Setback and Comebacks

I need to preference the message by having a moment of confession. July 20-21, 2024 @1:30am my life changed. A shooter, unknown and unseen, decided to disrupt the peace within the Auburn Gresham Community while attending what was known as the Simeon All Class Picnic. Bullets began to ring and the gunman lost control of his weapon. In the midst of this one hit me in my left thigh. As I laid there riving in pain, all I could think about was what’s next. As I rode to the hospital I declared my God would not fail me. I know that fear shows up sometimes, but I was reminded that God has not given us the spirit of fear. While laying in that hospital bed, the paramedic that I became friends with on the ride in stood next to me waiting on the initial xray to come back. Shortly thereafter the dr informed me that the bullet was what they described as a “through and through,” and there was minimal damage done to my leg and it hit no artery. Celebrating with the medic with tears in my eyes I said to him “This was just a minor Setback for a major comeback.” Now that’s the title I want to use today, because It seems to me in Acts Chapter 12 that what this great Apostle Peter is encountering, what he’s experiencing, what he’s enduring at this point in time as the story continues to unfold is simply a minor setback for a major comeback. Have you ever had a setback? Have you ever had a setback that disallowed you to have the promotion, the progression that you know you should have? Have you ever had a setback that sought to take you off course? That tried discombobulated you for such a time as you were experiencing? Have you ever been setback? When you didn’t know what to do or how to do it? When you didn’t know what to say or even if you should say anything? There will come a time in all of our lives where setbacks will show up and seek to knock us off course, seek to take us off center and disallow us to have the progression and promotion that we wish we would have for such a time as we are experiencing. Such is the case with the great Apostle Peter in this text, and many of us if we read our bible for a little while remember that name Peter as one the great leaders of the Lords church especially in the book of Acts. He is one who started out with Jesus Christ as one with passion, and one with promise. This is one named Peter who loves the Lord with his whole heart. One who properly identified the Lord Jesus Christ when Jesus took his disciples to the city of Caesarea Philippi and while there with the 12 began to ask them “Who do men say that I the Son of Man am?” They had some pretty unique answers in that. Some said he was “John the Baptist,” some Jerimiah, others Elijah or one of the prophets. There in Matthew 16:13-19 when Jesus found out that the people around town did not know who he was, He asked his disciples “Well who do you say that I am?” It was at that point that that great passionate Apostle Peter said “Oh I’m real clear on who you are. You’re not John the Baptist, Elijah or one of the prophets. Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God.” Jesus said unto to him “Blessed art thou, Son of John. For flesh and blood did not reveal it to you, but My Father which is in heaven. And I will give to you the keys of the kingdom which is heaven: and whatsoever you bind in earth shall be bond in heaven: whatsoever thou loose on earth shall be loose in heaven.” It was a magnificent ministry moment when the Lord Jesus providentially posed Peter as the leader for the new church. It was there that Jesus said to him “Blessed art thou Simeon, son of John. You are the one who has properly identified him.” And he says “I say also unto you, you are Peter and upon this rock I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.” Look at this beautiful picture because now Jesus has now told Peter that he’s going to use him to build his church. Not because he knows everything about everything, not because he has properly provided for his education and done everything he was supposed to do. He said I’m going to use you because you know who I am. He says because you can properly identify me I’m going to use you to build my church. Isn’t that good news church family that you don’t have to know Genesis from Revelation, the New Testament from the old, Hebrew or Greek to be used by God? All you need is to properly identify the Lord Jesus Christ and he will use you for his glory. That’s the news the peter receives while in Caesarea Philippi. He says I’m going to use you to build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. If you fast forward through the death, burial, and resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ and go even farther 50 days after on the day of Pentecost in Acts 3, the bible says that they were all in one place on accord and suddenly there was a sound of a rushing mighty wind that filled the whole house where they were all sitting and they were all filled with the holy ghost. They began speaking of the tongues and the spirt gave them utterance and the bible says that there were those on the outer community who looked at these excited individuals and said these folks must be drunk. When they said that it was Peter, that passionate brother who stood up and said “Oh no, these folks are not drunk as you suppose. But this is what was spoken of by the prophet Joel in the last days. God’s going to pour out his spirit on all flesh. Your sons and your daughters shall prophesy. Your old men shall dream dreams, and your young men shall see visions.” This is what God said was going to take place and now the church has become what God wanted it to become. Now Peter starts preaching, and when he preaches he preaches one sermon in Acts 2 and 3000 souls get saved. It’s a beautiful picture of one who stands flat footed and proclaims what thus said the Lord and when he proclaims it men, women and children begin to cling to that word and are drawn to that word, and are convicted by that word and connect with the Christ who saved their lives. That is what Peter does beginning in Acts chapter 2 all the way to Acts 12 where we find ourselves situated today. Peter keeps preaching. He can’t stop preaching. He insistently preaches the good news of Jesus Christ. Every time you see him, he’s talking about a man named Jesus. Every time you hear him he’s talking about a man named Jesus. Every time he opens his mouth he speaks about this man named Jesus. Isn’t it good to know that if we proclaim Jesus he is still able to draw all men, all women, all children unto himself. God deliver us from those who believe you have to preach gimmicks to grow the church of Jesus Christ. God deliver from us folks who need to have tricks in the pulpit to help them with the gospel of Jesus Christ. If you preach Jesus he’s still able to call those who need to be called unto himself. Last time I checked he said “If I be lifted up, I’ll draw all men unto myself.” Is there anybody here that knows God still has enough Power to reach everyone that needs to be reached for his glory and for their good? Peter’s preaching Jesus from Acts 2 to Acts 12 that we read unto your hearing and Pastor I found out some stuff about his preaching. I found out what he found out. He found out that although some folks will be thrilled when you preach, there will also be those who are threatened when you preach. When you proclaim the gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ some folk will love you, other folk will hate on you. Some folk will celebrate you, while other folk will try to strip you of everything that is praiseworthy in your situation. That’s where Peter finds himself and the threatened brother in the text is a brother by the name of Herod.

Herod is threatened because the popularity of the church has continued to grow, and now everybody’s calling Peter’s name and they’re not calling Herod’s name. Herod is threatened, he’s got a challenge. He exhibits some narcissistic and egomaniacal ways, and he’s got a problem with the fact that somebody else got a little light shining on him. And as a consequence of narcissistic and egomaniacal ways he decides to persecute the christians. He put some in jail, and if that wasnt bad enough he killed James. If you remember the big 3 of disciples you remember Peter, James, and John. James is one of the great disciples of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ and the brother John. And he killed James and found out that this pleased the Jews. When he found that this pleased the Jews he said “well if they’re happy about me killing James, let me reach a little higher in the mark of the church and get Peter also.

That's where we find ourselves when we come to Acts Chapter 12. Peter is now in prison. But he’s not just in prison church family, he's on death row. But he’s not just on death row, he’s got 4 squads of 4 soldiers who are surrounding him 24 hours a day. If you did your math real fast that’s 16 soldiers. And if that wasn't bad enough, he’s got more soldiers at the door. And if that’s not bad enough he’s got chains on his wrist, disallowing him to have the mobility and the movement that he wishes he would have at such a time as this. Aw man, you missed it let me give it to you again. Peter’s in prison. But he’s not just in prison, he's on death row. But he’s not just on death row, he’s got 4 squads of 4 soldiers surrounding him 24 hours a day. If you did your math real fast that’s 16 soldiers. And if that wasn't bad enough, he’s got more soldiers at the door. And if that wasn’t bad enough he’s got chains on his wrist disallowing him to have the mobility and the movement that he wishes he would have at such a time as this. Ok there’s a sister right back there in the back that’s like “huh,” so let me give it to you again. THE BIBLE SAYS that Peter’s in prison. But he’s not just in prison, he's on death row. But he’s not just on death row, he’s got 4 squads of 4 soldiers who are surrounding him 24 hours a day. If you did your math real fast that’s 16 soldiers. And if that wasn't bad enough, he’s got more soldiers at the door. And if that’s not bad enough he’s got chains on his wrist disallowing him to have the mobility and the movement that he wishes he would have at such a time as this. I don't know how you read the text, but as I read the text this hea…... .Is a setback. And maybe you’ve been at that place in your life where setbacks have shown up and you did not expect them. Maybe you’ve been at that place in your life where your money got funny or your body got unhealthy. Maybe you’ve been at that place in your life where things just began to fall apart. Is there anybody in here that knows anything about a setback that disallows you to have the mobility and the movement that you wish you would have at such a time as this? HERE MY FRIENDS…..is a setback. This is what ole Peter has to deal with. He’s in a setback situation, and the bible says that while he’s in this setback situation (in prison, on death row, 16 soldiers, more at the door, chains on his wrist, can't do what he wants to do) SETBACK. The bible says, he’s sleep. Naw, you missed it. You just missed your shout cue, cause if you heard what I just said you’d be turning over that bench you sitting on right now. I said he’s in a setback situation, chains on his wrist, soldiers all around him, on death row, will be killed the next morning. And while he’s in that situation the bible says that Peter is sleep.

Here it is. Can I give you the 1st point of this message? The 1st point of this message is “Genuine faith still works even in the night seasons of life.” Did you catch that? I said genuine faith still works, even in the night seasons of life. The bible says that this brother finds himself in the worst predicament of his life, and while there he goes to sleep because he’s got a confidence in God that lets him sleep despite his circumstances. And maybe there’s a believer in the sanctuary who understands that real faith is not faith when everything is going well. Real faith does not only work when you got a pocket full of money and everybody in your family is doing what you want them to do. Real faith is not activated until the bottom drops out and all hell breaks loose and you don't know what in the world you gone do. And maybe there’s somebody in here listening to me who can testify that’s when my faith kicked in God. Because I needed a God to be on my side when I didn't know how things were gone work out and pan out in my situation. That's when my faith started booking up to the one who can do anything that needs to be done. He’s asleep, and I like that. Bruh man’s asleep. And maybe we’d do well to take notice of this brother by the name of Peter, cause some of us fall at the first sign of a little bad news. Some of us are ready to throw in the towel just because we got a little hangnail. Some of us are ready to wave the white flag of surrender simply because some lied behind our backs. And every now and then we’ve got to take a page from the pen of Peter and remember that faith is what kicks in when things just dont go the way you planned for it to go. He’s sleep and I like this church because everyone of us at some point in time will have to face some setback that will throw us for a loop, mess us up and seek to knock us off course. And tonight God brought you to church to let some preacher remind you that you’ve got to learn how to have faith when things fall apart. You’ve got to learn how to have faith when things don't go your way. You’ve got to still trust God even though you can't trace him or track him down. Is there anybody in here that still believes God no matter what the circumstance may be. The bible says he’s sleep. I like that, and that’s my prayer for everybody in here. My prayer is not for you to get a new car, a new house or a new boo. Naw, that’s not my prayer for you. My prayer is for those who have been having some rough times, some tough times will take yourself home after the benediction, get yourself a nice piece of chicken, eat it real well, and then after a while get yourself into bed, pull the covers over your head and go to sleep. And I mean I want you to sleep well. I want you to sleep so well that stuff starts coming down the side of your face. I want you to sleep so well that you snore and wake up all the neighbors on your block. Is there anybody here that knows what the bible says? The bible says in Psalms 127 that God gives his beloved SLEEEEPP. If God never sleeps nor slumbers, dont make sense for both of us to stay up all night long. I’m going to sleep and I’m gone sleep well. Is there a witness here that can testify that after I’ve had my good night of food and fellowship I’m going to sleep and I’m going to wake up in the morning with a smile on my face declaring this is the day that the Lord has made, I will rejoice and be glad in it.

He's a sleep doc. How does a brother sleep like this? How does brother rest so well? On death row? In the morning, as soon as the day breaks he’s gonna be put to death, and he’s got the nerve to go to sleep. You would think he had enough rest after day break, but now he decides to rest all night long. What makes him sleep like this? I checked his record and I believe the brotherman was able to sleep like this because he knows something about the Lord’s promise. Let the church say “promise.” Let the whole church say “The Lord’s promise.” See Peter’s been walking with the Lord for a while. He walked with him for 3 years. He remembered what the Lord said I quoted it for you a little while ago, I hope you were listening. It’s right there in Matthew 16: at verse 18 Jesus said to Peter “you are Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. Ooh, you just missed your reason to say amen, I said that he was in jail at that point, but he remembered a promise that God gave him. That the gates of hell would not prevail against him building the church. It did not say that the gates of hell wouldn't try. And too many of us think that if you have enough faith you’ll never have a bad day, you’ll never have anything go wrong. There are popular preachers on tv telling us if you have enough faith you’ll always have money, we’ll never be sick. Well that’s not the bible. The bible says “in this world you will have tribulations,” but I thank God it doesn't stop right there. “He says but be of good cheer because I have overcome the world.” The bible says “Many are the afflictions of the righteous, but the Lord delivers him out of them all.” And is there anybody here who can testify that if the Lord made a promise to me, he will keep every promise that he makes. The bible says that “God is not a man that he should lie, nor the son of man that he should repent.” If He said it, it shall come to pass, if he spoke you can go to sleep on that thang at night. Is there anybody in here standing on the promise of God?

He’s sleep because he knows something about the Lord’s promise, but can I push it a bit further? Ah Thank you very much. He’s sleeping not just because he knows something about the Lord’s promise, but he also knows something about the Lord's protection. Let the church say “protection.” I always heard preachers say “Read your bible because it will make you a better christian.” If you read your bible, and all the way through Peter’s story starting at chapter 2 all the way to chapter 12. If you pause around chapter 4, you’ll find out that this in chapter 12 is not the 1st time that Peter’s been in jail. Not the 1st time he’s been imprisoned for preaching the gospel of Jesus Christ. Around Acts chapter 4 he got imprisoned simply because he wouldnt stop saying “Jesus.” He just kept saying it over and over again. He kept talking about that man named Jesus. They put him in jail, couldnt keep him in jail. They told him not to preach in the name of Jesus anymore, he said “you judge for yourself whether it’s right in God’s sight to obey you rather than God, but I cant help talking about what I’ve seen and heard.” I wish I had 2 or 3 folk in the sanctuary who understand something about preaching cause you can’t help, teaching cause you cant help, singing cause you cant help it, celebrating God cause you cant help it, coming to church cause you cant help it….you’ve seen too much. He’s been in jail before, and the same God that protected him in chapter 4 is the same God who’s protecting him in chapter 12. And the reason Peter can sleep in the worst predicament of his life is because he understands that God has protected him from dangers seen and unseen in times past. And if He did before, he can do it again. I came to talk to somebody whos in a bad situation, but I need to remind you this aint the 1st time you been in a bad situation, and if God took care of you back in the day he can take care of you today. This aint the 1st time you been broke, this aint the 1st you been sick, this aint the 1st time folk talked about you behind your back. But if God kept you back then he’ll do it again even right now. Last time I checked your bible Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and FOREVER. Cause genuine faith still works even in the night seasons of life.

Can I give you my second and final point? Here it is, not only does “Genuine faith still work in the night seasons of life,” but watch this. God is faithful to work even on the night shift of your life. Did you hear what I just said? I said your God, my God, OUR GOD is faithful to work even on the night shift of your life. We’re about to get out of here but if you stick around for a few more minutes, but if you stay in church for a few more minutes I’m going to ask you to watch how God works on the night shift of your life. When it’s dark, when is dismal, when it’s dank and depressing, when you cant find any help anywhere else your God, my God, our God is faithful to work even on the night shift of your life. Watch how God works, look at what God does in the midst of Peter’s prison predicament. The bible says that God dispatched an angel. Glory to his name, I said God dispatched an angel. Now the old church used to get happy when the preacher would say something about angels. Because the old church had songs about angels. Whenever they’d sing about it, they’d say “All night, and all day the angels keep watching over me my Lord.” Is there anybody in here who knows you were going to sleep on the road and God woke you up in the nick of time? He sent an angel to keep watch over you, when you didn't know how you were gonna make it from point A to point B God sent an angel. Is there anybody in here who still believes that God dispatches angels? That’s what happened, God dispatched an angel, and when he dispatched it He shown a light in that deep dark, dismal, depressing cell. And when that light started shining in that cell the angel started doing his work in that cell. Now Peter was so sleep he didn't even notice that the light was shining in the prison. Watch the text, he’s sleeping so soundly that the angel has to hit him to wake him up. Now child of God, thats some good sleep. Now if you got the King James version, it says he smote him. Now dont none of yal talk like that. He hit him, he went south side chicago. And when he hit him the bible says he told Peter “get up, and put your clothes on.” And when Peter got up, the chains start falling off his wrist. Cause when God gets ready to deliver you doesnt matter how many folk have tried to bind you. Doesnt matter how many people tried to keep you in your place, doesnt matter how many folk have told you that you cant go where God is trying to take you. When God gets ready to deliver, he’ll just make chains fall off ya, cause who the son sets free is free indeed. I wish I had 2 or 3 witnesses in here that knows about a man who close doors that no man can open, and open doors that no man can shut. I'm almost finished with the sermon but the bible says that his chains fell off. Told Peter to put his shoes on, told him to put his cloak on. He put it all on and the bible says they started walking out the prison. When they walked out the prison they did not walk out the side door. They did not walk out the back door. They walked straight out the front door. Cause when God gets ready to deliver, your deliverance is not a secret service operation. Its not some covert operation. When God gets ready to deliver He wants everybody to see ya. He wants your enemy to watch ya, he wants to prepare a table before you in the presence of your enemy. He wants to make your enemy your footstool. Is there anybody in here thats seen God walk you right out the front door. Straight pass your haters, straight pass the naysayers, straight pass the gaurds, straight pass the folk who tryna block ya and stop you. Our God is a delivering God. And the bible says, when he walked them out the front door, the door just begin to open for them. And Peter was so shocked by it all he thought he was seeing a vision. He thought he was still sleeping and dreaming this thang. Have you ever been blessed by God so much that you couldn't even believe it yourself? Has God ever hooked you up, that you couldn't even believe what was happening right in front of you? Has God ever given you a jawdropping, eye popping experience that made you say WOOOOOOWWWW? In the presence of the Lord? I dont know if you’ve ever been in a relationship with God like that but every now an then God just makes you say WOOOOOWWW. When he opens doors for you it makes you say WOW. When he turns things around for you it makes you say WOW. Is there anybody in the building thats grateful God gives you a WOW experience. He gives you experiences that makes you say “Our God is an awesome God.” Is there anybody in the building who’s watched God make a way for you? And watched God open doors for you? And watched God provide for you? And you cant help but say WOW? But let me close the little message, the bible says in verse 11 that after he got a block down the street the angel left him. When the angel left him, then Peter came to himself. He got up out of his stupor, and he said “Now I know that the Lord sent an angel to rescue me and deliver me from Herods clutches.” And is there anybody in the building whos ever gotten a block down from your situation? Ever gotten a block down from your circumstance? Gotten a month away from your bondage? Ever gotten a year away from your setback, and when you look back over your life you have what the psychologist calls an “ah ha” moment, and you say NOWWW I know that God did for me what I couldnt do for myself. I need 2 or 3 people in the back to help me close this message and testify that God has given you some moments that made you look back over your life, and say “If it had not been for the LORDD who was on my side, I don't know where I would be?” But I’m here in church on a Sunday morning, all dressed up with my bible in my hand, I’m gone act like I know that God’s been good. That God’s made a way, that God’s given me a comeback after my setback, and now I can look around and testify can't NOBODY DO ME LIKE JESUS. CANT NOBODY DO ME LIKE THE LORD. Living he loved me, dying he saved me, barred he took my sins far away. Yal excuse me, I just get happy when I look back over my own life and I look at and I think about just how good God has been to me. I get happy when I think about setbacks that set me up for a comeback. That bullet could’ve killed me, the bullet could have paralyzed me from the waist down, but God said “un uh, not yet.” Because what the devil meant for evil, God turned it and made it work out for my good. Won't he make a way for you? Won't he open doors for you? Won't he provide for you? Say YEA. YEA YEAAAA. I know the Lord will make a way out of no way. Won’t he do it? Say YEA. I have some setbacks, I’ve had some spaces I didn't think I would recover, some moments where I thought everybody else thought I was down for the count. But some kind of way when it was dark and dismal, and dank and depressing God sent an angel. He started shining a light in my dismal situation. That let me know that trouble don't last always. That's my word today for somebody in that setback situation. I want you to remember that genuine faith still works even in the night seasons of life. Genuine faith still works EVEN on the night shift of your life.