Acts 12
Pastor Craig Ledbetter
DATE: 25 Sep, 2011 PM
PLACE: BBC Ballincollig
I.
Introduction
(Acts 12:5)
A. Christianity must learn to live more by prayer and dependence upon GOD than upon apostles, or upon prophets, or even miracles!
B. Every religion has its faith-healers, and charismatic prophets, but Christianity has Christ!
C. It is a lazy person who just “expects” God to “take care” of the situations that arise in their lives, instead of learning to pray, and humble themselves, and wrestle with God!
D. We need to learn to pray for everything and about everything!
1. For your family – by name – and by need! Too many attacks, and so little defences
2. For your husband/wife
3. For your pastor
4. For other Christians – by name – we are a team
5. For your boss and co-workers – their salvation, and their own needs! Show them that God hears your prayers!
6. For your own boldness in witness – and for fruit
7. For our country and leaders
8. For your own needs – stop demanding, and whinging, and just ASK (Jam 4)
E. And we need to believe that God will answer our requests!
II.
Message – Learning the
Importance of Prayer (Acts 12)
A. The Death of the Apostle James (12:1-3)
1. Background Information:
a.
Who is
Herod? A Roman-puppet king over the
area all around
b. Who is James? He is part of the trio of apostles named together as Peter, JAMES, and John. A fisherman with great faith and fervour for the Lord. He wrote the epistle near the end of the NT called “James”
2. The Reasons for James’ death - Why would God allow it?
a. The church needed to live more by prayer and dependence upon GOD than upon the apostles, and upon miracles!
b. The Roman government wanted the Jewish leaders back under their control - scratched each other’s back (see 24:27)
c. Herod wanted to scare the Christians - get the Christian’s attention, so he picked an important leader to kill - to strike fear in them (Mt 10:28).
d. It was James’ time to die
3. The Lessons from James’ Death
a. No Christian is Invincible. We do not have power over troubles - we are not invincible! Your life is in God’s hands! As long as God has a purpose for us, and we are willing to fulfill that purpose, that is when we are unstoppable.
b. Don’t expect fair treatment.
1) There was no trial - just a brutal stabbing. If there had been a trial he would have been officially beheaded.
2)
Religions love to get
governments to do their “dirty-work” (ie, murder, torture) like the Jews had
c. No replacement is made! Judas is replaced because he never was a true apostle - he was a devil incarnate (John 6:70).
1) There goes apostolic succession in the RC church
2) There goes the idea that there are apostles today!
d. No riots break out. Christians do not riot when mis-treated. We need to learn this
1) Not that we are passive and numb
2)
But that the battle belongs to
the Lord – i.e., at the
B. The Deliverance of the Apostle Peter (12:3-19).
1. With every supposed defeat, there is a greater victory in the works, if we would just trust and look to God
2. Peter’s Capture (12:3-5)
a. Massive police operation - 16 elite soldiers swiftly apprehend Peter and place him straight into prison
b. Four soldiers (quaternion) are on constant guard at any one time - two were chained directly to Peter. Herod didn’t want Peter getting away like he had before in Act 5:17-20.
3. The Holydays (12:3,4) - can’t interrupt the festivities!
a. The Jews had their Feast of Unleavened Bread (Passover)
b. The Romans had EASTER - Eggs, orgies, fertility worship
4. Peter’s Deliverance – notice: it was not an escape (12:5-11).
a. Peter was freed:
1)
Because of prayer -
made without ceasing by the whole church in
2) Because of peace in Peter’s heart - he had a rest that allowed him to sleep, even though he knew he faced death in the morning.
a) Didn’t worry all night about whether deliverance would come
(i) Like Shadrach Meshach and Abendigo – didn’t mind either way
(ii) Knew he was only going HOME!
(iii) Are YOU that confident? Because of trusting in JESUS!
b) Didn’t KNOW even IF deliverance would come
c) But he still was at peace in his heart!
3) Because of God’s will (James 4:13-15) - it was God’s will that James should die, and that Peter should stay alive. It is often hard to accept God’s will!
b. How it happened:
1) God sent the angel of the Lord
a) Broke off Peter’s chains
b) Put Peter’s guards to sleep all throughout the prison
c) Opened every locked door
d) Commanded Peter to just follow him out!
2) Peter realised this was no dream - it was unexpected! Peter did not have “great” faith, just a great God!
5. What about the Guards? (12:18,19)
a. They were dead men - “no small stir!” Herod has them questioned, and then executes them!
b. Herod is therefore humiliated in front of the Jews whom he was showing off to. Kings hate to be humiliated - rely on perceptions! Same with most ALL politicians
c.
So Herod goes out-of-town to
C. Peter’s Report to the Christians (12:12-17)
1. As he thought about all these events, he passed Mary’s house (not Mary the mother of Jesus) – her son’s name is John Mark
2. He saw the lights on (at 5am), and knew they were praying for him - had been praying all night, and for the past 7 days!
3. As Peter knocks to get in, Rhoda hears him, and is too excited to go and open the gate (she too is surprised God answered their prayers).
4. Absolutely nobody believes her, nor in the power of prayer - they all think it is just a spirit! It was the same when Jesus rose from the dead (Luke 24:9-12)!
a. Aren’t we a joke!
b. Our faith is most often so little that when prayers are answered we are surprised!
Note: It is possible to pray about something for so long that you lose faith, and get locked into the motions of the prayer instead of dependence upon God.
5.
When they
finally ACCEPT that God answered prayer, Peter quieted them
6.
He them to get the news to the
OTHER James, the pastor of the church at
D. The Ruin of King Herod (12:20-23) The Price of Pride – learn this well
1. Funny how God includes a lesson on PRIDE in a lesson on prayer!!!
2.
In northern
a.
Herod controls a group of
middle-eastern countries (
b.
He has succeeded in breaking
the rebellion of the
c.
The people of
d. Herod then has won control of the region
3. So Herod makes a show of his authority (12:21,22)
a. Shows-off by making an “oration” - believes in himself!
b. The people play along with him and feed his ego calling him “a god” - they are desperate for him to think they love him - forced love that is!
4. But God makes a fool out of him (12:23)
a. God wont let leadership get away with sin - even though they may be unsaved, or seem like they are untouchable (Luke 12:46-48; remember Rom 13:1-5)
b. Herod already knew enough about God and especially Christ.
c. Herod pays a high price - total humiliation, and death (Rom 6:23; Luke 14:11)
1) Just like it was God’s will to allow apostle James to Die
2) It is God’s will that the proud will be brought low
E. Christianity Goes On (12:24,25)
1. God’s word and His work goes on - the only time it stops is when God’s people think world events are more important than God’s events.
a. Sports on Sunday - idolatry
b. Work on Sunday – idolatry as well
c. When we put God down our list, it hinders us the most – more than all the Herod’s of the world against us!
2.
Peter heads out to
3.
Barnabas and Saul have been in
III.
Conclusion/Application
– What have we learned?
A. No Christian is Invincible.
B. With every supposed defeat, there is a greater victory in the works, if we would just trust and look to God
C. ANY victory in our life will be because of
1.
Prayer
– (not repetitious) made without ceasing by the whole church in
2. Peace in Peter’s heart - he had a rest that allowed him to sleep, even though he knew he faced death in the morning.
3. Accepting God’s will (James 4:13-15) - it was God’s will that James should die, and that Peter should stay alive.
D. Don’t be like the Christians here in Acts 12 – praying, but not believing God! It is possible to pray about something for so long that you lose the goal, and get locked into the motions of the prayer instead of the fellowship, and dependence upon God.
1. We need to pray and believe God for so many lives to be saved and changed
2. We must believe God for a building – I pray we never have it all happen, and we just sit in disbelief!
E. There is a Price for Pride – learn this well. God will always make a fool out of you if you are proud (12:23)
F. The Work of God Just Goes On (12:24,25)
1. God’s word and work goes on
2. Let’s stay with it! Until the RAPTURE!
3. The only time it stops is when God’s people think world events are more important than God’s events.