Triumph Over Evil

INTRO

Rivalries

Sports - Lakers v. Celtics; Cowboys v. Giants; OU v. Texas; Ohio State v. Michigan; Yankees v. Red Socks;

Movies - Justice League v. Legion of Doom; Jedi v. Empire; Rocky v. Apollo Creed or Ivan Drago

In real life - Israel v. Iran (Muslim Middle East Nations); Republics v. Democrats; Apple v. Android

The greatest rivalry in all of history is Good v. Evil.

Since the Rebellion of Satan and the fall of man there has been an ongoing tension of good v. evil.

We see it played out in our lives every day. We live in the fall out of the tension and it affects every layer and level of our lives.

Jesus as the incarnate Christ wasn’t immune, the early church wasn’t immune, and we aren’t immune either.

As we continue to explore the early church in Acts, we can learn that this rivalry of Good v. Evil isn’t really much of a rivalry. There really is ultimate and final victory that is only found in one place.

Acts 12:1–24 ESV

1 About that time Herod the king laid violent hands on some who belonged to the church. 2 He killed James the brother of John with the sword, 3 and when he saw that it pleased the Jews, he proceeded to arrest Peter also. This was during the days of Unleavened Bread. 4 And when he had seized him, he put him in prison, delivering him over to four squads of soldiers to guard him, intending after the Passover to bring him out to the people. 5 So Peter was kept in prison, but earnest prayer for him was made to God by the church. 6 Now when Herod was about to bring him out, on that very night, Peter was sleeping between two soldiers, bound with two chains, and sentries before the door were guarding the prison. 7 And behold, an angel of the Lord stood next to him, and a light shone in the cell. He struck Peter on the side and woke him, saying, “Get up quickly.” And the chains fell off his hands. 8 And the angel said to him, “Dress yourself and put on your sandals.” And he did so. And he said to him, “Wrap your cloak around you and follow me.” 9 And he went out and followed him. He did not know that what was being done by the angel was real, but thought he was seeing a vision. 10 When they had passed the first and the second guard, they came to the iron gate leading into the city. It opened for them of its own accord, and they went out and went along one street, and immediately the angel left him. 11 When Peter came to himself, he said, “Now I am sure that the Lord has sent his angel and rescued me from the hand of Herod and from all that the Jewish people were expecting.” 12 When he realized this, he went to the house of Mary, the mother of John whose other name was Mark, where many were gathered together and were praying. 13 And when he knocked at the door of the gateway, a servant girl named Rhoda came to answer. 14 Recognizing Peter’s voice, in her joy she did not open the gate but ran in and reported that Peter was standing at the gate. 15 They said to her, “You are out of your mind.” But she kept insisting that it was so, and they kept saying, “It is his angel!” 16 But Peter continued knocking, and when they opened, they saw him and were amazed. 17 But motioning to them with his hand to be silent, he described to them how the Lord had brought him out of the prison. And he said, “Tell these things to James and to the brothers.” Then he departed and went to another place. 18 Now when day came, there was no little disturbance among the soldiers over what had become of Peter. 19 And after Herod searched for him and did not find him, he examined the sentries and ordered that they should be put to death. Then he went down from Judea to Caesarea and spent time there. 20 Now Herod was angry with the people of Tyre and Sidon, and they came to him with one accord, and having persuaded Blastus, the king’s chamberlain, they asked for peace, because their country depended on the king’s country for food. 21 On an appointed day Herod put on his royal robes, took his seat upon the throne, and delivered an oration to them. 22 And the people were shouting, “The voice of a god, and not of a man!” 23 Immediately an angel of the Lord struck him down, because he did not give God the glory, and he was eaten by worms and breathed his last. 24 But the word of God increased and multiplied.

1) Evil Often Follows the Crowd (v.1-4)

Herod Agrippa I (grandson of Herod the Great who had the males of 2 years old and younger slaughtered leading to the escape to Egypt) sought to please the bulk of the citizens he ruled over so he launched an all out assault against Christians.

At the behest of the crowd, led by Jewish religious rulers, he targeted the leaders of the Christians.

When you look at our own culture, we see the same blood thirsty darkness that drives the crowd today.

Christian values and morals are once again under attack by the crowd today. (While it hasn’t yet broken out into coordinated violence, that day doesn’t seem to be too far off.)

Evil has consumed the populace and is against the foundational values and morals that God established for man to live by.

Abortion and it’s acceptance by the populace is still a priority for most.

The acceptance, celebration, and promotion of homosexual lifestyles is at an all time high in our nation.

The acceptance and normalization of heterosexual sinful lifestyles is through the roof, even within the church.

The complete disregard for God, His Word, and His Standards is prevalent in pop culture and in the vast majority of “Christian” circles today.

I used to tell students who graduated out of my student ministry of the importance of finding a solid, bible teaching church…based on the feedback I’ve received from many of those students over the years that easier said than done. Their feedback says that most “churches” want to be motivational and religious and don’t really lean very much at all on scriptural teaching and preaching.

The hearts of men are evil. When left to ourselves we are no better than Satan himself who rebelled against God. So it just stands to reason, that evil follows the crowd.

We need to be aware of that and be daily examining our own convictions. If we find we are walking in the same direction ideologically as the world around us, we may need to check our hearts.

If you are swimming against the flow and feeling the tension and friction of living for Jesus in a broken world be encouraged that there is triumph over evil.

2) Victory Sometimes Comes in Eternity Exclusively (v.2)

James was killed by Herod Agrippa I.

This is the first record we have of one of the Apostles being martyred.

James wasn’t a failure because he was executed.

Jesus wasn’t a failure because James was executed.

James may not have been spared from a physical death at the hands of Herod, but he was victorious and spared an eternal death.

He was saved by the nail-scarred hands of Jesus.

Evil and brokenness will at some point take its toll on our physical lives.

But death is not the end of the life of a Christian.

We continue to live and sometimes our victory over evil comes exclusively in eternity.

We may face persecution, sickness, and disease in this life, but it does not have victory over our lives.

1 Corinthians 15:55–58 ESV

55 “O death, where is your victory? O death, where is your sting?” 56 The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. 57 But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. 58 Therefore, my beloved brothers, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that in the Lord your labor is not in vain.

No matter what evil we face, we can be steadfast, immovable, and always abounding in the work of the Lord because we know that greater is He who is me than he who is in the world!

3) Victory Sometimes Comes in this Life (v.5-17)

Peter’s situation didn’t look so good either. It seemed that he was destined for the same fate as James.

For over a week, Peter had been arrested and awaiting his public trial and execution.

While Peter was under guard and waiting, the church was praying.

While the church was praying for Peter, it seemed they had given up hope.

When Peter was freed, they didn’t believe it was actually him at the door.

Ultimately, through the power of God, Peter was freed from prison and his execution at that point in time.

Just because the world is against us, doesn’t mean that our only hope is victory in eternity exclusively.

God is still sovereign and holy.

If He desires to use us for continued work in this life, He will provide victory and opportunity for us to continue.

Even if we have lost hope, that doesn’t mean that all hope is lost. (The people continued to pray even though they were in disbelief.)

As Christians, we need to pray and seek the will of God, all the way to the very end of our days on this earth. You never know what God may have in store.

If He chooses to intervene in this life and bring victory then praise the Lord!

If He chooses to not intervene and gives victory in the next life then praise the Lord!

4) God Always has the Final Word (v.18-24)

Herod just thought he was high and mighty, but in the end, he realized that he was nothing more than worm food.

While he had tried to snuff out the movement of God, his efforts were to no avail.

Herod died but the Word of God increased and multiplied.

CLOSING

Evil will never win, no matter what it may seem.

God is the unstoppable God who always Triumphs Over Evil.

In most rivalries, each side is battling to see who can get the upper hand and gain the most victories.

In this battle though, God never loses and evil never wins. (It’s like the team that gets blown out, but hangs their hat on “well at least we didn’t get shutout”.)

Evil may get some points on the board, but it never gets the win. God’s record is infinity and 0. He never loses, He always prevails.

IN WHAT WAYS HAVE YOU ALLOWED EVIL TO SLIP INTO YOUR LIFE?

DO YOU REJOICE AND LIVE IN GOD’S VICTORY, EVEN IF IT IS ONLY FULLY REALIZED IN ETERNITY?

IS THERE A SITUATION YOU ARE ASKING FOR VICTORY IN RIGHT NOW? WHO DO YOU HAVE PRAYING WITH YOU?

HOW CAN YOU GROW IN KEEPING YOU HEART AND LIFE INTENSELY FOCUSED ON GOD, KNOWING THAT HE ALWAYS TRIUMPHS OVER EVIL?