attitude. I want to encourage you, don't take a nonchalant attitude. Don't be children of a lesser God. Don't keep making excuses for why you don't believe for great things.
Don't give God something so low to shoot for that when you hit it, you don't know whether it was God or just circumstance. Give God something to do that when He does it, you got to give Him the glory because you know it was nobody but Him. Stop praying little patty cake prayers. Little, it doesn't matter if it gets answered or not. They said, We want Peter spared.
Yes, he's going to die one day, but he doesn't have to die now. If the Lord wants to take him, he'll take him over our prayers and our petitioning. But as I said the last time, you want to be like a child who doesn't like no. You want what you want. You know you have a loving parent, and you're going to be persistent in your asking.
You ever had one of those children who said, please, please, please, please. And you know, under the wrong circumstances, that's not good. But under the right circumstances, in fact, the Bible commends us for persistence. There are stories right in your Bible. For instance, in Luke 18, Jesus talked about a woman.
Who wanted to be avenged of her adversary? She went to an unjust judge. And she said, I got a case. I need you to hear it. I need you to take care of this.
I'm a widow. I don't have any man to fight for me. I'm in trouble. I need you to take care of this. And the judge did not want to grant her her petition.
But she stayed there persistently. Time after time, she kept saying, Please avenge me of my adversary. And Jesus went on to say: even though this unjust judge didn't care about God or man. He said to himself, This woman working my nerves. And if I'm gonna get any relief for myself.
I better take care of this matter. You know, sometimes it's easier to just give them what they want so you can get them out your face. You have any folk in your life like that? Listen, it's not worth it. It will take years off of your life.
If you don't give them what they want, some people just have that gift. And you're like, my peace is more valuable. I don't have to ignore you when my peace is at stake. Let me take care of this. If I do this, will you go?
Jesus commended the woman And the judge said, Although I don't fear God or man, this woman is getting on my nerves. I want to get her out of my courtroom, so let me give her what she wants. Persistence, and you need to develop persistence in your prayer life. That's what I'm calling you to do. To become a person who prays and asks God for exactly what you want, and you bombard heaven.
Yes, it's God's world, He is sovereign, but He loves to hear the petition of His people. The church wanted Peter spared. They didn't want a theological argument as to whether or not, yes, Jesus had promised the apostles there will be persecution. He said they persecuted me and they're going to persecute you. But I love that the church didn't decide: well, since persecution is inevitable.
We shouldn't pray against it. No, you You can pray against it, knowing if you get God to answer in this one instance, later on the persecution is going to come. But right now, I'm dealing with this. Yeah. Eventually, Peter did die the death of a martyr.
Eventually, Peter, in fact, died on a cross. And his request was, by the way, years later when Peter died, his request of the authorities that were killing him is, he said, listen, I don't deserve to be hung in the same position as my Savior. He said, So give me my last request. I don't want to drink a wine for my last request. I want you to turn me upside down.
When he ultimately died, he died hung upside down on a cross. But right now, the church is saying we're not trying to hear about Peter dying. We want him. We need him. And they decide to bombard heaven.
I'm asking you to get ready to bombard heaven about some things in your life, in your family, in your world, in your church. To get ready to go to God and say, Lord, we need you like never before. You know, faith is not a feeling. It's a choice, a conscious decision to put our complete trust in God, to humble ourselves before Him in prayer, even when we may not feel like it. If you find yourself struggling today, if you've gotten a little off track in your Christian journey, we'd like to pray for you.
Please use the contact feature at the top of our homepage, pastorpaul.net, and share your request with us. That's pastorpaul.net.
Now, I'm pleased to tell you about an outstanding booklet from Destined for Victory, Rising Above Offense. We've all been wounded from time to time, even by the people who love us most. What does God say about how to handle those situations? You'll find out in Rising Above Offense, something I believe everyone should read. And if you want to discover the right way to respond when someone offends you, if you want to learn about all the beautiful and amazing powers of forgiveness, request your copy of Rising Above Offense when you make your generous gift to Destined for Victory.
You can give by phone by calling 855-339-5500. That's 855-339-5500 or visit pastorpaul.net to make a safe and secure donation online. And you can also mail your gift to Destined for Victory, Post Office Box 1767, Fremont, California, 94538. You ever been that addicted? You ever been that bound to some compulsion, some desire, some besetting sin that just seems to have a grip on you and won't let you go for anything?
I'm here to tell you that this story preaches hope to you. That's tomorrow in our continuing message, It's Time to Pray. But until then, remember, he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion. In Christ, you are destined for victory.
