Trusting the Master’s Plan

This morning as we begin to look into Acts chapter 12, we will catch a glimpse of God’s sovereignty in protecting His work in this world and that it’s not limited by our ability, or rather inability to understand it.

Few chapters in Scripture show us God’s total providence over human life like this chapter. James dies, but Peter is ultimately released with no human reason given in either case.

As the chapter ends with Herod’s death, we see God’s control even in the affairs of politicians.

But there’s one constant theme that runs throughout this chapter. And that is the vibrancy of the church.

God’s plan doesn’t always align with our desires or expectations. But He is always working to fulfill a purpose far beyond our human understanding.

This morning we’re looking at Acts 12:1-4. The persecution of the church continues with Herod Agrippa executing the apostleJames, the brother of the apostle John and, later on, the miraculous release of Peter.

It has been questioned, why was Peter released while James was killed?

Why are some spared while others die before having the opportunity to do more for God?

The answer is… I don’t know.

Russell Moore was a young man with a seemingly insatiable desire to share Jesus with everyone he knew.

We were freshmen together in Bible College. He and I spent quite a bit of time in the Student Union Building, which we lovingly called the Sub, talking not only about our outreach in the neighborhoods that week, but about what we would do after we graduated.

Russell had strong desire to take the gospel to the Jews in Israel. He wanted to spend the rest of his life in Israel.

But God had other plans. Russell’s leg began hurting. After a series of tests, it was found he had bone cancer.

He ended up hospitalized in Houston, where they had to amputate his leg below the hip.

Six weeks later he was back on campus with an artificial leg and attending classes.

One day Russell came back from the doctor for a routine checkup and X-rays revealed a suspicious spot on one lung.

Two weeks later, he shared that if the doctor knew what he was talking about, he had about twelve days to live.

Russell said he wanted to do three things before he died,

Continue his Bible College training because the Word of God is my life

Go to a prison with fellow classmate, Harold Morris, a fellow student who had been wrongly accused of armed robbery and murder and had been serving two life sentences and had served nine years before being released, and hold a service for the inmates

And third, I must go to Israel and witness to the Jews.

Russell attended class for another week, and asked then college president, Dr. Alden Gannet if he could address the student body before returning to the hospital.

This is what Russell said to the student body… “Some of you are playing games with God. When you came here you had a vision and a purpose. But you’ve lost that direction. You know that you’re playing games. It’s time to get serious with God.”

He checked in the hospital that night to die.

After much prayer by many people, Russell’s white blood count began to rise, and he talked his doctor into letting him go to Israel.

Russell got a fellow classmate, Harold Morris, to fly with him to Tel Aviv, and rent a car to drive to Jerusalem.

They had the opportunity to share Jesus with many while Russell’s health deteriorated each day.

They attended a worship service at the Garden tomb the following weekend, and were invited to the home of someone they met there.

There were about 25 guests there and several trusted Christ after Russell gave his testimony.

They had just gotten back to their hotel when the phone rang, and Harold answered the phone. The person whose home they visited, said, “You will not believe this, but tomorrow you and Russell have been invited to the Knesset to visit the Prime Minister’s top aide, the second most powerful man in the country.

The next day, Christmas Eve, they were welcomed into Mr. Kadishai’s office. They sat down and Russell began to share with the Israeli leader about Christ the Messiah.

They conversed for a while, then Mr. Kadishai left the room, and a few minutes later reappeared with Menacham Begin, the Israeli Prime Minister.

After a brief introduction, Russell reached into his pocket and handed the Prime Minister a message and said, “Mr. Begin, I prepared this just for you. If you study it, sir, you’ll see that Jesus is the Messiah. One day every knee will bow and every tongue will confess that He is Lord.”

Mr. Begin placed the message in his pocket and they conversed for a long while.

That was Russell’s life.

Russell Moore lived forty-two days after they returned home. He died at twenty-two years old.

Why are some spared while others die before having the opportunity to do more for God?

Questions like this, of course, have no answer. Or even any value.

God knows what He is doing, and He is doing it. We call it sovereignty. He works with the broad plan of the ages well in mind.

But how often do we want to second-guess how God works in His world among His people?

Let’s take a look at what was going on in Jerusalem.

Read Acts 12:1-4.

V 1. Either right after what happened at the end of chapter 11, or around the time of the famine, Herod took the role of chief persecutor.

Bible historians put this approximate date around A.D. 44, probably in the spring of that year.

This Herod, Herod Agrippa was the grandson of Herod the Great, the one who ordered the Bethlehem children to be murdered, and the nephew of Herod Antipas, who had John the Baptist beheaded. Lovely family.

A scheming and murderous family, the Herods were despised by the Jews, who resented Edomites ruling over them.

Herod, of course, knew this, so he persecuted the church to convince the Jewish people of his loyalty to the traditions of the OT patriarchs.

“Harass” - to treat severely, to hurt

V 2. In verse 2 we see he arrests and kills James, one of the Lord’s original apostles.

James was a faithful man of God doing the will of God, and yet he was killed!

His brother, John, lived over one hundred years. But both of them lived for Jesus, and this is the thing that counts…

It doesn’t matter whether you live 50 years or 100 years. The thing that matters is this: are you filling your life with service to God?

The cost of discipleship isn't a fee we pay upfront; it's a continual investment in faith, often requiring us to step into the unknown, trusting in God's plan over our own.

This passage challenges us to reflect on the mysterious purposes of God in the lives of His saints.

It's easy to celebrate the miraculous release of Peter, yet we must also honor the martyrdom of James, recognizing both as integral parts of God's sovereign design.

V 3. Apparently, feeling good over his success with murdering James, Herod grabbed the apparent leader of the Jerusalem Christians.

Luke even tells us when this happened, during the Feast of Unleavened Bread.

If it pleased the Jews when James was killed, just think how delighted they would be if Peter was killed!

V 4. Herod wasn’t dumb. Even he knew that it wouldn’t be popular to murder someone during one of the Jews high holy days.

So he threw Peter into prison and bided his time.

Herod had no intention of losing his victim, so he posted three shifts of four guards to watch him constantly.

Verse 6 tells us he was actually chained between two soldiers. Herod meant business.

Herod intended to bring Peter before the people after Passover.

We’re going to see next week that Peter is ultimately spared miraculously.

Conclusion.

So why was James allowed to die while Peter was rescued? After all, both were dedicated servants of God, and needed by the church?

The only answer is the sovereign will of God. It was the throne in heaven that was in control, not the throne on earth.

The bottom line is, we cannot answer the weighty questions of “why.”

These verses are a reminder that God’s plans are not always understandable by us. But they are unstoppable.

We simply need to realize that God is at work in our lives today.

When we face situations that seem beyond our control or understanding, this truth offers us profound comfort and hope. God is at work, and He knows what is best for each of us and for all time.

It's a call to trust in God's overarching plan for our lives, knowing that He orchestrates every detail for His glory and our ultimate good, even when the path He chooses for us is beyond our comprehension.

In embracing this truth, we find peace in the midst of uncertainty, anchored in the assurance that God is in control, guiding us through every season of life.