Contending Against Herod II

Acts 12:1–5 ESV

About that time Herod the king laid violent hands on some who belonged to the church. He killed James the brother of John with the sword, and when he saw that it pleased the Jews, he proceeded to arrest Peter also. This was during the days of Unleavened Bread. 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. So Peter was kept in prison, but earnest prayer for him was made to God by the church.

Pray for deliverance over the church and those who are contending to step into their purpose once more.

The assault of Herod on the church

Garners favor with the religious institution

Seeks to kill ministers and their ministries, in an effort to

Quench the body and ensure it does not stand.

Herod’s Strategy

Seeks to make itself greater by entreating the religious institution

Seizes the person

Places guards (4 squads)

Intent on killing…

More than a prison the liberation that is needed in this space is from an enemy which poses a dual threat

The hand of Herod

All that the religious institution and the people expects

The precious gift

You who are standing up to serve and minister are a gift to the body

The congregation is a gift to the ministers

each of us called to serve one another until we are called home or the Lord returns.

Walking out our faith can have moments of trials we are called to step into the fullness of our assignment

Out of the Impossible

Acts 12:6 ESV

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.

Peter’s situation is bleak

Some of us are in such a situation

Two soldiers of 16 soldiers

The two are what can be seen

The other 14 are sensed even when they cannot be seen

Other unseen enemies/obstacles

Gates ( no less than two)

Last one made of iron

Iron in scripture

Make sense… our Lord was nailed to the cross using nails of iron.

Iron is used to break other things

Iron when polished can look like silver… imitates the real thing

People’s expectations

When Peter is found in this prison what is it that has led him to fall for … something that is an imitation of the real?

He is asleep (exhausted)… something… someone has had an impact on him.

Weight of the Call

One of the dangers of falling for the imitation is that it gives that spirit of Herod enough room to do the work of bringing about his strategy

Imitation on display

Acts 11:2–3 ESV

So when Peter went up to Jerusalem, the circumcision party criticized him, saying, “You went to uncircumcised men and ate with them.”

Just before the arrest by Herod Peter was facing another enemy

Religious people from Jerusalem

Their questioning

forced Peter to

question his calling

question the vision

cause others to stumble

They acted as the spiritual authority and demanded Peter explain himself

As it was it took 3 times for the vision to sink in and for him to accept it (Acts 11:10)

Major issue of questioning what the Holy Spirit is actually saying… even after he has withstood others

Acts 11:17-18 expresses what was at stake… Gentiles who were waiting to be filled with the Holy Spirit.

See Gal 2:11-14

Galatians 2:11–14 ESV

But when Cephas came to Antioch, I opposed him to his face, because he stood condemned. For before certain men came from James, he was eating with the Gentiles; but when they came he drew back and separated himself, fearing the circumcision party. And the rest of the Jews acted hypocritically along with him, so that even Barnabas was led astray by their hypocrisy. But when I saw that their conduct was not in step with the truth of the gospel, I said to Cephas before them all, “If you, though a Jew, live like a Gentile and not like a Jew, how can you force the Gentiles to live like Jews?”

This gentle rebuke is brought by Paul to Peter as it was impacting the Jews, the Gentiles, and the ministers

It is this that had Peter asleep in the prison. (Consider what we covered last week)

Confusion had crept in

He set down the assignment

In need of deliverance

5. Ministry can be heavy

Pre-Determined Outcome

Acts 5:38–39 ESV

So in the present case I tell you, keep away from these men and let them alone, for if this plan or this undertaking is of man, it will fail; but if it is of God, you will not be able to overthrow them. You might even be found opposing God!” So they took his advice,

Gamaliel gives strict orders to the Religious people

Orders over the ones serving God

Be Careful what yo do to these men

Keep away from them

If it is not of God it will fail

If it is of God you will not be able to overthrow them.

You will be found opposing God

v. 40…they took his advice

Beat the apostle

Charged them not to speak in the name of Jesus

They let them go…

When we realize that there is set outcome there is nothing in this world that should dissuade you from stepping into your calling… listen to how Jesus speaks of His assignment even when faced with death…

John 14:30–31 ESV

I will no longer talk much with you, for the ruler of this world is coming. He has no claim on me, but I do as the Father has commanded me, so that the world may know that I love the Father. Rise, let us go from here.

Rising to the Call

According to Eph 4 there are gifts that are given to the church

to mature it into the full knowledge of Jesus Christ

to prevent the body from being tossed to and fro by every doctrine

to prevent the body from being swayed by human cunning and craftiness

1 Pet 4 tells us that each of us has a gift that is needed to serve the body… it is a varied grace over each of us.

Serve one another

speak the oracles of God

Serve in the strength of God

Glorify God

Isaiah 52:1–3 ESV

Awake, awake, put on your strength, O Zion; put on your beautiful garments, O Jerusalem, the holy city; for there shall no more come into you the uncircumcised and the unclean. Shake yourself from the dust and arise; be seated, O Jerusalem; loose the bonds from your neck, O captive daughter of Zion. For thus says the Lord: “You were sold for nothing, and you shall be redeemed without money.”

Awake, awake

Put on your strength

City of Worhsippers where people can live and serve God

Put on your Garments

Be a place where the Peace of God dwells

Be a Holy City

Be the city that brings home the wandering people of God

Shake the dust off of you

Be seated in Him

Captive Jerusalem

Loose the chains from around your neck

Captive daughter of Zion

You will be redeemed for nothing….

Peter in Prison shows how the Lord is doing the work already

You stand the chains fall

You put on the garments that He has dressed you with

You begin to walk out of the prison the Lord opens the gates

There is one that you must be willing to step through and that is the one made of Iron… your mentality….