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December 13, 2024 | ||
Dear Church Family, This year my challenge to you was to grow more faithful in prayer. We looked at the beginning of the year at the persistent widow and the challenge to be persistent in prayer. How have you been doing? Has prayer been a growing priority in your life? How have you seen God at work in your prayer life? As I was reading in Acts 12 this morning, I was reminded of both the importance of prayer and the power of prayer. The chapter starts in a very heartbreaking and discouraging way. Herod the king has James, the brother of John, executed. Then he has Peter arrested, put in prison, and guarded with four squads of soldiers. His plan was to bring him out to the people after the Passover, presumably to have him executed, as well. We see Satan trying to get to the very heart of the Christian movement with its leaders, and it feels very hopeless. I love the response that comes next.
As the church prays earnestly for God to work, an angel shows up at the prison. This reminded me of Daniel 9, when Daniel prays earnestly to the Lord and his prayers move heaven.
Sometimes it doesn’t feel like it and we don’t always get that peek into the spiritual realm, but passages like these are important reminders that God works behind the scenes when we pray. In Acts 12, an angel comes in answer to prayer. “Now when Herod was about to bring him out, on that very night, Peter was sleeping between two soldiers, bound with two chains, and sentries before the door were guarding the prison. 7 And behold, an angel of the Lord stood next to him, and a light shone in the cell. He struck Peter on the side and woke him, saying, “Get up quickly.” And the chains fell off his hands.” (Acts 12:6-7) Not only is Peter freed, but later in the chapter, Herod, the seemingly unstoppable persecutor of the church, shockingly meets his end.
This chapter reminded me of God’s amazing ability to move powerfully in any situation. We don’t get to decide how He works: He spared Peter’s life, but allowed James to die. What we do know is that God has given us the amazing privilege of coming to Him in prayer and pleading for Him to work on our behalf. Let us be earnest and persistent in prayer! What’s Happening at Gospel Life:Communion: We will be celebrating the Lord’s Supper as part of our Sunday morning service this Sunday, December 15th. Through the ordinance of communion, we remember the sacrifice Jesus made to save us from our sins. Youth Christmas Party: All youth are invited to our Christmas Party this Sunday, December 15th from 5-7 pm. We’ll meet at Columbia High School (301 S Happy Valley Rd, Nampa, ID 83687) for dinner, games, and fun together celebrating the birth of our Savior. Please bring a bag of candy or sprinkles to share for decorating gingerbread houses.Christmas Eve Service: Join us as we celebrate our Savior’s birth as a church family on December 24th at 6 pm at Columbia High School (301 S Happy Valley Rd, Nampa, ID 83687). If you would like, you can bring a snack to share. Upcoming Dates: No Youth Group (Dec. 22nd & 29th) Life Groups: If you’re interested in joining a life group, we have several to choose from. You can check them out here: Request Prayer: It’s important for us to be praying for each other as a church! If you ever need prayer, we would love to come alongside you. You can always turn in a prayer request on Sundays using the Connection Card, but you can also submit a prayer request online at any time: This Coming Sunday: You Shall Call His Name Jesus – This Sunday we’re going to study Matthew 1 and focus on the name of Jesus. Come see why Jesus’ name is so important and tells us why His advent was necessary. https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLW5IMNeRoI99I-QNoGMnuWDy6Y5svTt_c | ||
God Works Behind the Scenes When We Pray
