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Book of Acts Study, Part 53 – Wednesday, February 10, 2021 (COVID 19 Livestream #47)

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Book of Acts Study, Part 53 – Wednesday, February 10, 2021 (COVID 19 Livestream #47) Book of Acts Study, Part 53 – Wednesday, February 10, 2021 (COVID 19 Livestream #47) The Book of Acts fills in between the Gospel of John and the Book of Romans. Not only in the order in which the Books of the Bible are listed, but chronologically. So the Book of Acts is very important, it fills in important history of the propagation of the early church. It documents the spread of the Gospel into the Gentile world. Last week, we looked at the setting of the Book of Acts. We looked at the author Luke, and learned a little about him. But we also established the themes for the Book of Acts that we will be rallying around for our church, at such a time as this. Two main themes of the Book of Acts we will be emphasizing: 1. Humanly speaking, the early Christians had nothing going for them. The church was new, with unproven leaders. They weren’t educated, they had no money, no modern means for spreading the gospel. They faced incredible opposition and enormous obstacles. Yet they were empowered by the Holy Spirit to do the impossible and bring a simple salvation message to an unsaved world. If this isn’t encouraging for us here at Crossover, I don’t know what is. God doesn’t call the qualified, He qualifies the called. What is going to happen here at Crossover will be a clear work of the Holy Spirit and it will be done through common broken people, amen?! 2. Persecution was meant to squash Christianity. But God took the very act of persecution and used it to spread the Gospel like wildfire. Another name for the Book of Acts could be “The Unstoppable Church”. Each of us has a past. The enemy wants to use it against us to discourage us, to disqualify us, to rob us of our hope. But God does the opposite…He takes the very things Satan uses to destroy us and uses them for good. Out of our greatest hurts can come our greatest ministry, amen?! We now move into Chapter 9 and the story of the conversion of Saul/Paul. This will prove to be not only a miracle, but a pivotal turning point in the proliferation of the early church. Last time, commissioning of Saul. 1 Tonight, we’ll finish chapter 12: Acts 12:19-25 Herod’s Death Then Herod went from Judea to Caesarea and stayed there. 20 He had been quarreling with the people of Tyre and Sidon; they now joined together and sought an audience with him. After securing the support of Blastus, a trusted personal servant of the king, they asked for peace, because they depended on the king’s country for their food supply. OK, a little about Herod. King Herod is a classic example of the difference between religion and relationship. He was a Jewish king – ruling over the nation set apart for God. But it was more of a political affiliation than a kingship based on a relationship with God. He was more interested in advancing his political power and preserving his place with the Romans. He got along well with the two Roman emperors who ruled during his times as king of Israel. The Jews revered Jerusalem in Judea as their capital city. However, the Romans used Caesarea as their main center of commerce and rule in that province. This explains why Herod left Judea for Caesarea, and it shows you what his priorities were. Herod came from a line of Herod’s with the same priorities. His grandfather, Herod the Great, murdered the Jewish boys in Bethlehem when he heard about Jesus. His uncle, Herod Antipas, was the one who had John the Baptist murdered and was involved in Jesus’ trial. And now, this third Herod in tonight’s story, seems to follow in the evil line of Herod’s. He is quite full of himself, as we will see shortly. 21 On the appointed day Herod, wearing his royal robes, sat on his throne and delivered a public address to the people. 22 They shouted, “This is the voice of a god, not of a man.” 23 Immediately, because Herod did not give praise to God, an angel of the Lord struck him down, and he was eaten by worms and died. You can’t make this stuff up. Can you imagine that scene? Herod, full of himself, sitting on his throne in a lavish robe, pontificating. He sure had the people mesmerized. They said he spoke like a god. He must’ve eaten that up. What a scene. Well, God wasn’t having any of it, was He? 2 Did you know that God won’t share His glory. Remember…this is the king of Israel, the nation set apart for God. Everything was supposed to be about God and His majesty. Yet, Herod allowed himself to be worshipped and didn’t give God the praise. Did you know the Bible has a lot to say about pride? And each of these seem to play out in the story of Herod. The first one that comes to mind: Proverbs 16:18 18 Pride goes before destruction, a haughty spirit before a fall. But the proverbs are full of other thoughts on pride: Proverbs 11:2 2 When pride comes, then comes disgrace, but with humility comes wisdom. Proverbs 13:10 10 Where there is strife, there is pride, but wisdom is found in those who take advice. Proverbs 14:3 3 A fool’s mouth lashes out with pride, but the lips of the wise protect them. Psalm 10:4 4 In his pride the wicked man does not seek him; in all his thoughts there is no room for God. What a picture of the world we live in now. Guys, we must remember this, and take heart when it seems the culture is getting away its arrogance and obstinance toward anything having to do with God… 3 God will not let pride go unpunished. (just ask Herod) Historian Josephus said he spent 5 days in an agonizing death being eaten alive by worms. "Now when Agrippa had reigned three years over all Judea he came to the city Caesarea, which was formerly called Strato's Tower; and there he exhibited spectacles in honor of Caesar. At this festival a great number were gathered together of the principal persons of dignity of his province. On the second day of the spectacles he put on a garment made wholly of silver, of a truly wonderful texture, and came into the theater early in the morning. There the silver of his garment, being illuminated by the fresh reflection of the sun's rays, shone out in a wonderful manner, and was so resplendent as to spread awe over those that looked intently upon him. His flatterers cried out, one from one place, and another from another, that he was a god; and they added, "Be merciful to us; for although we have until reverenced thee only as a man, yet shall we henceforth reverence thee as superior to mortal nature." Upon this the king neither rebuked them nor rejected their impious flattery. But he shortly afterward looked up and saw an owl sitting on a certain rope over his head, and immediately understood that this bird was the messenger of ill tidings, just as it had once been the messenger of good tidings to him; and he fell into the deepest sorrow. A severe pain arose in his belly, striking with a most violent intensity. 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 what Providence allots, as it pleases God; for we have by no means lived ill, but in a splendid and happy manner." When he had said this, his pain became violent. Accordingly he was carried into the palace, and the rumor went abroad everywhere that he would certainly die soon. The multitude sat in sackcloth, men, women and children, after the law of their country, and besought God for the king's recovery. All places were also full of mourning and lamentation. Now the king rested in a high chamber, and as he saw them below lying prostrate on the ground he could not keep himself from weeping. 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. We must remember…God sees all, He takes note of the prideful. But also: God takes note of the humble. 4 Humble: A proper assessment of ourselves and of God. Complete deference to God. Does God see the humble? Psalm 18:27 27 You save the humble but bring low those whose eyes are haughty. Psalm 25:9 9 He guides the humble in what is right and teaches them his way. Let’s finish the story. Acts 12:24-25 24 But the word of God continued to spread and flourish. Barnabas and Saul Sent Off 25 When Barnabas and Saul had finished their mission, they returned from Jerusalem, taking with them John, also called Mark. This is a great finish to the story. Look at v24 especially.
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