Acts 12:1-19

Aaccepting God's No has to be one of the greatest challenges to our faith.

Our Reactions

1. Disappointment

2. Grief

3. Doubt

4. Wrong Feelings

1 Peter 1:6-7 - So be truly glad! There is wonderful joy ahead, even though the going is rough for a while down here.

7 These trials are only to test your faith, to see whether or not it is strong and pure. It is being tested as fire tests gold and purifies it—and your faith is far more precious to God than mere gold; so if your faith remains strong after being tried in the test tube of fiery trials, it will bring you much praise and glory and honor on the day of his return.

3 Aides to taking "No" for an answer.

1. An Abandonment to "In Your Name"

2 Elements 1. God's Glory 2. God's Will

1. A True Desire for "Your will be done". If you could change God's mind, would you really want to?

Isaiah 55:8 - This plan of mine is not what you would work out, neither are my thoughts the same as yours.

Jeremiah 17:9 - The heart is the most deceitful thing there is and desperately wicked. No one can really know how bad it is.

Proverbs 3:5-6 - If you want favor with both God and man, and a reputation for good judgment and common sense, then trust the Lord completely; don’t ever trust yourself. 6 In everything you do, put God first, and he will direct you and crown your efforts with success.

1. A Trust / Faith that decides to continue. Just continuing is a great act of Faith.

Action Steps

1. What area of faith do you need to continue in?

2. What "No" do you need to "accept"?

3. Pray til you don't care?