The Seats and Speech of Kings

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Intro - Herod tries to get approval from the Jews by arresting and killing Peter, but God delivers Peter from jail. Herod leaves Judea and begins identifying with Rome since his plan with the Jews had failed.

Read Text and Pray

(25m)

A Sovereign Sits in Judgment

Herod Sought Glory Through Approval

Acts 12:21 NASB95

On an appointed day Herod, having put on his royal apparel, took his seat on the rostrum and began delivering an address to them.

Royal Apparel - Shining Silver Thread (Josephus)

Rostrum - The Judgment Seat

Herod thought by having the clothes and the chair of a god that he would become one.

God Sought Glory Through Action

Acts 12:23 NASB95

And immediately an angel of the Lord struck him because he did not give God the glory, and he was eaten by worms and died.

King Jesus didn’t even have to personally show up to turn Herod into worm food.

(15m)

A Sovereign Speaks with Authority

Herod Had Authority Without Ability

Acts 12:22 NASB95

The people kept crying out, “The voice of a god and not of a man!”

Herod had to manipulate others to gain the ability to accomplish his purposes.

God Spoke With Power

Acts 12:23–24 NASB95

And immediately an angel of the Lord struck him because he did not give God the glory, and he was eaten by worms and died. But the word of the Lord continued to grow and to be multiplied.

God doesn’t try to do things; He does them.

You can’t make calls from the cheap seats.

Psalm 110 NASB95

A Psalm of David. The Lord says to my Lord: “Sit at My right hand Until I make Your enemies a footstool for Your feet.” The Lord will stretch forth Your strong scepter from Zion, saying, “Rule in the midst of Your enemies.” Your people will volunteer freely in the day of Your power; In holy array, from the womb of the dawn, Your youth are to You as the dew. The Lord has sworn and will not change His mind, “You are a priest forever According to the order of Melchizedek.” The Lord is at Your right hand; He will shatter kings in the day of His wrath. He will judge among the nations, He will fill them with corpses, He will shatter the chief men over a broad country. He will drink from the brook by the wayside; Therefore He will lift up His head.

Image of Pharoah with enemies as his footstool.

(10m)

CONCLUSION

Acts 12:25 NASB95

And Barnabas and Saul returned from Jerusalem when they had fulfilled their mission, taking along with them John, who was also called Mark.

When the Sovereign King Jesus sits and speaks, He does so with the full authority and ability to fulfill His mission.

Matthew 28:18–20 NASB95

And Jesus came up and spoke to them, saying, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. “Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”

(5m)

QUESTIONS

Do you fear oppressive governments or persecution?

Consider King Jesus. from whom all authority comes to and to whom all authority will will surrender.

Perhaps you are ashamed of your past. Is it too much for God to forgive?

Consider King Jesus, who was beaten and mocked in your place and who declared, “It is finished!”

Are you punishing yourself through hard work, exhaustion, or discomfort to atone for your sins?

Consider King Jesus, who sits on the throne today because He already fulfilled His mission to make you right with God.

Will the church survive?

Consider King Jesus, who has promised that He will build His Church and the gates of Hell will not prevail against it.