Cedar Grove Baptist Church

To God be the glory!

Bro. Jeff Carroll’s text came from Acts 5:12-25, 12:5-19 and 16:16-34. His sermon title was “Sorry Jails, or and Awesome God We Serve.” The men of God were put in jail three times, but the jails couldn’t hold them.

The Bible tells us the apostles were ordered by the high priest and the Sadducees not to preach in Jesus’ name, but they obeyed God and continued to preach. The apostles were arrested and put in prison. The doors were secure and there were guards outside the doors, but that same night, an angel of the Lord opened the prison doors and brought them out per God’s instruction. They were to go back to the temple and continue preaching. Later, when the officers opened the prison door to bring the apostles out, no one was there. The high priest came to them in the temple saying, “Did we not strictly command you not to preach in Jesus’ name?” But Peter and the other apostles answered them saying, “We should to obey God rather than man.”

Peter was arrested and put in prison again, this time by four quads of men with four men each (16 men). Peter was bound with chains between two soldiers, with the other soldiers on guard at the door. After the apostles first release, the soldiers were not taking any chances this time. An angel of the Lord came that night, struck Peter on the side, and the chains fell from his hands. The angel raised him up, telling him to get dressed quickly and put on his sandals. Peter was not sure at this point if he was having a vision or if this was real. They went out, went down one street, and the angel was gone. Peter came to himself and realized it was real, for he was outside of the prison. He went to the home of Mary, the mother of John, where all the people had been praying for his release. There was no small stir when, at the break of day, the soldiers saw that Peter was gone. Herod came, and when he could not find Peter either, he immediately ordered the soldiers who had been in charge of guarding Peter to be put to death.

Paul and Silas were arrested and put in prison, but the guards, again having heard of Peter’s prison escape, were definitely not taking any chances. They took them to the innermost depth of the prison and put them in stocks. Paul and Silas were praying and giving praises to God with the guards listening. At midnight, all of a sudden, there was a great earthquake. The foundations of the prison were shaken, everyone’s chains fell off and all the doors opened. The keeper of the prison awakened from sleep. Supposing the prisoners had fled, he drew his sword and was about to kill himself, but Paul called with a loud voice, “Do not harm yourself; we are here.” The keeper of the prison called for a light. He ran trembling before Paul and Silas, brought them out and asked, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?” Paul told him, “Believe on Jesus Christ and you will be saved, you and your household.”

The prison guard took Paul and Silas to his house, cleaned their wounds, then he and his whole family were baptized. With all that being said, we as Christians need to realize that God is in control of our lives, not man. There is power in the name of Jesus. Let us not forget that we do not have to face trials, tribulations, temptations or persecution on our own. God is God, all the time; we just fail to have the faith to believe. Let us all vow to let go and let God.

God bless, have a great week, and remember: God loves you. He is knocking at your heart’s door; will you let him in?

Announcements:

June 14 at 7 p.m., we will begin having Friday night prayer meetings. Everyone is invited to attend.

June 15: Price Family Reunion in the fellowship hall at Cedar Grove.

June 22: Youth car wash at Advance Auto Parts. All proceeds to go to the purchase of a much-needed church van for our youth. All donations welcome.

Church Camp will be the second week in July. All children and youth wishing to attend should see our youth pastor, Bro. Clay Collins.

There will a youth revival beginning the third week of July at Cedar Grove. Details to follow.

Aug. 18: Homecoming (mark the date for the third Sunday in August instead of the fourth) Guest will be Bro. Randy Perry. Revival to follow Aug. 19-21. Let us be in prayer for this also

Prayer concerns: Renee Cleckley, Billy Wyatt, Janet Wyatt, Jean Varden, also a family member of Ms. Jean’s who was in a serious car accident recently, Bro. Billy Caton›s son-in-law, David Bullard, spoken and unspoken requests.

Give God all the praise and glory for answered prayers!