Acts 12:1-24 If You Follow Jesus you will die and you will be delivered.

Acts 12:1-24 If You Follow Jesus you will die and you will be delivered.

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*Greet Congregation -Good Morning I welcome you in the Name of our Lord Jesus Christ.

WELCOME AND ANNOUNCEMENTS

“Now these things happened to them as an example, but they were written down for our instruction, on whom the end of the ages has come.”

1 Corinthians 10:11 ESV

PRELUDE—Use these moments to prayerfully consider the Scripture meditation above, so you may properly give God the glory due to His name.

THE LORD CALLS US TO WORSHIP HIM

*God’s Word of Greeting

*Call to Worship……………..…...……………………………… Psalm 5:11-12

Psalm 5:11-12 But let all who take refuge in you rejoice; let them ever sing for joy,

and spread your protection over them, that those who love your name may exult in you.

12  For you bless the righteous, O Lord; you cover him with favor as with a shield.

*Hymn of Praise………………………….... TPH #5 Hear My Words, O Lord

LET US PRAY

*Invocation - Father in heaven we ask you as your people to be with us and enlighten us by your word and spirit. In Christ name Amen.

OUR RESPONSE TO GOD’S CALL

Responsive Reading………………………………….. Psalm 122 (TH p. 831)

1  I rejoiced with those who said to me,

“Let us go to the house of the Lord!”

2  Our feet our standing

in your gates, O Jerusalem!

3  Jerusalem is built like a city

that is closely compacted together,

4  That is where the tribes go up,

the tribes of the Lord,

to praise the name the Lord. according

to the statue given to Israel.

5  There the thrones for judgment stand,

the thrones of the house of David.

6  Pray for the peace of Jerusalem!

“May those who love you! be secure

7  May there be Peace within your walls

and security within your citadels!”

8  For the sake of my brothers and friends’

I will say, “Peace be within you!”

9  For the sake of the house of the Lord our God,

I will seek your prosperity.

Lets us pray now for

Prayer of Confession and Repentance

Prayer - Be exalted, O God, above the heavens! Let your glory be over all the earth! 6  That your beloved ones may be delivered from our sin, give salvation by your right hand and answer me! Oh grant us help against the foe, for vain is the salvation of man! With God we will do valiantly; it is he who will tread down our foes. In Christ name Amen.

Hear now our Assurance of Pardon

Assurance of Pardon 1 Peter 2:9-10

1 Peter 2:9-10 But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light. 10 Once you were not a people, but now you are God’s people; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy.

Let us turn in our Trinity Psalter Hymnal

Hymn of Thanksgiving ........ TPH #100B All People That on Earth Do Dwell

Let us go to the Lord in Prayer

Congregational Prayer

Father we come to you in prayer for the congregation. We Pray for _____________ and we ask for all these things in the powerful, glorious, majestic, and wonderful name of Jesus Christ Amen.

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THE LORD FEEDS US FROM HIS WORD

Turn in your Bibles to 1 John 1:1-10

Scripture Reading……. 1 John:1:1-10

HEAR NOW TH VERY WORD OF GOD.

That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we looked upon and have touched with our hands, concerning the word of life— 2 the life was made manifest, and we have seen it, and testify to it and proclaim to you the eternal life, which was with the Father and was made manifest to us— 3 that which we have seen and heard we proclaim also to you, so that you too may have fellowship with us; and indeed our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son Jesus Christ. 4 And we are writing these things so that our joy may be complete.

Walking in the Light

5 This is the message we have heard from him and proclaim to you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all. 6 If we say we have fellowship with him while we walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth. 7 But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin. 8 If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. 9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 10 If we say we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us.

Our Scripture Reading for the sermon text today is

Sermon text *Turn in you Bible to Acts 12:1-24 repeat Luke Acts 12:1-24 It can be found on Pg. 1171-1172 in your pew Bible.

Sermon *IF YOU FOLLOW JESUS YOU WILL DIE, AND YOU WILL BE DELIVERED.

*Turn in you Bible to Acts 12:1-24 repeat Luke Acts 12:1-24 It can be found on Pg. 1171-1172 in your pew Bible.

*IF YOU FOLLOW JESUS YOU WILL DIE, AND YOU WILL BE DELIVERED.

*Brief Preliminary Context and Admonition

We will be looking at 3 scenes in this passage that will point you to a better understanding of IF YOU FOLLOW JESUS YOU WILL DIE, AND YOU WILL BE DELIVERED.

1. James is killed, and Peter is Delivered from prison.

2. A prayer meeting of the church for Peters deliverance.

3. And the Death of Herod.

*Hear now the very Word of God

Acts 12:1–24

1 About that time Herod the king laid violent hands on some who belonged to the church. 2 He killed James the brother of John with the sword, 3 and when he saw that it pleased the Jews, he proceeded to arrest Peter also. This was during the days of Unleavened Bread. 4, 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. 5 So Peter was kept in prison, but earnest prayer for him was made to God by the church. 6.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. 8, 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.” 9 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. 10 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. 11 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.”

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. 13 And when he knocked at the door of the gateway, a servant girl named Rhoda came to answer. 14 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. 15 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!” 16 But Peter continued knocking, and when they opened, they saw him and were amazed. 17 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.

18 Now when day came, there was no little disturbance among the soldiers over what had become of Peter. 19 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. 20 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. 21 On an appointed day Herod put on his royal robes, took his seat upon the throne, and delivered an oration to them. 22 And the people were shouting, “The voice of a god, and not of a man!” 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.

24 But the word of God increased and multiplied.

Isaiah 40:8 The grass withers, the flower fades: But the word of our God shall stand for ever.

*Brief Prayer of Illumination -LET US PRAY

Father in heaven give us your people ears to hear what your Word and Spirit would have us to learn in Christ name AMEN.

Illustration

Hadden Robinsons

One of the most inspiring examples of courage in the history of the church was the martyrdom of Polycarp, who was burned at the stake for his faith. The aged Polycarp had been arrested by the Roman authorities and brought to the arena for execution in front of the cheering crowd. The proconsul pressed him hard and said, “Swear, and I will release you. Revile Christ.” Polycarp replied, “Eighty and six years have I served him, and he never did me wrong; and how can I now blaspheme my King that has saved me?” (Cited in Eusebius, Ecclesiastical History, chapter 15.)

This is the faith that the Lord Jesus calls you to

We all will die in this life unless the Lord returns.

Our bodies are decaying and will one day expire.

Our death is set at an appointed time by the Lord.

And the Lord knows the last breath we will take.

The breath of air you just took is given by the Lord.In light of this knowledge

We Read in Verses 1-4

1. We should not lack faith vs. 1-4 Herod killed James – JAMES MUST DIE

a. The death of James must have come as a massive shock to the early disciples. James and his brother John, the sons of Zebede were heirs to a successful fishing business in Galilee, a business sufficiently lucrative to employ multiple hired servants (Mark 1:20).

b. Along with his brother, James had gained the nickname “sons of thunder” (Mark 13:17)—a description that seemed most apt when the two suggested that Jesus send down fire from heaven to consume the Samaritans who had rejected Jesus’ message (Luke 9:54).

c. Their mother (Salome) asked Jesus on their behalf that they be allowed to sit with him, “one on your right hand and the other on your left, in your kingdom”

d. James had desired a crown of glory, but some fourteen years later he was given a cup of suffering instead. What Jesus had, in fact, foretold of came true, “that her two sons would partake of the cup of suffering” (Matt. 20:23; Mark 10:39)

Mark 10:39 They said to Him, “We are able.”So Jesus said to them, “You will indeed drink the cup that I drink, and with the baptism, I am baptized with you will be Baptized;

e. FOLLOWING JESUS FOR JAMES MEANT DEATH

f. It certainly wasn’t what James probably was expecting OR his mother.

g. Salome wanted good things for her sons and certainly wasn’t thinking one would be beheaded by Herod.

h. James was a member of the inner circle of the apostles so did he die, a good death.

i. Fulfillment of the prophecy this Son of Thunder James is killed.

2. Living life as one who is a follower of Christ marks you out as an enemy of the devil and those that follow Satan in our World.

Whether they be Mayors governors or Presidents.

a. And so, his followers like Herod want to Kill you

b. They despise the gospel, and they hate you for following Jesus.

c. The Lord will always protect you in life and death.

d. And God is sovereign in your life and death whether you die by the sword, or he saves you miraculously.

So brothers and sister remember that it is the Lord who called you and IF YOU FOLLOW JESUS YOU WILL DIE, AND YOU WILL BE DELIVERED.

3. Next, in our story, Peter is thrown in jail and what do you think might be on his mind?

Imagine being dragged into prison through this large Iron gate and then passing the first guard and then the second set of guards.

Peter might be thinking.

a. Maybe I’m Next to be killed.

b. Maybe it's going to happen the next day. We know Herod is fully capable of Murder because James has been beheaded.

c. Peter is sleeping, in Prison the text tells us, and I don’t know what his frame of mind is, but I don’t usually sleep when I’m worried about something especially death.

d. But Peter must have come to the frame of mind that He is ready to die to sleep this soundly.

e. Or maybe the energy has just gone from his body like after a long day of work.

f. Herod intended to bring Peter out to this crowd who have murder in their hearts.

g. Our tendency is to get the news that James is dead and then to drop our heads and say what should I have done?

and what did we do wrong? But this death and deliverance happened because God is sovereign.

Maybe we could ask the question with today’s virus that is all over the news.

Whats going to happen to me and my family with this Corona virus that spreading and think we might die.

And fear consumes are thoughts and actions.

This is because.....

h. Most Christians define Gods providence as luck. But it is not so Christen

i. Christ is at the right hand of God the father, and when James was killed, he walked into the reality of being in the presence of his Lord.

Next in Verse 5-6 we read that

4. We should not be afraid to suffer, but we are to Pray Earnestly for the Lords deliverance from evil as we read in verses vs. 5-6

5 So Peter was kept in prison, but earnest prayer for him was made to God by the church. 6.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.

a. Earnest prayer is made for Peter by the Church.

b. And Believers should gather to pray to their God for the deliverance of our brothers and sisters in Christ who are being persecuted.

c. In our fallen condition, we might think little of prayer or that it's just something we do on Sunday or before a meal.

d. First The church was corporately gathered,

second it was earnest prayer,

third, it was a special season of prayer and

fourth there was many who attended the prayer meeting.

e. Spurgeon said that “prayer should be kept up and fed with fresh fuel so that it burns fiercely, and flames on high like a beacon of fire blazing towards the heavens.

f. Does your local church meet regularly for prayer and are you there?

I don’t say this to condemn you but to encourage you to regular private and corporate prayer.

h. 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances, for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.

i. Hebrews 10:25 not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day dawing near.

j. Here is your encouragement your Lord calls you to Pray.

Next in Verses 7-12 we read that

5. We should not be afraid to Trust God’s Care. vs. 7-12

a. Prayer is ANSWERED that was made for Peter by the Church

b. Peter is delivered from prison by an Angel

c. Vs. 7 Peter is sleeping so deeply the light of the angel doesn’t wake him up, and he has to be struck in the side to be woke up, and he still thinks he’s dreaming.

d. Peters chains fall off his hands

e. The giant Iron Gate opens of its own accord “Gods is always in control.”

f. And so, Peter realized that it wasn’t a dream and God had delivered him.

g. Peter is outside the gate.

h. We pray to God because he calls us to and because God is Sovereign.

KNOWING that the thing prayed for God can do.

i. So let us remember we are to pray to God because God is Sovereign. KNOWING that the thing prayed for God can do.

6. What are the actions of the disciples that are praying for Peter earnestly.

a. Peter Knocks at the door. KNOCK! KNOCK! KNOCK!

b. Rhoda tells the apostles Peter is at the door.

c. They tell Rhoda she is out of her mind! That peter can’t be there.

d. But Peter Keeps Knocking Knock! Knock! Knock!

e. WHEN THEIR PRAYER IS ANSWERED” They lack faith.

f. Next, they tell her it’s his angel “REALLY it's HIS ANGEL.”

Some commentators speculate that the disciples think it was his guardian angel.

Or maybe the disciples thought he was dead already and this is his spirit visiting them.

Verse 15 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

This is a vigorous debate or argument back and forth because the text says they kept saying.

g. This is just another way of saying we would believe its an angel before we believe our prayer is answered by God.

h. Is this how we pray. Do we pray not expecting that the God of everything can’t answer our prayer’s

i. Turn to the Christ who cannot only answer your prayers but who can also forgive your sins and save you from hell.

Remember we are not getting out of this life unscathed

IF YOU FOLLOW JESUS YOU WILL DIE, AND YOU WILL BE DELIVERED.

a. Notice that in spite of the lack of faith of the saints praying and in the absence of faith God is still sovereign in all the events of the evening.

b. Mark 9:24 Reminds us of what to do when we are struggling cry out to God “I believe; help my unbelief!”

c. God saved one and allowed another to die. He gives and takes away. It is a reminder to us that we are expendable, even though we often tell ourselves that we are not. Are we ready for God to take us away?

d. God has power, and God was kind, and he was gracious not because Peter deserved it but because it was according to his sovereign plan.

e. We cannot direct God in our prayer to do things, but instead, we pray for what we know is his will and believe that he can accomplish the very thing we are asking for.

f. If we are living for God and Gods plans whether I will be killed or delivered I can say blessed be the name of the Lord. Naked I came into the world and naked I will leave blessed be the name of the Lord.

g. Look to the Cross of Christ he died for us while we were yet sinners and the Lord is bringing us into his presence.

h. Don’t you allow things in your life to make you doubt Christ’s Sovereignty?

i. Eventually, Peter is killed as well many years later, but instead of the angel walking him out of prison he is walked into heaven in the presence of Christ.

7. LASTLY, WE SEE WHAT HAPPENS TO THOSE WHO WOULD ACCEPT BLASPHEMY GOD KILLS THE BLASPHEMER HEROD

We read in Verses 21-24

21 On an appointed day Herod put on his royal robes, took his seat upon the throne, and delivered an oration to them.22, And the people were shouting, “The voice of a god, and not of a man!” 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. 24 But the word of God increased and multiplied.

If you Don’t think that Herod wasn’t wanting this praise and the people to call him a god you would be wrong.

The entire structure of his throne was set up so that the sun would rise behind him

His garment had gold woven into it so that it would shimmer like and give the appearance of a god when the sun shine on the garment.

This should be a warning to our leaders today to not set themselves up as God or rob him of his glory due to his name.

This happens when we say we accomplished something by our own hands.

We see this when the mayor of New York declares that is his actions that saved lives or boasts of Low Covid Infections and denies God that is the one who is upholding all of us until the day we die.

a. So this story ends with our sovereign God who if you follow will deliver you from your unbelief

b. your lack of prayer

c. and even from the rulers who oppress you and seek to kill you.

d. James was killed and went to heaven

e. Peter was delivered from prison

f. And Herod was killed for taking the Glory that is only due to God.

g. And verse 24 is our promise that the word of God will increase and multiply

h. And we can pray with Habakkuk when he says that the earth will be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the Lord as the water covers the sea.

I would like to End with a story of amazing faith and prayer of John G. Paton

John G. Paton, a missionary in the New Hebrides islands:

Hostile natives surrounded his mission headquarters, intent on burning it and killing Paton and his wife. The two of them prayed all through that terror-filled night, asking God to deliver them. When daylight came, they were surprised to see the attackers leave. A year later, the chief of that tribe was converted to Christ, and Paton had an opportunity to ask him what kept them from burning the house and killing them.

The chief replied, “Who were all those men who were there with you?” Paton said, “There were no men there; only my wife and I.” But the chief said that they had seen hundreds of big men in shining garments with drawn swords in their hands. They seemed to circle the mission station, so the tribesmen were afraid to attack. Paton realized that God had sent his angels to protect them.

So this is another story of how God protects us through prayer and a reminder

IF YOU FOLLOW JESUS YOU WILL DIE, OR YOU WILL BE DELIVERED.

*Let us pray

Father we thank you for this teaching on what it looks like to FOLLOW YOU and that if We DIE, OR BE DELIVERED it is by your soverign hand. Father Hear us your people, Rise in valor, that we might be saved Lord. Deliver us from our foes and our own sinfulness and shine your face on us that your grace might save all who do not no you. We pray that you would forgive us for our coldness. We pray you to forgive us for loving you so little and serving you so poorly. O God, help us to reconsecrate ourselves to you and your service. May your Spirit come upon us here. O Spirit of the living God, fall upon us here, and may our hearts be all on fire for the Son of God. And may we be willing to lay aside our dignity and position and standing, and go forth into the vineyard and work for you. O Spirit of God, come upon us and give us power to work for Christ; power to preach the Gospel, power to tell the story of the Cross. We ask it all in the name of your beloved Son. Amen.

AMEN.

*Hymn of Response ...……………… TPH #48A Great Is the Lord Our God

WE ARE DISMISSED WITH GOD’S BLESSING

*God’s Word of Blessing

*Closing Hymn…………………..………………………. TH #735 Gloria Patri