We're going to look at the whole
chapter of Acts and the 12th. What we have here in this whole
chapter is God's display, God's display
of His good and gracious purpose towards His people. This is also
called divine providence. I quote, divine providence is
God's sovereign rule over all things. It is God's government
of his creation. In providence, God graciously
and wisely brings to pass all that he purposed in eternity
and all that he has promised in the scriptures. Predestination
is the sovereign, eternal purpose of God. Providence is the unfolding
of that providence in time. It is God's sovereign, absolute
arrangement and disposal of all things for the eternal spiritual
good of His elect and the glory of His own great name. We see God's divine and good
providence. Notice with me, being assisted
by God the good and wise spirit, as he reveals these several points
to us, we see in this passage the same God who allowed James'
death at the first part of this chapter also rescues Peter from
prison and from eventual death. Then, in the providence of God,
he judges this one called Herod, the reprobate, And lastly, He
grows and increases the work of His gospel through the region,
all in this one chapter. It's the same God that's doing
all this. God has not changed. He is the
same, the Scripture says. He is the same yesterday, today,
and forever. Let's look at the first couple
of verses. 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 Herod saw it pleased the Jews, he proceeded further
to take Peter also. Then were the days of the unleavened
bread. And when Herod had apprehended him, he put him in prison and
delivered him to the four Quarturians of soldiers to keep him, intending
after Easter to bring him forth to the people." The first thing
we see in here is that trials and death assaults the church. Trials and death assaulting the
church. did not, for one reason or another,
did not care for the brethren, did not care for the church,
and it was in his power, like it has been throughout time for
kings and presidents and governors or whoever, to take it upon themselves
to assault the gospel, assault the bride of Christ, assault
his elect. And he found James, the brother
of John, and had him put to death and killed him. Even the death of God's people
will promote His cause in this earth. Even the death of God's
people will promote His purpose in this earth. Look at verse
24. But the word of God grew and
multiplied. It's the same chapter. The Word of God. Actually, I
entitled this message, But. And that's where I get it from.
But. But this is happening over in this town. This is happening
over in this part of the subdivision. And this is happening over here.
But God is still getting glory. And His Gospel is still going
forth. Turn to Psalm 76. Psalm 76. Here we have this one
Herod who's more than threatening,
he's actually laying a hold of the brethren. He's already killed
James. He's going to kill Peter. But I think it's interesting
that he's going to wait until after Easter, you know, because
religious people are still religious, even though they can justify
their murders. The second thought is that he knew that when he
killed James, it pleased the Jews. And so he's all about politics,
so he's going to further his name, but he's going to wait
until after Easter, because Easter, he knows the Passover, They're
coming from all quarters of the region. All these Jews are coming
to where he's at. And after Easter is over, before
they leave, he's going to say, oh, I've got another one of these
upstarts, these movers of sedition among the people, these who are
teaching contrary to the law of Moses. I've got another one.
If you stay around, because you knew there was going to be a
huge gathering at this High Holy Day, and he's going to kill Peter.
He's going to have Peter slain. But, is Herod in control? Is Herod in charge of his own
destiny? How much is luck playing a part
of this whole chapter and the whole history of humankind? Psalm
76 and verse 10, "...surely the wrath of man shall praise thee." The remainder of wrath shalt
thou restrain." Now, I don't want to give away
the story, but Peter's not going to die. Not yet. Herod killed
James. He was going to kill Peter. The wrath of man, in this case
Herod, Shall praise Thee. And we'll see as we continue
on in this chapter. And Linda and I were talking
a lot about death yesterday. Believe it or not, we're talking
a lot about those things. Precious in the eyes of the Lord
is what? The death of His people. Now, I don't understand all that.
And to be killed by the sword is pretty gruesome, humanly speaking. But our problem is we do view
too many things with a human aspect. We view too many things
as emotionally affects us. You see what I'm saying? We view
too many things with eyes of the flesh, eyes of unbelief. But the death of James, according
to the Scripture, was precious in the eyes of God. Do we understand that? No. But
we need to, as Paul told us, we need to view things not from
the earthly, but from the heavenly. We need to see, as we read these
things, and more importantly, the things that happened to you
and me, we need to see that as directly from God's hand and
for our good. The death of James? The murder
of James. Good? Healingly? No. Biblically? Yes. Because all things work
together for good. Every child of God knows that
every sickness, trial, trouble, and even death is from the hand
of God. Every child of God. Not everybody. Unbelievers don't have a clue. But every child of God knows
the testimony of this book and even this one chapter. that it is from the hand of God. Stay there if you want to, or
if you want to, you can turn with me to Job 2. And Job is
talking to his wife. His wife is saying that Well, look at what she says in
verse 9. Then she said to his wife, unto Job, because he's
going through a lot of afflictions and trials and tribulations.
Thus thou still retain thy integrity? Curse God and die. Curse God
and die. But Job said to her, Thou speakest
as one of the foolish women speakest. What? Shall we receive good at
the hand of God and shall we not receive evil? In all this
did Job not sin with his lips. It's the same thing back in our
text in Acts 12. Good and so-called evil, shall
we not receive that of God's hand? He that sins the trial shall
sustain us in the trial and hold us up through the trial and will
get glory in it as well. The trials of life through Christ
are meant for many different reasons and many different
things, but one thing is for certain. When you go through
trial or tribulation or the death of a Of a loved one or the brethren
or whatever it might be it is our second point Providential
dealings with God's people because they know that everything comes
from the hand of God leads to Prayer look at verse. Let's continue
reading verse 4 they apprehended Peter and they put him in prison
and delivered him to these Centurions he's quatering these four soldiers
to keep him Intending after Easter to bring him forth to the people.
He's going to kill him Verse 5, Peter therefore was kept in
prison, but prayer was made without ceasing of the church unto God
for him. Without ceasing. You see, believing God in the
person and merits of Jesus Christ, and trusting His sovereign purpose
of grace, in the election and predestinating work of God does
not lead to fatalism or indifference. I've heard many people say, well,
if I believe what you believe, you say God elected a people.
God said that. I didn't say that, but I believe
it. You say God predestinates all things according to the good
pleasure of His will. I say that because this is what
this book teaches. But believing that does not lead
to fatalism or indifference in the life and action of his sheep."
Now, it's God's purpose that James died. It's God's purpose,
evidently, that Peter is going to die tomorrow. Thy will be done, but we are
going to pray earnestly for your glory in this situation, whatever
it might be. You see what I'm saying? Because we believe in certain
doctrines that are plainly revealed in this book, none of this belief
should lead to fatalism. Ah, what's going to be is going
to be. That's abuse. That's not understanding the
gospel. Or, well, God's going to have His way, so there's no
need for me to be in prayer. You don't find that anywhere.
You find that nowhere in this book. Nowhere. May we learn this here in this
assembly today. If someone that you know, believer
or unbeliever, in trouble or in a tough circumstances or whatever
it might be be in earnest and constant prayer for them For
your pastor and for this church Yes, God's purpose and providential
dealings with them is unalterable, but we are so short-sighted We
don't know what that is. We know God's purpose when we
see after we see it. Oh, that's okay but It does not
lead to indifference or fatalism. It never does. It never does. Look with me as we read forward.
Peter was kept, therefore, in verse 5, in prison, but prayer
was made without ceasing of the church unto God for him. We got some babies coming. You
know, nine months, everything's going to... I mean, I'm looking at the husbands,
is that how you think about it? Don't answer me. Is that how
you think about it? Or are you saying, God, be gracious
every day? What's the sex? I want a healthy baby. God be
gracious. God be gracious. Okay, the child's
born. December. September. Nathan,
the child's already here. Train the child in the way they
should go. Why? God's sovereign. It's all
worked out. That's not understanding the
Gospel. And that's not believing the Gospel. God, be merciful
to that child. Show that child the gospel. May
you give me wisdom. Whether they're getting ready
to go to college or haven't even started school yet, God, give
me the wisdom on how to deal with them because they're still
our children every day. Boy, it's tough when they can't
talk to you. And it's tough when they talk
back to you. You see what I'm saying? It never stops. You ever
stop being a mom, Jackie? Never. Never stop praying for
our children. The Lord's opening their eyes.
would open their eyes, could open their eyes. If he is pleased
to do so, you stop praying for him then. No, because really
that's when the fight starts. Because when a person doesn't
know the gospel, they think everything's fine. When God shows them the
gospel, now you've got fighting going on. Now you're your worst
enemy. You're your worst enemy. Melinda
was beating herself up yesterday. We are our worst enemy. Why?
Because He's given us the grace to see how vile and wicked we
are and could be. So we never stop praying. Never
stop praying. Peter's prayers made for him,
verse 5, verse 6, and when Herod would have brought him forth
the same night, okay, you see the picture? It's the night before
His sentence, the night before execution, the night before death,
Peter was sleeping between two soldiers, between a rock and
a hard place. He's not going anywhere. And
incidentally, he's bound with two chains. He's going nowhere. And the keepers before the door
kept the prison. He's sitting in between two prisoners,
he's chained, and you got two more guarding the gate. He's
not going anywhere. He's, humanly speaking, sure death. And behold, verse 7, the angel
of the Lord came upon him, and the light shined in the prison,
and smote Peter on the side, raised him up, saying, Arise
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 garments 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 Peter thought he saw a vision.
And when they were past the first and the second ward, they came
unto the iron gate that leadeth out into the city, which opened
to them of its own accord. And they went out, and passed
through the 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 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. He went right to where the brethren
were. He didn't know what was going on, but he went there,
he went right there, and he knocked at the door, at the gate, and
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. She was so excited that
she forgot to open the door, she ran back to tell everybody.
We'll stop there. The third point. Grace gives
peace in the face of extreme trial. Look at verse 6. We'll go back. Grace gives peace
in the face of extreme trial. And when Herod would have brought
Peter forth, the same night, Peter was sleeping between two
soldiers. Betty, he was sleeping between
two soldiers. So what's that mean? If I knew
that this was my last night on earth, and the next morning I
was going to be killed, do you think I would be sleeping? I wouldn't be sleeping. I'd be
crying. I'd be thinking about my daughter
and son-in-law. I'd be thinking about my wife.
I'd be thinking about what I didn't do. Why didn't I do this? You
know what I'm saying? I would be upset that Peter was sleeping. The very night before his probable
execution, Peter found peace that passes all understanding.
Because I'm sitting there thinking, he's figured to be freed is good. But to die in Christ's arms was
better. Okay? Let me rephrase that. Or
let me reiterate that. To be freed, if he gets free,
if he just goes before Herod and he beats him and lets him
go, that's good. But to die in the arms of Christ,
was better. For the believer. For the believer. You know what a main difference
between the world and the saint is? Or between a believer and
unbeliever? The people of the world, the
unbelievers, they want to stay. They don't want to leave. They
don't want to leave this world. And many of them think that they're
not going to. But the believer, by God's grace,
because it's a struggle, but the believer says it's okay to
go. What did Paul say? To stay with
you is needful, but to die and be with Christ, that's far better. People in this world, they're
hanging on to it. They're hanging on to it. Melinda
and I were talking yesterday, and I said, I was talking to
Bruce, and Bruce and I, we started, and then he looked at me, and
it was so funny because we were talking about our pickup trucks.
He said, yeah, I got a nice pickup. Yeah, I got a nice pickup. You
got a nice pickup. Somebody's sitting there, oh, you did good, didn't
we? And I said, well, this will do us until we die. This will do us for the rest
of our life. And Bruce goes, maybe until you die. And it hit
me. I thought, yeah, 49 years old.
That phrase is starting to mean a little more. I'm 25 years old. I've got a long time to live,
humanly speaking. So I'm driving up to the meeting
and I'm thinking, yeah, yeah. It's getting right around the
corner. And you know what? I start thinking
about stuff that I worry about. House. Trucks. Gas. It's all insignificant. Really? You see what I'm saying? Because
the world... Tato, don't talk about death.
Come on now. The believers are confronted
with it every day. And it strikes fear into us. until God gives
grace and we realize that this is the providential, good, providential
dealings with His people, like James and like Peter, to live,
that's great, to die is far better. This is, what I'm saying is that
this, what we see here, this is not it. This is not it. As beautiful as golf courses
are, as beautiful as those things that I enjoy, it gets boring. It's not it. He's prepared a
place, eternal, constant, no pain, no sorrow, no hurt, no
persecution, no death, constant grace and love and fellowship,
one with another and with Him. The third thought. He's knocking on the door, and
this damsel knew his voice, but didn't open the door, and then
she went, verse 15, she went and she told the people, she
said, it's Peter out there, and they said, you're mad. But she
constantly affirmed that it was even so. Then said they, it is
his angel. But Peter continued knocking
at the door. And when they had opened the door and saw him,
they were astonished. But Peter, 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, show 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 Peter, and found him not, he examined
the keepers, and commanded that they should be put to death."
Somebody's got to die. I've got all these Jews standing
around here, and now they're really upset with me. So he kills
them, and then he went down from Judea to Caesarea, and there
are both. That is, Peter did. So then we have another little
mini-story here, which is our fourth point. The same God of
providence is also a God of judgment. 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." Now you got
this angel who is for mercy to Peter, the messenger of death
to Herod. The same God of providence. Towards His elect. You see nothing
but good and grace and mercy and peace, even in death. But
towards unbelievers, wrath, anger, and justice. Now, when I wrote this down,
I thought, but people say He loves everybody. Tell that to Herod. The same God of providence is
also the God of judgment. Lastly, God's sure purpose is always
well executed in His own time. In verse 24, This is all historically accurate.
More than that, it's in the scriptures, it's inspired. But the word of
God grew and multiplied. Neither length of days in time,
or even, as this book says, the gates of hell, they shall not
prevail over Emmanuel's church. small, insignificant as it is,
meeting on a little hill in Jackson, despised by many, especially
in the religious community, it doesn't matter. We're going to
keep on praying and keep on preaching and keep on going about doing
our Master's business. For His church to fall is to
have God fail. Even if you have a king, or a
governor, or a mayor, you know, whatever, that despises the gospel
of God's grace. And maybe even kill a few people.
But God's church will not fall. Until that last, it won't fall. But it's going to be viable and
the gates of hell shall not prevail against us, what our Lord said.
And when that last elect sinner is called, whether it's in Indonesia
or Russia or Jackson, when that last elect sinner is called,
then our work is done. But we will not fall or fail
until all his sheep are brought in. For God to fail is totally impossible. So I tell myself, as I tell you,
knowing these things and being assured of these things, rest well tonight. Rest well. God is on His throne
and He's for us. He's not against us. John, would
you close us please?