1. RIP
Rest In Peace
Peace that Jesus gives is not the absence of trouble, but is rather the confidence that He is there with you always.

2. Can you name some the greatest prison escapes of all times?

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4. Acts 12:1-3 (NLT) 12 About that time King Herod Agrippa began to persecute some believers in the church. 2 He had the apostle James (John’s brother) killed with a sword. 3 When Herod saw how much this pleased the Jewish people, he also arrested Peter. (This took place during the Passover celebration.)

8. Acts 12:4-6 (NLT) 4 Then he (Herod) imprisoned him (Peter), placing him under the guard of four squads of four soldiers each. Herod intended to bring Peter out for public trial after the Passover. 5 But while Peter was in prison, the church prayed very earnestly for him. 6 The night before Peter was to be placed on trial, he was asleep, fastened with two chains between two soldiers. Others stood guard at the prison gate.

10. John 14:27 (NLT) 27 “I am leaving you with a gift—peace of mind and heart. And the peace I give is a gift the world cannot give. So don’t be troubled or afraid. Philippians 4:6-7 (NLT) 6 Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. 7 Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus. Proverbs 3:24 (NLT) 24 You can go to bed without fear; you will lie down and sleep soundly.

11. Psalm 37:7(NLT) Be still in the presence of the Lord, and wait patiently for him to act. Don’t worry about evil people who prosper or fret about their wicked schemes.

12. That brand of peace is on display throughout the Word of God
That brand of peace is on display throughout the Word of God. When three Hebrews faced a fiery furnace --Daniel 3:16 (NLT) 16 Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego replied, “O Nebuchadnezzar, we do not need to defend ourselves before you. When Daniel faced a lion’s den -- Daniel 6:10 (NLT) 10 But when Daniel learned that the law had been signed, he went home and knelt down as usual in his upstairs room, with its windows open toward Jerusalem. He prayed three times a day, just as he had always done, giving thanks to his God.

13. Don’t let your worries get the best of you; Remember Moses started out as a basket case.

14. Do you believe it?

15. For those who are saved, God has already delivered them from the worst prison of all--sin, judgment and Hell. If He can deliver a sinner from that prison, then any other prison will be a pushover!

16. Proverbs 3:5 (GNT) 5 Trust in the Lord with all your heart
Proverbs 3:5 (GNT) 5 Trust in the Lord with all your heart. Never rely on what you think you know.

17. Philippians 1:21-25 (NLT) 21 For to me, living means living for Christ, and dying is even better.

18. Acts 12:7-11 (NLT) 7 Suddenly, there was a bright light in the cell, and an angel of the Lord stood before Peter. The angel struck him on the side to awaken him and said, “Quick! Get up!” And the chains fell off his wrists. 8 Then the angel told him, “Get dressed and put on your sandals.” And he did. “Now put on your coat and follow me,” the angel ordered. 9 So Peter left the cell, following the angel. But all the time he thought it was a vision. He didn’t realize it was actually happening. 10 They passed the first and second guard posts and came to the iron gate leading to the city, and this opened for them all by itself. So they passed through and started walking down the street, and then the angel suddenly left him. 11 Peter finally came to his senses. “It’s really true!” he said. “The Lord has sent his angel and saved me from Herod and from what the Jewish leaders had planned to do to me!”

19. Peter got HIS get out of jail free card. It made no sense
Peter got HIS get out of jail free card. It made no sense. It shouldn’t have happened. But it did. God is in control. Do you believe it?
Now, let’s switch scenes for a moment & move from the locked cell holding Peter to the house of John Mark’s mother where a group of Christians were praying for Peter. 

21. Verse 5 says, 5 But while Peter was in prison, the church prayed very earnestly for him. The Greek word that is translated "earnestly" is a medical term describing the stretching of a muscle to its limits. And it is exactly the same word used when Jesus prayed in the Garden of Gethsemane. Luke writes, "And being in anguish, He (Jesus) prayed more earnestly, & His sweat was like drops of blood falling to the ground" Luke 22:44.

22. Acts 12:12-19 (NLT) 12 When he realized this (the Lord had freed him), he went to the home of Mary, the mother of John Mark, where many were gathered for prayer. 13 He knocked at the door in the gate, and a servant girl named Rhoda came to open it. 14 When she recognized Peter’s voice, she was so overjoyed that, instead of opening the door, she ran back inside and told everyone, “Peter is standing at the door!” 15 “You’re out of your mind!” they said. When she insisted, they decided, “It must be his angel.” 16 Meanwhile, Peter continued knocking. When they finally opened the door and saw him, they were amazed. 17 He motioned for them to quiet down and told them how the Lord had led him out of prison. “Tell James and the other brothers what happened,” he said. And then he went to another place. 18 At dawn there was a great commotion among the soldiers about what had happened to Peter. 19 Herod Agrippa ordered a thorough search for him. When he couldn’t be found, Herod interrogated the guards and sentenced them to death. Afterward Herod left Judea to stay in Caesarea for a while.

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25. “Heaven is full of answers for which no one ever bothered to ask
“Heaven is full of answers for which no one ever bothered to ask.” Billy Graham. 

26. P – Pray U- Until S – Something H - Happens
Do you pray in earnest? Do you P.U.S.H?
P – Pray
U- Until
S – Something
H - Happens
When you pray, do you expect God to answer?

28. References The Prison of His Power – Alan Carr SURPRISED BY PRAYER -- Melvin Newland Don't You Just Love Surprises? -- James May Praying With The Early Church -- Jerry Shirley P.U.S.H. -- Quinton Williamson The High And The Mighty -- Steve Shepherd Wild Praying -- Jeff Strite In Prison But Praying -- Steve Shepherd Surprised By Prayer! -- Mike Hays