THE AUTHORITY OF THE BELIEVER!

TEXT:  MARK 1:21-28

“OF” is a preposition placed in front of a noun or pronoun to show a connection with or to something or someone.  It is defined as to proceed from; composed of; related to.  

To “proceed from” means to carry on or continue an action or process.

• John 14:12  Verily, verily, I say unto you, he that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do; because I go to my Father.  

To be “composed of” means to make up from elements or parts:  

• 1 Peter 2:5  You as lively stones are built up a spiritual house unto the Lord.
• 1 Corinthians 3:16  Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you?  
• 1 Corinthians 6:19-20  What? Know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own?  For ye are bought with a price; therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God’s.  
• Revelation 21:3  I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God.

To be “related to” means to be connected by kinship, origin, marriage, etc:  

• Acts 17:26  And hath made of one blood all nations of men for to dwell on all the face of the earth, and hath determined the times before appointed, and the bounds of their habitation.

This tells us that we as “believers” proceeded from authority; we are composed of authority; and we are related to authority, who is GOD HIMSELF!

THE POWER OF PRAYER!

TEXT:  ACTS 12:1-11

SUBTOPIC:  “SOMETHING HAPPENS WHEN GOD’S PEOPLE PRAY”!

Acts portrays Christ as “The Living Lord”!

In the gospels, we hear Christ’s teachings.  In Acts we see the effect of His teachings on the “acts” of the Apostles.

What is Prayer?

Prayer is a communication process which allows us to talk to God.  He wants us to communicate with Him like a person - to – person phone call.  It’s merely talking with Him on a personal level, sharing your heart-felt concerns regarding your life.  Prayer is casting all your care upon Him for He careth for you! (1 Peter 5:7).

What’s so good about it is that God has opened the door to His throne room and invited His children to come boldly into His Presence with our petitions.  Hebrews 4:14-16  Seeing then that we have a great high priest, that is passed into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our profession.  For we have not a high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin.  Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.  

We have a High Priest who can sympathize with our weaknesses and was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin.  So with confidence we can come boldly to the throne of grace to obtain mercy to help us in time of need.

Jesus set the example.  He Himself prayed in every aspect of life.  He prayed often and consistently.  He prayed in the morning, late at night, all through the night and day.  

Prayer is the most essential thing in the Bible along with faith (positive thinking, confidence, hope) in God.  Hebrews 11:6  But without faith it is impossible to please him:  for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.  Anyone coming to God must believe that there is a God, and that He is a rewarder of them that diligently seek Him!  Without it, it’s impossible to please Him!

I want to expound on three things:  the church persecuted; the church praying; the church delivered.