The Acts of the Holy Spirit: Acts 12

Good morning everyone

Today I want to talk about when it really seems like the enemy is throwing everything he has at you and how the Holy Spirit helps us in those times

Acts 12

We see in Acts 12 the introduction of King Herod.

Now this is a different Herod than the King that sent Jesus to be crucified on the cross.

This mans actual name was King Agrippa the 1st but the author of Acts referred to him as Herod because he came from the same dynasty as King Herod.

He was ruthless and did everything He could to put a stop to the moving forward of the Gospel.

English Standard Version Chapter 12

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 would have been a huge heartbreak and loss for the first century church because this was one of three men that Jesus referred to as his closest companions along with John & Peter.

The enemy was throwing everything he had at the church.

King Herod went on to have Peter arrested.

Peter, the man Jesus said would be the cornerstone of the church, gets thrown into prison!

What a discouragement.

Now I am not sating I am the cornerstone of the church, but I could only imagine the feeling the church had would be similar to if you all found out that I had been thrown into prison.

The enemy holds no punches when it comes to stopping the Gospel.

Just as Jesus shows no Partiality in who can be saved, the enemy shows no partiality in who He will attack.

Look at who gets persecuted here; James and Peter.

Two of Jesus’ closest disciples and they were subject

English Standard Version Chapter 12

5 So Peter was kept in prison, but earnest prayer for him was made to God by the church.

This word earnest in the Greek means continuously, without ceasing

It’s the same word used when Jesus is on the Cross praying to the father!

We must pray to our Helper when we are in need of help.

Lets look at Peter’s circumstances here

English Standard Version Chapter 12

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.

Surrounded between two soldiers, bound by two chains and another set of guards standing watch at the doors.

Peter was known for miraculous escapes and these guys where taking any chances.

He is in need of help, and lets see what happens.

English Standard Version Chapter 12

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.

The help we receive will be inconceivable more than enough.

Look at what Peter got passed.

Chains fell off

Passed by over four guards.

An iron gate flung open on it’s own .

It wasn’t even a fight for him.

The chains fell off

He didn’t have to pry them off.

He walked right passed the guards.

There wasn’t some long battle.

The door opened on it’s own accord

He didn’t have to push or even take a running start to blast through them, they flung open on their own accord.

English Standard Version Chapter 12

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.”

The help we will receive will shock those around us.

The world expect our hardships to end in brokenness.

Marriage issues - divorce

Sickness - death

Addiction - relapse

The Jewish people and those who rejected Christ were expecting that Peter’s imprisonment would result in death and the stop of the Gospel, but all it did was add to his testimony.

The help we receive will add to our testimony.

What have you gone through?

Did Jesus get you through it?

Did the Holy Spirit help you during it?

That is a testimony!

English Standard Version Chapter 12

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!”

Expect that the Helper will answer your prayers.

Rhoda saw Peter and believed in the answer of prayers.

The church was currently praying fro Peter to be released but didn’t believe in the report.

How crazy.

If I was praying for healing, and then got a report of healing, I would be praising.

Not going.... “ ehhh check again, something has got to be wrong,” or “thats just a false report or false hope.”

English Standard Version Chapter 12

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.

God will remove anything that does not give Him glory.

That challenges us and encourages us.

Challenges us to make sure that our lives give glory to God.

Encourages us that is we are dealing with the enemy coming against us that He will remove it!

In His time.

English Standard Version Chapter 12

24 But the word of God increased and multiplied.

Through the help we receive, the Gospel will continue to spread.

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