The Church—His Saints.
Acts 12:1-17TPT
You just thought you were having a bad day? A young man was learning to be a paratrooper. Before his first jump, he was given these instructions:
1. Jump when you are told.
2. Count to 10 and pull the ripcord.
3. In the unlikely event that your shoot doesn't open pull the emergency ripcord.
4. When you get down, a truck will be there to take you back to the airfield.
The young soldier memorized these instructions and climbed aboard the plane. The plane climb to 10,000 feet and the paratroopers begin to jump. When the young soldier was told to jump, he jumped. Then he counted to 10 and pulled the ripcord. Nothing happened. His chute failed to open. So he pulled the emergency ripcord. Still nothing happened. No parachute. “Oh great he thought, and I suppose the truck won't be there when I get down either!”
You might be down, but you’re not out!
Philip Brooks said, “pray the largest prayers.’ ‘You cannot think of a prayer so large that God, in answering it, will not wish you had made it larger.”
Here’s our setting, The early church is gaining momentum, even though some of the early leaders are martyred. Just like the children of Israel. The more they were persecuted, the more they grew.
Divine favor rest upon these early believeing—Christians. They relied on Jesus and He saved, healed and rescued them, and then others.
I want us to look at Acts 12:1-17TPT During this period King Herod incited persecution against the church, causing great harm to the believers. 2 He even had the apostle James, John’s brother, beheaded. 3–4 When Herod realized how much this pleased the Jewish leaders, he had Peter arrested and thrown into prison during the Feast of Passover. Sixteen soldiers were assigned to guard him until Herod could bring him to public trial, immediately after the Passover celebrations were over. 5 The church went into a season of intense intercession, asking God to free him.
6 The night before Herod planned to bring him to trial, he made sure that Peter was securely bound with two chains. Peter was sound asleep between two soldiers, with additional guards stationed outside his cell door, 7 when all at once an angel of the Lord appeared, filling his prison cell with a brilliant light. The angel struck Peter on the side to awaken him and said, “Hurry up! Let’s go!” Instantly the chains fell off his wrists. 8 The angel told him, “Get dressed. Put on your sandals, bring your cloak, and follow me.”
9 Peter quickly left the cell and followed the angel, even though he thought it was only a dream or a vision, for it seemed unreal—he couldn’t believe it was really happening! 10 They walked unseen past the first guard post and then the second before coming to the iron gate that leads to the city—and the gate swung open all by itself right in front of them!
They went out into the city and were walking down a narrow street when all of a sudden the angel disappeared.
11 That’s when Peter realized that he wasn’t having a dream! He said to himself, “This is really happening! The Lord sent his angel to rescue me from the clutches of Herod and from what the Jewish leaders planned to do to me.” 12 When he realized this, he decided to go to the home of Mary and her son John Mark. The house was filled with people praying. 13 When he knocked on the door to the courtyard, a young servant girl named Rose got up to see who it was. 14 When she recognized Peter’s voice, she was so excited that she forgot to open the door, but ran back inside the house to announce, “Peter is standing outside!”
15 “Are you crazy?” they said to her. But when she kept insisting, they answered, “Well, it must be his angel.”
16 Meanwhile, Peter was still outside, knocking on the door. When they finally opened it, they were shocked to find Peter standing there.
17 He signaled for them to be quiet as he shared with them the miraculous way the Lord brought him out of prison. Before he left he said, “Make sure you let James and all of the other believers know what has happened.”
Sixteen guards, four every eight hours, always fresh and always ready to earn merit before King Herod. About these guards, they were always on lockdown and lookout. These men feasted on killing any prisoner. They were the Kings assassins, professional killers!
Peter cries in Acts 12:17b… “Let everyone know what has happened!” He cries, “Share this testimony with everyone you meet.”
You see, Peter was a pastor, and this was his flock, his church praying, believing, knowing that everything is going to be alright.
My personal belief is, I believe that when any persecution comes upon me, it must first pass by Jesus. He’s my shield and protector.
The Bible calls Jesus our mediator:
A mediator is a sort of go-between that assists with communication and negotiation between two or more different parties.
In the New Testament, there are several passages referring to Jesus as our mediator— between God and man.
Let’s take a look at a couple of these verses:
1 Timothy 2:5NLT For, There is one God and one Mediator who can reconcile God and humanity—the man Christ Jesus.
Jesus completely satisfied man’s—sin debt.
When did Jesus reconcile your sins? Upon the cross, and then proof three days later, upon His resurrection.
Again, Hebrews 9:15NLT That is why He (Christ) is the one who mediates a new covenant between God and people, so that all who are called can receive the eternal inheritance God has promised them. For Christ died to set them free from the penalty of the sins they had committed under that first covenant.
Think about this, Jesus Christ has personally mediated His New Covenant, to become your sin—He mediates for you daily. His plans for you is to prosper, He desires for you to succeed—2 Corinthians 5:21.
Going back, Acts 12:1-4, Severe persecution from King Herod, he felt threatened, plus Killing Christians pleased the public.
In other words, the early church is growing, but a King’s wrath was coming upon them. However, remember, “the more they were persecuted, the more they grew.”
This young church watched as leaders were slaughtered, beheaded, burnt at the stake, and fed to hungry lions. Leaders and members alike were commanded to renounce Jesus, and pay whole homage to King Herod. If someone renounced, they weren’t trust so they would still be killed.
However, those who lived, lived by faith, walking in Jesus’ steps.
According to Hebrews 11, the martyred have their place with Jesus, they are instantly important in the God’s eye. They have their place around God’s eternal throne.
Acts 12:5AMP So Peter was kept in prison, but fervent and persistent prayer for him was being made to God by the church.
They plead with God, they kept their confession, their pastor and friend Peter, was close to execution, it would be announced and well attended, the crowd would be pleased. By fire, by animal, or decapitation. They would be pleased. P.H
Acts 12:6TPT Then the time came for Herod to bring him out for the kill. That night, even though shackled to two soldiers, one on either side, Peter slept like a baby. And there were guards at the door keeping their eyes on the place. Herod was taking no chances!
Peter’s trust, His totality for life was found through Jesus Christ.
Peter the husband.
Peter the dad.
Peter, the evangelist.
Peter, the pastor.
Peter, the Christ follower.
Acts 12:7-9TM Suddenly there was an angel at his side and light flooding the room. The angel shook Peter and got him up: “Hurry!” The handcuffs fell off his wrists. The angel said, “Get dressed. Put on your shoes.” Peter did it. Then, “Grab your coat and let’s get out of here.” Peter followed him, but didn’t believe it was really an angel—he thought he was dreaming.
Here’s proof that angels do God’s work, they follow out, what they’re told by Father God— Psalm 103:20-21.
Acts 12:10-11TM Past the first guard and then the second, they came to the iron gate that led into the city. It swung open before them on its own, and they were out on the street, free as the breeze. At the first intersection the angel left him, going his own way. That’s when Peter realized it was no dream. “I can’t believe it—this really happened! The Master sent his angel and rescued me from Herod’s vicious little production and the spectacle the Jewish mob was looking forward to.”
Peter chained, between two soldiers. A bright light occurs, It’s an angel of the Lord! The angel strikes Peter’s side, his chains fall off. Peter follows this angel as he walks away from the first two assassins.
Suddenly, Peter followed this angel right through the first guard post, and then the second—Peter thought it was a dream.
Again, This squad of soldiers were fresh assassin's looking for promotion from King Herod.
Question: “What Iron Gate keeps you from soaring?”
The angel lead Peter to this last an iron gate which would be Peter’s entrance, and the angel’s exit back to heaven, Peter once again, would be free in the city.
You see, “It’s by His blood, with our testimony, being solely connected to Him.”
Receive these two verses—Revelation 12:10-11TPT Then I heard a triumphant voice in heaven proclaiming: “Now salvation and power are set in place, and the kingdom reign of our God and the ruling authority of his Anointed One are established.
For the accuser of our brothers and sisters, who relentlessly accused them day and night before our God, has now been defeated—cast out once and for all! 11 They conquered him completely through the blood of the Lamb and the powerful word of his testimony. They triumphed because they did not love and cling to their own lives, even when faced with death.
Listen, they conquered!
As my dad always said, “My heavens….
And I endorse dad by saying, “My heavens, what do we have to complain about?”
King Herod noticed the crowds approval of killing James, so with Peter secured in prison, right after passover,,, Peter would be judged, and quickly approved for his own demise…P.H
According to history James’ head was taken from him.
Notice, 16 guards, 4, fresh every 8 hours. Trained assassin's, King Herod's best. Looking for promotion. Paid assassin’s with respect to their King. Professional killers.
Acts 12:5TM All the time that Peter was under heavy guard in the jailhouse, the church prayed for him most strenuously.
Other translations, constantly prayer was being made for him…
Think about it, “Herod placed Peter in prison because of the effectiveness of his ministry.”
Look, the church was praying fervently—stretching intercessory muscles; praying specifically for its pastor—Peter. Praying collectively, the entire congregation; and praying unceasingly, around the clock. P.H
Two dynamic things that happened:
There was a Divine visitation. Vs.7…God sent an angel.
There was a disbursement of darkness. Vs.7…”A bright light came into the prison cell.”
“Can I remind you that God loves to visit His churches, Church plus God equals—His Holy Presence.” P.H
I’m reminding someone right now, “Stand in awe of His Holy Presence; wait in awe on the Lord—He’ll show up.”
I would call this event—Miracle Prayer:
Peter locked up, waiting for swift execution, passed down from King Herod himself, and all the power that be…”
But the church…The church (Jesus’ body) prayed. God brought salvation, healed a broken family, brought another backslidden foe, back into His flock, and saved a wretch like me. P.H
The gifts of the fruit, and gifts of the spirit, come from the same source.
Sixteen of King Herod’s paid assassins, and an iron gate, could not stop God's purpose for Peter.
Here at CECC, we are a people, of Love, and Prayer and Grace. We understand the importance of prayer.
Acts 12:16aTM Meanwhile, Peter was still outside, knocking on the door…
If you’re a believer, don’t be so surprised when a miracle…comes knocking on the door.
Again, Peter cries in Acts 12:17b… “Let everyone know what has happened!” He cries, “Share this testimony with everyone you meet.”
Benediction.
