We need to see the evil as it is. (vs.1-5)
A. They had just seen James murdered.
B. Herod was focusing on anyone in the church.
C. It wasn’t just that Peter was in prison but that Herod had determined to kill him as he did James.
C. We as Christians also get desensitized to things and become blind to reality.
D. In order to see the reality we need to consider it rather than just dismiss it.
E. We need to have the power of God
F. We need to pray the Lord to open our eyes.
G. Illustration “Satan’s Deception”
H. One of the biggest mistakes in the church today is times of evil we can find what appears to be some good in it so we downplay the evil.
I. Evil is still evil and its effect and power is not diminished by a perceived good found in it.
J. A truth mixed with a lie is still a lie.
K. Illustration of a candied apple.
K. An evil action mixed with a good action is still an evil action.
L. The enemy has a known habit of wrapping up his evil in good to make it more palitable.
M. The problem most often is that the enemy will come against us wrapped up in some greater good as the world sees it.
II. We need to see God’s Power as it is. (vs.6-11)
A. It is possible that Peter’s confusion here was due to the past experience of a vision. (v.11)
B. However, it is not reasonable here to believe that he doubted God nor His power.
C. We tend to downplay the power of God in things because of past experiences or misperceptions.
D. Not only do we miss the blessings of God for lack of sight but we miss knowing God’s will.
E. Illustration “God is the Supreme Ruler”
III. We need to respond in faith to both of these. (vs.12-19)
A. Faith is an impossibility if we do not see things as they really are.
B. Without faith Jesus said there is no working of God in our circumstances.
C. Our churches remain powerless and struggle because they have the faith of the church in this passage.
D. What we need is an Ephesians 6 kind of faith that stands in the strength of God.
E. And if we are not careful church God will send a reason to have to have faith much like in this passage.
E. We need the kind of faith that prays God to open our eyes and we then see the army of God.
F. One of my requests of God for this church is that we get to see God working.
G. The pastor doesn’t need to be the only Elisha in the church, we all need to be Elisha’s.
IV. We need to move in the fear of the Lord. (vs. 20-25)
A. 1Co 10:31 So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.
B. What does fear of God mean?
C. A Christian shows true fear of God by how they acknowledge His authority. Truly fearing God means that God is the reference point wherever the Christian goes or whatever they are involved in.
D. It is also the very thing that opens our eyes to the reality if evil and the true power of God.
E. Some people ask how can I know that I am intimate with God?
F. The closer we get to God the more sinful we feel.
G. When we feel free to sin and or act any way contrary to God’s will and design for us we are not being intimate with Him at that moment.
H. Paul claimed to be the chief of sinners, not because he was trying to be super spiritual but because his intimacy with Christ led him to feel that way.
I. He could see the reality of sin.
J. In the same way he could see the reality of God’s power.
Conclusion:
We need to see the evil as it is.
We need to see God’s Power as it is.
We need to respond in faith to both of these.
We need to move in the fear of the Lord.
