SERMON NOTES: October 18th 2020

Speaker: Rev Gail Price Theme: Rise up and be quick about it Text: Acts 12:7-11

7 Suddenly, an angel of the Lord stood there, and a light shined in the cell. The angel struck Peter on the side and woke him up. “Hurry! Get up!” the angel said. And the chains fell off Peter’s hands. 8 Then the angel told him, “Get dressed and put on your sandals.” And Peter did. Then the angel said, “Put on your coat and follow me.” 9 So Peter followed him out, but he did not know if what the angel was doing was real; he thought he might be seeing a vision. 10 They went past the first and second guards and came to the iron gate that separated them from the city. The gate opened by itself for them, and they went through it. When they had walked down one street, the angel suddenly left him.
11 Then Peter realized what had happened. He thought, “Now I know that the Lord really sent his angel to me. He rescued me from Herod and from all the things the people thought would happen.”

There is an urgency in the sprint for the children is God to rise up and push back the Kingdom of darkness. The Kingdom of Heaven suffereth violence, and the violent take it by force.

We are at a pivotal time in the 20th century. And one day in a twinkling of an eye. Jesus will return, will we be ready?

God is looking for vessels of power to do His will on earth. God is putting hot fire in the pews of our church and get up quickly to do His work.

In China churches are being abolished and pastors imprisoned. Many without a trial and being tortured. Daily persecution in places like Iraq, India, Egypt etc.

God has given us the privilege of freedom of worship in this island but so we cannot justify sitting in church doing nothing.

It’s time for the church to arise and do it quickly. Time is short and our actions will determine if we are ready to move for God.

In Acts we learn that persecution spread the church.

Peter in our text was arrested by Herod the grandson of the Herod that tried to kill Jesus as a baby.

Today the spirit of Herod is still alive and trying to destroy the bride of Christ.

Jesus told Peter “ I tell you,you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates ofhell shall not prevail against it.”

God’s action: Something we need a suddenly moment in our lives, come into the light. Peter was chained and in prison. Many are now chained in bondages, but God has come suddenly.

But there was an action before God’s action.

Acts12:5
So Peter was kept in jail, but the church prayed earnestly to God for him.

The people were praying because the next day he was to be killed. James was gone he has fulfilled his purpose but there was still destiny in Peter. He still has an assignment to fulfill.

Time to align themselves into the Heavens to learn your purpose.

God will stop every assignment against you so you can fulfill your purpose

God has given you a skill and you must use it God expects it of you. He has put people in your life to direct you and lead you. To encourage you to get up and move quickly

Ephesians 6:18
Pray in the Spirit at all times with all kinds of prayers, asking for everything you need. To do this you must always be ready and never give up. Always pray for all God’s people.

Peter was heavily guarded but the angels still got in and suddenly he was delivered.

For too long we have been going nowhere fast but today those guards that have been assigned to keep us back from our destiny are being overcome today by the angles that have got through suddenly.

Ephesians 6:10-12
10 Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his great power. 11 Put on the full armor of God so that you can fight against the devil’s evil tricks. 12 Our fight is not against people on earth but against the rulers and authorities and the powers of this world’s darkness, against the spiritual powers of evil in the heavenly world.

The enemy will set up association they will transfer their ugly stuff onto us and drive us from the purpose of our lives.

The scapegoat spirit
Leviticus 16:8-9
8 He will throw lots for the two goats—one will be for the Lord and the other for the goat that removes sin. 9 Then Aaron will take the goat that was chosen for the Lord by throwing the lot, and he will offer it as a sin offering. 10 The other goat, which was chosen by lot to remove the sin, must be brought alive before the Lord. The priest will use it to perform the acts that remove Israel’s sin so they will belong to the Lord. Then this goat will be sent out into the desert as a goat that removes sin

We rebuke the scapegoat spirit.

A messenger of God has been sent to wake you up and remove your chains

The anointing is here to separate you from those that are in your life to keep you back.

Come out and get knitted into God . Ask God what is your call. Are you ready?

There are some things that God has been spoken to you about. God says get on board, get up suddenly, do it quickly. The angle said ‘Follow me’

You may have dropped something, like the ax head but just as Peter got up and picked up his sandals and obeyed and followed.

God needs the army to rise up and do a good work. There is an urgency in the spirit. Get up, arise, get to the purpose, there is a cause. Get in position, be like Peter.