Pastor Dan Walker
Introduction
Today our message is how God’s Word advances despite persecution. We’re going to explore a powerful truth that has been evident throughout history. It is that God’s Word advances despite persecution.
Why is there persecution? Persecution comes because of the spiritual warfare between the true church and Satan. The true church is made up of believers in Jesus Christ and.
Satan and his demons influence unbelievers to persecute believers and the church.
2 Timothy 3:12 (ESV) Indeed all who desire to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted.
Who are those who desire to live a godly life in Christ Jesus? They are believers. If a person doesn’t desire to live a godly life in Jesus they’re not a believer.
Believers will be persecuted in one way or another.
Matthew 5:10–12a (ESV) “Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. “Blessed are you when others revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account. Rejoice and be glad for your reward is great in heaven …”
When we are persecuted, God will bless us both in this life and the next. When we are persecuted, we are to rejoice for we have a great reward in heaven. Sometimes people think they must be doing something wrong if they are persecuted.
John 15:20 (ESV) Remember the word that I said to you: ‘A servant is not greater than his master.’ If they persecuted me, they will also persecute you. If they kept my word, they will also keep yours.
Jesus was persecuted, and we’re going to be persecuted as well. If you’re not being persecuted, you need to let your light shine more brightly in the dark. If you’re watching the news at all, you surely see that Christians are being persecuted more than ever before in our country.
The answer is not to be quiet to avoid persecution and conflict. God desires for us to let the light of His truth shine ever more brightly when the darkness is increasing. God desires to use us to advance God’s truth despite persecution.
Trust God’s Power in Persecution
Acts 12:1–2 (ESV) About that time Herod the king laid violent hands on some who belonged to the church. He killed James the brother of John with the sword.
This was direct government persecution of believers in the church. Laying violent hands probably means having some put to death. James, the brother of John, was one of the 12 apostles and the first apostle to die as a martyr by beheading.
This persecution of the church and the death of a beloved apostle must have been difficult for the early church. But this was not the end of the persecution.
Acts 12:3–4 (ESV) and when he saw that it pleased the Jews, he proceeded to arrest Peter also. This was during the days of Unleavened Bread. And when he had seized him, he put him in prison, delivering him over to four squads of soldiers to guard him, intending after the Passover to bring him out to the people.
The killing of James pleased the unbelieving Jews, so Herod thought he would do the same to Peter. Peter was arrested and securely guarded in prison. Herod’s intention was to bring him out during the Passover for a show trial and then have him executed.
When evil leaders or government cannot silence believers, they seek to kill them. Of course, that’s what they did to Jesus and what they do down to this day. How did the church respond to this terrible threat to Peter’s life?
Acts 12:5 (ESV) So Peter was kept in prison, but earnest prayer for him was made to God by the church.
The church did not give up, did not wring their hands or get depressed. They began to offer up earnest, fervent prayer for the protection and release of Peter.
Acts 12:6–7 (ESV) Now when Herod was about to bring him out, on that very night, Peter was sleeping between two soldiers, bound with two chains, and sentries before the door were guarding the prison. And behold, an angel of the Lord stood next to him, and a light shone in the cell. He struck Peter on the side and woke him, saying “Get up quickly.” And the chains fell off his hands.
At the last moment, the night before Herod was going to bring Peter out for trial and execution, a miracle happened. Peter was very securely guarded, chained to two soldiers within the cell with others outside of the door. Suddenly, an angel appeared in the cell, woke Peter up, and released his chains.
The angel instructed Peter to get dressed and follow him. Peter did not know that what was happening was real; he thought it was a vision. The angel led Peter past two more guards and opened the prison gate. Once outside of the prison, the angel vanished. Peter then realized that he had been freed from prison by a supernatural miracle from God.
We must trust God’s power amidst persecution of any kind.
Application
Persecution is increasing in America against Christians. Quite obviously, the news media is very antagonistic to Christians and our biblical values. As many people get their beliefs not from the Bible but from the news, that antagonism is seen in the people that we interact with right here in St. Louis.
Just about any biblical value we put on our sign leads to threatening voicemails. Google is no longer showing most of our ads online because they mention church or prayer. We must not let these forms of persecution silence us from spreading God’s truth.
Our commitment is to continue to spread God’s truth as a church corporately. And each of us as individual believers must be witnesses in spreading God’s truth to our relatives, neighbors, and co-workers.
Some are hesitant to share God’s truth because they are afraid of damaging relationships. We are to speak God’s truth in love and not give in to the fear of man. We must believe in the power of God and His truth as we share it. We must trust in God’s power to touch people’s lives and build His church as we are faithful in the midst of persecution.
God’s Plan is Greater Than Any Person
Acts 12:11 (ESV) When Peter came to himself, he said “Now I am sure that the Lord has sent his angel and rescued me from the hand of Herod and from all that the Jewish people were expecting.”
James had been the great leader of the church in Jerusalem, but he was now gone. In God’s plan, He rescued Peter who became the next leader of the church. Peter knew that it was only God’s plan and God’s angel that had rescued him from certain death.
Acts 12:12 (ESV) When he realized this, he went to the house of Mary, the mother of John whose other name was Mark, where many were gathered together and were praying.
The prayer meeting for Peter was still going on, thinking that he was still in prison. This must have been an all-night prayer meeting for everyone in the prison was sleeping when Peter was rescued. The Bible had indicated that earnest prayer was being offered for Peter.
God carries out His plans through the prayers of His church. Peter then went to the house of Mary where the prayer meeting was ongoing. Rhoda, a servant girl, recognized Peter and ran to tell everyone he was there, leaving him at the gate. The people in the prayer meeting first told her she was out of her mind.
When she insisted, they said it must be his angel. Peter kept knocking and when the others opened the gate, they were amazed to see him as the answer to their prayers. Peter told them to tell the others about his miracle release from prison.
Acts 12:18–19 (ESV) Now when day came, there was no little disturbance among the soldiers over what had become of Peter. And after Herod searched for him and did not find him, he examined the sentries and ordered that they should be put to death.
This King Herod was an evil and murderous man as is clear here and in the execution of James and attempted execution of Peter. Why did God allow James to be executed but rescued Peter? We don’t know other than it was part of His plan.
God’s plan is greater than any person.
Application
God’s plan is greater than any individual leader, whether in the church or in the nation. God’s mission and His church will continue until Jesus returns to rule and reign. God puts leaders into positions of authority in His church and in nations.
Our focus must not be in a leader but in God to carry out His plan. Now, God does raise up leaders to carry out His plans. All leaders are flawed in one way or another but God still uses them. We must support the leaders that are seeking to carry out God’s plans.
Our faith must not be in earthly leaders but in God who raises them up and takes them down. God’s plans are greater than any person and will be completed.
Believe in God’s Victory Over Evil
Acts 12:20-21 (ESV) Now Herod was angry with the people of Tyre and Sidon, and they came to him with one accord and … they asked for peace … On an appointed day Herod put on his royal robes, took his seat upon the throne, and delivered an oration to them.
Not only was King Herod a murderer, he was an angry man. God is about to act against the man who had killed James.
Acts 12:22–23 (ESV) And the people were shouting “The voice of a god and not of a man!” Immediately an angel of
the Lord struck him down because he did not give God the glory and he was eaten by worms and breathed his last.
An angel rescued Peter from prison. And an angel struck down King Herod for his murderous pride. You see, pride puts yourself above others and leads to murder. God dispatched an angel in response to the prayers of the church for Peter.
I believe God dispatched another angel in response to the church’s prayers for deliverance from the evil of King Herod. Not only had he executed James, he had imprisoned and killed many others in his prideful arrogance.
Acts 12:24 (ESV) But the word of God increased and multiplied.
What does this verse mean “the word of God increased and multiplied?” It means that no government, no king or president can hinder the plan of God. The word of God is the truth of God as given to us in the Bible, the Gospel.
When people accept God’s truth, when they believe in Jesus, the word of God is increasing and multiplying. In order for the kingdom of God to expand, in order for the church to grow, the truth of God’s Word must be spread to more and more people.
God’s truth destroys the lies of Satan which are keeping people in bondage. Freedom comes to people and nations as the word of God increases and multiplies. We must believe in God’s victory over evil.
Application
How can we grow in believing in God’s ultimate victory over evil? We need to continue to read and listen to God’s Word to build our faith. When we believe in God’s ultimate victory over evil, we won’t worry or be anxious about the future.
When we see evil increasing, we give thanks for God’s power. And we make sure that God’s Word is increasing in our lives and through our lives. When the darkness of evil increases, we must dispel it with the light of God’s truth.
Conclusion
God’s Word advances amid persecution, demonstrating His power. God’s plan is greater than any individual and He will have the ultimate victory over evil. In our own lives, in our city, and in our nation, we will face trials, challenges, and opposition.
But we must remember that God’s purposes cannot be defeated. We are called to stand firm in our faith, pray earnestly, support God’s leaders, and trust in God’s unstoppable mission. We must remain humble, loving our enemies, giving glory to God, and continuing to spread God’s truth.
May God help us to be bold in being His witnesses and letting our light shine for Him. As we do, His Word will multiply in people’s hearts and many will come into God’s kingdom. Praise God!
Message Study Guide
