LIMAVADY INDEPENDENT METHODIST CHURCH
SERMON NOTES FROM SUNDAY 18 APRIL 2021 am
ACTS 12 VERSES 1 - 11
Last week we looked at this portion of scripture under the heading "a night in prison with Peter." I want to return to it today. Here we see an onslaught of the enemy, an attack on the witness of the church. Herod was an egotistical man. He loved his prominence, place, position and power. He loved people coming to praise him. Satan is about to use this man to come against the church of Jesus Christ. His tactics are the same today. He can use someone to come against us today. Peter was a preacher of the gospel. He thought if he could take Peter out he had won a great battle. Herod had already taken James out and killed him by the sword. When he saw that it pleased the people he thought why not do the same with Peter. We finished last week looking at the privilege for Peter - verse 5 "prayer was made without ceasing of the church unto God for him." Peter had the backing of the church with prayer. this was serious time of prayer for Peter. It was what was taking place in the prison house. Sure he was uptight, anxious, worried and concerned but we don't read that. Verse 6 Peter was aslseep.
Peter was at peace. Peter was taken off the streets for the preaching of God's word. He was arrested and now his voice has been silenced. His freedom has been removed. His rights have been disregarded in this prison house. Notice the unseen hand of God is working things out for his good. No matter what we are going through today the bible makes it clear - "all things work together for good to them that are called according to his word." Sometimes it is hard to apply that verse to our lives and to say "surely God is working things out for our good and benefit." Verse 4 threat of being brought before the crowd. What is Peter doing? Sleeping. Isaiah 26 verse 3 "thou wilt keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on thee because he trusteth in thee." Peter laid down his head. The last thought he had before sleep overtook him, the last thought was of the Lord. Peter was trusting in the Lord. He was aware his end was near. He didn't know what the next day would bring. A death sentence had been put in place. Peter closed his eyes and slept. Why could he do that? He knew God was in control. Isn't it wonderful to get to that place in our lives. A sense of peace and contentment. Knowing God is in control. He was reflecting on the word of God. Perhaps just came back to him and he was now applying the word to his life in that difficult time and place. Remember when the disciples were told by Jesus in Matthew 6 verse 34 "take therefore no thought for the morrow for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself. Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof." Maybe as he lay his head down that night maybe this is the scriptue that came back to him. When we need that leading and guiding we can open the scriptures. The verses bring peace to us. Maybe that is what Peter was going through in prison. The people were concerned about their lives, anxious about the next day and the the day after. Remember how Jesus pointed to the birds of the air "they sow not, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly father feedeth them." The cares of tomorrow, the anxiousness of tomorrow takes away the blessings of today. Maybe you are anxious about tomorrow. Spread it out. Think of Hezekiah. When he saw the enemy approaching Jerusalem he recceived a letter. He spread it out before the Lord. Maybe that is what needs to be done today. Jesus took the disciples aside one day and said "consider the lilies of the field, how they grow, they toil not, neither do they spin. And yet I say unto you, That even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these." He has sufficient for your need and he can supply our need. Peter had peace because he had applied the word of God to his heart. Imagine the guards in the prison house knowing that tomorrow they would bring him out to the people. He possessed a peace that passed all understanding. Peter was able to put his faith into action. He closed his eyes and slept. Have you that sense of peace? Are there those watching us, our every activity, applying it to what we profess? Do they match up? Moses in Exodus 14 verse 13 said "Fear ye not, stand still, and see the salvation of the Lord, which he will shew to you today for the Egyptians whom ye have seen today ye shall see them again no more for ever."
The power. Peter witnessed something strange in prison - verse 7. Remember he was sleeping between 2 guards. There were 2 chains holding him to each guard. There were locks and bolts on the door. The gates locked him in. Yet God told him to get up and walk out of that prison. He is the God of your problem today. God sent his angel right into the prison house where he was. The chains fell off, the locks and iron gates were no match for God. There was a prayer meeting going on not far away, praying for Peter. When we come to God in prayer God hears and answers. A group of people got down to pray for one individual. "Cast your care upon the Lord for he careth for you." (1 Peter 5 verse 7) The people prayed without ceasing for Peter. God heard their prayers. He still hears our prayers today. "Call unto me and I will answer thee and shew thee great and mighty things which thou knowest not." (Jeremiah 33 verse 3) Everything was stacked against Peter's escape. He couldn't take his chains off. He couldn't open the doors or the gates. This is of God. He does that for his children. For Elijah everything seemed to be stacked against him too. Elijah was putting God to the very test to glorify his name in the midst of his people on Mount Carmel. Elijah told them to build the altar, to lay the bullock on it and call for their God to answer them. What happened? They cried and called but nothing happened. Elijah builds the altar, the wood was laid on it as was the bullock. All was ready. Elijah steps forward and asks them to soak the altar with water. They soaked it repeatedly until the water filled the trench around about. All was stacked against God answering prayer. Then Elijah lifts his voice in prayer. God sent the fire and everything was consumed. Everything was stacked against Peter too. Maybe you feel everything is stacked against you today. You don't see a way through or around it. Bring it to the Lord, wait on him today. Moses at the Red Sea could see the enemy was coming against him. There was nowhere for Moses to go or for the people to escape. They witnessed the mighty power of God. The sea began to divide and the people walked on dry ground. The bible says we are born in sin and shapen in iniquity, the wages of sin are death. "I waited patiently for the Lord and he inclined unto me, and heard my cry. He brought me up also out of an horrible pit, out of the miry clay and set my feet upon a rock and established my goings." (Psalm 40 verses 1 and 2) We cannot save ourselves today. We cannot do enough to be saved today. The only way is through the cross of Calvary. Why? Because the God of heaven sent his son to die for our sins. When Jesus died on the cross and cried out "it is finished" he meant it was finished for us today. Would you trust Christ today? Trust him to come into your life. Peter was awakened. The chains fell off. The doors were opened. This was of the Lord. It was his doing.
There is the praise Peter offered. It is important to return to God the praise. "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." That is why we should give God glory and praise for what he has done for us. Remember how Daniel suffered. He spent a night in the lions den. He proved the peace and power of God in that den that night. He witnessed God sending his angels to close the lions mouths. When Peter went to that door of the house where the people were praying he declared the Lord had brought him out of the prison. God had heard and answered his prayer. God will do the same for us and deliver us from all situations we face.
No comments:
Post a Comment