This past week I have been reading the book of Acts. It is a very exciting book because we see the new Church coming together and growing in the Lord, in faith and their understanding of what Jesus said before he was taken up into heaven and sent the Holy Spirit.
There is a familiar story in Acts Chapter 12 that several times this week the Lord continued to bring back to my mind.
Friday night was our Men’s Night here at Joy. We set this time aside once a month to men as men and to fellowship, study God’s word and have some recreation. This past Friday night was very special to me because I was on the only person who came to the meeting. It was just me, the two boxes of pepperoni pizza and my bible…..But then I was joined by the Holy Spirit as he began to teach me the truths of Acts Chapter 12. I was reading, writing and singing as the presence of the Lord opened my understanding to this passage of scripture.
Around 7:52 pm I felt fulfilled and complete. Instead of feeling discouraged that no members of Joy came to meet with me. I felt complete, I felt taught, I was full of Joy from the time I had spent in the presence of God being taught by the Holy Spirit…Just like Jesus said he would do:
John 14:26
26 But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.
Let us pray. Dear Lord I am so grateful you are so faithful to teach us. Help us to have open ears to hear what you are speaking to us today through your word. In Jesus name. Amen.
Turn with me in your bibles to Acts 12 and lets go through this passage of scripture together:
Acts 12
King James Version
1 Now about that time Herod the king stretched forth his hands to vex certain of the church.
***At what time? The time that this is happening if you look back at Acts verse 10 and 11 you will see it is when the Lord sent Peter to Cornelius’ house and his entire household was saved and filled with the Holy Ghost. Peter and the other Disciples where not ever sure that the Gentiles could be saved but God was showing them it was the case and the gospel (Good News) of Jesus was expanding rapidly.
However, something else was happening at the same time. Persecution was also expanding.
Steven had already been stoned, Paul is converted has been almost killed at Damascus, 3 different attempts on his life. The disciples have been arrested and beaten several times for preaching Jesus. Go quickly and look at Acts 5:40-42
Acts 5:40-42
40 And to him they agreed: and when they had called the apostles, and beaten them, they commanded that they should not speak in the name of Jesus, and let them go.
41 And they departed from the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer shame for his name.
42 And daily in the temple, and in every house, they ceased not to teach and preach Jesus Christ.
you will see they are beaten, told never to speak in the Name of Jesus and then let go. They respond with rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer shame for this name.
**Can we pause for a minute here and let that sink in?.......I want you to hear the words again.
41 And they departed from the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer shame for his name.
***The 1st point of the Message today: We should rejoice when we have the awesome privilege to SUFFER shame for the name of Jesus.
My friends we run away from anything that is uncomfortable, we rebuke suffering as an attack of the devil that we should walk in ultimate immunity from when God in reality God may be giving you the Honor and Privilege to suffer for his name sake.
Matthew 5:10-12
10 Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness' sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
11 Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake.
12 Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you.
***Last Sunday night we looked at the story in Daniel of the 3 Hebrew Children cast into the fiery furnace. Pastor Greg Hubbard at Family Camp reminded us on Thursday Night in his message: The Furnace of the Faithful that Peter told us not to be surprised when we find ourselves in a fiery trial. Let’s go look at that verse again together and highlight or underline it in our bible.
1 Peter 4:12-19
12 Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you:
13 But rejoice, inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ's sufferings; that, when his glory shall be revealed, ye may be glad also with exceeding joy.
14 If ye be reproached for the name of Christ, happy are ye; for the spirit of glory and of God resteth upon you: on their part he is evil spoken of, but on your part he is glorified.
15 But let none of you suffer as a murderer, or as a thief, or as an evildoer, or as a busybody in other men's matters.
**Foot note: Figure out why you are suffering**
16 Yet if any man suffer as a Christian, let him not be ashamed; but let him glorify God on this behalf.
17 For the time is come that judgment must begin at the house of God: and if it first begin at us, what shall the end be of them that obey not the gospel of God?
18 And if the righteous scarcely be saved, where shall the ungodly and the sinner appear?
19 Wherefore let them that suffer according to the will of God commit the keeping of their souls to him in well doing, as unto a faithful Creator.
***Now let me ask you a question. How is it that Peter could speak so boldly about the suffering for Christ? Let’s go back to Acts 12 and we will see his lived experience:
Acts 12
King James Version
1 Now about that time Herod the king stretched forth his hands to vex certain of the church.
2 And he killed James the brother of John with the sword.
(Peter, James and John were always together and close to Jesus. In Mathew 20:23 Jesus had told James and John they were going to suffer and die for him)
Matthew 20:20-23
King James Version
20 Then came to him the mother of Zebedees children with her sons, worshipping him, and desiring a certain thing of him.
21 And he said unto her, What wilt thou? She saith unto him, Grant that these my two sons may sit, the one on thy right hand, and the other on the left, in thy kingdom.
22 But Jesus answered and said, Ye know not what ye ask. Are ye able to drink of the cup that I shall drink of, and to be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with? They say unto him, We are able.
23 And he saith unto them, Ye shall drink indeed of my cup, and be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with: but to sit on my right hand, and on my left, is not mine to give, but it shall be given to them for whom it is prepared of my Father.
Back to Acts 12:3
3 And because he saw it pleased the Jews, he proceeded further to take Peter also. (Then were the days of unleavened bread.)
4 And when he had apprehended him, he put him in prison, and delivered him to four quaternions of soldiers to keep him; intending after Easter to bring him forth to the people.
5 Peter therefore was kept in prison: but prayer was made without ceasing of the church unto God for him.
**The 2nd point of the Message today: Your words have power, your words matter, your words move God into action.
It is important that we do not miss this spiritual principle. Your words have power! Your words matter! The bible is jammed pack full of scriptures that reinforce this point but one that the Lord put in my spirit on Friday evening here in the Heart was this passage from Daniel 10. Lets look at it together:
Daniel 10:10-12
10 And, behold, an hand touched me, which set me upon my knees and upon the palms of my hands.
11 And he said unto me, O Daniel, a man greatly beloved, understand the words that I speak unto thee, and stand upright: for unto thee am I now sent. And when he had spoken this word unto me, I stood trembling.
12 Then said he unto me, Fear not, Daniel: for from the first day that thou didst set thine heart to understand, and to chasten thyself before thy God, thy words were heard, and I am come for thy words.
***The 1st point of the Message today: We should rejoice when we have the awesome privilege to SUFFER shame for the name of Jesus.
**The 2nd point of the Message today: Your words have power, your words matter, your words move God into action.
Back to Acts 12:6
6 And when Herod would have brought him forth, the same night Peter was sleeping between two soldiers, bound with two chains: and the keepers before the door kept the prison.
7 And, behold, the angel of the Lord came upon him, and a light shined in the prison: and he smote Peter on the side, and raised him up, saying, Arise up quickly. And his chains fell off from his hands.
***The 3rd point of the Message today: God can touch you with his presence, power and light regardless of where you are at!
***Somebody here today needs to rejoice that God knows where you are and he can reach out and touch you better than AT&T. Some of you young adults do not know what I am talking about but there use to be a commercial in TV in the 1980s. a Mom or grandparents miles away…waiting by the phone to ring. A loved one calls. Smiles form on the faces of both as verbal contact is made……
This word in verse 7 where the angel smote him in his side: it is the greek word “Patasso” to strike gently: as a part or a member of the body.
***What happens when God reaches us in the middle of our trial, in the middle of our suffering, in the middle of our bondage:
- Light of God enters.
- Presence of God enters.
- God lifts us up.
- Chains fall off our hands.
Psalm 34:1
"I will bless the Lord at all times; his praise shall continually be in my mouth"
Psalm 42:5
"Why are you cast down, O my soul, and why are you in turmoil within me? Hope in God; for I shall again praise him, my salvation"
**The 4th point of the Message today: God’s presence and power requires our action faith to walk in freedom.
When God sent his angel into the prison to free Peter it required action from Peter. Look at verse 8
8 And the angel said unto him, Gird thyself, and bind on thy sandals. And so he did. And he saith unto him, Cast thy garment about thee, and follow me.
***There is someone here today you have been laying, lounging or resting in your captivity. You have actually become comfortable in your suffering, and situation…..But God’s presence, God’s Power, God’s Light is coming in this morning and it is time for you to take action:
Look at all the Verbs, Look at the Actions God’s angel said to Peter:
- Arise, Get up quickly
- Get dressed
- Put on your sandals
- Follow me
***I want you to think about going to the Hospital and they make you take off your clothes and put on a hospital gown. But when it is time to leave they tell you to take off the Hospital gown and put on your clothes.
When you go into prison. They take away your clothes and give you a garment of identity with your bondage. God’s says to someone here today. It is time to take off your attire of bondage. It is time to take off the socks and crocks and put on some clothes of victory today. God is telling someone today that you need to get up quickly, dress for your success and put on some shoes because you are going to walk out of this situation into freedom!
Blind Bartimaeus in Mark Chapter 10. You know the Story but I want you to see the principle of your garment and identity with your bondage. Turn to:
Mark 10:46-52
46 And they came to Jericho: and as he went out of Jericho with his disciples and a great number of people, blind Bartimaeus, the son of Timaeus, sat by the highway side begging.
47 And when he heard that it was Jesus of Nazareth, he began to cry out, and say, Jesus, thou son of David, have mercy on me.
48 And many charged him that he should hold his peace: but he cried the more a great deal, Thou son of David, have mercy on me.
49 And Jesus stood still, and commanded him to be called. And they call the blind man, saying unto him, Be of good comfort, rise; he calleth thee.
50 And he, casting away his garment, rose, and came to Jesus.
51 And Jesus answered and said unto him, What wilt thou that I should do unto thee? The blind man said unto him, Lord, that I might receive my sight.
52 And Jesus said unto him, Go thy way; thy faith hath made thee whole. And immediately he received his sight, and followed Jesus in the way.
**The 4th point of the Message today: God’s presence and power requires our action faith to walk in freedom.
God’s angel said to Peter:
- Arise, Get up quickly
- Get dressed
- Put on your sandals
- Follow me
Back to Acts 12:9
9 And he went out, and followed him; and wist not that it was true which was done by the angel; but thought he saw a vision.
10 When they were past the first and the second ward, they came unto the iron gate that leadeth unto the city; which opened to them of his own accord: and they went out, and passed on through one street; and forthwith the angel departed from him.
**The 5th point of the Message today: When we follow God’s instructions we will walk out of bondage without effort.
Zechariah 4:6
6 Then he answered and spake unto me, saying, This is the word of the Lord unto Zerubbabel, saying, Not by might, nor by power, but by my spirit, saith the Lord of hosts.
Psalm 23:5-6
5 Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over.
6 Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the Lord for ever.
***The 1st point of the Message today: We should rejoice when we have the awesome privilege to SUFFER shame for the name of Jesus.
**The 2nd point of the Message today: Your words have power, your words matter, your words move God into action.
***The 3rd point of the Message today: God can touch you with his presence, power and light regardless of where you are at!
**The 4th point of the Message today: God’s presence and power requires our action faith to walk in freedom.
**The 5th point of the Message today: When we follow God’s instructions we will walk out of bondage without effort.
**The 6th and closing point of the Message today: Even when we are faithless he is faithful, do not forget to testify what God does for you.
Back to Acts 12:11
11 And when Peter was come to himself, he said, Now I know of a surety, that the Lord hath sent his angel, and hath delivered me out of the hand of Herod, and from all the expectation of the people of the Jews.
12 And when he had considered the thing, he came to the house of Mary the mother of John, whose surname was Mark; where many were gathered together praying.
13 And as Peter knocked at the door of the gate, a damsel came to hearken, named Rhoda.
14 And when she knew Peter's voice, she opened not the gate for gladness, but ran in, and told how Peter stood before the gate.
15 And they said unto her, Thou art mad. But she constantly affirmed that it was even so. Then said they, It is his angel.
16 But Peter continued knocking: and when they had opened the door, and saw him, they were astonished.
17 But he, beckoning unto them with the hand to hold their peace, declared unto them how the Lord had brought him out of the prison. And he said, Go shew these things unto James, and to the brethren. And he departed, and went into another place.
***Peter Testifies of what God did for him.***
18 Now as soon as it was day, there was no small stir among the soldiers, what was become of Peter.
19 And when Herod had sought for him, and found him not, he examined the keepers, and commanded that they should be put to death. And he went down from Judaea to Caesarea, and there abode.
Mark 9:23-24
23 Jesus said unto him, If thou canst believe, all things are possible to him that believeth.
24 And straightway the father of the child cried out, and said with tears, Lord, I believe; help thou mine unbelief.