Acts 12

Acts 12:1-25

A MAN-MADE PROGRAMActs 12, 13.Interpreting our theme, “The Holy Spirit’s Method of Defeating a Man-made Program”, in the light of our text, I call your attention to The Persecution of the Church, The Prayers of the Church, and The Progress of the Church, as revealed in this Scripture.THE OF THE CHURCH“Now about that time Herod the king stretched forth his hands to vex certain of the Church.“And he killed James the brother of John with the sword.“And because he saw it pleased the Jews, he proceeded further to take Peter also” (Acts 12:1-3).Herod’s mind was the mind of madness. He was but two removes from Herod the Great, being his grandson; and he had inherited from that notable sire both his strength and his weakness, his superiority and his sins. The elder Herod destroyed his unhappy wife, murdered his own children, executed every man or woman that remotely imperiled his throne, behaved himself with such madness that it became a current speech, “Better be Herod’s pig than his son.” Taste for blood is often an inherited taste. Murderous fathers beget murderous children, and the children of mad men are often themselves the subjects of madness. Herod the Great slew his wives and his children; his son caused to be put to death all the male children born about the time of Christ’s birth, and now his son’s son is lifting his hand against the Church as his father had against the Child Jesus. Truly the Church is faring, and must forever fare, as its Lord.

Discipleship demands courage, and victories are often but the fruit of death.Herod’s method was the method of murder. Like his sires, he argued not with the pen or tongue; his speech was the sword.

The Jews were accustomed to “stone” to death, and while Herod was a Jew, strict in his Jewish observances, he relies upon the sword and makes it his weapon, not alone against his enemies from without his kingdom, but against the believers within the same. From the beginning the devil has attempted the impossible, namely, to destroy the Church. He has moved the gates of hell against it. He tried to destroy the seed of Abraham and thereby nullify the Messianic promise; he tried to destroy the seed of David and thereby defeat the fulfilment of prophecy; he tried to destroy the Church and thereby delay the coming of the Kingdom, and his method was murder. He was “a murderer from the beginning”.Men often wonder why, with all of our advanced civilization, murder continues. People are often surprised and astounded that Christianity should meet opposition—Christianity, the one religion that is no respecter of persons; that seeks to help all; that assuages sorrows, forgives sin, saves souls.

Why should it be opposed? The answer is: Satan lives and hates, and God and His Church are the special objects of his enmity.

As long as Satan remains unchained the Church of God will be both opposed and persecuted. The Christian will find his pathway disputed, and Christ Himself will be confronted by a foeman. Herod is but the medium of Satan’s mind, the instrument of personalized enmity, and Herod is only a sample of satanic agents set in opposition to God’s program.Herod’s motive was political popularity. His sires had secured offices by dark and devious ways and had retained the same by the destruction of all opponents. The lust of power was the largest thing in their lives. While subject to “the lust of the flesh” and “the lust of the eye”, the dominating passion with them was “the pride of life”.

Perhaps not in all human history has any house been more ambitious, and in all history few houses have been more bloody, and in all history no house has more ardently opposed the Church of God. The present day hatred of the Church is the spirit of Herod reincarnated; the present-day persecution of saints is Herodism revived; but as Herod failed to extinguish the Church, so “the gates of hell shall not prevail against it”.If you would know the secret of its power and of the Spirit’s method in putting through His program, take up the next point.THE PRAYERS OF THE CHURCH“Peter therefore was kept in prison: but prayer was made without ceasing of the Church unto God for him.“And when Herod would have brought him forth, the same night Peter was sleeping between two soldiers, bound with two chains: and the keepers before the door kept the prison.“And, behold, the angel of the Lord came upon him, and a light shined in the prison: and he smote Peter on the side, and raised him up, saying, Arise up quickly.

And his chains fell off from his hands.“And the angel said unto him, Gird thyself, and bind on thy sandals. And so he did. And he saith unto him, Cast thy garment about thee, and follow me.“And he went out, and followed him; and wist not that it was true which was done by the angel; but thought he saw a vision.“When they were past the first and the second ward, they came unto the iron gate that leadeth unto the city; which opened to them of his own accord: and they went out, and passed on through one street; and forthwith the angel departed from him.“And when Peter was come to himself, he said, Now I know of a surety, that the Lord hath sent His angel, and hath delivered me out of the hand of Herod, and from all the expectation of the people of the Jews.“And when he had considered the thing, he came to the house of Mary the mother of John, whose surname was Mark; where many were gathered together praying.“And as Peter knocked at the door of the gate, a damsel came to hearken, named Rhoda.“And when she knew Peter’s voice, she opened not the gate for gladness, but ran in, and told how Peter stood before the gate.“And they said unto her, Thou art mad. But she constantly affirmed that it was even so. Then said they, It is his angel.“But Peter continued knocking: and when they had opened the door, and saw him, they were astonished.“But he, beckoning unto them with the hand to hold their peace, declared unto them how the Lord had brought him out of the prison. And he said, Go shew these things unto James, and to the brethren.

And he departed, and went into another place.“Now as soon as it was day, there was no small stir among the soldiers, what was become of Peter.“And when Herod had sought for him, and found him not, he examined the keepers, and commanded that they should be put to death. And he went down from Judaea to Caesarea, and there abode” (Acts 12:5-19).The Church made incessant prayer.

It is instructive! Prayer was made “without ceasing”. That is the way to pray! Importunate prayer prevails! Prayer was made without ceasing of “the Church”. That is the fellowship of prayer. “Where two of you are agreed as touching anything they shall ask on earth, it shall be done of My Father which is in Heaven”. Prayer is the one place where the Scripture promise is most pertinent—“One shall chase a thousand and two shall put ten thousand to flight”.“Unto God”. He is the one to whom to address our prayers. “His ear is not heavy that it cannot hear.

His arm is not shortened that it cannot save”. Peter was the special object of the petitions. All prayer should be specific! When you come before God come with definite appeals and your success is assured.The angel of the Lord opened the prison.“Behold the angel of the Lord came upon him, and a light shined in the prison: and he smote Peter on the side, and raised him up, saying, Arise up quickly. And his chains fell off from his hands.“And the angel said unto him, Gird thyself, and bind on thy sandals. And so he did.

And he saith unto him, Cast thy garment about thee, and follow me.“And he went out, and followed him; and wist not that it was true which was done by the angel; but thought he saw a vision.“When they were past the first and the second ward, they came unto the iron gate that leadeth unto the city; which opened to them of his own accord: and they went out, and passed on through one street; and forthwith the angel departed from him.“And when Peter was come to himself, he said, Now I know of a surety, that the Lord hath sent His angel, and hath delivered me out of the hand of Herod, and from all the expectation of the people of the Jews.“And when he had considered the thing, he came to the house of Mary the mother of John, whose surname was Mark; where many were gathered together praying” (Acts 12:7-12).That is a remarkable statement. One marvels that it could be.

Seldom was such power set in operation against a poor, weak man. He was in the inner prison; he was sleeping between two soldiers, doubtless chained to them. Keepers were keeping the door before the prison. A quarternion of soldiers was charged with his safety.What a compliment! The world knows its peril when it comes to oppose God. It realizes the strength that may be with the weakest if that weak one is but with Him. An ignorant, unlearned fisherman—no political following, no silver, no gold, no position at court—and yet how they fling around him iron gates; how they lay upon him iron chains; how they set a watch before the door—a quarternion of soldiers! How complimentary! “If God be for us, who can be against us”?

Doubtless Herod had heard how the soldiers had failed to keep a dead Man in His grave. Who then can tell what a living man will do, especially when that living man is the apostle of the dead one “risen to life again”? The certainty of one miracle makes the probability of another. Escape of the leader makes more likely the slipping of the follower. Herod’s thought was, “Hold him fast!” But who was equal to the task? Who could prevent an angel from passing iron bars and doors? Who could prevent an angel from waking a sleeping saint? Who could prevent an angel from leading him quietly forth to the streets?

Who would dare to attempt it, since it is known that that angel is no other than the Lord Himself? The greatest folly of which men are ever guilty is that of fighting against God. Who is Herod when the angel of the Lord comes? What avails a quarternion when the angel of the Lord leads? One day angels of the Lord will gather out of the Lord’s Kingdom all them that offend, bind them in bundles and burn them. Who will hinder? Who can help when judgment comes?Herod’s minions, not Peter, perished. “And when Herod had sought for him, and found him not, he examined the keepers, and commanded that they should be put to death. And he went down from Judaea to Caesarea, and there abode” (Acts 12:19).There is a saying, “It is the unexpected that always happens”.

But to wrong-doers the expected commonly comes, namely, judgment. You will recall at the time of Antiochus Epiphanes about 171 B. C., a rumor shortly reached Jerusalem that he was dead. On the circulation of that report, great rejoicing took place and the Jason party gathered courage knowing that the people detested Menelaus. With a thousand men they carried the walls, slew their opponents, and drove Menelaus into the castle. But a sudden turn of affairs enabled the latter to get the upper hand and Jason was driven out and retreated to a strange land where he died, “detested by all”. Judgment is forever overtaking the wicked. The sentence of Scripture is that, “he shall not live out half his days”.

Take Antiochus Epiphanes himself, after harrying and persecuting the people of God through a long period, was finally brought to judgment. His death was too horrible to describe. As a raving maniac, consumed with evil diseases, he went to the most dishonored of graves. When the three Hebrew children were adjudged to die, the furnace was heated seven times hotter than was wont, and Nebuchadnezzar, full of fury“commanded the most mighty men that were in his army to bind Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, and to cast them into the burning fiery furnace.“Then these men were bound in their coats, their hosen, and their hats, and their other garments, and were cast into the midst of the burning fiery furnace.“Therefore because the king’s commandment was urgent, and the furnace exceeding hot, the flame of the fire slew those men that took up Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego.“And these three men, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, fell down bound into the midst of the burning fiery furnace.“Then Nebuchadnezzar the king was astonied, and rose up in haste, and spake, and said unto his counsellors, Did not we cast three men bound into the midst of the fire? They answered and said unto the king, True, O king.“He answered and said, Lo I see four men loose, walking in the midst of the fire, and they have no hurt; and the form of the fourth is like the Son of God” (Daniel 3:20-25).In the same Book we have the record of the attempt of the one hundred and nineteen presidents against the life of the Prophet Daniel. By lying words and fulsome flatteries they secured a decree from the king that gave promise of Daniel’s death at the mouths of lions.

From that prison, however, Daniel came forth unhurt, God having sent His angel to shut the lions mouths. But into that same den and by the decree of the same king, there was brought those men which had accused Daniel, and“they cast them into the den of lions, them, their children, and their wives; and the lions had the mastery of them, and brake all their bones in pieces or ever they came at the bottom of the den” (Daniel 6:24).The lesson here is clear—“Fret not thyself because of evil doers, neither be thou envious against the workers of iniquity. “For they shall soon be cut down like the grass, and wither as the green herb.“Trust in the Lord, and do good; so shalt thou dwell in the land, and verily thou shalt be fed.“* * I have seen the wicked in great power, and spreading himself like a green bay tree.“Yet he passed away, and, lo, he was not; yea, I sought him, but he could not be found” (Psalms 37:1-3; Psalms 37:35-36).THE OF THE CHURCHThe powerful opponent was permanently removed.“And Herod was highly displeased with them of Tyre and Sidon: but they came with one accord to him, and, having made Blastus the king’s chamberlain their friend, desired peace; because their country was nourished by the king’s country.“And upon a set day Herod, arrayed in royal apparel, sat upon his throne, and made an oration unto them.“And the people gave a shout, saying, It is the voice of a god, and not of a man.“And immediately the angel of the Lord smote him, because he gave not God the glory: and he was eaten of worms, and gave up the ghost.“But the Word of God grew and multiplied” (Acts 12:20-24).There are some men whose position, influence and fury a Christian is tempted to fear, but why? “If God be for us who can be against us”?

The Sultan of Turkey once decreed that every missionary must be driven from the land. A brother, greatly distressed by that declaration from so authoritative a source, reported it to his companion in labor, and had the pertinent and faithful reply, “But the Sultan of the Universe can reverse it!” The next morning the news spread everywhere, “The Sultan is dead!” His successor in office never made mention of this decree and probably never knew of its existence and the progress of missions marched on.“But Thou, Lord, art most high for evermore.“For lo, Thine enemies, O Lord, for, lo, Thine enemies shall perish; all the workers of iniquity shall be scattered” (Psalms 92:8-9).The progress of the Church created new Apostles. The catalogue of prophets and teachers at Antioch, was, “Barnabas, and Simeon that was called Niger, and Lucius of Cyrene, and Mansen, which had been brought up with Herod the tetrarch, and Saul” (Acts 13:1).This was a magnificent company. The most of these men will make themselves to be heard from again and again. New apostles are forever needed by the Church of God and the ascended Christ is not unmindful of His prerogatives, nor does He fail in His appointment of “Prophets, Apostles, Evangelists, Pastors and Teachers”. These are His gifts to the Church.

When the new minister gets his Divine appointment, no man can imagine what it may mean to the Church of God. Think of William Carey, a shoe cobbler, but touched by the Holy Spirit and made an apostle to the continent of India.

Think of Hunt, who went as a plain preacher of the Gospel to Tahiti. For fourteen or fifteen years missionaries had labored there without a convert. Desolating wars were spreading over the continent. The most awful idolatry, sensuality, ignorance and brutality, with everything else that was horrible, prevailed, and the Word of God seemed to have made little impression upon the degraded inhabitants. The Gospel of John had just been printed and Mr. Hunt read ‘from the manuscript translation the third chapter, and coming to the sixteenth verse, the chief, listening, stepped out from the rest and asked, “Would you read that again?” Once more he asked, “Would you repeat it for us?” That was the beginning of a revival which swept the entire island and brought thousands of men to Christ.The Telugus sat in darkness, but John Clough was used of God as a missionary to them and through him thousands of them were turned to the Lord.Moody was a mighty apostle in America, and when he passed away the gap made by his going was great, and for a long time it looked as if it could not be filled, but God brought from unknown sources younger men who have gloriously carried on, and to-day Moody’s church and Gospel work survives and waxes.

Beyond all debate, one of the fundamental things in the progress of the Church of God is the new prophet and new apostle. Each generation needs him and the ascended Christ is not neglectful.The preaching of the resurrection extended the revival (Acts 13:9-52).We need not stop upon each particular verse in this somewhat lengthy report of the labors of Paul and his companions.

The key to it all is in the twenty-third verse, “God according to His promise raised unto Israel a Saviour, Jesus”. The positive proofs of His Deity and His redeeming power is in the thirtieth verse, “God raised Him from the dead”. You may turn back through the Book of Acts; every time you have a revival it is the product of preaching Jesus risen from the dead.To this fact the Apostle recurs again and again. “God hath fulfilled the same unto us their children, in that He hath raised up Jesus again; as it is also written” (Acts 13:33). The thirty-fourth verse repeats it in another form; the thirty-fifth in still a further form. Thirty-six to thirty-eight further emphasize it. “The next Sabbath day came almost the whole city together to hear the Word of God”. The publicity of that Word was the fact that Christ was risen.

In that fact also was the power of the Word published throughout all the region. We have prayer leagues in the interest of an extended revival.

We have man-made programs looking to the production of such a revival. Practically every denomination in the country is talking about and planning for a great spiritual revival. Many of the men who belong to the officialdom of ecclesiastical organizations do not so much as believe in the actual resurrection of Christ from the grave. Prayer on the part of people who doubt that historic fact is an impotent pleading. Only a risen Christ can work a revival. Only an ascended Christ can send down His Spirit to quicken the souls dead in trespasses and sin. Only an interceding Christ can bring the Church to its birth, favor and foster its life. Where the resurrection is preached in the power of the Spirit, the revival is assured.

Where it is denied, spirituality is dead and the Church is in decay, and the Holy Ghost gone!