Just when
everything was going so well, the Church was growing, glowing and going; preaching
the gospel to other places and nations.
Then, we
hit Acts 12.
Herod
kills James.
Herod
imprisons Peter (preparing to kill him, too).
Angel
frees Peter.
Herod
kills guards.
Angel
kills Herod.
God’s Word
endures forever.
God’s ministry continues.
Acts 12:1
Now about that time Herod the king stretched out his hand to harass some from
the church.
Herod
Agrippa.
Grandson
to Herod the great, who slaughtered Bethlehem babies, attempting to kill Baby
Jesus.
Nephew to
Herod Antipas, who beheaded John the Baptist.
Herod Agrippa
harasses the Church. The Church was minding its own business, being good
citizens. Going about doing Good. Barnabas and Saul were in Jerusalem at that
very moment delivering relief for the famine the Holy Spirit warned about at
end of chapter 11.
Nevertheless,
Herod, (the government), crosses the line and harasses the Church, simply for
political points with the elites.
The
government crossed the line when it arrested those who disagreed with them.
The
government crossed the line into Church business, when they removed prayer from
school
The
government crosses the line when they promote pornography, but shun the Bible.
The
government crosses the line when they promote and applaud, slaughtering babies
in the womb, and mutilating them out of the womb.
The
government crossed the line into Church business when they say marriage is
anything other than one man, one woman.
The
government crossed the line into Church business when they dictate that a cake
maker must accommodate a marriage that God deems immoral.
The
government crossed a red line into Church family when Tim Walz and Kamala
Harris say government can take jurisdiction over parents who won’t affirm
gender selections of their child.
The
government has crossed the line into the Church when they threaten Pastors not
to do what we just did. Don't talk politics, or you'll loose your tax-exempt status.
Any
preacher who refuses to speak the Truth for fear of loosing status with the
government, has bowed to the government and lost status that matters with God.
Any person
who won’t give without government tax-exempt has missed the point and needs to have the motives of
their heart examined.
Yeah, but
Doug what about the separation of Church and state?
By
crossing those lines, the US government has violated the very definition of separation
of Church and state.
That
phrase is not in any of our founding documents. Not in Declaration of
Independence, not in the Bill of Rights, nothing…
It was a personal
letter from Thomas Jefferson, responding to a letter from Danbury Baptist
Association, in 1802. The Church was concerned that in Connecticut, religious
liberties were not seen as immutable rights, but privileges
“favors” granted by the legislature.
Jefferson
assured them that there is a wall of separation between Church and state,
to keep the government out of the business of the Church, but it had nothing
to do with keeping Church out of the business of government.
For our
government to function as intended, there can be no separation from the Christian
Church, for it was woven into the fabric of every document and built upon the
Cornerstone of Christ.
Jeus commands
the Church to go into all the world (that includes the
political world) and preach the gospel to every creature (even
swamp creatures). Mark 16:15.
The very word Jesus chose to use that is translated into English as, “Church” is Ekklésia. It was used by the Greeks and later by the Romans, referring to a group of people called out to help interpret, implement and govern the laws of the land.
Likewise,
Jesus expects His Church, His Ekklésia to interpret and implement His will, His
plan, His Word.
2 Then he killed
James the brother of John with the sword.
Evil left
unchecked always escalates.
From
harassing them to killing him, by the sword—beheaded.
James was
a member of the trio of Jesus’ inner circle. Peter, James and John.
James the
brother of John is the first martyr of the 12 apostles of Jesus.
James is
the first one killed, and John will be the last one alive.
John was
the only one not martyred. Although they tried. John just wouldn’t die. God had
plans for him. John wrote the gospel of John, 1st, 2nd,
and 3rd John, and the last book in the Bible. Revelation.
James and
John asked to sit at the right and left of Jesus, in His Kingdom. In a sense
they wanted to be like bookends. Well, they were, first martyred and last one,
alive.
History
tells that James was such a powerful witness, that the soldier ordered to kill
him, converted, and was also executed with James.
3 And because he (Herod) saw that it pleased the Jews, he proceeded further to
seize Peter also. Now it was during the Days of Unleavened Bread.
Many politicians
fall into corruption just to please their elites.
They become
hired guns. Willing to kill, for power.
So, he
killed James, one of the pillars of the Church.
Now, he
seizes Peter.
4 So when he had
arrested him, he put him in prison, and delivered him to four squads of
soldiers to keep him, intending to bring him before the people after Passover.
A squad is
four.
So,
sixteen soldiers total. Four for each watch; each shift, around the clock.
He pauses
for Passover, like taking a Christmas break, so as to not offend the religious
5 Peter was therefore
kept in prison, but constant prayer was offered to God for him by the
church.
James was
murdered.
Peter was on
death row.
But the
Church was praying.
Herod had
constant guards.
The Church
had constant prayer.
Prayer is
more powerful than all the soldiers in all the Roman empire.
That word
“constant” in the original text means: intently, fervently, as a muscle
stretched to its fullest.
That’s our
example. That’s our call.
Bad
doctor’s report—but the Church is praying
Loved one
running from Jesus—but the Church is praying
Financial
trouble, legal trouble, marriage trouble—but the Church is intensely, fervently
praying.
The
country is crumbling—but the Church is praying.
The effectual,
fervent, prayer of the righteous is powerful and effective. James 5:16.
6 And when Herod was
about to bring him out, that night Peter was sleeping, bound with two chains
between two soldiers; and the guards before the door were keeping the prison.
About
to bring him out that night,
means he was going to bring him out for public execution.
Normally,
one soldier per prisoner would be enough; but in chapter 5, the apostles were
in prison, and an angel let them out.
Herod’s
not taking any chances.
So, Peter
is chained between two guards, with two more at the door.
It’s hard
to imagine in that situation, but Peter is sleeping peacefully—the night before
his execution.
Have you
ever tossed and turned, unable to sleep, thinking about something? It probably wasn’t
as intense as being executed the next morning.
Lord, we
pray for the peace of Peter.
Actually,
the Lord has already answered that prayer, if we’re willing and obedient:
Don’t
worry about anything, pray about everything, with thanksgiving, and the
peace of God that passes all understanding will guard your heart and mind
through Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:6-7.
7 Now behold, an
angel of the Lord stood by him, and a light shone in the prison; and he struck
Peter on the side and raised him up, saying, “Arise quickly!” And his chains
fell off his hands.
Angels in
Hebrew is malak; in Greek it’s aggelos. They both mean,
messenger.
Angels are
mentioned in seventeen books in the Old Testament and seventeen books in the
New Testament.
There are angels among us, right here, right now.
Hebrews
1:14; Are not the
angels ministering spirits sent to serve those
who will inherit salvation?
Hebrews
13:2 Be not forgetful to entertain strangers: for thereby some have entertained
angels unawares.
Pete’s
sleeping so sound that even the bright light from an angel doesn’t wake him. So,
the angel smacks him. Rise and shine!
Just like
that, the chains fall off.
Whatever’s
got you bound, God is able to knock off with a slap, before you even wake up.
8 Then the angel said
to him, “Gird yourself and tie on your sandals”; and so he did. And he said to
him, “Put on your garment and follow me.”
Pete
must’ve been sleepy. The angel walks him through step by step, like you have to
do with a sleepy child.
Okay, get
up.
Get
dressed.
Now, tie
your shoes.
Alright,
don’t forget your coat.
Ready now, follow me.
9 So he went out and
followed him, and did not know that what was done by the angel was real, but
thought he was seeing a vision.
Lord, help
us to have the faith of a child and trust like Peter, willing to simply follow
You, even when we’re not even sure what’s going on.
10 When they were
past the first and the second guard posts, they came to the iron gate that
leads to the city, which opened to them of its own accord; and they went
out and went down one street, and immediately the angel departed from him.
Notice,
the guards didn’t see or hear a thing.
In the original text the word for, own accord, is automatos. The gate opened, automatically.
Did the
angel have a little remote-control clicker?
11 And when Peter had
come to himself, he said, “Now I know for certain that the Lord has sent His
angel, and has delivered me from the hand of Herod and from all the expectation
of the Jewish people.”
Wow… I’m
not dreaming.
Sad. Peter
knew that some of his own people, the Jewish people (the religious
elites) wanted to see him executed.
12 So, when he had
considered this, he came to the house of Mary, the mother of John whose surname
was Mark, where many were gathered together praying.
Likely, a
place they regularly gathered to pray; a house Church.
13 And as Peter
knocked at the door of the gate, a girl named Rhoda came to answer.
He had
just walked through a locked, guarded, iron gated, prison, without a hitch.
Now, he’s stuck outside the little gate of a friend.
14 When she
recognized Peter’s voice, because of her gladness she did not open the gate,
but ran in and announced that Peter stood before the gate.
Where’s
that angel with the clicker when you need him?
15 But they said to
her, “You are beside yourself!” Yet she kept insisting that it was so. So they
said, “It is his angel.”
The Church
was praying fervently, intensely for Peter to be released.
Rhoda:
Hallelujah our prayers are answered Peter’s been released.
The Church:
You’re crazy. Now hush, we’re praying for Peter to be released.
Rhoda: Really!
It’s Peter.
Church:
No, it’s his angel.
No, remember,
his angel’s got a clicker and wouldn’t need to wait at the gate.
16 Now Peter
continued knocking; and when they opened the door and saw him, they were
astonished.
Hope
the guards don’t show up looking for me. Pete’s knocking probably grows louder. BAM! BAM! BAM!
Finally,
they open the door… astonished.
Why? Why
are we surprised when God answers our prayer? Is it because we doubt?
Lord,
help us to pray expectantly, believing and receiving, according to Your will.
17 But motioning to
them with his hand to keep silent, 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 brethren.” And he departed and went to another place.
Peter
tells them what happened, and then tells them to go tell James, and the rest of
the apostles.
This James,
obviously isn’t
the James that was beheaded; he’s the half-brother of Jesus.
He’s one
of the leaders of the Church in Jerusalem.
He will
write the book of James.
18 Then, as soon as
it was day, there was no small stir among the soldiers about what had become of
Peter.
Oh no not
again! The soldiers were freaking out.
A soldier
losing a prisoner set for execution, meant the soldier’s execution.
19 But when Herod had
searched for him and not found him, he examined the guards and commanded that
they should be put to death.
And he went down from
Judea to Caesarea, and stayed there.
Herod
executed the guards, then exited for the coast.
20 Now Herod had been
very angry with the people of Tyre and Sidon; but they came to him with one
accord, and having made Blastus the king’s personal aide their friend, they
asked for peace, because their country was supplied with food by the king’s
country.
Tyre and
Sidon, was north by today’s Lebanon.
21 So on a set day
Herod, arrayed in royal apparel, sat on his throne and gave an oration to them.
22 And the people
kept shouting, “The voice of a god and not of a man!”
23 Then immediately
an angel of the Lord struck him, because he did not give glory to God. And he
was eaten by worms and died.
24 But the word of
God grew and multiplied.
Herod
harassed. Herod imprisoned. Herod murdered…
Herod was suddenly
struck down by an angel of the Lord, and eaten by worms.
God’s Word
multiplied.
Jesus
tells us heaven and earth will pass away but My Word will never pass away.
Matthew 24:35.
God’s
Word, lives and abides, forever, and ever.
Amen.
25 And Barnabas and
Saul returned from Jerusalem when they had fulfilled their ministry, and
they also took with them John whose surname was Mark.
They fulfilled
their ministry.
You too have a ministry, to fulfill.
You, dear
child of God, you, dear Ekklésia, are a royal priesthood, with a Divine Eternal
Purpose and calling.
Herods
and governments and kings and nations, rise and fall.
But you child
of God are part of a holy nation in search of a city whose Builder and Maker is
God, who lives and abides forever and ever. Amen.
Let’s pray.
Heavenly
Father, we rejoice knowing that this life is but a vapor, a mist, a moment, and
then, real Life begins. Thank You, for reminding us of that, when the Herods
are harassing, the chains are binding, and the future looks fatal.
We choose
on purpose to believe Your Word that tells us, in all these things, we are more
than conquerors. Romans 8:37.
We love
You, forever.
Amen.
Prayer
Requests:
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text: 612-554-2522
Email: pray4measap@aol.com
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Acts 12
This
was feed for you to read. Now it’s Seed for you to sow.
Thank
you for sharing.
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