In today's sermon, "The Power Of Prayer That Releases One's Imprisonment", according to the section "Summary From Last Week(#41)": What color is sin symbolized by? How is one type of mankind like the red "Edomite" in the Bible? What will happen to them at the end by God's judgement? What is the other type made up of? How have God's saints appeared on earth?
What are the most important weapons God has given us to use in spiritual warfare? According to Ephesians 6:11-13, who is our struggle against, and how are we able to stand our ground? Who do these spiritual forces represent? How do they lie and deceive others, and how can God's saints, the living Adams, prevent this?
In the section "So Peter was kept in prison, but the church was earnestly praying to God for him": Who was the wickedest king among the "red Edomites" who persecuted Christians, and what did he continue to do as the Jews were pleased with his leadership? How is this political union seen even today, and how can we see this in the issue of homosexual marriage? What has been the response of many Christian denominations, and what should our response as Christians be?
Describe Peter's confinement, and what did the church do when they heard of it? Why does God allow this "confinement", and what was produced out of the "confinement" of "some" disciples who desperately sought God's true grace and guidance? What happens when we desperately seek God in any situation that makes us feel that we are being imprisoned? What will be a platform of blessing which will break our real spiritual confinement in darkness?
How can peace and well-being cause imprisonment, and how can we break this imprisonment in our lustful flesh? What solution and guidance does Romans 5:3-5 give? How does all this lead us to prayer? What is the real hindrance of God's work? How does the devil strengthen the status and authority of God's saints? How does Matthew 16:18-19 attest to this, and what is the "rock" mentioned there? What does Matthew 10:28 say about fear? What happens when the Gospel becomes the true gospel in our lives?
Who is also imprisoned and confined besides church leaders, what are they led to do because of it, and what are the results? What do Psalm 51:17 and Isaiah 57:15 say about our sacrifices? Why do our hearts become broken? How and why does God remodel our house and make His new temple in us? What do we discover through that process, and how is this not gained, but rather discovered? How do we enjoy our new status and use our new authority in the Gospel? What is "listening prayer", where do we go to learn it, and what will happen otherwise? How are true answers to prayer found, and how does Jeremiah 33:2-3 show this?
In the section "Suddenly an angel of the Lord appeared ... "Wrap your cloak around you and follow me," the angel told him." (vv.7-8): How did God renew Peter, and answer the earnest prayer of the church? Read Isaiah 9:2, Matthew 4:16, and Matthew 28:1-10; and comment on God's light that shined in the cell. What are we, and Peter, reminded of by the angel striking Peter on the side? In John 11:25-26, what does Jesus say of Himself, and how does Peter experience this? How does our confinement lead us to experience the tremendous power of the resurrection promised by God? What is the greatest answer to our prayer?
What happened when Peter arose, what does it symbolize, and how do we realize our spiritual imprisonment? What do we experience through this? What is the time of our confinement, what does it help us to realize, and how can we see this in Psalm 119:25-28? How are we established as a "new living Adam, and why is our confinement a very necessary tool in this process? What three things does God's angel order Peter to do, and what do they mean, as seen in Ephesians 6:13-15 and Matthew 5:40?
In the "Conclusion": We can't see the spiritual realm, yet how do we perceive it? Why does God allow evil things to happen to us, and how does confinement aid this? What does sincere prayer do, and how is everything under God's control? How does God establish His kingdom, and how is our confinement not coincidence at all? How has God answered your prayers this week?
In "When Prison Doors Open", by Ray Stedman: What is remarkable about Peter's reactions to his imprisonment, and why may he have been so unafraid? How is this event such a supernatural deliverance, and why do you think Peter thought he was seeing a vision? What three things did the angel tell Peter to do, and when did Peter finally realize that this was a real occurrence?
How did the maid, named Rhoda, know it was Peter knocking at the door of the gateway, and why do you think she forgot to let him in? Who did the others declare was at the door (notice the exclamation mark!). Why do you think they did not believe it was indeed Peter, even though they had been praying for him? How is their reaction similar to that of Thomas in John 20:24-29, and his final realization similar to that of Peter in Matthew 16:13-20? Compare all this to the prayer of the persistent widow in Luke 18:1-8 and to our own prayer life. How is prayer a reflection of our faith and our communion with God, and how is our faith and communion with God like prayer? Who is the "James" mentioned in verse 17?
How was Herod's utter fear and frustration finally demonstrated in verses 18-19? Compare this reaction to that of the chief priests and elders in Matthew 28:11-15. How is the death of Herod depicted by historians, and how is it a reflection of the tragedy of mankind, particularly modern man? How is this entire portion of scripture summed up in verses 24-25 and also in James 4:2?
In today's daily devotion, entitled "Who's The Boss?": Try to express what you have learned and what you have experienced of the relationship between grace and sin. Read Romans Chapter 7 to understand the relationship between sin and the Law. Where do verses 17 and 20 say sin lives, and how are you delivered from it? Compare this to Romans 6:14 and explain the connection. In Genesis 4:6-7, what does God say to Cain about sin, and why did Cain ignore His advice?