CRCF\u201d\u201d1\/11\/09
\n1\/9\/11<\/p>\n
Introduction
\nMatthew 13:31-32 (NLT)
\n31 Here is another illustration Jesus used: \u201cThe Kingdom of Heaven is like a mustard seed planted in a field. 32 It is the smallest of all seeds, but it becomes the largest of garden plants; it grows into a tree, and birds come and make nests in its branches.\u201d<\/p>\n
We\u201d\u2122re part of the Kingdom of God\u201d\u201da non-political, based in Heaven, Christ-following empire that has no earthly headquarters and reaches into every nation, every language, every sphere of geo-political diversity, and every economic strata. God Himself powers this Kingdom with the Holy Spirit and the simple Message of Jesus. And it is always on the move . . . whether perceived by humanity or not.<\/p>\n
How the Word of God Grows
\nActs 12:1-24<\/p>\n
1 Corinthians 1:17-18 (NLT)
\n17 For Christ didn\u201d\u2122t send me to baptize, but to preach the Good News\u201d\u201dand not with clever speech, for fear that the cross of Christ would lose its power.
\n18 The message of the cross is foolish to those who are headed for destruction! But we who are being saved know it is the very power of God.<\/p>\n
1 Corinthians 1:23-25 (NLT)
\n23 So when we preach that Christ was crucified, the Jews are offended and the Gentiles say it\u201d\u2122s all nonsense.
\n24 But to those called by God to salvation, both Jews and Gentiles, Christ is the power of God and the wisdom of God. 25 This foolish plan of God is wiser than the wisest of human plans, and God\u201d\u2122s weakness is stronger than the greatest of human strength.
\nMatthew 16:15-18 (NLT)
\n15 Then he asked them, \u201cBut who do you say I am?\u201d
\n16 Simon Peter answered, \u201cYou are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.\u201d
\n17 Jesus replied, \u201cYou are blessed, Simon son of John, because my Father in heaven has revealed this to you. You did not learn this from any human being. 18 Now I say to you that you are Peter (which means \u201d\u02dcrock\u201d\u2122), and upon this rock I will build my church, and all the powers of hell will not conquer it.
\nLesslie Newbigin<\/p>\n
The church\u201d\u00a6 is not meant to call men and women out of the world into a safe religious enclave but to call them out in order to send them back as agents of God\u201d\u2122s kingship.<\/p>\n
*Every Christ-follower must \u201cbe bold and courageous to spread the word of truth and leave the outcome to God\u201d (Piper).<\/p>\n
HOW can we do this? By realizing just how sovereign our God is and what that means in our lives!
\nTurn to Acts 12 (we\u201d\u2122ll read as we go this morning).<\/p>\n
Our God is sovereign over . . .<\/p>\n
1.\tEXECUTIONS (1-2)<\/p>\n
1 About that time King Herod Agrippa began to persecute some believers in the church. 2 He had the apostle James (John\u201d\u2122s brother) killed with a sword.<\/p>\n
These verses record the fulfillment of Jesus\u201d\u2122 prophecy that James would die because He was a Christ-follower.<\/p>\n
Jesus to James and John:
\nMark 10:39<\/p>\n
\u201cYou will indeed drink the cup that I drink, and with the baptism I am baptized with you will be baptized.\u201d<\/p>\n
James was martyred NOT because God couldn\u201d\u2122t save him, but because God had greater purposes for His own glory!<\/p>\n
Philippians 1:14<\/p>\n
\u201c . . . and most of the brethren in the Lord, having become confident by my chains, are much more bold to speak the word without fear.\u201d
\nTertullian<\/p>\n
\u201cWe multiply whenever we are mown down by you; the blood of Christians is the seed of the church.\u201d<\/p>\n
Jerome<\/p>\n
\u201cThe church of Christ has been founded by shedding its own blood, not that of others; by enduring outrage, not by inflicting it.\u201d<\/p>\n
The Summary of the 12th chapter of Acts is found in verse 24\u201d\u201d\u201cBut the Word of God grew and multiplied.\u201d<\/p>\n
Life Lesson: Sometimes God works most when we perceive His presence the least. Sometimes difficulty and\/or persecution reduce life to what is eternal\u201d\u201dwhich for Christ-followers is spreading the Message of Jesus.<\/p>\n
2.\tESCAPES (3-19)<\/p>\n
3 When Herod saw how much this pleased the Jewish people, he also arrested Peter. (This took place during the Passover celebration.) 4 Then he imprisoned him, placing him under the guard of four squads of four soldiers each. Herod intended to bring Peter out for public trial after the Passover. 5 But while Peter was in prison, the church prayed very earnestly for him.
\n6 The night before Peter was to be placed on trial, he was asleep, fastened with two chains between two soldiers. Others stood guard at the prison gate. 7 Suddenly, there was a bright light in the cell, and an angel of the Lord stood before Peter. The angel struck him on the side to awaken him and said, \u201cQuick! Get up!\u201d And the chains fell off his wrists. 8 Then the angel told him, \u201cGet dressed and put on your sandals.\u201d And he did. \u201cNow put on your coat and follow me,\u201d the angel ordered.
\n9 So Peter left the cell, following the angel. But all the time he thought it was a vision. He didn\u201d\u2122t realize it was actually happening. 10 They passed the first and second guard posts and came to the iron gate leading to the city, and this opened for them all by itself. So they passed through and started walking down the street, and then the angel suddenly left him.
\n11 Peter finally came to his senses. \u201cIt\u201d\u2122s really true!\u201d he said. \u201cThe Lord has sent his angel and saved me from Herod and from what the Jewish leaders had planned to do to me!\u201d
\n12 When he realized this, he went to the home of Mary, the mother of John Mark, where many were gathered for prayer. 13 He knocked at the door in the gate, and a servant girl named Rhoda came to open it. 14 When she recognized Peter\u201d\u2122s voice, she was so overjoyed that, instead of opening the door, she ran back inside and told everyone, \u201cPeter is standing at the door!\u201d
\n15 \u201cYou\u201d\u2122re out of your mind!\u201d they said. When she insisted, they decided, \u201cIt must be his angel.\u201d
\n16 Meanwhile, Peter continued knocking. When they finally opened the door and saw him, they were amazed. 17 He motioned for them to quiet down and told them how the Lord had led him out of prison. \u201cTell James and the other brothers what happened,\u201d he said. And then he went to another place.
\n18 At dawn there was a great commotion among the soldiers about what had happened to Peter. 19 Herod Agrippa ordered a thorough search for him. When he couldn\u201d\u2122t be found, Herod interrogated the guards and sentenced them to death. Afterward Herod left Judea to stay in Caesarea for a while.
\nGod takes Herod\u201d\u2122s prize-prisoner right from under his nose!<\/p>\n
Herod wanted self-exaltation, even if it meant persecuting Christians (verse 3). But God made a joke at this attempt of Herod\u201d\u2122s, in answer to the prayers of the church.<\/p>\n
Piper: \u201cSome bear witness through death, others through life . . . God sends His angel to show Herod that not even with four squads of soldiers (v. 4) can he keep the one God decides to free.\u201d<\/p>\n
Verse 24\u201d\u201d\u201cBut the Word of God grew and multiplied.\u201d<\/p>\n
Life Lesson: According to His plans and purposes, God works in answer to the prayers of His people.<\/p>\n
3.\tEATEN-BY-WORMS-DEATHS (20-23)<\/p>\n
20 Now Herod was very angry with the people of Tyre and Sidon. So they sent a delegation to make peace with him because their cities were dependent upon Herod\u201d\u2122s country for food. The delegates won the support of Blastus, Herod\u201d\u2122s personal assistant, 21 and an appointment with Herod was granted. When the day arrived, Herod put on his royal robes, sat on his throne, and made a speech to them. 22 The people gave him a great ovation, shouting, \u201cIt\u201d\u2122s the voice of a god, not of a man!\u201d
\n23 Instantly, an angel of the Lord struck Herod with a sickness, because he accepted the people\u201d\u2122s worship instead of giving the glory to God. So he was consumed with worms and died.
\n\u201cAn angel of the Lord\u201d\u201d\u201dearlier, to deliver Peter; HERE, to kill Herod!<\/p>\n
Piper: \u201cIf a man lifts himself up against God, he becomes weaker than a worm. It is insane to commit treason against the Creator of the universe. You can\u201d\u2122t win!\u201d<\/p>\n
Daniel 2:21\u201d\u201d\u201cAnd He changes the times and the seasons; He removes kings and raises up kings . . . .\u201d<\/p>\n
Daniel 4:28-37 (NLT)<\/p>\n
28 \u201cBut all these things did happen to King Nebuchadnezzar. 29 Twelve months later he was taking a walk on the flat roof of the royal palace in Babylon. 30 As he looked out across the city, he said, \u201d\u02dcLook at this great city of Babylon! By my own mighty power, I have built this beautiful city as my royal residence to display my majestic splendor.\u201d\u2122
\n31 \u201cWhile these words were still in his mouth, a voice called down from heaven, \u201d\u02dcO King Nebuchadnezzar, this message is for you! You are no longer ruler of this kingdom. 32 You will be driven from human society. You will live in the fields with the wild animals, and you will eat grass like a cow. Seven periods of time will pass while you live this way, until you learn that the Most High rules over the kingdoms of the world and gives them to anyone he chooses.\u201d\u2122
\n33 \u201cThat same hour the judgment was fulfilled, and Nebuchadnezzar was driven from human society. He ate grass like a cow, and he was drenched with the dew of heaven. He lived this way until his hair was as long as eagles\u201d\u2122 feathers and his nails were like birds\u201d\u2122 claws.
\nNebuchadnezzar Praises God
\n34 \u201cAfter this time had passed, I, Nebuchadnezzar, looked up to heaven. My sanity returned, and I praised and worshiped the Most High and honored the one who lives forever.
\nHis rule is everlasting,
\nand his kingdom is eternal.
\n35 All the people of the earth
\nare nothing compared to him.
\nHe does as he pleases
\namong the angels of heaven
\nand among the people of the earth.
\nNo one can stop him or say to him,
\n\u201d\u02dcWhat do you mean by doing these things?\u201d\u2122
\n36 \u201cWhen my sanity returned to me, so did my honor and glory and kingdom. My advisers and nobles sought me out, and I was restored as head of my kingdom, with even greater honor than before.
\n37 \u201cNow I, Nebuchadnezzar, praise and glorify and honor the King of heaven. All his acts are just and true, and he is able to humble the proud.\u201d<\/p>\n
Life Lesson: God CAN handle those who oppose Jesus and His followers. That doesn\u201d\u2122t mean that He always will. But, if it fits His sovereign purpose, He can and will!<\/p>\n
Conclusion<\/p>\n
\u201cGod turned the tables entirely on all that Herod was trying to by killing James and arresting Peter\u201d\u201dhe made the word of God grow and multiply\u201d (Piper).<\/p>\n
Matthew 13:33 (NLT)
\n33 Jesus also used this illustration: \u201cThe Kingdom of Heaven is like the yeast a woman used in making bread. Even though she put only a little yeast in three measures of flour, it permeated every part of the dough.\u201d<\/p>\n
A small seed, a pinch of yeast\/leaven\u201d\u201da Christ-follower\u201d\u201da group of Christ-followers\u201d\u201dthat simply tells other the Message of Jesus . . .<\/p>\n
The result? The Word of God grows and multiplies in the hearts and lives of those who hear and, by God\u201d\u2122s grace, trust Jesus as Savior with a faith that surrenders to Him as Lord\/Master.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
CRCF\u201d\u201d1\/11\/09 1\/9\/11 Introduction Matthew 13:31-32 (NLT) 31 Here is another illustration Jesus used: \u201cThe Kingdom of Heaven is like a mustard seed planted in a field. 32 It is the smallest of all seeds, but it becomes the largest of … Continue reading