God Protects His People

Sermon Text: Acts 12:1-25

Intro

Hook: JailBreak

The Alcatraz Escape – June 11, 1962. In another extraordinary tale that has been popularized by a blockbuster film starring Clint Eastwood, three prisoners escaped Alcatraz. Alcatraz was a maximum-security federal prison located on an island off the coast of San Francisco. Surrounded by water, it was deemed to be inescapable. That all changed on June 11, 1962 when Frank Lee Morris, John Anglin, and Clarence Anglin escaped by digging a tunnel through a concrete wall using a spoon. To buy time, they created paper mâché dummies outfitted with hair from the prison’s barber shop and lay the decoys in their beds. The prisoners then went into the water via a boat they had made from over 50 stolen raincoats. Their escape was not noticed by prison guards until the next morning. At that time a search began but ultimately the men were never heard from again. The FBI and Alcatraz jail officials assume, to this date, that the three men drowned in the water. If this theory is true, their bodies have never been discovered. There has been some speculation that the three men escaped and moved to Brazil

Public Enemy #1 – March 3, 1934. We must start with the man who’s crimes earned him the infamous title “Public Enemy #1” by the FBI. Gangster John Dillinger, who was both a bank robber and a murderer, escaped jail twice. His initial escape was from a jail in Ohio with the help of eight of his friends. During his second capture, he was taken to Lake County Jail in Crown Point, where Lake County Jail officials described the prison as “escape proof.” However, in what is now a famous tale, Dillinger escaped from the jail with a fake gun . There is still debate about what exactly the gun was made from, and how the escape happened, but popular opinion is that he used a wooden gun painted black with shoe polish. Guards were fooled by the gun and allowed Dillinger to leave the prison.

These among many other escapes from prison are impressive, but each one of the prisoners were evil and it was wrong for them to escape the prison. What about a man who was innocent, but the ruler of the day put him behind bars, only for a week later for him to escape?

Context: Summarize Acts 1-11

Jesus ascended to the heavens, leaving the work of evangelism to the disciples. They were empowered by the Holy Spirit and began preaching the word of God to others. Even in the midst of persecution and difficulty, they continue to spread the news that Jesus has come to deliver people from their sins. Last time we were together in the book of Acts, we saw how God unites his church even with cultural differences at play. Tonight, we will see how God protects his church from the ruler of the day.

Thesis: Who is the greatest King? God proves that he is the greatest King by protecting His people and defeating His enemy.

Read Acts 12:1-25

Pray

Body

MP#1 - The king challenges the King.

Assertion (Persecution comes)

Herod kills James via beheading.

Herod arrests Peter.

Herod opposes God.

Evidence

vv. 1-4

Commentary (scripture, exposition, story)

Herod is persecuting the church. Story about chess and the importance of a king/leader. If you can take out the leader, you take out the followers, or so goes the logic. Herod himself was a king and he attempts to destroy the leaders of the church: James and Peter.

Ironically, Herod persecutes the church during the Passover feast. The Feast of Unleavened Bread. What is this? It’s a foreshadow. Remember Pharaoh? Pharaoh, the king of Egypt, had kept Israel enslaved and did not obey the voice of the divine King. Moses said on behalf of God, “Let my people go!” And what happened when the earthly king challenged the divine King? It never ends well with those who challenge God. Why does Luke include, “this was during the days of Unleavened Bread”? Perhaps to remind us all that God delivers his people. God’s people were certainly let go from the hand of Pharaoh. God sent plagues upon Egypt to deliver his people, finally ending in the Passover, where the angel of the Lord came to kill all of the firstborns within Egypt. But for those who had the blood of a lamb marked across their doorposts, the angel passed over their homes and did not kill their sons. Thus, the name passover. What’s the point? God protects His people and he defeats his enemies. That story ended in the Egyptians dying.

For our passage, you will see that Herod, who challenged God, will die.

It never goes well for those who challenge God. He is the Most High God. He is the Almighty, Creator of Heaven and Earth. He will never be defeated, and he always protects His people.

MP#2 - The King protects His people.

Assertion

The Church prays to God.

The angel rescues Peter.

Peter arrives safely in a home church.

Peter safely departs to another place.

Evidence

vv. 5-17

Commentary (*use anecdotes!*)

God, the King, protects His people through prayer. Look at v5 again, ‘Acts 12:5 “5 So Peter was kept in prison, but earnest prayer for him was made to God by the church.”’ and look at Acts 12:12 “12 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.” At the sound of the church leader’s arrest, the church began to pray. And they prayed earnestly, fervently, with dedication, hoping that God would answer their prayer. But how would God answer their prayer?

At the end of the Festival, this weeklong holiday, just before Peter was going to be brought before the public on trial, God came through. Just in time, God sends an angel into the same Prison where Peter lay asleep. Consider the impossible circumstance which Peter was under. It would be an impossible mission to rescue Peter.

He was chained to two soldiers, guarded by two additional soldiers, and was shut in by an iron gate which led into the city. An angel of the Lord appears out of nowhere with light shining around him. He breaks off Peter’s chains, tells him to get dressed and follow him. Then the iron gate opens of its own accord and Peter is free! The divine King accomplished the impossible.

Then, Peter quietly went to a home church. They were all surprised to see Peter, although they had been fervently praying for him. After greeting them, he left to another place. God delivered him from the prison and he safely departed out of the hand of Herod and the Jewish people.

Now, does God always deliver people out of physical harm? No. Consider James, the apostle, who was martyred by Herod. Does God’s protection = our physical safety? It is true that God protects His people. This does not always include physical life, for that is not all that there is. It is shortsighted to think that this life is the only thing that exists. We exist within a short timeframe in all of history and God’s main goal for our lives is not that we live forever in these bodies. Rather, his main purpose for our lives is that we glorify Him and enjoy Him forever. And sometimes that means that His people die for Him as martyrs. God delivers his people from the most important enemy: sin and death. No one can defeat God, not even sin and death. But what about king Herod? Does he stand a chance against the Almighty?

MP#3 - The King defeats His enemy.

Assertion

God disrupted the enemy’s plans.

Herod sets himself up as god.

The angel strikes him down.

God’s mission continues (vv. 24-25).

Evidence

vv. 18-25

Commentary (anecdotes, story)

Peter was rescued at night. When day arrived, the soldiers were confused. Herod searched for him but was found grasping for nothing, because Peter wasn’t there! He thought he had him! Herod turns to the guards and questions them. After questioning, he puts them all to death.

Then Herod reveals his true colors. Let me set the scene: a king is angry with some of his subjects. His subjects rely upon the king for food. If the king is mad, they may not get fed. So they come to the king asking for peace. And on an appointed day, the king puts on his royal robes, sits upon his throne, and with all of his begging subjects present, he speaks. In all his majesty and pomp, his glorious splendor, the people cry out, this man has the voice of a god! In other words, they deified the king. And what does the king do? What should the king do? Should he receive their praise? No, but king Herod does. He accepts their praise, and the text concludes his story with this statement: Acts 12:23 “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.”

Those who play god should not be surprised when the true God reveals himself. God lives and reigns as the King of all.

And God continues to spread His word to the world. At the end of our text, Luke writes, “But the word of God increased and multiplied.” And Barnabas, Saul, and John Mark, three key players in the early church, they go and continue God’s mission in Antioch.

Conclusion

Restate

God the King protects His people and defeats His enemies.

Review

The King was challenged, but to no avail. The challenge was weak and failed. God the King proved His authority over the powers of the day. God protected His people, as He always does, and defeated his enemy, the lowly king Herod.

Reflect / Apply

Take a good look at Herod. He thought he was above God. He thought he could do whatever he wanted to. He dressed himself as if he were a deity and received praise from man. Do any of these things resemble your life? If so, I would encourage you to change course. You do not want to be on the opposing end of God. God is the King of all and you cannot overrule His authority.

It is right and safe to serve God and respect Him as the King of all. For you who trust in Him, he protects you and delivers you from the worst enemy: sin and death. And this is the best news you could ever know and experience.

Pray