July 13, 2014
Evening Service

This morning we saw where the apostle James was killed by Herod Agrippa as a favor to the Jewish people.  He was an observer of the Law of Moses and was not satisfied with James’ martyrdom, so now he sets his plan to do the same to the apostle Peter.

Act 12:3-5 And because he saw it pleased the Jews, he went further to seize Peter also. (And they were days of Unleavened Bread.)  (4)  And capturing him, he put him in prison, and delivered him to four sets of four soldiers to keep him; intending to bring him out to the people after the Passover.  (5)  Then, indeed, Peter was kept in prison. But earnest prayer was made to God for him by the church.

·         Herod sought to destroy the church by knocking down the pillars that held it up.  Peter was seized and held in prison under the watch of 16 Roman soldiers.  Herod had plans to make a spectacle of Peter’s execution after the religious holiday had passed.

·         The Christians had to be devastated.  They had just lost James and now Peter was being held and seemed certainly in the next in line to be martyred.

·          Have you been there?  In that place where there seems no hope at all?  We, as they were, are powerless to change an outcome that seems inevitable.  This is where God is at His best.  He waits on us to call and then often springs into action right at the perfect time.  He is never too early and never too late.

·         Notice what the church was doing; they prayed earnestly.  It should not be the last thing we do, but the first.  James 5:16 says “The effective fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much.”  Let’s continue to be a praying church.  Prayer equals results.  This prayer turned out to much more powerful than Herod’s well trained soldiers.

 

 Act 12:6 And when Herod was about to bring him out, the same night Peter was sleeping between two soldiers, bound with two chains. Also guards were keeping the prison before the door.

·         Peter is being guarded by 16 Roman soldiers, bound by two chains, inside of a locked prison, and was facing execution in a matter of time.  Look what he was doing; he was asleep.

·         Just as Jesus slept through the storm on the boat with the apostles, Peter was so at peace that he slept.  That is what the presence of the Holy Spirit in your life can do.  You can face impossible odds, yet be at total peace as you trust your God to be right there with you and work all things out for His glory.

 

 Php 4:6-7 Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God.  (7)  And the peace of God which passes all understanding shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.

·         A peace so full that even we cannot understand it as we experience it.

Act 12:7-12 And behold! An angel of the Lord stood by, and a light shone in the building. And striking Peter's side, he raised him up, saying, “Rise up quickly!” And his chains fell off his hands.  (8)  And the angel said to him, “Gird yourself and put on your sandals. And he did so. And he says to him, Throw your robe around you and follow me.”  (9)  And he went out and followed him. And he did not know that this happening through the angel was true, but thought he saw a vision.  (10)  When they were past the first and second guard, they came to the iron gate that leads to the city, which opened to them of its own accord. And they went out and passed on through one street. And immediately the angel departed from him.  (11)  And having come to himself, Peter said, “Now I know surely that the Lord has sent His angel and has delivered me out of the hand of Herod, and from all the expectation of the people of the Jews.”  (12)  And thinking about it, he came to the house of Mary the mother of John, whose last name was Mark; where many had gathered together to pray.

·         What a wonderful moment for Peter!  He realized God had sent an angel and delivered him from the bondage he could not escape on his own.

·         Have you been there?  There is not a better feeling in the world than to know God has moved His mighty hand and came to your rescue.   That is the gospel message isn’t it?

 

Act 12:13-17  And as Peter knocked at the door of the porch, a girl named Rhoda came to listen.  (14)  And when she knew Peter's voice, she did not open the porch because of gladness, but running in she reported Peter was standing before the porch.  (15)  And they said to her, “You are mad.” But she kept on saying that it was so. And they said, “It is his angel.”  (16)  But Peter continued knocking, and when they had opened and saw him, they were amazed.  (17)  But, waving to them with his hand to be quiet, he declared to them how the Lord had brought him out of the prison. And he said, “Go tell these things to James and to the brothers.” And he departed and went into another place.

·         Why is it we are always amazed when God answers our prayer?  I love to hear the “praise items” that get sprinkled into our prayer request time of how God moved in someone’s life that we have been praying for.

·         Sometimes, however, God says “No.”  I know the church had prayed for James as well, yet he was beheaded.  The sovereignty of God is a very deep subject that you can read about in Romans Chapter 9.  We must simply trust Him to do what is best for us and accept whatever that may be.  God is the same either way.

 

 Act 12:18-19  And day coming, there was not a little stir among the soldiers, saying, What, then, became of Peter.  (19)  And searching for him, and not finding him, examining the guards, Herod commanded them to be led away to death. And he went down from Judea to Caesarea and stayed.

·         Herod was apparently not a believer in miracles, so the blame fell to the soldiers.

·         We now are told of his demise.

 

 

 

 

 

 Act 12:20-25  And Herod was in bitter hostility with the men of Tyre and Sidon. But they came to him with one accord and, having made Blastus (who had charge of the king's bedroom) their friend, desired peace, because their country was fed by the king's country.  (21)  And on a certain day, Herod sat on his throne, dressed in royal clothing, and made a speech to them.  (22)  And the people gave a shout, saying, “It is the voice of a god and not of a man!”  (23)  And immediately the angel of the Lord struck him, because he did not give God the glory. And he was eaten by worms and gave up the spirit.  (24)  But the Word of God grew and increased.  (25)  And Barnabas and Saul returned from Jerusalem when they had fulfilled the ministry, having taken with them John, whose last name was Mark.

·         What a sad ending to Herod’s life.  Always reflect any glory that comes your way to your Heavenly Father.  We will see how quickly the apostles stop any divine worship that comes their way. It is also very evident that it does not end well for those who fight against God.

·         Having removed another enemy, the church continues to grow and we again run into Saul and Barnabas.

 

Tonight we have seen that prayer changes things.  When we feel all hope is gone, only trust Him.  We saw peace that passes all understanding being given even in the darkest of nights.  Our Lord is telling us, “Do not be afraid, I’ve got this.”

 

Lord, may our prayer life be fervent and effective and may we be filled with testimonies of Your faithfulness to respond.