New Mexico state record. (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1914-19??, 1920-02-20

jl4. James 5:l6-lS.
PRIMARY TOPIC How an Angel
Helped Peter.
JUNIOR TOPIC-Peter Delivered From
Prison.
INTERMEDIATE AND SENIOR TOPIC
How Prayer Helps.
YOUNG PEOPLE MI ADULT TOPIC
Things Wrought by Prayer.
]. Peters Imprisonment WV. Id.
!. by whom ". -. llerOd. the
grandson of the wicked Herod who
slew the innocent children at Bethle-
lem.
z. The reason ". -. II was to gain
'he favor of the Jews. Herod was not
a jew, and therefore knew that his
success was dependent upon having
The good will of the Jews. lie did not
particularly hate the Church. but loved
popularity. Herod. for the sake Of
popularity, assumed "A deep sympathy
for degenerate Judaism. Since the
Church had developed into n success
ful rival of Judaism-indeed was al
ready displacing it-he saw an Oppor-
innity TO curry favor with the Jews by
putting his hand forth against it.
3. The method ". A.. Peter was ar.
rested. put into prison and guarded by
four guaternlOns of soldiers. A qua
terniOn is a guard Of four soldiers on
duty mt the same time. -Four quater-
MONS meant that n special group was
on duty each watch of the night. II
was the custom for two soldiers 10 be
in the prison, one on each side of the
prisoner, bound to his arms with
chains ". @. The third n 10 watch
outside the doOr and the fourth to be
near the outside gate. Humanity
speaking II was impossible 10 escape.
However. they made one fatal mis-
take: they left out God.
u. The Church Of God in Prayer
". 50.
The Church was in a crisis her sit.
uatiOn was most grave. James, one OF
the pillars of the Church. was dead.
and Peter, the most prominent of all.
was In prison. In this desperate strait
they did the wise thing they bet0Ok
themselves to prayer. There is moth
ing too hard for God. Theirs was n
noteworthy prayer:
!. II was unto God, not unto men to
he heard of men. This is II very coln-
mon fault today. All True prayer is
unto God.
:. II WAS united prayer. 1t was
prayers of individuals, but there Is
peculiar power in The united prayer
Of Gods people.
3. II was an intensely earnest
prayer. II was more Than INCREASING
prayer; II was the yearning desire Of
ward God.
4. II was definite prayer. They spe-
officially %interceded for Peter. Their
prayer was concentrated. definite and
specific.
~. Peter Delivered by an Angel
wv. GID.
This occurred the night before Her
ml's plan Ia make II public display of
him.
|. Peter sleeping ". 60. The angel
found Peter asleep. The Lord keeps
IN perfect pence those whose minds
are stayed on him lisa. 20 ~. Again.
he gives his beloved sleep psalm
I27 ~.
=. Peter leaving the prison wv. 7-10).
The heavenly light shone in the prison.
The angel smote Peter on the side.
The chains fell OF, Peter put on his
"a - -. -. ....I "a. -.
other. through The iron gate out into
the city.
=. The effect upon Peter ". ~. Al
though The event was so wonderful TO
Peter. anu at first he thought Il n
vision. when he came Ia himself he
was assured beyond ~peradventure of a
doubt that God had tremendously de-
liverei him from Ilerod's wicked
hands.
~. Unconscious Unbelief wv. 12-19). |
I. The behavior of Peter and the
Church wv. 12-1D. Peter went TO
the house of Mary and knoeked. The
knock was answered by ItlIoda. who
was So oNerjoled on hearing Peters
that she forgot To open the gale
and ran in aud told them that Peter
WAS AT The gale. The disciples were
prepared for such good news and
even accused her of madness. I'm
.launte,. she insisted. They offered as
an explanation that perhaps il might
be Peters guardian angel Ia his like
ness. Peter ~rehearsed unto them the
Lords dealing with him and instruct
ri them To make these things known
james and the brethren.
=. The behavior Of the soldiers wv.
IS. I9). There was great agitation
among them over Peters disappear
,nce. This was n serious matter.
,lnce they were responsible for him.
Not being able 10 account for Peters
.scape. Herod commanded thai they
}. put to death
sympathy.
Sympathy is the power Of putting