Spiritual Battle
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Spiritual Battle:
Ultimate winners & Ultimate Loser
A look at Peter; we return to 1 Peter 4 next week
As much of Acts is, today’s passage is a narrative passage. This passage tells us of a set of events. Narrative means that the author, Luke, has the primary goal in writing this passage of telling how the events happened, the main characters, the settings, the sequences of events. He is not concerned so much with laying out a doctrinal thesis, or being didactic, or simply teaching us a concept. Mainly he is giving a narrative.
However, we know that both in literature and in the arts of story telling through plays and movies, there are lessons to be learned. No great story does not include some moral point, something the reader or listener is to contemplate as some type of challenge to consider or a lifestyle to change. Often stories are written to make a political point, or to teach children virtues. Today’s passage both gives the narrative, and gives us many points of contemplation.
Actually, there were many concepts in this passage. I wrote down a list of single words that I thought the narrative was telling us about. I put them on the screen, and as we go through the passage, you will hopefully pick up on these various themes as we go through:
Miraculous, Persecution, Deliverance, Arrogance, Politics, Prayer, Supernatural, Surprise!, Judgment, growth.
So I found all of these concepts in the passage, but a sermon must have a main theme, a big idea that you can take away, and though all of these terms describe aspects of this story, it is impossible to properly treat each one, though I will try to mention each one as we encounter it. Instead, I wanted to see if there was one major theme in the story, and I believe there is. Really, the theme for today could probably be applied to almost any passage, but I wanted to focus on the Spiritual Battle.
Throughout the Bible, and throughout our lives, we are engaged in Spiritual battles. Constant temptation comes to mind as something we all face. Paul writes exquisitely on this topic in Romans and in other places. David in the Psalms cried out to God to create a clean heart for him. This struggle is ours and every person throughout history. But this passage gives us a unique look at the spiritual battle that we most often do not even see, that between angels and demons, between God’s plan and Satan’s insurrection.
The passage is usually focused on Peter, and indeed, he is the most prevalent character. But the second most mentioned character in this chapter, Herod, will be receiving our attention today, as well as one who is mentioned only once: James. What I want you to remember today is that every one of us is in a spiritual battle, every day, every minute. And if we don’t seriously consider this battle, we will fail to constantly train for the battle, and we will not be ready to win the battle. And most importantly, I want you to take away this morning the very important concept that God has already won the ultimate battle, and for those who are His, we already share in that victory.
If we can grasp this, and hold on to it, the idea that Almighty God has already determined our fate, and has won the battle, and that there is also a predetermined ultimate loser in this battle, then we as Christians can boldly go through each day, confident that we can defeat sin in our lives, we can defeat Satan’s attempts to cause us to swerve from the truth, and we can walk confidently in the final outcome, no matter what it looks like to us right now.
So we will be going carefully through this passage with that in mind. Let’s pray: (prayer for God’s confidence in our battle, and assurance of victory)
Please turn in your bible to Acts 12, and keep it open there, as we go through this passage together.
About that time Herod the king laid violent hands on some who belonged to the church.
Who is this Herod? We need to have a little background here. There was a whole family of Herods who ruled at various times and over various parts of Judea and Samaria. When Jesus was born, there was a Herod. He was the one who had all the babies in Bethlehem killed because of the perceived threat to his throne. Then there was another Herod who is the one who tried Jesus and beheaded John the Baptist, and this Herod. So all were Herod, but three different Herods are found in the New Testament. History, both biblical and otherwise, records that he began persecuting the Jews right away after taking his rule, which he had because of his friendship with both Caligula and Claudius, Emperors of Rome. Herod was known for his political ability to appease the Jews by knowing their traditions and allowing them much freedom to practice their religion, and when he was in Rome, well, he did what the Romans do. He could fit in with any crowd, make anyone feel he was on their side, as long as it helped his power and prestige. He also was very liberal in many ways, and generous to a fault, and his liberal use of tax money put him in a situation to have to borrow from other kingdoms.
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.
Herod, in his political attempts to always have a leg up, had killed James. Some feel he had James killed because the church was now welcoming in Gentiles, and while some Jews reviled Christianity, they were tolerant to a point as long as it was Jewish Christianity, but once the disciples were reaching out to Gentiles, they were unacceptable. This view could have some merit, but scripture doesn't really tell us.
But here we need to remember our main thought today. Everything is a spiritual battle. Satan hates the church. He wants to defeat God. Satan knows how to put human institutions of government and even religion to his use in that end. So Herod is opposing God in persecuting the church, and yet God is still going to be the ultimate victor.
Herod is political. He is arrogant. And he when he sees how delighted the Jews are that he has killed James, he goes after Peter as well. I mentioned earlier our tendency to focus on Peter in this chapter. He is the main character. But we should not look too quickly past James. The story of Peter’s release from prison is often told with the lesson to the Sunday School children and adults alike that “when we pray, God delivers us!” “God always takes care of His children!” What about these statements?
How can we make such statements? Yes, the bulk of the story is about Peter and God’s provision to him, and the miraculous escape. Yet, we cannot simply ignore one verse of scripture because it makes the story less nice. James was murdered for his faith. Many throughout history have suffered and died for their FAITHFULNESS! So how can we say that God always saves his loved ones from harm? Didn't he love James? In fact, it seems only one of the twelve apostles died a natural death.
So we better be careful when we tell our children that God will always save them from getting hurt, or killed. We must be careful that we don’t say that God always takes care of His children unless we define what that means, and what that means is that in the spiritual battle, He will deliver the faithful. He will rescue the humble. But we cannot make this about our own terms, it must be His terms, and I have a hard time with people being taught that what happened to James is a fluke and could never happen to you, you will be delivered like Peter, you won’t be killed like James! Who gets to choose? Did James choose to die? Did Peter choose to escape only to die later?
God does take care of the spiritual battle, but if you want to gain eternal life, you may be called to suffer or even die for your faith in this present life. But this should not discourage you. Two examples are given. James is there with Christ, experiencing eternal life. So is Peter. Weighed against eternity, Peter’s extra twenty years don’t mean all that much, the Christian has hope for eternal life! Our promise is in the final outcome, God is the ultimate winner in the spiritual battle, and as believers in Christ, and followers of the Way, we are the ultimate winners as well!
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.
Herod again shows his political savvy. He knows it would offend the Jews to put Peter to death during the passover, so he imprisons him. Luke provides so many details, we find that Peter is not guarded by one guard, but four squads of soldiers put in charge of him. Perhaps they were watching him in shifts, but make no mistake, Herod was taking no chances. Perhaps he had heard about the difficulty in keeping Christians in Jail, as the leaders of Sanhedrin had previously learned? Meanwhile, the church is doing what the faithful should always be doing, they are praying.
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.
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.
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.”
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.
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.
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.”
Now Peter is rescued in a miraculous way. Many of you have known this story, and I won’t spend a lot of time on this portion, as it is mostly self-explanatory. It is interesting to note that Peter, on the night before he is to be executed, has such peace that he is just sleeping. He thinks he is seeing a vision, it is all so surreal to him. Finally out on the street, he realizes that he has once again been delivered by the hand of God. God is certainly going to show Himself powerful and while He is the ultimate Winner, He also is going to prove himself all powerful. Also, Peter had previously been given a charge to build the church. God is seeing to it that he is able to complete this work.
When he realized this, he went to the house of Mary, the mother of John whose other name was Mark, where many were gathered together and were praying.
And when he knocked at the door of the gateway, a servant girl named Rhoda came to answer.
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.
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!”
But Peter continued knocking, and when they opened, they saw him and were amazed.
But motioning to them with his hand to be silent, he described to them how the Lord had brought him out of the prison. And he said, “Tell these things to James and to the brothers.” Then he departed and went to another place.
I find this passage to be a bit comical, but also typical of how we often act. How God must chuckle at us sometimes! So there is the church, praying for Peter, and Peter knocks on the door. (knock, knock) Rhoda comes to the door, is so astonished to see Peter that she leaves him standing there, and runs in to tell the others that Peter is there. Now, they were in the middle of praying for Peter, and as we often do, instead of responding well to an interruption, we are frustrated by it.
“Hey, can’t you see we are busy praying for Peter here?”
“But he is here! He’s standing outside!”
“He can’t be! If he were standing outside, we wouldn’t be fervently praying for him to be released !”
“But he is really here!”
“It’s probably his angel, now leave us alone so we can pray for Peter!” (knock, knock) “What is that incessant knocking? Peter?”
How often we do the same. We are fervently praying for an issue, and when our prayer is answered, we don’t even see that the hand of God has moved on our behalf. Before we get too hard on the disciples, let’s think of ourselves. Have you ever done this? Pray and pray and pray and pray and then the thing you prayed for is resolved, or fixed, or a healing has happened, and though you had prayed, you failed to see that Almighty God has answered your prayer?
This is our tendency. We want Him to move, we want Him to act, but when He does, we attribute it to something else. Perhaps we prayed for God to make something clear to us. “God, either open or close this door for me, so I know your will”. He closes the door, and the lamentations come “Oh God, why did you close this door? I prayed that you would make my path clear. Now I don't know what to do”. Or he opens the door. “Oh God, I’m not sure if this is from you. Please give me a sign”
There is something about spiritual maturity here. The infant in Christ wants things always spelled out to the letter, the doors not only opened but a “Walk through here” sign, a verbal confirmation from a brother or sister in Christ, or my personal favorite, flip through the bible and stick your finger in and wherever it points, that is your answer.
I know none of you have ever done that, but people have. Perhaps a fitting verse for them to land on would be “Jesus wept” because flipping through and sticking your finger in is not the way He would teach you and guide you, but by His example, He would have you learn that what you really need is to draw near to Him constantly, through prayer, through reading His Word, through listening to good preaching and teaching, and by a willingness to live out your Christian faith among the brothers and sisters in the congregation.
I think the mature Christian should move on from needing God to close and open the doors for us to a place where our relationship with Him and our reliance on His Spirit are so much a part of us that we don’t need to say open for me the right door and close the door I should not go through, but instead we need to come to a point where we know His will, and sometimes He loves us enough to give us two or more good doors to go through, and He trusts us to choose the right one.
That’s where I want to be. Don’t take me the wrong way, it isn't about praying less because we are so confident, but it is praying so much that we know that He has allowed us different options, and that we have all we need to make the right choice, because the center of our lives is Christ, our guidebook and map is His scripture, and our empowerment for the journey is His Holy Spirit.
So the disciples had their moment of disconnect, where the realized answer to their prayer was evident before their very eyes, and though they may have felt foolish for not seeing it immediately, they quickly regroup and are amazed. Once again, we need to focus on the spiritual battle. We win when we give it to God, then we pry for His will and power to help us. Just as James won by seeing the Lord after being put to depth by the sword, Peter and the disciples have won by fervent prayer. These are the weapons of our spiritual warfare: prayer and submission to God.
Now when day came, there was no little disturbance among the soldiers over what had become of Peter.
And after Herod searched for him and did not find him, he examined the sentries and ordered that they should be put to death. Then he went down from Judea to Caesarea and spent time there.
This has got to sting a little for Herod. He is used to getting his way, and to find out that Peter is gone had to have made him a little hot under the collar. One wonders if that is why he left town for a while, because he was so frustrated at Peter’s escape. I can’t help feeling a little bad for those soldiers. They were just doing their job, and could not compete with the miraculous, but Herod was a vicious man when it came to protecting himself and his power, and these men were killed. This was not unique to Herod, as it was standard practice for Roman soldiers charged with guarding a prisoner to receive the penalty the prisoner would have received. In this case, death.
Now for the finale. We are going to see that arrogance of Herod, and the judgment of God.
Now Herod was angry with the people of Tyre and Sidon, and they came to him with one accord, and having persuaded Blastus, the king’s chamberlain, they asked for peace, because their country depended on the king’s country for food.
This is diplomacy in action, Tyre and Sidon depend on Herod for food, so they sent a diplomatic delegation to meet with him. It seems they were still there on a day that was to honor Caesar and Rome, and that is when this next event happened.
On an appointed day Herod put on his royal robes, took his seat upon the throne, and delivered an oration to them.
And the people were shouting, “The voice of a god, and not of a man!”
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.
There is a Jewish historian names Josephus. He is considered by both Christian and non-Christian historians to have put a very accurate history together, including about this incident. But Josephus’ account of this story cannot be separated from another story he had about Herod Agrippa. You see, Herod Agrippa was held prisoner in his younger life. And Josephus recounts a story given by Agrippa of a prophetic proclamation that happened while he was in prison. Keep in mind, this story is not from scripture, but from a fairly reliable historian.
Agrippa was in bonds, and he saw an owl. And a prisoner was also there of German descent. The German asked a soldier who was this man, and was told he was Agrippa, a principal man of the Jewish nation. The German asked to speak to Agrippa and was granted permission. He prophesied that seeing the owl was a good omen for Agrippa. He said Agrippa would soon be freed and promoted to the highest dignity and power, and would be envied. And then he said this:
But, do thou remember, when thou seest this bird again, that thou wilt then live but five days longer. This event will be brought to pass by that God who hath sent this bird hither to be a sign unto thee. And I cannot but think it unjust to conceal from thee what I foreknow concerning thee, that, by thy knowing beforehand what happiness is coming upon thee, thou mayest not regard thy present misfortunes. But, when this happiness shall actually befall thee, do not forget what misery I am in myself, but endeavor to deliver me.” So when the German had said this, he made Agrippa laugh at him as much as he afterwards appeared worthy of admiration.
Well, this is an interesting story that apparently Agrippa had told often enough that it found tis way into Josephus’ record. And now let’s look at what Josephus wrote about the very event we find in Acts 12:20-23:
Now, when Agrippa had reigned three years over all Judea, he came to the city Cesarea, which was formerly called Strato’s Tower; and there he exhibited shows in honor of Caesar, upon his being informed that there was a certain festival celebrated to make vows for his safety. At which festival, a great multitude was gotten together of the principal persons, and such as were of dignity through his province.
On the second day of which shows he put on a garment made wholly of silver, and of a contexture truly wonderful, and came into the theatre early in the morning; at which time the silver of his garment being illuminated by the fresh reflection of the sun’s rays upon it, shone out after a surprising manner, and was so resplendent as to spread a horror over those that looked intently upon him;
and presently his flatterers cried out, one from one place, and another from another (though not for his good), that he was a god; and they added, “Be thou merciful to us; for although we have hitherto reverenced thee only as a man, yet shall we henceforth own thee as superior to mortal nature.”
Upon this the king did neither rebuke them, nor reject their impious flattery. But, as he presently afterwards looked up, he saw an owl sitting on a certain rope over his head, and immediately understood that this bird was the messenger of ill tidings, as it had once been the messenger of good tidings to him; and fell into the deepest sorrow. A severe pain also arose in his belly, and began in a most violent manner.
He therefore looked upon his friends, and said, “I whom you call a god, am commanded presently to depart this life; while Providence thus reproves the lying words you just now said to me; and I, who was by you called immortal, am immediately to be hurried away by death. But I am bound to accept of what Providence allots as it pleases God; for we have by no means lived ill, but in a splendid and happy manner.”
When he said this, his pain was become violent. Accordingly he was carried into the palace; and the rumor went abroad everywhere, that he would certainly die in a little time.
And when he had been quite worn out by the pain in his belly for five days, he departed this life, being in the fifty-fourth year of his age, and in the seventh year of his reign;
Now, it isn't my normal practice to read such long historic accounts, but sometimes we need a reminder that while Scripture stands alone in being God’s inerrant and infallible Word to us, it does not stand alone in its historical accuracy. Josephus verifies this account to us, and even provides additional detail. Although Josephus was not a Christian, he was a Jew, and Herod’s death had the same meaning for him: Herod was arrogant, and rather than deflect the praise of these people to God, he accepts it and revels in it, and God’s judgment is swift.
During the holidays we reflect on the Magnificat, Mary’s doxology or hymn of praise to God. she said: Luke 1:51–52
He has shown strength with his arm; he has scattered the proud in the thoughts of their hearts;
he has brought down the mighty from their thrones and exalted those of humble estate;
Mary spoke these words about 40 years before this incident. God still does this today. Perhaps you have felt that the battle has been hot and heavy and you are tired, but we must remember the victory already belongs to the Lord! And whether we see His hand or not, He is working all things out for the good of those that love him. We may not like the temporary situation, but we need to stop fixing our eyes on the here and now and focus on the everlasting life He offers!
The ultimate winner, then, is God, and those who follow Jesus Christ and make Him Lord now will celebrate His coming as King of Kings and Lord of Lords! The ultimate loser is Satan, the demons, and those who do not follow Christ. All of us have the tendency to do what Herod did. We like to be praised and admired. We want control of our lives. We want our way. Yet none of these things are right.
Herod should have spoken out and given the glory to God, who deserves it. Instead, he took credit. Do we do the same? There is a fine balance between working diligently, studying hard, being wise with money, and taking credit for all that one has. In our world, we love to point out the success of a “self-made” person. Yet, God ultimately provides everything we have. We like to say things like “This country was built on rugged individualism”. Yet, this humanistic phrase is absolutely foreign to the biblical life and the Christian community. We rely on God, and we also need each other. No one is meant to live out faith alone. We need the community. The rugged individualist is never happy in the church. The rugged individualist will never ultimately submit to leadership, or even God. The self-made man or woman is successful on their own, and have no need for God.
Yet the humble person who is willing to work hard and rely on God’s provision, and not seeking to glorify self, but glorify God, will be an ultimate winner. The Self-made, rugged individualist may look good in this life, but will be miserable in eternity. The meek person who relies on God today will be satisfied and full of life in heaven.
Herod’s battle with self and wanting that praise the people gave was a spiritual battle, and he lost. He not only lost his life, he likely lost eternity as well, unless God granted him repentance in his final hours. Scripture does not tell us that. So don’t be like Herod. Be submitted to God. Be submitted to HIs Word. Be submitted to Jesus as Lord, and you will be an ultimate winner in the ongoing spiritual battle.
How will your life end? Cut short early, like James? A little longer, like Peter? Die of old age, like John? You cannot be certain, unless the Lord reveals that to you directly. But what is certain is eternity, and that should be the prize we keep our eyes on. Stop looking to the comforts of this life, and focus on the eternal. Serve God. Make Jesus Lord of your life and follow His teachings, and learn His ways, and you will have that eternal life. 1 Thessalonians 3:12–13
and may the Lord make you increase and abound in love for one another and for all, as we do for you,
so that he may establish your hearts blameless in holiness before our God and Father, at the coming of our Lord Jesus with all his saints.
After all this in Acts 12, what happened next?
But the word of God increased and multiplied.
And Barnabas and Saul returned from Jerusalem when they had completed their service, bringing with them John, whose other name was Mark.
And the Word of God increased and multiplied. That is our goal, that is where we want to be, and as we endure to the end, we will be saved. In Matthew 10:22, Jesus said:
“But the one who endures to the end will be saved.” This is recorded also in Matthew 24:13 and Mark 13:13. What does that mean for you and me?
Endure to the end. Fight the spiritual battle. Make Jesus Christ Lord. Believe in the ultimate victory. And you will be saved.
