WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:05.360 So now you can understand the sketch of the bird being captured and put in prison 00:00:05.360 --> 00:00:10.160 and the other animals praying for her release. 00:00:11.060 --> 00:00:21.199 This passage that Sonia's just read for us has all the hallmarks that would make an epic film. 00:00:21.920 --> 00:00:26.060 The wicked king arresting and killing Christians. 00:00:26.059 --> 00:00:30.960 The suspense and the danger that Peter is in. 00:00:31.539 --> 00:00:39.759 The anxiety and the fervent prayer of the Christians pleading with God to save Peter. 00:00:40.600 --> 00:00:44.939 The supernatural intervention of the angel. 00:00:45.820 --> 00:00:50.599 The comedic moments of the angel having to hit him to wake him up. 00:00:50.600 --> 00:00:59.539 He's so deeply asleep and then Rhoda the maidservant leaving him shut outside the house because she's so excited. 00:01:00.439 --> 00:01:02.380 And then the joyous reunion. 00:01:02.380 --> 00:01:15.400 When I read the chapter that I was given from the series that you're doing this time round, Postcards from the Edge, 00:01:15.960 --> 00:01:19.460 I could have got about four or five different sermons from the material. 00:01:19.700 --> 00:01:22.480 If you've not read it, it's a really, really good read. 00:01:22.520 --> 00:01:26.219 And I've ordered the book because I loved it so much. 00:01:26.219 --> 00:01:36.219 But it's an all-age worship and it's meant to be shorter, so I had to choose one angle to go from this morning. 00:01:37.840 --> 00:01:47.939 And there's a story in the book, Postcards from the Edge, about a woman called Deborah Searle who rode across the Atlantic alone. 00:01:47.939 --> 00:01:51.759 And it was really, really hard work and really scary. 00:01:52.359 --> 00:01:57.539 And at times she wondered what on earth she was doing and she felt like she wanted to give up. 00:01:58.400 --> 00:02:03.259 But three words kept her going through that time. 00:02:04.039 --> 00:02:09.340 Every morning she said to herself, choose your attitude. 00:02:09.340 --> 00:02:18.560 How are you going to deal with what life throws at you today? 00:02:20.219 --> 00:02:22.400 Are you going to let it defeat you? 00:02:23.020 --> 00:02:26.300 Or are you going to survive and thrive? 00:02:27.879 --> 00:02:31.140 The situation that Peter was in was dire. 00:02:32.140 --> 00:02:38.099 King Herod had already arrested James, the brother of John, and had him executed. 00:02:38.099 --> 00:02:46.740 And had received so much praise from the Romans and from the Jews that he was really excited about that. 00:02:46.819 --> 00:02:51.840 He was all about wanting to receive the glory and the wonder and everybody else liking him. 00:02:52.379 --> 00:02:56.120 And so he thought, I need to carry on and do this to get more praise. 00:02:56.219 --> 00:02:58.419 And so he had Peter arrested. 00:02:59.639 --> 00:03:06.419 While Peter is in prison, he's expected to have a trial the next day. 00:03:06.419 --> 00:03:13.299 Which would certainly, with great certainty, lead to his execution. 00:03:13.979 --> 00:03:20.859 And to make sure that he doesn't escape because, you know, what happened to the body of Jesus and all sorts of things can happen. 00:03:20.979 --> 00:03:26.560 There are four loads of soldiers who are around to make sure that he doesn't. 00:03:26.619 --> 00:03:30.539 And he's chained between two big burly soldiers. 00:03:30.539 --> 00:03:39.019 Now if I was in that situation, and I knew that tomorrow I would be going to trial. 00:03:39.599 --> 00:03:42.099 And an unfair trial at that. 00:03:42.239 --> 00:03:45.340 And that tomorrow was probably going to be the day that I died. 00:03:45.659 --> 00:03:47.519 I don't think I would sleep. 00:03:48.319 --> 00:03:53.620 But Peter just settled down and went so deeply asleep. 00:03:53.620 --> 00:04:00.240 That when the angel came to wake him up, he had to hit him on the side to get him awake. 00:04:01.960 --> 00:04:06.659 The thing is that Peter just gave it all to God. 00:04:06.800 --> 00:04:10.040 There was absolutely nothing that he could do. 00:04:10.960 --> 00:04:14.000 Nothing he could say would make a difference. 00:04:14.000 --> 00:04:16.819 And so he just gave it to God. 00:04:17.120 --> 00:04:20.860 And, you know, whether I live or whether I die is in God's hands. 00:04:21.420 --> 00:04:22.800 I trust it all to him. 00:04:23.180 --> 00:04:25.060 And went to sleep. 00:04:25.899 --> 00:04:31.540 On the other side of town, the Christians had gathered to pray for Peter. 00:04:32.379 --> 00:04:35.199 Now that was a dangerous thing to do. 00:04:36.000 --> 00:04:39.779 It was really dangerous gathering together at that time. 00:04:39.779 --> 00:04:42.779 King Herod was on the rampage. 00:04:43.599 --> 00:04:47.939 And the more Christians that he caught, the more glory that he would get. 00:04:48.799 --> 00:04:51.219 So gathering together was a huge risk. 00:04:52.119 --> 00:04:57.759 But Luke tells us that constant prayer was made to God on Peter's behalf. 00:04:59.879 --> 00:05:02.719 Peter was called to rest. 00:05:03.799 --> 00:05:06.459 The church was called to action. 00:05:06.459 --> 00:05:11.819 Peter was in prison and there is nothing he could do to save himself. 00:05:11.939 --> 00:05:14.959 So he entrusted himself totally to the hands of God. 00:05:15.399 --> 00:05:19.839 The church, however, could do the most powerful thing there is. 00:05:20.459 --> 00:05:21.599 And that was to pray. 00:05:24.579 --> 00:05:25.759 That was then. 00:05:26.799 --> 00:05:28.019 This is now. 00:05:28.019 --> 00:05:38.459 And while there still are very many Christians around the world who are being imprisoned and persecuted for their faith, 00:05:39.699 --> 00:05:43.299 this passage speaks to each one of us here too. 00:05:44.519 --> 00:05:51.199 Because many people here this morning are imprisoned in some way. 00:05:51.199 --> 00:05:54.379 There might be through pain. 00:05:54.839 --> 00:05:56.199 Or through fear. 00:05:57.199 --> 00:05:58.339 Through anxiety. 00:05:59.339 --> 00:06:00.379 Or to addiction. 00:06:02.300 --> 00:06:04.860 It might be through anger. 00:06:05.699 --> 00:06:06.680 Or bitterness. 00:06:07.699 --> 00:06:09.819 The inability to forgive. 00:06:11.300 --> 00:06:12.419 Through shame. 00:06:13.360 --> 00:06:19.699 Or maybe through coping with the fact that you didn't get the results in exams that you wanted to get. 00:06:19.699 --> 00:06:25.399 And it has such a tight hold on you. 00:06:26.519 --> 00:06:29.459 That you might as well be behind bars. 00:06:30.379 --> 00:06:34.180 Chained between two enormous soldiers. 00:06:35.620 --> 00:06:38.060 You tried to escape it. 00:06:39.399 --> 00:06:42.120 You tried so hard. 00:06:43.120 --> 00:06:46.099 But in the end those chains won't break. 00:06:46.100 --> 00:06:50.160 You just can't get free. 00:06:52.920 --> 00:06:58.500 Maybe, if that's you here this morning, you need to try a new tack. 00:06:59.200 --> 00:07:00.900 To stop striving. 00:07:02.100 --> 00:07:03.560 To give it to God. 00:07:04.560 --> 00:07:10.860 And to know the deep peace that reminds you that he's got it in hand. 00:07:11.480 --> 00:07:12.840 And he'll see you through. 00:07:12.839 --> 00:07:18.739 But there's another thing that you can do. 00:07:19.659 --> 00:07:22.219 You can tell a trusted friend. 00:07:22.560 --> 00:07:23.619 Or friends. 00:07:24.119 --> 00:07:25.759 Who will pray for you. 00:07:26.759 --> 00:07:27.439 Constantly. 00:07:28.439 --> 00:07:29.919 That you will be set free. 00:07:30.079 --> 00:07:31.739 That you'll be released. 00:07:32.139 --> 00:07:33.279 From this prison. 00:07:33.279 --> 00:07:36.579 You don't have to carry it alone. 00:07:38.599 --> 00:07:40.899 Remember in the gospel stories. 00:07:41.199 --> 00:07:46.179 There's that story where Jesus was preaching in a house. 00:07:46.259 --> 00:07:47.859 And it was absolutely crowded. 00:07:48.979 --> 00:07:52.079 And some friends brought a paralyzed man. 00:07:52.099 --> 00:07:53.059 You know that story. 00:07:53.799 --> 00:07:54.979 To see Jesus. 00:07:55.179 --> 00:07:56.379 And they couldn't get into the house. 00:07:56.439 --> 00:07:57.699 So they went up onto the roof. 00:07:57.739 --> 00:08:00.000 And they tore a hole in the roof. 00:08:00.199 --> 00:08:01.699 The homeowner must have been delighted. 00:08:01.699 --> 00:08:03.779 No insurance in those days. 00:08:04.259 --> 00:08:07.920 And lowered the man down through the roof. 00:08:08.039 --> 00:08:08.800 To Jesus. 00:08:09.579 --> 00:08:10.860 That paralyzed man. 00:08:11.079 --> 00:08:13.899 Had no means of getting there on his own. 00:08:14.039 --> 00:08:14.719 He was incapable. 00:08:14.920 --> 00:08:15.599 He couldn't walk. 00:08:15.860 --> 00:08:16.939 He couldn't do it. 00:08:17.480 --> 00:08:18.439 His friends. 00:08:19.099 --> 00:08:19.860 Brought him. 00:08:20.199 --> 00:08:20.740 To Jesus. 00:08:21.399 --> 00:08:22.759 So that he could be released. 00:08:22.919 --> 00:08:23.399 And freed. 00:08:23.740 --> 00:08:24.899 And able to walk. 00:08:25.399 --> 00:08:27.519 And that's what we can do. 00:08:27.699 --> 00:08:28.699 As Christians. 00:08:28.699 --> 00:08:31.139 Because while there are those. 00:08:31.459 --> 00:08:33.019 Who are imprisoned. 00:08:33.659 --> 00:08:35.439 There may be some of you sat here. 00:08:35.519 --> 00:08:36.039 Thinking well. 00:08:36.240 --> 00:08:37.700 Today's sermon's not for me. 00:08:38.019 --> 00:08:39.080 Might as well have not come. 00:08:39.399 --> 00:08:40.600 What's going to speak to me? 00:08:41.439 --> 00:08:42.919 You can be the ones who pray. 00:08:44.279 --> 00:08:44.759 Because. 00:08:46.200 --> 00:08:46.939 How wonderful. 00:08:47.259 --> 00:08:48.620 That you haven't got that burden. 00:08:49.220 --> 00:08:50.379 But others have. 00:08:51.200 --> 00:08:52.819 And without the friends. 00:08:52.899 --> 00:08:54.139 Of that paralyzed man. 00:08:54.439 --> 00:08:55.720 He wouldn't have been healed. 00:08:55.720 --> 00:08:57.899 And without the prayers. 00:08:57.980 --> 00:08:59.080 Of those Christians. 00:08:59.480 --> 00:09:00.300 For Peter. 00:09:00.620 --> 00:09:01.300 In prison. 00:09:01.820 --> 00:09:02.620 We don't know. 00:09:02.840 --> 00:09:04.279 What would have happened. 00:09:06.200 --> 00:09:07.700 So for those of you. 00:09:07.879 --> 00:09:08.600 Who aren't. 00:09:09.120 --> 00:09:09.560 Burdened. 00:09:09.879 --> 00:09:10.700 In any way. 00:09:10.779 --> 00:09:11.580 Like this. 00:09:12.200 --> 00:09:13.240 Can you be the prayers? 00:09:14.019 --> 00:09:15.620 Can you get alongside someone. 00:09:15.920 --> 00:09:16.759 Who is hurting. 00:09:16.980 --> 00:09:17.379 Who is. 00:09:17.759 --> 00:09:18.080 Bound. 00:09:18.180 --> 00:09:19.060 Who is imprisoned. 00:09:19.560 --> 00:09:20.379 By something. 00:09:20.500 --> 00:09:22.040 That is holding them so tight. 00:09:22.160 --> 00:09:23.120 It's stopping them being. 00:09:23.220 --> 00:09:24.420 The people they're meant to be. 00:09:24.419 --> 00:09:26.339 And pray for them. 00:09:26.919 --> 00:09:28.059 Like never before. 00:09:31.779 --> 00:09:33.039 Who do you know. 00:09:33.539 --> 00:09:34.360 Who's struggling. 00:09:35.639 --> 00:09:37.099 Get alongside them. 00:09:37.879 --> 00:09:38.939 And fight for them. 00:09:42.740 --> 00:09:43.759 Deborah Searle. 00:09:44.759 --> 00:09:45.979 Rode across. 00:09:46.339 --> 00:09:47.439 The Atlantic Ocean. 00:09:48.919 --> 00:09:50.699 Trying to decide each day. 00:09:50.839 --> 00:09:52.500 Whether she wanted to carry on. 00:09:52.500 --> 00:09:53.980 But saying every day. 00:09:54.159 --> 00:09:54.679 Choose. 00:09:55.000 --> 00:09:55.820 Your attitude. 00:09:58.000 --> 00:09:59.559 What are you going to choose. 00:09:59.779 --> 00:10:00.139 Today. 00:10:02.360 --> 00:10:02.919 Peace. 00:10:03.559 --> 00:10:04.519 Or action. 00:10:06.600 --> 00:10:08.100 If you're burdened. 00:10:08.659 --> 00:10:09.659 Give it to Jesus. 00:10:10.720 --> 00:10:11.860 If you're not. 00:10:12.639 --> 00:10:13.899 Pray for those who are. 00:10:15.179 --> 00:10:16.220 And then live it. 00:10:16.340 --> 00:10:17.519 Hit the Christian life. 00:10:17.639 --> 00:10:17.980 Knowing. 00:10:18.539 --> 00:10:19.659 That he is at work. 00:10:20.000 --> 00:10:21.460 Within each one of us. 00:10:21.460 --> 00:10:24.100 Amen. 00:10:24.100 --> 00:10:24.160 Amen.