| Scripture: Isaiah 43:9-12
Hymn: 529 Under His Wings; 524 Tis So Sweet To Trust In Jesus |
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1. Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbor (9th commandment). |
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a. Asked to testify about someone in a trial and you give a false testimony.
b. Taking a bribe.
c. Lying as a rule of thumb, no.
d. Sin is a sneaky thing, and it creeps into our lives so imperceptibly that we don’t realize its there. |
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What kind of witness am I to the power of God. |
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a. The FBI agent’s study on plants!
b. Dolphins and other animals communicating in ways we still don’t fully comprehend.
c. The silent witness of the things around you. The Sheetrock on the wall. “You me and the doorpost.” Too absurd? The donkey that talked (Numbers 22; The stones that could cry out Luke 19:40).
d. The scratched surface on the counter top
e. The countertops that have had the pattern worn away counter.
f. Fragrance lingering in the air – female that was present. |
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3. Acts 12:1-19 Peter was sleeping…resting in Jesus. What a silent witness! It doesn’t say… |
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…he was up praying
…he was trying to bribe the guards
…he was worried about the present situation
…he was worried about tomorrow, pacing the floor
…He was worried about the past and his denial of Christ 3 times. |
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Mt.26:51-58; 69-75; Mk. 14:53-54; 66-72; Lk. 22:31-34; 54-62; Jn. 18:10-11; 15-18; 25-27 |
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4. If you were Peter… what would the record say about you… |
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…pacing the floor
…trying to bribe the guards
…worried about tomorrow
…worried about the past and the sins you have committed… |
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Isaiah 43:9-12 – Let all the nations be gathered together, and let the people be assembled: who among them can declare this, and shew us former things? let them bring forth their witnesses, that they may be justified: or let them hear, and say, It is truth. (10) Ye are my witnesses, saith the Lord, and my servant whom I have chosen: that ye may know and believe me, and understand that I am he: before me there was no God formed, neither shall there be after me. (11) I, even I, am the Lord; and beside me there is no saviour. (12) I have declared, and have saved, and I have shewed, when there was no strange god among you: therefore ye are my witnesses, saith the Lord, that I am God. (KJV) |
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…the way I walk; Isaiah 3
…the way I dodge the bill collectors…
…the way I drive
…the way I run my schedule around the TV programs – the silent witness to my priorities. |
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Acts 12:1-19 – Peter therefore was kept in prison: but prayer was made without ceasing of the church unto God for him. |
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5. What does it mean that prayer was made without ceasing? |
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1. It means that you realize that the situation is important and not just routine. It is critical.
2. What is a critical situation? What has to happen before you consider it important enough to change your routine? Example – my neighbor with a bad heart & still smoking. |
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We read about the exciting stories of the Bible like David & Goliath where David wins and Goliath loses, and we are all inspired and encouraged….but do we realize that we are the players in the same scenario today.
People around us are imprisoned by things like addictions like smoking – bound by the chains of nicotine and I wonder if we pray w/o ceasing for their deliverance. Or if that might interfere with the evening routine of the TV schedule?
Is it possible that when we are in a critical situation – where our life is on the line…or maybe our job is on the line…that we have an opportunity to witness for Him? Are the challenges you face today just miracles waiting to happen? Can we figure that formula backwards? Have I had miracles happening to me? If I haven’t then one of 2 things is true…I either have no challenges facing me or I have not yet exercised my faith enough to view my challenges as miracles waiting to happen!
Many today are deciding if they will stand tall for God, as the 3 Hebrew boys did in days of old (Daniel 3).
Peter being imprisoned wasn’t the first act of violence against the church (James being killed was) but it is the one that drove them to their knees with prayer and fasting.
Last Sabbath we talked about the contrast between Barabbas and Jesus as they stood in Pilate’s court. |
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1. This happened during the days of unleavened bread – While the Jews were celebrating their deliverance from Egypt.
2. Because Pilate saw that it pleased the Jews, he proceeded further – some people are sadistic, self centered.
3. 2 Thessalonians 2:10 referring to those who are lost says, “they had pleasure in unrighteousness.” |
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Satan and his agencies that set themselves against the ways of God. The agencies of Satan may appear with different circumstances or names but they will always have the same intent – to stop you from doing the will of God, to bind you and enslave you so that you cannot possibly be set free to do God’s will.
Is Satan still ensnaring people today? Circumstances have you hemmed in so that it seems impossible for the work of God to go forward in your life? |
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Appeal – silent witness
Matthew 27:27 – There in the Praetorium, etched in stone – a silent witness to the games that the guards played for the son of God.
Have you allowed the Holy Spirit to inscribe his truth on your heart? |
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