Dependence on God

1 MOST OF YOU ARE FAMILIAR WITH THE DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE • BUT HAVE YOU EVER HEARD OF THE DECLARATION OF DEPENDENCE? • WE HOLD THIS TRUTH TO BE SELFEVIDENT, • THAT ALL MEN ARE CREATED EQUAL IN SIN, • THAT THROUGH GRACE, THEY HAVE BEEN ENDOWED BY THEIR CREATOR • WITH CERTAIN UNALIENABLE RIGHTS • THAT AMONG THESE ARE ABUNDANT LIFE, LIBERTY IN CHRIST, • AND THE PURSUIT OF PEACE BEYOND UNDERSTANDING. --• THAT TO SECURE THESE RIGHTS, • OUR SAVIOR DIED AND ROSE AGAIN — • SO THAT WE WOULD NO LONGER WALK THE PATH OF DESTRUCTION… • SEE, WE NEED TO BE REALLY CAREFUL WITH THIS IDEA OF INDEPENDENCE • IT IS A GREAT THING THAT OUR NATION GAINED • INDEPENDENCE FROM BRITAIN • BUT THE MOMENT WE THINK WE CAN BE INDEPENDENT FROM GOD • WE ARE UTTERLY LOST, WITHOUT HOPE, BEYOND HELP • LIFE CAN CHANGE IN AN INSTANT • THINGS CAN BE GOING GREAT • WE MIGHT EVEN GET TO THINKING WE ARE JUST FINE • AND THEN SOMETHING CHANGES AND WE REALIZE • JUST HOW MUCH WE NEED GOD’S HELP • WE NEED TO MAKE SURE WHAT WE ARE LEANING ON • WHAT WE ARE TRUSTING IN • ARE WE TRUSTING IN SELF… OR GOD? • BECAUSE NO MATTER HOW THINGS ARE GOING • WE MIGHT FIND WE REALLY • REALLY NEED GOD AT ANY MOMENT • TODAY WE ARE GONNA LOOK AT • A MAJOR CHANGE THAT OCCURRED IN THE EARLY CHURCH • TURN TO ACTS 12:1 • THINGS WERE LOOKING GREAT • CHRISTIANITY WAS SPREADING • GENTILES WERE COMING TO KNOW CHRIST • THE BELIEVERS IN ANTIOCH WERE SENDING HELP • TO THE CHURCH IN JERUSALEM • FOR THE COMING FAMINE IN JUDEA • BUT AS THESE THINGS HAPPENED SOMETHING CHANGED ACTS 12:1–4 NOW ABOUT THAT TIME HEROD THE KING LAID HANDS ON SOME WHO BELONGED TO THE CHURCH IN ORDER TO MISTREAT THEM. AND HE HAD JAMES THE BROTHER OF JOHN PUT TO DEATH WITH A SWORD. WHEN HE SAW THAT IT PLEASED THE JEWS, HE PROCEEDED TO ARREST PETER ALSO. NOW IT WAS DURING THE DAYS OF UNLEAVENED BREAD. WHEN HE HAD SEIZED HIM, HE PUT HIM IN PRISON, DELIVERING HIM TO FOUR SQUADS OF SOLDIERS TO GUARD HIM, INTENDING AFTER THE PASSOVER TO BRING HIM OUT BEFORE THE PEOPLE. UNEXPECTED PERSECUTION • THE PEACE AND GROWTH OF THE CHURCH • THAT LUKE HAD WRITTEN ABOUT IN THE LAST FEW CHAPTERS • COMES TO A SUDDEN END • NOW ABOUT THAT TIME HEROD THE KING LAID HANDS ON SOME WHO BELONGED TO THE CHURCH IN ORDER TO MISTREAT THEM. • LUKE TELLS US THAT DURING THE SAME TIME PERIOD • AS THE FAMINE RELIEF FROM ANTIOCH • A NEW PERSECUTION BEGAN AGAINST THE CHRISTIANS • THIS IS HEROD… IS HEROD AGRIBBA 1ST • HE HAD BEEN A PRISONER IN ROME • BUT WHEN CALIGULA IS MADE EMPEROR • HEROD IS PUT IN CHARGE OF ALL • THE LANDS OCCUPIED BY THE JEWISH PEOPLE • THIS NEW RULER HAD SOME MEMBERS OF THE CHURCH ARRESTED • LUKE TELLS US WHY HE DID THIS • IT WAS IN ORDER TO MISTREAT THEM. • WE NEED TO REMEMBER THAT THE EMPEROR CALIGULA • WAS ONE OF THE MOST VILE LEADERS OF ROME • AND HE PUT THIS MAN IN CHARGE…. • LUKE HAS NOT MENTIONED PERSECUTION • SINCE SAUL HEADED OFF TO DAMASCUS 8 OR SO YEARS AGO • AND NOW A NEW RULER COMES INTO POWER • AND A NEW PERSECUTION BEGINS • AND THIS NEW PERSECUTION ESCALATES QUICKLY PERSECUTION HAS MANY FORMS • FIRST SOME OF THE CHURCH WERE ARRESTED AND MISTREATED • THIS MISTREATMENT WAS DESCRIBED AS PHYSICAL HARM • BUT HEROD WILL MOVE QUICKLY TO MURDER • AND HE HAD JAMES THE BROTHER OF JOHN PUT TO DEATH WITH A SWORD. • THE WAY THIS IS WORDED DESCRIBES A SERIES OF CONNECTED EVENTS • SOME CHRISTIANS WERE ARRESTED • THEY WERE PHYSICALLY MISTREATED • AND THEN THE NEXT EVENT TO OCCUR WAS JAMES BEING EXECUTED • AND WHEN HEROD SEES HOW THE PEOPLE RESPOND • HE IS MOTIVATED TO INCREASE HIS PERSECUTION MOTIVATION FOR PERSECUTION • SOMETIMES PERSECUTION HAPPENS OUT OF FEAR • OTHER TIMES PEOPLE ARE PERSECUTED FOR FINANCIAL GAIN • PERSECUTION CAN ALSO BE THE RESULT OF IGNORANCE • BUT HERE WE SEE HEROD’S MOTIVE FOR PERSECUTING THE CHURCH • WHEN HE SAW THAT IT PLEASED THE JEWS, HE PROCEEDED TO ARREST PETER ALSO. • HEROD WAS NEW AS A RULER • HE NEEDED THE SUPPORT OF THE PEOPLE • SEEING THEM PLEASED BY THE EXECUTION OF JAMES • ENCOURAGED HEROD TO HAVE PETER ARRESTED • AND PUT IN PRISON WITH THE INTENTION OF KILLING HIM • WHEN HE HAD SEIZED HIM, HE PUT HIM IN PRISON, DELIVERING HIM TO FOUR SQUADS OF SOLDIERS TO GUARD HIM, INTENDING AFTER THE PASSOVER TO BRING HIM OUT BEFORE THE PEOPLE. • WE NEED TO NOTICE HERE HOW • SINFUL BEHAVIOR TENDS TO SPIRAL OUT OF CONTROL • A VERY SINFUL EMPEROR, CALIGULA • APPOINTS A NEW RULER • FIRST, HE HAS SOME FOLKS ARRESTED • THEN HE MISTREATS THEM PHYSICALLY • NEXT HE EXECUTES A MAN • AND BECAUSE THIS PLEASES THE CROWDS • HE HAS PETER ARRESTED AND • PLANS TO EXECUTED HIM… • OUR WORLD CAN CHANGE SO FAST • NOT THAT LONG AGO • CHRISTIANS IN THIS COUNTRY • FACED VIRTUALLY NO PERSECUTION • THEN THERE WAS A CHANGE IN LEADERSHIP • I DON’T MEAN POLITICAL LEADERSHIP • THE CULTURAL LEADERSHIP CHANGED IN THIS COUNTRY • AND THE CULTURAL PERSECUTION OF CHRISTIANS BEGAN • THEN THE POLITICIANS SAW THAT THIS PLEASED THE PEOPLE • AND LAWS WERE PASSED, AND LEGAL PERSECUTION OF CHRISTIANS BEGAN • PEOPLE WERE SUED FOR NOT BAKING CAKES • PEOPLE WERE FIRED FOR WRITING ABOUT BIBLICAL VALUES • IN AMERICA WE CERTAINLY DO NOT FACE • THE LIFE THREATING PERSECUTION • THAT HAPPENS IN OTHER PARTS OF THE WORLD • BUT WE NEED TO BE AWARE OF HOW SINFUL THINGS • LIKE PERSECUTION CAN SPIRAL DOWN • GETTING MORE & MORE SERIOUS AT A RAPID PACE • WE NEED TO UNDERSTAND • WHERE WE NEED TO TURN IN TIMES OF PERSECUTION ACTS 12:5–10 SO PETER WAS KEPT IN THE PRISON, BUT PRAYER FOR HIM WAS BEING MADE FERVENTLY BY THE CHURCH TO GOD. ON THE VERY NIGHT WHEN HEROD WAS ABOUT TO BRING HIM FORWARD, PETER WAS SLEEPING BETWEEN TWO SOLDIERS, BOUND WITH TWO CHAINS, AND GUARDS IN FRONT OF THE DOOR WERE WATCHING OVER THE PRISON. AND BEHOLD, AN ANGEL OF THE LORD SUDDENLY APPEARED AND A LIGHT SHONE IN THE CELL; AND HE STRUCK PETER’S SIDE AND WOKE HIM UP, SAYING, “GET UP QUICKLY.” AND HIS CHAINS FELL OFF HIS HANDS. AND THE ANGEL SAID TO HIM, “GIRD 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 CONTINUED TO FOLLOW, AND 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 SECOND GUARD, THEY CAME TO THE IRON GATE THAT LEADS INTO THE CITY, WHICH OPENED FOR THEM BY ITSELF; AND THEY WENT OUT AND WENT ALONG ONE STREET, AND IMMEDIATELY THE ANGEL DEPARTED FROM HIM. PRAY FOR THE PERSECUTED • WE HAVE SOME OPTIONS WHEN WE SEE OTHERS BEING PERSECUTED • WE CAN LOOK THE OTHER WAY • WE CAN BE FILLED WITH DESPAIR • OR WE CAN TURN TO GOD • HERE WE SEE THE CHURCH IN JERUSALEM • TURNING TO GOD • SO PETER WAS KEPT IN THE PRISON, BUT PRAYER FOR HIM WAS BEING MADE FERVENTLY BY THE CHURCH TO GOD. • THE WAY THIS IS WORDED IS AMAZING • IT IS WRITTEN SO THAT TWO THINGS ARE BEING CONTRASTED • PETER’S IMPRISONMENT IS BEING CONTRASTED • WITH THE PRAYERS BEING MADE BY THE CHURCH TO GOD • IT IS ALMOST LIKE LUKE IS ASKING US TO CONSIDER • WHICH IS STRONGER, WHICH IS GREATER • PETER’S IMPRISONMENT OR THE PRAYERS BEING MADE TO GOD • WHICH ONE WILL OVERCOME THE OTHER…. • IT IS VERY HARD TO LOOK AT THE PERSECUTION OF CHRISTIANS • WE DON’T WANT TO SEE IT • IT IS EASY TO TURN TO DESPAIR IN THE FACE OF SUCH THINGS • BUT WHAT GOD CALLS US TO DO • IS TO TURN TO HIM, TO CRY OUT TO HIM • NOT TO BE INDEPENDENT BUT ….TO BE… DEPENDENT ON HIM PSALM 77:1 MY VOICE RISES TO GOD, AND I WILL CRY ALOUD; MY VOICE RISES TO GOD, AND HE WILL HEAR ME. • WHEN WE SEE OTHERS BEING PERSECUTED FOR THEIR FAITH IN CHRIST • OUR FIRST.. BEST.. RESPONSE SHOULD ALWAYS BE PRAYER • AND DID YOU SEE HOW THESE PEOPLE PRAYED FOR PETER • PRAYER FOR HIM WAS BEING MADE FERVENTLY BY THE CHURCH TO GOD. • THIS WORD FERVENTLY IS AN INTERESTING WORD • IT MEANS UNCEASING ACTIVITY, INVOLVING A DEGREE OF INTENSITY • PRAYING LONG AND HARD, INTENSELY WITHOUT STOPPING • THIS IS WHAT WE SHOULD DO • WHEN WE SEE OTHERS BEING PERSECUTED • BUT WHAT ABOUT WHEN WE ARE THE ONES • FACING PERSECUTION? 1ST DON’T LET PERSECUTION OVERWHELM YOU • SO, THINK ABOUT THIS FOR A MOMENT…PETER IS SITTING IN PRISON • HE HAS 2 MEN GUARDING HIM • HE IS BOUND TO THESE MEN BY CHAINS • THERE ARE 2 MORE GUARDS AT THE DOOR • THIS IS ON TOP OF THE REGULAR SECURITY IN THE PRISON • IT IS THE NIGHT BEFORE PETER IS SET TO BE EXECUTED • AND WHAT DO WE FIND PETER DOING • PETER WAS SLEEPING BETWEEN TWO SOLDIERS, • NOW, I DON’T KNOW ABOUT YOU • BUT I AM NOT SURE I WOULD BE ABLE TO SLEEP IN THAT SITUATION • BUT PETER IS NOT OVERWHELMED BY THE PERSECUTION • HE HAS BEEN HERE BEFORE • HE KNOWS GOD IS WITH HIM • HE MAY EVEN REMEMBER JESUS SAYING TO HIM JOHN 21:18 “TRULY, TRULY, I SAY TO YOU, WHEN YOU WERE YOUNGER, YOU USED TO GIRD YOURSELF AND WALK WHEREVER YOU WISHED; BUT WHEN YOU GROW OLD, YOU WILL STRETCH OUT YOUR HANDS AND SOMEONE ELSE WILL GIRD YOU, AND BRING YOU WHERE YOU DO NOT WISH TO GO.” • PETER KNOWS HE IS NOT GONNA DIE THE NEXT DAY • HE TRUSTS CHRIST, HE IS LEANING ON GOD • AND GOD IS GONNA GET HIM OUTTA THIS 2ND DEPEND ON GOD IN PERSECUTION • WE NEED TO LEAN ON GOD ALL THE TIME • BUT WHEN WE FACE PERSECUTION • WE REALLY NEED TO LEAN ON HIM • IN THIS CASE HE IS GONNA GET PETER • OUTTA PRISON BY SENDING AN ANGEL TO HELP HIM • AND BEHOLD, AN ANGEL OF THE LORD SUDDENLY APPEARED AND A LIGHT SHONE IN THE CELL; AND HE STRUCK PETER’S SIDE AND WOKE HIM UP, SAYING, “GET UP QUICKLY.” • NOW.. DOES THIS MEAN GOD WILL SEND AN ANGEL • EVERY TIME SOMEONE IS FACING PERSECUTION • NO… BUT IT DOES MEAN GOD CAN AND WILL SEND HELP • WHAT I REALLY WANT US TO NOTICE IS HOW DEPENDENT • PETER IS ON THE ANGEL…. ON GOD’S HELP • PETER DOES NOTHING WITHOUT THE ANGEL TELLING HIM TO DO IT • THE ANGEL SAYS “GIRD YOURSELF AND PUT ON YOUR SANDALS.” AND HE DID SO. • THE ANGEL TELLS PETER TO “WRAP YOUR CLOAK AROUND YOU AND FOLLOW ME.” • AND HE WENT OUT AND CONTINUED TO FOLLOW, • AND PETER IS NOT EVEN SURE THIS IS REALLY HAPPENING • AND HE DID NOT KNOW THAT WHAT WAS BEING DONE BY THE ANGEL WAS REAL, BUT THOUGHT HE WAS SEEING A VISION. • BUT EVEN THOUGH HE IS NOT SURE IT IS REAL • HE KEEPS FOLLOWING • HE KEEPS TRUSTING • HE KEEPS DEPENDING ON GOD • THE ONLY WAY HE WAS GONNA GET OUTTA THE PRISON • WAS TO FOLLOW THE ANGEL GOD HAD SENT • AND ONCE HE IS OUT THE ANGEL LEAVES HIM • AND THEY WENT OUT AND WENT ALONG ONE STREET, AND IMMEDIATELY THE ANGEL DEPARTED FROM HIM. • GOD KNOWS HOW MUCH HELP WE NEED • HE KNOWS WHAT WE CAN HANDLE AND WHAT WE CANT A PASTOR WAS MOVING HIS LIBRARY UPSTAIRS • AS HE WAS GOING UP WITH A LOAD OF BOOKS, • HIS LITTLE BOY CAME IN, VERY ANXIOUS TO HELP HIS FATHER. • SO HIS FATHER TOLD HIM TO GO AND GET ONE BOOK • AND BRING IT UPSTAIRS. • WHEN THE FATHER CAME BACK, • HE MET THE LITTLE FELLA ABOUT HALF-WAY UP, • TUGGING AWAY AT THE BIGGEST BOOK IN THE LIBRARY. • HE COULDN’T MANAGE TO CARRY IT UP. IT WAS TOO BIG. • SO, HE SAT DOWN AND CRIED. • HIS FATHER FOUND HIM, AND JUST TOOK HIM IN HIS ARMS, BOOK AND ALL, • AND CARRIED HIM UPSTAIRS. • JUST SO… GOD WILL CARRY US AND ALL THE BURDENS THAT WE CAN’T CARRY…. • IF WE WILL JUST LET HIM • WE NEED TO LET HIM CARRY US ALL THE TIME • BUT WHEN WE FACE PERSECUTION • WE REALLY NEED TO LET HIM CARRY US • AND WHEN HE DOES CARRY US, WE NEED TO NOTICE • THAT GOD HAS CARRIED US. ACTS 12:11–12 WHEN PETER CAME TO HIMSELF, HE SAID, “NOW I KNOW FOR SURE THAT THE LORD HAS SENT FORTH HIS ANGEL AND RESCUED ME FROM THE HAND OF HEROD AND FROM ALL THAT THE JEWISH PEOPLE WERE EXPECTING.” AND WHEN HE REALIZED THIS, HE WENT TO THE HOUSE OF MARY, THE MOTHER OF JOHN WHO WAS ALSO CALLED MARK, WHERE MANY WERE GATHERED TOGETHER AND WERE PRAYING. NOTICE GOD AT WORK • PETER HAD BEEN FOLLOWING THE ANGEL • HE WAS NOT EVEN SURE IF THIS WAS REAL OR A VISION • AND LUKE SAYS THE FIRST WORDS PETER SPOKE • AFTER COMING TO HIMSELF WERE • “NOW I KNOW FOR SURE THAT THE LORD HAS SENT FORTH HIS ANGEL AND RESCUED ME FROM THE HAND OF HEROD AND FROM ALL THAT THE JEWISH PEOPLE WERE EXPECTING.” • IN THIS MIDST OF PERSECUTION • BEING HOURS FROM EXECUTION • AND THE FIRST THING ON PETER’S MIND • IS THAT HE NOW KNOWS FOR SURE • THAT GOD SENT AN ANGEL TO RESCUE HIM • THAT IS THE KIND OF PERSPECTIVE WE NEED TO STRIVE FOR… • WE NEED TO NOTICE GOD WORKING IN OUR LIVES • IT SHOULD BE THE FIRST THING WE NOTICE • WE NEED TO DO THIS ALL THE TIME • NOT JUST WHEN WE FACE PERSECUTION • BUT WHEN WE ARE IN A DIFFICULT SITUATION • WHEN GOD BRINGS US THROUGH • TRIALS, PERSECUTION, SUFFERING, STRIFE • WE NEED TO MAKE SURE WE NOTICE • HOW GOD GOT US THROUGH IT • AND WE NEED TO BE SURE WE TELL • OUR FELLOW CHRISTIANS ABOUT IT FOCUS ON FELLOWSHIP • DID YOU SEE WHAT PETER DID WHEN HE REALIZED • GOD HAD SAVED HIM FROM EXECUTION • AND WHEN HE REALIZED THIS, HE WENT TO THE HOUSE OF MARY, THE MOTHER OF JOHN WHO WAS ALSO CALLED MARK, WHERE MANY WERE GATHERED TOGETHER AND WERE PRAYING. • HIS FIRST THOUGHT WAS TO GO TO OTHER BELIEVERS • HE DOES NOT TRY TO FLEE THE CITY • HE DOES NOT GO INTO HIDING • HE GOES TO A HOUSE WHERE • MANY WERE GATHERED TOGETHER AND WERE PRAYING • WHEN HE GETS TO THIS HOUSE HE IS GOING • TO TELL THEM ALL ABOUT THE ANGEL SAVING HIM… • SOMETIMES WHEN WE HAVE BEEN THROUGH SOMETHING BAD • WE WANT TO CRAWL OFF INTO A HOLE SOMEWHERE • AND NOT DEAL WITH PEOPLE • OK WELL… SOMETIMES THAT IS WHAT I WANT TO DO • GOD CREATED THE CHURCH FOR A REASON • OUR GOD IS A GOD OF FELLOWSHIP • EVEN BEFORE TIME GOD THE FATHER, • GOD THE SON, AND GOD THE HOLY SPIRIT • WERE IN FELLOWSHIP • THERE ARE NO MATURE, INDEPENDENT CHRISTIANS • IF WE ARE WALKING WITH CHRIST • IF WE ARE ABIDING IN HIM • IF WE ARE IN THE LIGHT • WE ARE TOGETHER WITH ONE ANOTHER • IN GOOD TIMES AND IN BAD TIMES • WE ARE CALLED TO COME TOGETHER • TO SHARE GOD’S WORD WITH ONE ANOTHER • TO WORSHIP TOGETHER • TO PRAY TOGETHER • GOD CALLS US NOT TO INDEPENDENCE BUT TO DEPENDENCE • DEPENDENCE ON HIM, DEPENDENCE ON HIS WORD • DEPENDENCE ON HIS GRACE AND MERCY • AND YES… TO SOME DEGREE… DEPENDENCE ON ONE ANOTHER I LOVE THE DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE • AND WE SHOULD CELEBRATE OUR NATIONAL INDEPENDENCE • BUT WE NEED TO BE REALLY CAREFUL WITH THE IDEA • OF PERSONAL INDEPENDENCE • GOD IS THE CREATOR SUSTAINER OF THE UNIVERSE • WE WOULD BE QUITE FOOLISH TO THINK • WE ARE INDEPENDENT FROM HIM • WE CAN GET TO THINKING WE DON’T NEED GOD • WHEN THINGS ARE GOING REALLY WELL • BUT UNEXPECTED CHANGES HAPPEN ALL THE TIME • SOMETHING CHANGES IN THE CULTURE • AND ALL THE SUDDEN CHRISTIANS ARE FACING • A WHOLE NEW SET OF PROBLEMS • WE NEED TO KNOW THAT SINFUL PROBLEMS • LIKE PERSECUTION CAN SPIRAL DOWN • LEADERS MOTIVATED BY PLEASING THE PEOPLE • CAN PASS LAWS THAT AFFECT OUR DAILY LIVES • WE NEED TO COME TOGETHER AND PRAY FERVENTLY • FOR THOSE FACING PERSECUTION HERE IN AMERICA • AND ALL OVER THE WORLD • WE NEED TO NOT BE OVERWHELMED BY PERSECUTION • WE HAVE A GOD WHO HEARS OUR PRAYERS • AND WILL NOT FORSAKE US NOR EVER LEAVE US • THE MORE TROUBLE WE FACE THE MORE WE NEED TO LEAN ON GOD • HE MAY OR MAY NOT SEND AN ANGEL • BUT WE CAN KNOW FOR CERTAIN HE IS WITH US • AND ONE WAY OR ANOTHER HE WILL FREE US FROM • WHATEVER WE FACE • HE WILL DO THIS BECAUSE HE IS A GOD • WHO LOVES US AND WANTS AN ETERNAL RELATIONSHIP WITH US • EVEN IF WE ALL SIN…. • 92