The Word Of God Continues Series

THE WORD OF GOD CONTINUES

Acts 12:19-24 After Herod had a thorough search made for him and did not find him, he cross-examined the guards and ordered that they be executed. Then Herod went from Judea to Caesarea and stayed there a while. 20 He had been quarreling with the people of Tyre and Sidon; they now joined together and sought an audience with him. Having secured 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. 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. 24 But the word of God continued to increase and spread.

INTRODUCTION: THIS IS ONE OF THOSE PASSAGES THEY MAKES YOU SCRATCH YOUR HEAD AND WONDER WHY IT IS INCLUDED IN OUR BIBLE. IT DOES NOT SEEM TO CONNECT WITH THE CONTEXT BEFORE IT OR AFTER IT. SIMPLY, IT STANDS ALONE AND AS SUCH GIVES IS CAUSE TO PONDER WHY IT IS HERE; AT THE SAME TIME, WE ARE CONFIDENT THAT GOD HAS INCLUDED IN SCRIPTURE WHAT HE WANTED INCLUDED AND EVERYTHING IS FOR OUR BENEFIT. SO, THEN THERE IS SOMETHING HERE FOR US TO GRASP AND USE FROM THIS PORTION OF GOD’S WORD.

TRANSITION: SO, IN OUR TIME TOGETHER, LETS SEE IF WE CAN DISCOVER WHAT GOD DESIRES US TO LEARN FROM THIS PASSAGE, ….

THE FUTILITY OF MAN

THE ACTIONS OF HEROD ARE A VIVID ILLUSTRATION OF MAN’S FUTILITY IN HIS SEARCH FOR SIGNIFICANCE, PURPOSE, POWER AND RELEVANCE.

HEROD WAS INTENT ON DESTROYING CHRISTIANITY

HAD JAMES THE BROTHER OF CHRIST KILLED

HAD PETER ARRESTED AND IMPRISONED WITH THE INTENT TO PUT HIM TO TRIAL AND PROBABLY EXECUTION AS WELL

HEROD WAS INTENT ON ELEVATING HIMSELF

CHOSE THE DAY OF HIS ADDRESS TO THE PEOPLE

SAT AS THE KING

ACCEPTED THEIR CHANT OF HIS DIVINITY

THE ACTIVITY OF HEROD IS NOT UNLIKE THOSE WHO SEEK TO DISMISS, DEMOTE TO IRRELEVANCE, OR DISCARD WITH DISDAIN THE PLACE OF GOD IN OUR SOCIETY.

THE ACTIONS OF MAN

Romans 1:18-19 The wrath of God is being revealed from heaven against all the godlessness and wickedness of men who suppress the truth by their wickedness, 19 since what may be known about God is plain to them, because God has made it plain to them.

MAN SEEKS TO SUPPRESS THE TRUTH – JOHN 17:17 TELLS US THAT THE WORD OF GOD IS TRUTH

WHEN HEROD TOOK THE LIFE OF JAMES AND SOUGHT THE SAME FOR PETER, HE WAS SILENCING THOSE WHO DID AND WOULD PROCLAIM THE WORD OF GOD

THE ATTENTION OF MAN

Romans 1:20 For since the creation of the world God's invisible qualities--his eternal power and divine nature--have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that men are without excuse.

GOD IS ABOUT THE BUSINESS OF MAKING HIMSELF KNOWN IN EVER GREATER DEGREES

GOD WALKED WITH ADAM

GOD REVEALED HIMSELF TO THE PATRIARCHS

ACCORDING TO SCRIPTURE, GOD NOW REVEALS HIMSELF TO US THROUGH HIS CREATION AND HIS ACTIONS

Acts 17:24-27 "The God who made the world and everything in it is the Lord of heaven and earth and does not live in temples built by hands. 25 And he is not served by human hands, as if he needed anything, because he himself gives all men life and breath and everything else.

26 From one man he made every nation of men, that they should inhabit the whole earth; and he determined the times set for them and the exact places where they should live. 27 God did this so that men would seek him and perhaps reach out for him and find him, though he is not far from each one of us.

GOD NOW ALSO MAKES HIS INTENTIONS KNOWN THROUGH HIS SON

Hebrews 1:1-2 In the past God spoke to our forefathers through the prophets at many times and in various ways, 2 but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed heir of all things, and through whom he made the universe.

MAN IS ABOUT THE BUSINESS OF IGNORING GOD

GOD REVEALS HIMSELF AND MAN TURNS A BLIND EYE!

EVEN WITH ALL THAT JESUS DID IN FULFILLING PROPHECY THE JEWS AND HEROD, AND EVEN MAN TODAY REFUSES TO ACKNOWLEDGE THE EXISTENCE OF THEIR CREATOR AND ACKNOWLEDGE HIS COMMUNICATION WITH US.

THE ACCOLADES OF MAN

Romans 1:21-23 For although they knew God, they neither glorified him as God nor gave thanks to him, but their thinking became futile and their foolish hearts were darkened.