Rock Of Refuge Ministries

Blessed Is She Who Believes: Pray, Listen and Believe\
Acts 12:1–24
“Your blessing is at the door. Your answer is at the door. Your miracle is at the door. Open the door and receive it!”

1. SOMEONE IS PRAYING WHILE YOU ARE IN PRISON
Acts 12 opens with a terrible situation.
Herod had stretched out his hand against the church.
James had been killed.
Now Peter was arrested and put in prison.
Peter was not in prison because he had done something wrong.
He was in prison because he was serving God.
Sometimes you can be doing the will of God and still find yourself in a difficult place.
You can be faithful and still face opposition.
You can pray and still find yourself in a prison.

2. WHAT KIND OF A THREAT ARE YOU TO THE ENEMY?
Herod did not put Peter in prison because Peter was insignificant.
He put him there because Peter was dangerous to the kingdom of darkness.
The enemy saw something in Peter.
Peter was carrying something.
Peter had a purpose.
Peter had a calling.
Peter had a future.
Peter himself may not have understood everything God was going to do through him.
But the enemy wanted to stop it.
So he put him in chains.
He surrounded him with guards.
He tried to make sure Peter could not make the next move.
But chains cannot cancel God's purpose!
Guards cannot stop God's plan!
A prison cannot imprison the Word of God!
Acts 12:7 says:
“Now behold, an angel of the Lord stood by him...”
Peter was sleeping between two soldiers.
He was bound with two chains.
Guards were watching the door.
From the natural perspective, there was no way out.
But suddenly...
The angel appeared
The enemy knew what was inside Peter.
What God has ordained for you cannot be cancelled by what the enemy has arranged against you.

A GREAT BLESSING — JESUS CHRIST
Main Scripture: John 3:16–21
Supporting Scriptures: John 3:36; Matthew 16:24
There are many blessings we can receive in life—family, health, opportunities, possessions, relationships, titles and achievements. But there is one blessing greater than all of them: Jesus Christ.
John 3:16 reveals the heart of the Gospel: God loved the world so much that He gave His only Son so that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life.
Jesus is not merely something God gave us. Jesus is God's greatest gift to humanity.
This gift is available to everyone—rich and poor, educated and uneducated, believer and unbeliever, regardless of culture, background or social position.
But receiving Jesus also means allowing Him to change the way we live.
Key Thought: We do not receive Jesus simply to add Him to our lives; we receive Him so that He can transform our lives.
INTRODUCTION

ONLY BELIEVE
Theme: Be Not Afraid, Only Believe
📖 Key Scripture: Mark 5:36
“Be not afraid, only believe.”

You should understand:
Why believing is essential to our relationship with God.
How unbelief can limit what God wants to do in our lives.
How to keep believing when circumstances tell us to be afraid.
📖 Hebrews 11:6
“But without faith it is impossible to please him…”
The sermon teaches that believing is a prerequisite for our relationship with God. Faith is central to salvation, spiritual rebirth, and our walk with Christ.
Jesus said:
📖 John 3:16
Whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.
📖 John 5:24
Whoever hears Christ's Word and believes has eternal life and has passed from death to life.
Faith therefore is not an optional extra in Christianity.
Faith is foundational.
We cannot separate our walk with God from believing Him.

Mark 10:46–52 (NKJV)

INTRODUCTION
Life has a way of placing people in situations that seem impossible to overcome.
Some people are battling sickness, financial hardship, broken relationships, disappointment, rejection, or spiritual struggles.
Many have prayed for years without seeing immediate results, and they are tempted to give up.
The story of Blind Bartimaeus teaches us that persistent faith moves the heart of God.
Bartimaeus refused to allow his condition, the opinions of people, or the obstacles around him to stop him from reaching Jesus.
Faith that refuses to give up is faith that continues to believe even when nothing seems to be changing.
It is faith that keeps praying, keeps trusting, keeps serving, and keeps calling upon the Lord until the breakthrough comes.

- Hebrews 11:6 NKJV [6] But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.

Mark 5:25-34