Will prevail through hardship
Series: The Church
Speaker: Steve Jeffrey
Date: 16th November 2013
Passage: Acts 12:1-25
00:00:00 --> 00:00:16 Back in 2004, I think it was around about then, I made an application on behalf of my previous church to the New South Wales Department of Commerce in order for us as a church to access government contract rates on a number of different purchases.
00:00:16 --> 00:00:25 The process was painful, to say the least, in terms of the paperwork going backwards and forwards and the amount of time it took.
00:00:26 --> 00:00:29 It took weeks and weeks and weeks.
00:00:29 --> 00:00:36 Eventually, after not hearing anything for some time, I rang them up and spoke to the person dealing with our case.
00:00:38 --> 00:00:44 He said to me, it's been sitting there and I've been holding on to it because I don't know what to do with it.
00:00:47 --> 00:00:53 He asked me, in the course of that conversation, to finish this deal, if you like.
00:00:53 --> 00:00:59 What I need to do is I need a copy of your business's constitution.
00:01:02 --> 00:01:03 I wasn't sure such a thing existed.
00:01:03 --> 00:01:06 I said to him, we're a church.
00:01:06 --> 00:01:12 He said, well, yeah, but any organisation and institution has a constitution.
00:01:14 --> 00:01:15 I pushed it a little bit harder.
00:01:15 --> 00:01:18 What is it that you want from this constitution?
00:01:18 --> 00:01:21 He said, well, basically, I need a wind-up clause.
00:01:21 --> 00:01:30 He said, so if the church or when the church ceases to exist, what happens?
00:01:30 --> 00:01:34 So I'm kind of a little bit testy at this point.
00:01:35 --> 00:01:39 And I said, I wasn't quite sure what to say.
00:01:39 --> 00:01:44 And so I said the first thing that came into my mouth, which is always, not always the best idea.
00:01:44 --> 00:01:48 But I said to him, well, we've been operating since the day of Pentecost.
00:01:48 --> 00:02:01 I'm not sure exactly when that was, but it was probably something like 1 years before New South Wales government even came to exist, let alone the New South Wales Department of Commerce.
00:02:02 --> 00:02:04 There's around 2 billion members worldwide.
00:02:05 --> 00:02:10 And I think our wind-up clause, whatever that is, kicks in when Jesus comes back.
00:02:10 --> 00:02:13 And I can't give you the date for that.
00:02:15 --> 00:02:17 That didn't seem to satisfy him.
00:02:17 --> 00:02:27 And so I sent him a copy of the Australian government's Anglican Church Constitution Act of 1902, which has got no wind-up clause in it, but seemed to satisfy him.
00:02:28 --> 00:02:31 And then eventually, after a number of weeks, I got a piece of paper.
00:02:32 --> 00:02:35 You see, we were operating on two different worldviews.
00:02:37 --> 00:02:43 His worldview is that the church is just like any other institution, and it will come to an end.
00:02:43 --> 00:02:47 And that is the tide of the culture in which we exist now in our country.
00:02:48 --> 00:02:49 The church has had its day.
00:02:51 --> 00:02:54 In fact, more specifically, God has had his day amongst us.
00:02:55 --> 00:03:01 We are now living in enlightened and technological advanced times that don't need God.
00:03:01 --> 00:03:11 My worldview, driven by the scriptures, says that God was the living God when the universe banged into existence.
00:03:12 --> 00:03:16 He was the living God when James Cook put his foot on Australian soil for the first time.
00:03:16 --> 00:03:22 He was the living God in 1966 when Time magazine put a title on its front cover saying,
00:03:22 --> 00:03:23 Is God dead?
00:03:24 --> 00:03:31 And so, I'm not thinking of a wind-up clause in terms of God and his purposes.
00:03:31 --> 00:03:37 No thing, no person will prevail against him and his purposes.
00:03:38 --> 00:03:44 No matter how big the head of state is right now, no matter how powerful a person might be,
00:03:44 --> 00:03:48 Tony Abbott, Barack Obama, whoever it might be,
00:03:49 --> 00:03:56 there is not a single head of state in all the world right now who will be ruling in 100 years.
00:03:57 --> 00:03:58 They'll be gone.
00:03:58 --> 00:03:59 All of them.
00:04:01 --> 00:04:04 The turnover is 100%.
00:04:04 --> 00:04:16 And in a brief 120 years, this planet will be populated with, apparently, around 10 billion new people.
00:04:17 --> 00:04:23 That means all the 6, 7 billion, whatever it is right now,
00:04:23 --> 00:04:27 that currently have got their feet planted on the earth,
00:04:27 --> 00:04:29 will be all vanished and gone.
00:04:30 --> 00:04:31 You and me, gone.
00:04:32 --> 00:04:32 Dead.
00:04:34 --> 00:04:35 Dead.
00:04:36 --> 00:04:44 But God will still be alive and ruling and his purposes still being worked out.
00:04:46 --> 00:04:51 And so, the main thrust of today's passage is,
00:04:53 --> 00:04:56 try as you will, as powerful as you may be,
00:04:58 --> 00:05:01 you stand against this God and you lose.
00:05:02 --> 00:05:03 It's that simple.
00:05:04 --> 00:05:07 There is no wind-up clause to his purposes.
00:05:09 --> 00:05:10 That's the reality here.
00:05:11 --> 00:05:12 So, open up your Bible to Acts 12.
00:05:13 --> 00:05:15 So far, Acts 1 to 11.
00:05:16 --> 00:05:20 It's an incredible account of the fulfillment of Acts 1, verse 8,
00:05:21 --> 00:05:23 which is the key verse in understanding Acts.
00:05:23 --> 00:05:27 You will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.
00:05:27 --> 00:05:32 The word of God and the message of forgiveness of sins, new life in Jesus Christ,
00:05:32 --> 00:05:38 has spread rapidly in chapters 1 to 8.
00:05:38 --> 00:05:44 And it is simply saying that in chapters 1 to 8, it's simply saying Jesus reigns.
00:05:44 --> 00:05:48 He is doing what he said he would do.
00:05:48 --> 00:05:50 He is alive and he is active in this world.
00:05:51 --> 00:05:57 And so, in the first 11 chapters of Acts, all in all, it's been a pretty good start.
00:05:57 --> 00:06:00 They've had a few hiccups along the way, a few little issues.
00:06:01 --> 00:06:05 And, you know, Stephen was killed in chapter 7 and things like that.
00:06:05 --> 00:06:13 But all in all, vision 8050 or whatever it is that they had, it's had a pretty good start.
00:06:14 --> 00:06:22 But when you get into Acts 12, the days couldn't be much darker for this church in Jerusalem
00:06:22 --> 00:06:23 and certainly for the early church.
00:06:24 --> 00:06:25 Have a look at it there, verse 1.
00:06:25 --> 00:06:30 It was about this time that King Herod arrested some who were belonging to the church,
00:06:30 --> 00:06:31 intending to persecute them.
00:06:31 --> 00:06:35 He had James, the brother of John, put to death with the sword.
00:06:35 --> 00:06:40 And when he saw that this pleased the Jews, he proceeded to seize Peter also.
00:06:41 --> 00:06:43 This happened during the Feast of Unleavened Bread.
00:06:43 --> 00:06:45 After arresting him, he put him in prison.
00:06:47 --> 00:06:52 Now, that is a major blow for this early church.
00:06:53 --> 00:06:54 Major blow.
00:06:55 --> 00:06:57 So imagine here for us at St. Paul's.
00:06:57 --> 00:07:05 If Chris was just beheaded down at the concourse because he was proclaiming Jesus just before Christmas,
00:07:06 --> 00:07:12 and Brian's arrested, he's in Chatswood lockup, or Hornsby lockup,
00:07:12 --> 00:07:16 and awaiting the same thing as soon as Christmas and Boxing Day is over.
00:07:17 --> 00:07:19 They'll bring him out to the concourse and do the same thing for him.
00:07:20 --> 00:07:22 Can you imagine what we would feel at that point?
00:07:22 --> 00:07:25 It would be an unthinkable tragedy.
00:07:26 --> 00:07:31 It would be an enormous blow for us as we consider, God, you've given us this mission.
00:07:31 --> 00:07:33 Things have been going fantastic.
00:07:33 --> 00:07:35 And all of a sudden, this has happened to our key leaders.
00:07:36 --> 00:07:39 It would gut us in many ways.
00:07:41 --> 00:07:48 And so here in Acts 12, we see that Herod is the main enemy.
00:07:48 --> 00:07:50 This is Herod I.
00:07:50 --> 00:07:54 He is grandson of Herod the Great, even though he wasn't the first Herod.
00:07:54 --> 00:07:56 He was entitled Herod I.
00:07:56 --> 00:08:03 He was grandson of Herod the Great, the Herod the Great who hoped to kill Jesus himself
00:08:03 --> 00:08:08 by getting rid of all the infant boys around Bethlehem and around the time Jesus was born.
00:08:09 --> 00:08:15 Herod I was sent to Rome to be educated after his grandfather killed his father.
00:08:16 --> 00:08:17 Close family, this one.
00:08:18 --> 00:08:25 And then he grew up in Rome as a friend and of the imperial family.
00:08:25 --> 00:08:28 He became something of a playboy.
00:08:28 --> 00:08:33 And in AD 23, he fled Rome to Palestine to escape his creditors.
00:08:34 --> 00:08:35 He spent time in prison.
00:08:36 --> 00:08:41 And at times he lived in pretty humble, destitute circumstances.
00:08:41 --> 00:08:53 However, that all shifted for him when a few of his boyhood mates rose to power in Rome and appointed him to be ruler of Judea and Samaria under their rule.
00:08:53 --> 00:09:01 This is the sort of story that magazines sell for, you know, this is incredible.
00:09:01 --> 00:09:05 For example, Herod I was preeminently a politician.
00:09:06 --> 00:09:09 When amongst the Romans, he would act like a Roman.
00:09:10 --> 00:09:14 When amongst the Jews, he would act like a Jew because that was his heritage.
00:09:14 --> 00:09:17 He was won by heritage, not by conviction.
00:09:17 --> 00:09:25 And so he would do anything to maintain his popularity with the Jewish people who were his main constituents.
00:09:26 --> 00:09:33 He saw Jewish Christians as divisive and believed their activities would disturb the population.
00:09:33 --> 00:09:38 And so with the sudden word here, James was gone.
00:09:38 --> 00:09:40 Just one verse, gone.
00:09:40 --> 00:09:42 Put to death by the sword.
00:09:43 --> 00:09:46 And as soon as the Feast of Unleavened Bread was over,
00:09:46 --> 00:09:52 because you weren't allowed to do executions during the Passover,
00:09:52 --> 00:09:55 you had to kind of wait for church to be over so you'd go and kill people,
00:09:56 --> 00:10:01 there would undoubtedly be a mock trial and Peter would join James in death.
00:10:01 --> 00:10:09 And so the Jerusalem church here would have felt overwhelmed and powerless in this scenario.
00:10:09 --> 00:10:11 And there was nothing they could do except verse 5 says,
00:10:12 --> 00:10:15 the church was earnestly praying to God for him.
00:10:16 --> 00:10:22 The word translated earnestly comes originally from a word that means to stretch or to strain.
00:10:22 --> 00:10:25 They were straining in prayer, or as one person puts it,
00:10:25 --> 00:10:29 they were praying with agony for Peter.
00:10:31 --> 00:10:37 Does anything look more ridiculous to oppressors than a ragtag,
00:10:37 --> 00:10:43 harried group of believers praying for God's help in the midst of oppressive darkness?
00:10:44 --> 00:10:49 To those outside the family of God, this looks like terminal weakness.
00:10:51 --> 00:10:52 Getting around to pray?
00:10:52 --> 00:10:55 You know, one of you leaves is dead, another one's on the way,
00:10:56 --> 00:10:58 and the best you can come up with is pray?
00:11:01 --> 00:11:04 It would have been much more sensible to organise a petition.
00:11:05 --> 00:11:09 Picket the prison or the palace or something like that, a few placards, release Peter.
00:11:10 --> 00:11:12 Plan a reprisal attack, that'll do it.
00:11:13 --> 00:11:15 Car bomb, not that they had them back in those days.
00:11:15 --> 00:11:18 Camel bomb, outside the palace.
00:11:18 --> 00:11:20 Or a kidnapping, sorry to camels.
00:11:22 --> 00:11:26 Or a kidnapping, one of Herod's close confidants or a family member.
00:11:27 --> 00:11:30 Show some strength, put political power against political power.
00:11:31 --> 00:11:34 The opponents here must have thought, what fools?
00:11:34 --> 00:11:39 Herod's power is irresistible.
00:11:41 --> 00:11:46 The sword had fallen once, and it would fall on the helpless neck of another of their leaders.
00:11:47 --> 00:11:51 Even verse 11 indicates that everyone in Jerusalem figured that Peter was done for.
00:11:53 --> 00:11:57 And so, zero hours at hand, Passover was complete,
00:11:57 --> 00:12:04 and now Herod and his staff could come out of church and kill Peter.
00:12:04 --> 00:12:06 The victim of a kangaroo court.
00:12:07 --> 00:12:12 Verse 6 begins the description of this final night.
00:12:12 --> 00:12:13 It says,
00:12:13 --> 00:12:15 The night before Herod was to bring him out to trial,
00:12:15 --> 00:12:17 Peter was sleeping between two soldiers,
00:12:17 --> 00:12:21 bound with two chains, and sentries stood guard at the entrance.
00:12:22 --> 00:12:24 Peter was sleeping.
00:12:25 --> 00:12:28 In fact, quite soundly asleep.
00:12:28 --> 00:12:31 It says that an angel a little bit later had to nudge him to wake him up.
00:12:31 --> 00:12:38 But his restfulness on this night simply means that he was at peace with himself.
00:12:38 --> 00:12:43 He was at peace with God, and he was at peace with these circumstances in which he found himself.
00:12:44 --> 00:12:48 It's quite possible that he shared Christ as best he could with his captors,
00:12:49 --> 00:12:52 had a time of prayer, fell asleep, resting in Jesus,
00:12:52 --> 00:12:54 and on the shoulder of one of the soldiers.
00:12:56 --> 00:12:57 It tells us, verse 4,
00:12:57 --> 00:13:01 that Peter was guarded by four squads of four soldiers each.
00:13:02 --> 00:13:07 Herod wanted to make sure that this really dangerous prisoner that he's caught was not going to escape.
00:13:07 --> 00:13:11 These are extraordinary precautions.
00:13:11 --> 00:13:15 Normally, they only chained a prisoner to one soldier,
00:13:15 --> 00:13:17 and he's got chains on both sides of him.
00:13:19 --> 00:13:21 And to make it even more so,
00:13:22 --> 00:13:26 there's two soldiers standing outside his cell door to keep guard of him.
00:13:27 --> 00:13:28 It's pretty hopeless,
00:13:28 --> 00:13:29 and then all of a sudden,
00:13:30 --> 00:13:32 there's an unexpected turn of events.
00:13:32 --> 00:13:33 Verse 7,
00:13:33 --> 00:13:34 Suddenly,
00:13:35 --> 00:13:36 an angel of the Lord appeared,
00:13:37 --> 00:13:39 and a light shone,
00:13:40 --> 00:13:42 shined in the cell.
00:13:43 --> 00:13:44 Boom, brightness.
00:13:46 --> 00:13:48 He struck Peter on the side,
00:13:48 --> 00:13:49 and woke him up,
00:13:49 --> 00:13:49 quick,
00:13:50 --> 00:13:51 come on, get up.
00:13:52 --> 00:13:54 And the chains fell off Peter's wrists.
00:13:55 --> 00:13:57 Now, Peter's been in a deep sleep here.
00:13:58 --> 00:13:59 He must have been groggy,
00:13:59 --> 00:14:02 because the angel had to tell him in verse 8 to get dressed.
00:14:02 --> 00:14:04 Put on your clothes and your sandals,
00:14:04 --> 00:14:05 wrap your cloak around you,
00:14:05 --> 00:14:06 and follow me.
00:14:07 --> 00:14:08 Just imagine,
00:14:09 --> 00:14:10 early in the morning,
00:14:10 --> 00:14:11 Peter obeyed,
00:14:12 --> 00:14:13 probably in disarray.
00:14:14 --> 00:14:15 Sandals are on the wrong feet.
00:14:16 --> 00:14:17 Cloak sort of hanging loosely,
00:14:17 --> 00:14:18 his hair's all over the place,
00:14:19 --> 00:14:21 grabbing for his long back and his baraka
00:14:21 --> 00:14:22 to try and kickstart the morning.
00:14:24 --> 00:14:24 He's dazed,
00:14:25 --> 00:14:26 he's bewildered like a sleepwalker,
00:14:26 --> 00:14:28 not quite sure where he's going,
00:14:28 --> 00:14:30 or even why he's going.
00:14:30 --> 00:14:31 And verse 9,
00:14:31 --> 00:14:31 it says,
00:14:31 --> 00:14:32 Peter followed him,
00:14:32 --> 00:14:33 that is the angel out of the prison,
00:14:34 --> 00:14:37 but he had no idea that what the angel was doing
00:14:37 --> 00:14:38 was really happening.
00:14:38 --> 00:14:40 He thought he was seeing a vision.
00:14:41 --> 00:14:42 He was confused.
00:14:44 --> 00:14:45 But there was a dawning awareness,
00:14:45 --> 00:14:46 a reality,
00:14:47 --> 00:14:48 and as he rubbed his eyes,
00:14:48 --> 00:14:50 the reality must have staggered him.
00:14:51 --> 00:14:51 Verse 10,
00:14:51 --> 00:14:54 they passed the first and second guards,
00:14:55 --> 00:14:57 came to the iron gate leading to the city,
00:14:58 --> 00:15:00 and it opened for them by itself,
00:15:00 --> 00:15:01 and they went through it.
00:15:02 --> 00:15:04 And when they had walked the length of one street,
00:15:05 --> 00:15:05 suddenly,
00:15:06 --> 00:15:07 the angel left.
00:15:08 --> 00:15:10 And then Peter came to himself.
00:15:12 --> 00:15:13 His chains fell off.
00:15:13 --> 00:15:18 He walked right on out by the two guards,
00:15:18 --> 00:15:19 which were chained to him.
00:15:20 --> 00:15:23 He walked right past the two sentries,
00:15:24 --> 00:15:29 and then the gates of the city just swung open.
00:15:29 --> 00:15:38 The word translated by itself in verse 10
00:15:38 --> 00:15:40 is automatae.
00:15:41 --> 00:15:43 The gates opened automatically.
00:15:44 --> 00:15:45 I mean, these gates are more reliable
00:15:45 --> 00:15:47 than the one we've got out the front here.
00:15:47 --> 00:15:49 It opens a close of his own mind.
00:15:52 --> 00:15:53 Sleepy or not,
00:15:53 --> 00:15:56 he's wandered out there in the streets in Jerusalem,
00:15:56 --> 00:15:58 and he must have felt the goose bumps
00:15:58 --> 00:15:59 and the adrenaline,
00:16:00 --> 00:16:02 and the angel's gone.
00:16:03 --> 00:16:05 Stood on the streets of Jerusalem,
00:16:05 --> 00:16:06 the middle of the night,
00:16:06 --> 00:16:07 he's rubbing his wrists,
00:16:08 --> 00:16:08 rubbing his eyes,
00:16:08 --> 00:16:10 holding back a yawner thinking,
00:16:12 --> 00:16:13 rightio then.
00:16:14 --> 00:16:16 You can just imagine the experience.
00:16:18 --> 00:16:19 Do you get the picture?
00:16:20 --> 00:16:24 Those ragtag, beleaguered, weak Christians
00:16:24 --> 00:16:26 knew a God with greater power
00:16:26 --> 00:16:28 than Herod's armies and his prisons.
00:16:29 --> 00:16:31 The legions of Rome barred the door,
00:16:31 --> 00:16:35 but it only took one of God's agents
00:16:35 --> 00:16:37 to liberate the captive.
00:16:39 --> 00:16:40 And what happened here
00:16:40 --> 00:16:42 is that Peter's experience
00:16:42 --> 00:16:49 re-equated the embattled church in Jerusalem
00:16:49 --> 00:16:52 with the true nature of its strength.
00:16:52 --> 00:16:56 No matter how grim,
00:16:56 --> 00:16:57 perplexing,
00:16:57 --> 00:16:58 and difficult our situation is,
00:16:59 --> 00:17:02 God and his angels are present to minister to us.
00:17:03 --> 00:17:05 He can deliver at any time,
00:17:06 --> 00:17:06 anywhere,
00:17:07 --> 00:17:08 in any place.
00:17:08 --> 00:17:10 There is nothing too hard for him.
00:17:13 --> 00:17:14 Having said that,
00:17:14 --> 00:17:16 let me just take a short diversion
00:17:16 --> 00:17:18 and raise one big question
00:17:18 --> 00:17:20 that these verses pose.
00:17:20 --> 00:17:22 why was Peter preserved,
00:17:22 --> 00:17:23 but James wasn't?
00:17:25 --> 00:17:26 James got it,
00:17:26 --> 00:17:27 head cut off,
00:17:28 --> 00:17:28 Peter didn't.
00:17:28 --> 00:17:31 James died by the sword,
00:17:31 --> 00:17:33 Peter was marvelously preserved.
00:17:33 --> 00:17:35 Why is one saint rescued
00:17:35 --> 00:17:36 and another not?
00:17:37 --> 00:17:38 Why are we sitting here tonight
00:17:38 --> 00:17:40 in complete freedom,
00:17:41 --> 00:17:42 with no fear for our life
00:17:42 --> 00:17:43 whatsoever,
00:17:43 --> 00:17:44 under any kind of threat
00:17:44 --> 00:17:45 whatsoever?
00:17:45 --> 00:17:47 We've got it pretty cozy and comfy
00:17:47 --> 00:17:50 and yet 100 million Christians
00:17:50 --> 00:17:51 around the world today
00:17:51 --> 00:17:52 will do this sort of thing
00:17:52 --> 00:17:54 under great threat of their life.
00:17:55 --> 00:17:55 And in fact,
00:17:55 --> 00:17:57 some will give their life for doing this.
00:17:58 --> 00:17:58 Why is that?
00:17:59 --> 00:18:00 What's the difference?
00:18:01 --> 00:18:04 Let me start with the stupid answer.
00:18:05 --> 00:18:06 The stupid answer is,
00:18:07 --> 00:18:09 well, because the church didn't pray for James.
00:18:11 --> 00:18:13 As if by our praying,
00:18:13 --> 00:18:15 we order God to act in certain ways.
00:18:16 --> 00:18:19 Our prayers ought to be informed by humility
00:18:19 --> 00:18:21 because they have been taught
00:18:21 --> 00:18:23 by God's mystery.
00:18:24 --> 00:18:27 We don't always get God's ways.
00:18:28 --> 00:18:30 His understanding is unsearchable.
00:18:30 --> 00:18:32 It is infinite wisdom and understanding,
00:18:32 --> 00:18:34 but it is unsearchable.
00:18:35 --> 00:18:37 And at the very least,
00:18:37 --> 00:18:39 the example of James here tells us
00:18:39 --> 00:18:42 that the cross of Christ
00:18:42 --> 00:18:45 hangs over the existence
00:18:45 --> 00:18:47 of every Christian life.
00:18:49 --> 00:18:51 And sometimes we are called
00:18:51 --> 00:18:53 to suffer for Christ's name.
00:18:55 --> 00:18:56 And yet on the other hand,
00:18:56 --> 00:18:57 the example of Peter
00:18:57 --> 00:19:00 tells us that the power of Christ
00:19:00 --> 00:19:02 hangs over every Christian life.
00:19:03 --> 00:19:05 And sometimes our Lord delights
00:19:05 --> 00:19:07 to show us how thrilled He is
00:19:07 --> 00:19:10 to rescue us from any danger.
00:19:10 --> 00:19:13 So on the one hand,
00:19:13 --> 00:19:15 we must not forget Philippians 1.29,
00:19:16 --> 00:19:17 for it has been granted to you
00:19:17 --> 00:19:18 on behalf of Christ,
00:19:18 --> 00:19:20 not only to believe on Him,
00:19:21 --> 00:19:22 but also to suffer for Him.
00:19:23 --> 00:19:24 And yet to hold that together
00:19:24 --> 00:19:26 with Psalm 116, verse 8,
00:19:27 --> 00:19:28 for you, O Lord,
00:19:28 --> 00:19:29 have delivered my soul from death,
00:19:30 --> 00:19:31 my eyes from tears,
00:19:31 --> 00:19:32 and my feet from stumbling.
00:19:33 --> 00:19:34 To keep those together.
00:19:34 --> 00:19:38 We need to recognize the mystery
00:19:38 --> 00:19:39 of God's providence
00:19:39 --> 00:19:44 and rest in that mystery.
00:19:46 --> 00:19:48 We need to understand with clarity
00:19:48 --> 00:19:50 that God's greater purpose
00:19:50 --> 00:19:53 than our safety and comfort
00:19:53 --> 00:19:54 in this earth,
00:19:54 --> 00:19:55 in this world,
00:19:56 --> 00:19:57 is His glory
00:19:57 --> 00:20:00 through the fulfillment of His plans.
00:20:00 --> 00:20:02 God will always act
00:20:02 --> 00:20:04 to glorify His name
00:20:04 --> 00:20:05 and advance His gospel.
00:20:06 --> 00:20:07 Now that does not mean
00:20:07 --> 00:20:08 that we are simply tools
00:20:08 --> 00:20:10 in His hands or pawns
00:20:10 --> 00:20:11 to be thrown around
00:20:11 --> 00:20:12 wherever we like.
00:20:12 --> 00:20:13 God's providence
00:20:13 --> 00:20:15 is always perfect.
00:20:15 --> 00:20:21 And He is a careful shepherd
00:20:21 --> 00:20:22 of His sheep.
00:20:24 --> 00:20:26 I just quoted from Psalm 116
00:20:26 --> 00:20:27 just a moment ago,
00:20:28 --> 00:20:28 verse 8,
00:20:28 --> 00:20:29 where it says,
00:20:29 --> 00:20:30 For you, O Lord,
00:20:30 --> 00:20:31 have delivered my soul from death,
00:20:31 --> 00:20:32 my eyes from tears,
00:20:32 --> 00:20:33 and my feet from stumbling.
00:20:34 --> 00:20:37 Psalm 116, verse 15,
00:20:37 --> 00:20:38 seven verses later,
00:20:39 --> 00:20:39 says,
00:20:40 --> 00:20:41 Precious in the sight of the Lord
00:20:41 --> 00:20:42 is the death of His saints.
00:20:42 --> 00:20:47 Reflecting on this verse,
00:20:47 --> 00:20:49 the great Charles Spurgeon wrote,
00:20:50 --> 00:20:51 They shall not die prematurely,
00:20:51 --> 00:20:52 referring to the saints,
00:20:52 --> 00:20:54 they shall not die prematurely,
00:20:54 --> 00:20:56 they shall be immortal
00:20:56 --> 00:20:58 till the work is done.
00:20:59 --> 00:21:01 And when their time comes to die,
00:21:02 --> 00:21:04 then their deaths shall be precious.
00:21:05 --> 00:21:08 The Lord watches over their dying beds,
00:21:09 --> 00:21:10 He smooths their pillows,
00:21:10 --> 00:21:13 He sustains their hearts,
00:21:13 --> 00:21:15 and He receives their soul.
00:21:22 --> 00:21:24 Do you recognize your perfect safety
00:21:24 --> 00:21:26 until your work is done
00:21:26 --> 00:21:26 for the Lord Jesus?
00:21:29 --> 00:21:30 This God is to be trusted,
00:21:31 --> 00:21:33 no matter how dark things appear.
00:21:35 --> 00:21:37 Calm, secure trust in Him
00:21:37 --> 00:21:38 must be our response
00:21:38 --> 00:21:39 in all situations.
00:21:39 --> 00:21:44 This Peter who slept soundly
00:21:44 --> 00:21:46 in the prison cell
00:21:46 --> 00:21:49 had just seen one of his mates,
00:21:49 --> 00:21:50 heads cut off,
00:21:51 --> 00:21:53 and he knew what the outcome
00:21:53 --> 00:21:54 was likely to be for him,
00:21:55 --> 00:21:57 and he rested in God's purposes
00:21:57 --> 00:21:58 and providence
00:21:58 --> 00:22:01 in between two Roman soldiers.
00:22:01 --> 00:22:04 I don't think he expected
00:22:04 --> 00:22:05 to get out of it,
00:22:06 --> 00:22:07 but God was delighted
00:22:07 --> 00:22:09 to demonstrate His power,
00:22:10 --> 00:22:10 not just to Peter,
00:22:10 --> 00:22:11 but to the church,
00:22:12 --> 00:22:14 and to Herod and to everyone else,
00:22:14 --> 00:22:16 and to bring him out of prison.
00:22:18 --> 00:22:19 And so there he is,
00:22:19 --> 00:22:23 standing in the streets in Jerusalem,
00:22:23 --> 00:22:28 probably asking just as many questions
00:22:28 --> 00:22:29 that we have about the mystery of God
00:22:29 --> 00:22:32 and why.
00:22:34 --> 00:22:35 And then finally dawns on him
00:22:35 --> 00:22:37 what God has done for him,
00:22:37 --> 00:22:38 and so he went to the house of Mary
00:22:38 --> 00:22:41 where many people had gathered for prayer,
00:22:41 --> 00:22:42 and he knocks on the door.
00:22:42 --> 00:22:47 What follows is a story
00:22:47 --> 00:22:50 of confusion and joyful humour.
00:22:51 --> 00:22:54 A servant girl named Rhoda
00:22:54 --> 00:22:56 came to answer the door
00:22:56 --> 00:22:57 that Peter was knocking on,
00:22:57 --> 00:22:59 and she became so befuddled
00:22:59 --> 00:23:00 at Peter's voice
00:23:00 --> 00:23:03 that she ran to announce his arrival
00:23:03 --> 00:23:05 without even opening the door for him.
00:23:07 --> 00:23:10 She excitedly busts in
00:23:10 --> 00:23:12 to the prayer meeting
00:23:12 --> 00:23:12 and says,
00:23:13 --> 00:23:14 Peter's at the door.
00:23:17 --> 00:23:19 And the response
00:23:19 --> 00:23:20 of the prayer meeting,
00:23:20 --> 00:23:21 the church that's gathered
00:23:21 --> 00:23:22 is now famous.
00:23:23 --> 00:23:24 Verse 15,
00:23:24 --> 00:23:26 you're out of your mind.
00:23:27 --> 00:23:28 You're crazy, Rhoda.
00:23:30 --> 00:23:31 And when she kept insisting,
00:23:31 --> 00:23:32 no, I'm not crazy,
00:23:32 --> 00:23:33 he's at the door.
00:23:35 --> 00:23:37 No, it must be his angel.
00:23:38 --> 00:23:39 But Peter kept on knocking,
00:23:40 --> 00:23:41 and when they opened the door
00:23:41 --> 00:23:41 and saw him,
00:23:42 --> 00:23:43 they were like,
00:23:44 --> 00:23:46 Peter's here.
00:23:48 --> 00:23:50 At first they thought she was mad,
00:23:50 --> 00:23:52 then they switched the story
00:23:52 --> 00:23:53 to that she was just,
00:23:53 --> 00:23:53 you know,
00:23:53 --> 00:23:55 Peter's angel or spirit.
00:23:55 --> 00:23:56 You just imagine it.
00:23:56 --> 00:23:57 The church is there,
00:23:58 --> 00:23:59 agonising in prayer for Peter.
00:24:00 --> 00:24:01 Rhoda comes busting in.
00:24:01 --> 00:24:02 Peter's at the door.
00:24:02 --> 00:24:03 And they're,
00:24:03 --> 00:24:03 shh,
00:24:03 --> 00:24:04 quiet Rhoda.
00:24:04 --> 00:24:10 Can't you see we're praying in agony.
00:24:11 --> 00:24:13 Don't bother us
00:24:13 --> 00:24:16 with the answer to our prayers.
00:24:16 --> 00:24:23 It's not a very idealistic picture
00:24:23 --> 00:24:23 of the church here,
00:24:23 --> 00:24:24 is it?
00:24:26 --> 00:24:27 But is this not a picture of ourselves?
00:24:29 --> 00:24:31 Sometimes we go through the motions
00:24:31 --> 00:24:33 and even the earnestness of prayer
00:24:33 --> 00:24:34 and when God answers those prayers,
00:24:35 --> 00:24:38 we are just taken by surprise
00:24:38 --> 00:24:40 that God would answer our prayers.
00:24:42 --> 00:24:44 We pray fervently for the conversion of relative
00:24:44 --> 00:24:45 and when it happens,
00:24:45 --> 00:24:46 it's like,
00:24:46 --> 00:24:47 that was unexpected.
00:24:47 --> 00:24:47 Dude,
00:24:48 --> 00:24:49 amazing.
00:24:51 --> 00:24:53 What is amazing here
00:24:53 --> 00:24:56 is our slowness to believe God's ability
00:24:56 --> 00:24:59 and his willingness to answer our prayers.
00:25:01 --> 00:25:03 This section is a humorous rebuke
00:25:03 --> 00:25:04 for this church in Jerusalem
00:25:04 --> 00:25:06 as it is for us.
00:25:06 --> 00:25:07 Can it be the case
00:25:07 --> 00:25:10 that even in our most earnest prayers,
00:25:10 --> 00:25:12 we sometimes find
00:25:12 --> 00:25:14 that we're almost going through the motions
00:25:14 --> 00:25:16 without actually expecting
00:25:16 --> 00:25:18 that God will hear us
00:25:18 --> 00:25:19 or that he will act.
00:25:22 --> 00:25:23 It's almost a throwaway line,
00:25:23 --> 00:25:24 oh, I'll pray for you.
00:25:27 --> 00:25:29 A throwaway line,
00:25:29 --> 00:25:30 I'll pray for you
00:25:30 --> 00:25:32 hoping that we can potentially
00:25:32 --> 00:25:33 stop this conversation happening further.
00:25:34 --> 00:25:36 I'll just pray for you
00:25:36 --> 00:25:38 and then forget about it altogether.
00:25:40 --> 00:25:42 Some of us have been reciting
00:25:42 --> 00:25:43 for years,
00:25:43 --> 00:25:44 creeds,
00:25:44 --> 00:25:45 singing songs,
00:25:45 --> 00:25:46 reading the Bible
00:25:46 --> 00:25:48 that declare that God is creator,
00:25:48 --> 00:25:49 that he sustains everything,
00:25:50 --> 00:25:51 that he is almighty
00:25:51 --> 00:25:53 over all that is in this world.
00:25:54 --> 00:25:56 And when he answers a prayer,
00:25:56 --> 00:25:56 we're like,
00:25:57 --> 00:25:59 that's surprising.
00:25:59 --> 00:26:07 it's like we weren't expecting him
00:26:07 --> 00:26:07 to be listening.
00:26:08 --> 00:26:10 Or maybe we weren't expecting
00:26:10 --> 00:26:12 him to be able to do anything.
00:26:13 --> 00:26:14 Or maybe we weren't expecting him
00:26:14 --> 00:26:16 to actually want to do anything.
00:26:18 --> 00:26:20 I think that when we go through
00:26:20 --> 00:26:21 the motions in this way,
00:26:22 --> 00:26:24 we tend to treat prayer
00:26:24 --> 00:26:25 like a technique
00:26:25 --> 00:26:28 forgetting what we want
00:26:28 --> 00:26:29 rather than seeing
00:26:29 --> 00:26:30 that prayer is a relationship.
00:26:32 --> 00:26:34 The really encouraging thing here
00:26:34 --> 00:26:36 is that God is not bound
00:26:36 --> 00:26:38 by our imperfections.
00:26:38 --> 00:26:40 Apparently in this passage,
00:26:41 --> 00:26:43 God answered unbelieving prayer.
00:26:43 --> 00:26:49 We may say things incorrectly
00:26:49 --> 00:26:50 or say things without sufficient belief,
00:26:51 --> 00:26:52 but God just loves
00:26:52 --> 00:26:55 to hear his people pray.
00:26:56 --> 00:26:58 And he is well able
00:26:58 --> 00:26:59 to do immeasurably more
00:26:59 --> 00:27:00 than we can ask or imagine.
00:27:01 --> 00:27:02 My friends,
00:27:02 --> 00:27:03 prayer,
00:27:03 --> 00:27:04 one of our core values
00:27:04 --> 00:27:05 is to devotion to prayer.
00:27:05 --> 00:27:07 Prayer ought to be
00:27:07 --> 00:27:09 a constant statement to God,
00:27:10 --> 00:27:11 to our world,
00:27:11 --> 00:27:13 to us as a church here,
00:27:13 --> 00:27:13 St. Paul's,
00:27:13 --> 00:27:15 to our own consciences
00:27:15 --> 00:27:17 that we exist
00:27:17 --> 00:27:18 to do things
00:27:18 --> 00:27:19 that we cannot do
00:27:19 --> 00:27:21 without the supernatural grace of God.
00:27:23 --> 00:27:24 That's what happens
00:27:24 --> 00:27:25 when we pray.
00:27:27 --> 00:27:29 We can rattle off the creed
00:27:29 --> 00:27:31 about who we believe as a God,
00:27:32 --> 00:27:33 but we actually demonstrate
00:27:33 --> 00:27:34 that we believe
00:27:34 --> 00:27:35 what we just said
00:27:35 --> 00:27:37 in prayer.
00:27:39 --> 00:27:41 That's how we truly believe it.
00:27:41 --> 00:27:42 is when we pray,
00:27:44 --> 00:27:44 this God,
00:27:44 --> 00:27:46 is a God who is not just
00:27:46 --> 00:27:47 in relationship with me
00:27:47 --> 00:27:48 and wanting to hear my prayers,
00:27:48 --> 00:27:50 but he is able to act
00:27:50 --> 00:27:52 and wanting to act.
00:27:53 --> 00:27:54 St. Paul's exists mainly
00:27:54 --> 00:27:56 to do the humanly impossible,
00:27:57 --> 00:27:57 everything good
00:27:57 --> 00:27:58 and worthwhile
00:27:58 --> 00:27:59 and eternal
00:27:59 --> 00:28:00 and God glorifying
00:28:00 --> 00:28:01 that we want to do
00:28:01 --> 00:28:02 as a church
00:28:02 --> 00:28:03 we cannot do
00:28:03 --> 00:28:05 without the supernatural power
00:28:05 --> 00:28:06 and grace of God.
00:28:07 --> 00:28:08 It is pride
00:28:08 --> 00:28:09 and it is arrogance
00:28:09 --> 00:28:11 to think that we can build a church
00:28:11 --> 00:28:12 that we can see
00:28:12 --> 00:28:13 ministry flourish
00:28:13 --> 00:28:14 and people come to Christ
00:28:14 --> 00:28:15 just by putting in
00:28:15 --> 00:28:16 right strategies
00:28:16 --> 00:28:17 and having the right language
00:28:17 --> 00:28:18 and the programs
00:28:18 --> 00:28:18 into place.
00:28:19 --> 00:28:20 We must be devoted to prayer.
00:28:27 --> 00:28:27 And so,
00:28:28 --> 00:28:30 we now come to the end
00:28:30 --> 00:28:31 of the passage
00:28:31 --> 00:28:33 because the rescue of Peter
00:28:33 --> 00:28:34 isn't the end of it.
00:28:34 --> 00:28:37 God hasn't finished
00:28:37 --> 00:28:39 with Herod
00:28:39 --> 00:28:40 just yet.
00:28:42 --> 00:28:43 Verse 20
00:28:43 --> 00:28:44 and 24
00:28:44 --> 00:28:45 tell us what happens next.
00:28:46 --> 00:28:46 He,
00:28:46 --> 00:28:47 Herod,
00:28:47 --> 00:28:48 had been quarreling
00:28:48 --> 00:28:49 with the people
00:28:49 --> 00:28:50 of Tyre and Sidon.
00:28:51 --> 00:28:52 They now joined together
00:28:52 --> 00:28:53 and sought an audience
00:28:53 --> 00:28:53 with him.
00:28:54 --> 00:28:55 Having secured
00:28:55 --> 00:28:56 the support of Blastus,
00:28:57 --> 00:28:58 a trusted personal servant
00:28:58 --> 00:28:59 of the king,
00:28:59 --> 00:29:00 they asked for peace
00:29:00 --> 00:29:01 because they depended
00:29:01 --> 00:29:03 on the king's country
00:29:03 --> 00:29:04 for their food supply.
00:29:05 --> 00:29:06 On the appointed day,
00:29:06 --> 00:29:06 Herod,
00:29:06 --> 00:29:08 wearing his royal robe,
00:29:08 --> 00:29:09 sat on his throne
00:29:09 --> 00:29:10 and delivered a public address
00:29:10 --> 00:29:11 to the people
00:29:11 --> 00:29:12 and they shouted,
00:29:13 --> 00:29:14 this is the voice
00:29:14 --> 00:29:15 of a God,
00:29:16 --> 00:29:18 not of a man.
00:29:19 --> 00:29:20 And immediately,
00:29:21 --> 00:29:21 immediately,
00:29:22 --> 00:29:23 because Herod
00:29:23 --> 00:29:24 did not give praise
00:29:24 --> 00:29:24 to God,
00:29:25 --> 00:29:25 an angel of the Lord
00:29:25 --> 00:29:26 struck him down
00:29:26 --> 00:29:27 and he was eaten
00:29:27 --> 00:29:28 by worms
00:29:28 --> 00:29:29 and died.
00:29:30 --> 00:29:31 And so what happened was
00:29:31 --> 00:29:33 Herod presents himself
00:29:33 --> 00:29:33 to the theatre
00:29:33 --> 00:29:34 in Caesarea
00:29:34 --> 00:29:35 to make a speech.
00:29:37 --> 00:29:38 The historian Josephus
00:29:38 --> 00:29:39 said that
00:29:39 --> 00:29:40 he wore
00:29:40 --> 00:29:43 a very impressive
00:29:43 --> 00:29:45 royal ornament,
00:29:45 --> 00:29:46 a gown
00:29:46 --> 00:29:48 that was woven
00:29:48 --> 00:29:49 out of silver
00:29:49 --> 00:29:50 and so that
00:29:50 --> 00:29:51 as he walked
00:29:51 --> 00:29:52 in the sunshine,
00:29:53 --> 00:29:54 the reflection
00:29:54 --> 00:29:55 blinded the people
00:29:55 --> 00:29:58 can you see
00:29:58 --> 00:29:59 the
00:29:59 --> 00:30:02 divine
00:30:02 --> 00:30:03 poetry here
00:30:03 --> 00:30:05 as the
00:30:05 --> 00:30:05 angel
00:30:05 --> 00:30:06 went into
00:30:06 --> 00:30:07 the cell
00:30:07 --> 00:30:08 with Peter
00:30:08 --> 00:30:08 and
00:30:08 --> 00:30:10 made bright
00:30:10 --> 00:30:11 the cell.
00:30:12 --> 00:30:13 The crowd
00:30:13 --> 00:30:14 heard him speak
00:30:14 --> 00:30:15 and they shouted
00:30:15 --> 00:30:16 the voice
00:30:16 --> 00:30:17 of a God
00:30:17 --> 00:30:18 and not of a man.
00:30:19 --> 00:30:20 And this
00:30:20 --> 00:30:21 incredibly
00:30:21 --> 00:30:22 twisted king
00:30:22 --> 00:30:22 received
00:30:22 --> 00:30:24 their worship
00:30:24 --> 00:30:25 in verse 23
00:30:25 --> 00:30:26 he was
00:30:26 --> 00:30:27 immediately
00:30:27 --> 00:30:28 struck
00:30:28 --> 00:30:29 by an angel
00:30:29 --> 00:30:30 and again
00:30:30 --> 00:30:31 we have
00:30:31 --> 00:30:31 the divine
00:30:31 --> 00:30:32 poetry here
00:30:32 --> 00:30:32 because the
00:30:32 --> 00:30:33 same word
00:30:33 --> 00:30:34 was used
00:30:34 --> 00:30:34 when the
00:30:34 --> 00:30:34 angel
00:30:34 --> 00:30:36 struck Peter
00:30:36 --> 00:30:36 to arouse
00:30:36 --> 00:30:37 him from
00:30:37 --> 00:30:37 his sleep
00:30:37 --> 00:30:38 in verse 7
00:30:38 --> 00:30:40 and possibly
00:30:40 --> 00:30:40 it's the same
00:30:40 --> 00:30:41 angel
00:30:41 --> 00:30:42 here striking
00:30:42 --> 00:30:43 Herod
00:30:43 --> 00:30:43 though the
00:30:43 --> 00:30:43 results
00:30:43 --> 00:30:44 are very
00:30:44 --> 00:30:45 different.
00:30:46 --> 00:30:47 The historian
00:30:47 --> 00:30:47 Josephus
00:30:47 --> 00:30:48 says that
00:30:48 --> 00:30:49 immediately
00:30:49 --> 00:30:50 upon giving
00:30:50 --> 00:30:51 his speech
00:30:51 --> 00:30:52 Herod hit
00:30:52 --> 00:30:52 the ground
00:30:52 --> 00:30:54 in excruciating
00:30:54 --> 00:30:54 pain
00:30:54 --> 00:30:55 in the
00:30:55 --> 00:30:55 abdomen
00:30:55 --> 00:30:56 area.
00:30:57 --> 00:30:57 They
00:30:57 --> 00:30:58 carted him
00:30:58 --> 00:30:58 from the
00:30:58 --> 00:30:59 Caesarea
00:30:59 --> 00:31:00 theatre
00:31:00 --> 00:31:01 and five
00:31:01 --> 00:31:02 days later
00:31:02 --> 00:31:03 he died
00:31:03 --> 00:31:04 having suffered
00:31:04 --> 00:31:04 for five
00:31:04 --> 00:31:05 days of
00:31:05 --> 00:31:06 excruciating
00:31:06 --> 00:31:07 agony.
00:31:09 --> 00:31:09 Immediately
00:31:09 --> 00:31:10 he was struck
00:31:10 --> 00:31:11 down by the
00:31:11 --> 00:31:11 angel.
00:31:14 --> 00:31:15 The one
00:31:15 --> 00:31:15 thing Herod
00:31:15 --> 00:31:16 didn't realise
00:31:16 --> 00:31:17 when he went
00:31:17 --> 00:31:18 for his
00:31:18 --> 00:31:18 diplomatic
00:31:18 --> 00:31:18 journey
00:31:18 --> 00:31:20 was that
00:31:20 --> 00:31:20 God
00:31:20 --> 00:31:21 hadn't
00:31:21 --> 00:31:21 closed
00:31:21 --> 00:31:21 the
00:31:21 --> 00:31:22 case.
00:31:23 --> 00:31:23 He
00:31:23 --> 00:31:24 thought
00:31:24 --> 00:31:24 he had
00:31:24 --> 00:31:25 executed
00:31:25 --> 00:31:26 the
00:31:26 --> 00:31:26 soldiers
00:31:26 --> 00:31:29 but the
00:31:29 --> 00:31:29 blood of
00:31:29 --> 00:31:29 James
00:31:29 --> 00:31:30 still cried
00:31:30 --> 00:31:31 out to
00:31:31 --> 00:31:31 God
00:31:31 --> 00:31:31 from the
00:31:31 --> 00:31:32 earth
00:31:32 --> 00:31:34 and Herod
00:31:34 --> 00:31:34 was going
00:31:34 --> 00:31:35 to learn
00:31:35 --> 00:31:35 what Isaiah
00:31:35 --> 00:31:36 40 verses
00:31:36 --> 00:31:37 23 to
00:31:37 --> 00:31:38 25 means
00:31:38 --> 00:31:38 when it
00:31:38 --> 00:31:38 says
00:31:38 --> 00:31:40 he brings
00:31:40 --> 00:31:40 princes to
00:31:40 --> 00:31:41 naught and
00:31:41 --> 00:31:41 reduces the
00:31:41 --> 00:31:42 rulers of
00:31:42 --> 00:31:42 the earth
00:31:42 --> 00:31:43 to nothing.
00:31:43 --> 00:31:44 No sooner
00:31:44 --> 00:31:44 are they
00:31:44 --> 00:31:45 planted,
00:31:45 --> 00:31:45 no sooner
00:31:45 --> 00:31:46 are they
00:31:46 --> 00:31:46 sown,
00:31:46 --> 00:31:47 no sooner
00:31:47 --> 00:31:47 do they
00:31:47 --> 00:31:48 take root
00:31:48 --> 00:31:48 in the
00:31:48 --> 00:31:48 ground,
00:31:48 --> 00:31:49 then he
00:31:49 --> 00:31:51 blows on
00:31:51 --> 00:31:52 them and
00:31:52 --> 00:31:52 they
00:31:52 --> 00:31:53 wither and
00:31:53 --> 00:31:54 a whirlwind
00:31:54 --> 00:31:54 swips them
00:31:54 --> 00:31:55 away like
00:31:55 --> 00:31:56 chaff.
00:31:57 --> 00:31:58 To whom
00:31:58 --> 00:31:58 will you
00:31:58 --> 00:31:59 compare me
00:31:59 --> 00:31:59 or who
00:31:59 --> 00:32:00 is my
00:32:00 --> 00:32:00 equal
00:32:00 --> 00:32:02 says the
00:32:02 --> 00:32:02 Holy One.
00:32:05 --> 00:32:05 Acts chapter
00:32:05 --> 00:32:06 12 is all
00:32:06 --> 00:32:07 about God
00:32:07 --> 00:32:08 and Herod.
00:32:09 --> 00:32:10 This chapter
00:32:10 --> 00:32:11 begins with
00:32:11 --> 00:32:12 Herod killing
00:32:12 --> 00:32:12 James
00:32:12 --> 00:32:15 and it
00:32:15 --> 00:32:16 ends with
00:32:16 --> 00:32:16 the angel
00:32:16 --> 00:32:17 of the
00:32:17 --> 00:32:17 Lord
00:32:17 --> 00:32:17 killing
00:32:17 --> 00:32:18 Herod.
00:32:18 --> 00:32:20 The main
00:32:20 --> 00:32:20 point of
00:32:20 --> 00:32:21 this chapter
00:32:21 --> 00:32:21 is very
00:32:21 --> 00:32:22 plain.
00:32:24 --> 00:32:24 If you
00:32:24 --> 00:32:25 oppose
00:32:25 --> 00:32:25 Jesus,
00:32:26 --> 00:32:27 you lose.
00:32:29 --> 00:32:30 He has
00:32:30 --> 00:32:30 no equal.
00:32:32 --> 00:32:32 You
00:32:32 --> 00:32:32 cannot
00:32:32 --> 00:32:33 stop
00:32:33 --> 00:32:33 his
00:32:33 --> 00:32:34 purposes.
00:32:36 --> 00:32:36 Luke put
00:32:36 --> 00:32:36 this chapter
00:32:36 --> 00:32:38 together in
00:32:38 --> 00:32:39 such a way to
00:32:39 --> 00:32:40 make it plain
00:32:40 --> 00:32:40 for this church
00:32:40 --> 00:32:41 in Jerusalem
00:32:41 --> 00:32:42 in its
00:32:42 --> 00:32:43 dark day.
00:32:43 --> 00:32:45 you may
00:32:45 --> 00:32:46 feel small
00:32:46 --> 00:32:46 and insignificant
00:32:46 --> 00:32:47 in the
00:32:47 --> 00:32:47 Roman Empire.
00:32:48 --> 00:32:48 You may
00:32:48 --> 00:32:49 think that
00:32:49 --> 00:32:49 you are
00:32:49 --> 00:32:50 overpowered
00:32:50 --> 00:32:51 when your
00:32:51 --> 00:32:51 best leaders
00:32:51 --> 00:32:52 are killed
00:32:52 --> 00:32:53 on a
00:32:53 --> 00:32:53 political
00:32:53 --> 00:32:54 whim.
00:32:54 --> 00:32:55 But the
00:32:55 --> 00:32:55 truth is
00:32:55 --> 00:32:56 that if you
00:32:56 --> 00:32:56 stay with
00:32:56 --> 00:32:57 Jesus and
00:32:57 --> 00:32:58 stand firm
00:32:58 --> 00:32:58 with him,
00:32:58 --> 00:32:59 you win.
00:33:02 --> 00:33:03 And if you
00:33:03 --> 00:33:04 oppose him,
00:33:05 --> 00:33:05 you lose.
00:33:05 --> 00:33:16 God
00:33:16 --> 00:33:16 here
00:33:16 --> 00:33:18 turned
00:33:18 --> 00:33:19 the tables
00:33:19 --> 00:33:20 entirely on
00:33:20 --> 00:33:21 everything that
00:33:21 --> 00:33:22 Herod was
00:33:22 --> 00:33:22 trying to do
00:33:22 --> 00:33:24 in squashing
00:33:24 --> 00:33:25 the church.
00:33:25 --> 00:33:29 He turned
00:33:29 --> 00:33:30 it around
00:33:30 --> 00:33:30 so that in
00:33:30 --> 00:33:31 verse 24,
00:33:32 --> 00:33:33 Herod is
00:33:33 --> 00:33:33 dead,
00:33:34 --> 00:33:34 but the
00:33:34 --> 00:33:35 word of
00:33:35 --> 00:33:35 God grew
00:33:35 --> 00:33:37 and multiplied.
00:33:40 --> 00:33:40 God
00:33:40 --> 00:33:41 exalted
00:33:41 --> 00:33:42 God and
00:33:42 --> 00:33:42 not Herod.
00:33:43 --> 00:33:43 He made
00:33:43 --> 00:33:44 the reputation
00:33:44 --> 00:33:45 of Jesus
00:33:45 --> 00:33:46 spread,
00:33:47 --> 00:33:48 not Herod's.
00:33:49 --> 00:33:50 And this
00:33:50 --> 00:33:50 is the goal
00:33:50 --> 00:33:50 of all that
00:33:50 --> 00:33:51 God does,
00:33:52 --> 00:33:52 to magnify
00:33:52 --> 00:33:53 his wisdom
00:33:53 --> 00:33:54 and his
00:33:54 --> 00:33:55 power and
00:33:55 --> 00:33:55 spread the
00:33:55 --> 00:33:56 fame of
00:33:56 --> 00:33:56 his son
00:33:56 --> 00:33:57 who saved
00:33:57 --> 00:33:57 sinners.
00:33:58 --> 00:33:58 So be
00:33:58 --> 00:33:59 encouraged.
00:34:00 --> 00:34:01 We're not
00:34:01 --> 00:34:01 facing what
00:34:01 --> 00:34:02 the Jerusalem
00:34:02 --> 00:34:03 church faced,
00:34:03 --> 00:34:03 but we have
00:34:03 --> 00:34:04 our own
00:34:04 --> 00:34:04 issues in
00:34:04 --> 00:34:05 this country
00:34:05 --> 00:34:06 and for us
00:34:06 --> 00:34:07 as a church.
00:34:08 --> 00:34:09 Do not be
00:34:09 --> 00:34:09 impressed or
00:34:09 --> 00:34:10 discouraged by
00:34:10 --> 00:34:12 temporary worldly
00:34:12 --> 00:34:13 triumphs over
00:34:13 --> 00:34:13 the gospel.
00:34:14 --> 00:34:16 Be bold and
00:34:16 --> 00:34:16 courageous to
00:34:16 --> 00:34:17 spread the
00:34:17 --> 00:34:18 word of God
00:34:18 --> 00:34:19 and leave the
00:34:19 --> 00:34:20 outcome to
00:34:20 --> 00:34:20 God.
00:34:22 --> 00:34:23 God will
00:34:23 --> 00:34:24 bury the
00:34:24 --> 00:34:24 messengers
00:34:24 --> 00:34:25 of his
00:34:25 --> 00:34:26 message,
00:34:26 --> 00:34:27 but he
00:34:27 --> 00:34:28 will not
00:34:28 --> 00:34:29 bury his
00:34:29 --> 00:34:29 message.
00:34:30 --> 00:34:30 His
00:34:30 --> 00:34:31 messages will
00:34:31 --> 00:34:32 come and
00:34:32 --> 00:34:33 go and
00:34:33 --> 00:34:33 they will
00:34:33 --> 00:34:34 enter their
00:34:34 --> 00:34:35 eternal reward,
00:34:35 --> 00:34:36 but God's
00:34:36 --> 00:34:37 gospel of the
00:34:37 --> 00:34:37 Lord Jesus
00:34:37 --> 00:34:39 Christ continues
00:34:39 --> 00:34:40 to move on
00:34:40 --> 00:34:41 to the ends
00:34:41 --> 00:34:42 of the earth.
00:34:43 --> 00:34:44 It will not
00:34:44 --> 00:34:44 stop.
00:34:44 --> 00:34:49 God's gospel of the
00:34:49 --> 00:34:50 gospel of the
00:34:50 --> 00:34:50 Lord Jesus.
00:34:50 --> 00:34:51 And in this
00:34:51 --> 00:34:52 commitment series,
00:34:52 --> 00:34:52 I am calling
00:34:52 --> 00:34:53 you to commit
00:34:53 --> 00:34:55 your life to
00:34:55 --> 00:34:56 the unstoppable
00:34:56 --> 00:34:59 God and
00:34:59 --> 00:35:00 seeing his
00:35:00 --> 00:35:01 unstoppable
00:35:01 --> 00:35:03 purposes being
00:35:03 --> 00:35:04 fulfilled through
00:35:04 --> 00:35:06 us here as a
00:35:06 --> 00:35:07 church at
00:35:07 --> 00:35:07 St.
00:35:07 --> 00:35:07 Paul's.
00:35:07 --> 00:35:09 will you
00:35:09 --> 00:35:10 give yourself
00:35:10 --> 00:35:10 to this
00:35:10 --> 00:35:12 God and
00:35:12 --> 00:35:13 move with
00:35:13 --> 00:35:14 Jesus rather
00:35:14 --> 00:35:15 than stand
00:35:15 --> 00:35:15 opposed to
00:35:15 --> 00:35:15 him?
00:35:16 --> 00:35:17 Amen.
00:35:17 --> 00:35:19 Finally,
00:35:19 --> 00:35:19 if you
00:35:19 --> 00:35:20 can
00:35:20 --> 00:35:22 come and
00:35:22 --> 00:35:23 you
00:35:23 --> 00:35:23 will
00:35:24 --> 00:35:24 take
00:35:24 --> 00:35:25 seu
00:35:25 --> 00:35:26 plain to
00:35:26 --> 00:35:27 a
00:35:27 --> 00:35:28 Christ
00:35:31 --> 00:35:32 will you
00:35:33 --> 00:35:37 and
00:35:37 --> 00:35:38 will you
00:35:39 --> 00:35:40 be
00:35:40 --> 00:35:40 and
00:35:40 --> 00:35:41 will you
00:35:41 --> 00:35:41 Give
00:35:41 --> 00:35:42 open
00:35:42 --> 00:35:43 Your
00:35:43 --> 00:35:43 withdrawals
00:35:43 --> 00:35:44 and
00:35:44 --> 00:35:45 see you