Acts 12
A. Christianity must learn to live more by prayer and dependence upon GOD than upon apostles, prophets, and miracles!
B. Every religion has its faith-healers, and charismatic prophets, but Christianity has Christ! 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 mean business with God!
C. Areas of prayer
1. For your family – 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 – salvation
6. For your own boldness in witness – and for fruit
7. For you country and leaders
8. For your own needs – stop demanding, and whinging, and ASK (Jam 4)
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 Israel. The name “Herod” was like the title “Caesar.” This is the same Herod who had John the Baptist beheaded, and mocked Jesus at His crucifixion (Luke 23:11,12)
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 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 – remember, James still lives!
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 Rome kill Christ, and now James, and like Rome did in the dark ages!
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 Red Sea
B. The Deliverance of the Apostle Peter (12:3-19). With every supposed defeat, there is a greater victory in the works, if we would just trust and look to God
1. His Capture (12:3-5)
a. Massive police operation - 16 elite soldiers swiftly apprehend Peter and place him straight into prison – modern internment
b. Four soldiers (quaternion) are on constant guard at any one time - two were chained directly to Peter - Herod did not want Peter getting away like he had before in Acts 5:17-20.
2. 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
3. Peter’s Deliverance – notice: it was not an escape (12:5-11)
a. Because of prayer - made without ceasing by the whole church in Jerusalem (30,000 people praying for one person) – didn’t just expect
b. 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.
1) Didn’t worry all night about whether deliverance would come
a) Like Shadrach Meshach and Abendigo – didn’t mind either way
b) Knew he was only going HOME!
c) Are YOU that confident? Because of trusting in JESUS!
2) Didn’t KNOW even IF deliverance would come
c. Because of God’s will (James 4:13-15) - it was God’s will that James should die, and that Peter should stay alive.
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!
4. Peter’s Report to the Christians (12:12-17)
a. 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
b. 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!
c. 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).
1) Aren’t we a joke!
2) Our faith is most often so little that when prayers are answered we are surprised!
d. Absolutely nobody believers 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)!
Note: 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.
e. Peter quiets them down telling them to get the news to the OTHER James, the pastor of the church at Jerusalem, and to all the brethren who were still gathered praying (12:17). Peter then heads out of town until chapter 15. He doesn’t want to endanger these Christians!
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 Caesarea (90 miles north)
C. The Demise of King Herod (12:20-23) The Price of Pride – learn this well
1. Here in northern Israel, things seemed to go a little better for him
a. Herod controls a group of middle-eastern countries (Israel, and Samaria) under Roman rule. Rules them like a dictator.
b. He has succeeded in breaking the rebellion of the Tyre and Sidon region by an embargo.
c. The people of Tyre and Sidon befriend Blastus hoping to soften Herod’s anger - they want peace - under his control
d. Herod then has won control of the region
2. 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!
3. 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
D. The Development of the Work (12:24,25)
1. God’s word and 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. Barnabas and Saul have been in Jerusalem with all the relief funds due to the famine of the day, and have finished working there, and now head back to Antioch to continue to work and build there - they were anchored to the church of Antioch - loved it, and missed it when away.
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. Peter’s Deliverance , and therefore ANY victory in our life will be because of
1. Prayer – (not repetitious) made without ceasing by the whole church in Jerusalem (30,000 people praying for one person) don’t just expect
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. Knowing 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.
E. The Price of Pride – learn this well
1. No one is honest with you – just plays along to get away from you
2. But God will always make a fool out of you (12:23)
F. The Work of God Just Goes On (12:24,25)
1. God’s word and work goes on - the only time it stops is when God’s people think world events are more important than God’s events.