The Unstoppable Force, The Church
Acts 12:1-19 (NLT)
The Unstoppable Force, The Church 12 | Mick Veach | lead pastor | first aired on 08.22.2021
Read Scripture
About that time King Herod Agrippa began to persecute some believers in the church. He had the apostle James (John’s brother) killed with a sword. When Herod saw how much this pleased the Jewish people, he also arrested Peter. (This took place during the Passover celebration.) 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. But while Peter was in prison, the church prayed very earnestly for him.
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. 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, “Quick! Get up!” And the chains fell off his wrists. Then the angel told him, “Get dressed and put on your sandals.” And he did. “Now put on your coat and follow me,” the angel ordered.
So Peter left the cell, following the angel. But all the time he thought it was a vision. He didn’t realize it was actually happening. 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.
Peter finally came to his senses. “It’s really true!” he said. “The Lord has sent his angel and saved me from Herod and from what the Jewish leaders had planned to do to me!”
When he realized this, he went to the home of Mary, the mother of John Mark, where many were gathered for prayer. He knocked at the door in the gate, and a servant girl named Rhoda came to open it. When she recognized Peter’s voice, she was so overjoyed that, instead of opening the door, she ran back inside and told everyone, “Peter is standing at the door!”
“You’re out of your mind!” they said. When she insisted, they decided, “It must be his angel.”
Meanwhile, Peter continued knocking. When they finally opened the door and saw him, they were amazed. He motioned for them to quiet down and told them how the Lord had led him out of prison. “Tell James and the other brothers what happened,” he said. And then he went to another place.
At dawn there was a great commotion among the soldiers about what had happened to Peter. Herod Agrippa ordered a thorough search for him. When he couldn’t be found, Herod interrogated the guards and sentenced them to death. Afterward Herod left Judea to stay in Caesarea for a while. —Acts 12:1-19
1 ) Review
a ) The Spirit has descended upon believers
b ) The Church has begun
c ) Peter is leading the church
d ) Miracles and Sign and Wonders
e ) Persecution breakouts, Stephen killed and believers scattered
f ) Saul converts to Christianity
g ) Peter leads Cornelius to Jesus
h ) Church expands
2 ) Question—Does God want to use you in this great commission?
a ) Many dismiss this commission for the few
b ) Many see it for only those serving overseas
3 ) The early church grew not because of the disciples but because the ordinary follower of Jesus took it seriously
- We must take the gospel into all areas of our life
4 ) Acts 1:8 — is for everyone
a ) We are all to be engaged in some ways to all areas of the world
b ) Sender or someone who Goes
5 ) Historically it has been persecution that moved the church to mission
- We are being forged with fire
6 ) My prayer is that we are so close to Jesus that we can’t get away from His call in our lives
a ) Listen, Listen and Listen
b ) Obey, Obey and Obey
6 ) Hebrews 12:2—It is time to begin fixing our eyes on Jesus
7 ) Let’s learn from the early church, they were unstoppable even in the face of the impossible
Three Events that moved the Church forward in their Mission
I. Satan
A. King Herod persecutes the church-v.1
He is the grandson of Herod the Great
The motive for the persecution is unknown but it is presumed that he was influenced by the Sadducees and the Pharisees
Persecute literally means to harm or mistreat
B. He kills James (son of thunder and brother of John) with the sword — verse 2
The first of the disciples to be killed
Remember that eventually they all will be killed except John
C. Question — who is in charge of this attack?
- Satan is persistent, even after his defeat at the cross, he changes his tactics and now goes after the church and her leaders
D. Ephesians 6:12 — Our battle is not against flesh and blood
- It is time that we begin to stand and take notice of who are real enemy is
E. Herod saw this pleased the Jewish people so he arrested Peter — verses 3-4
He desired to have a public trial after Passover and have him killed
One by one Satan was on a frontal attack to kill all the church leaders
F. We will see what Satan meant for destruction, God uses to move his church forward — Romans 8:28
G. Today, we are facing a frontal attack and it may seem bleak but remember that we are assured of victory
- Our responsibility is to remain steadfast and on mission
Key Point — Satan will always attack when we are on mission but know that we are assured victory.
II. The Church Prays and Peter is
A. Verse 5 — The church prayed earnestly for Peter while he was in prison
- Peter was in prison — But the Church PRAYED
B. This teaches us something about how to deal with challenge and opposition
- PRAY
C. Practical Ways to Pray while in the midst of Trial
Pray out loud
Pray in the name of Jesus
Pray with other believers
Pray specifically
Pray systematically (schedule)
Pray sacrificially (fast and pray)
Pray with a Journal
D. God hears their prayers
Verses 6-8 — Peter’s situation is impossible
BUT an ANGEL — Supernatural
Delivers him out of the jail
E. Verses 9-11 — This is so amazing Peter thinks it is a dream
Passed guards
Chains fall off
Doors open up
F. Today, He wants someone to experience the chains falling off and new doors opening for you—let’s begin to pray
G. Verses 12-17 — The church is surprised by the miracle
Rhoda hears his voice and doesn’t let him in
They discuss if this is actually true
Finally, they let him in and see the miracle before their eyes
H. Just like the early church, we go through the motion of the praying without actually believing. It is time to begin believing and praying prayers that make us sweat
Praying for Revival
Praying for deliverances
Pray for Salvations
Praying for Impact in our community and world
I. Question — Why James is killed and Peter is delivered?
God’s purpose is going to get accomplished and obviously with Peter there was more ministry that needed to be accomplished.
Peter was eventually killed but not yet
J. Verse 18-19 — All hell breaks out as a result of the miracle with Herod and his men
Key Point — It is Time for the Church to Pray big Prayers and actually believe God hears.
III. Herod Dies and the Church
A. verse 20-22 — Herod is upset so they try to make peace with him and send a delegation
- They tell Herod that he is not a man but a god
B. Herod loved it and accepted their declaration
- Instead of giving glory to God
C. Verse 23 — Instantly, an angel of the Lord struck him down
- He died from worms eating his insides
D. It is dangerous to put yourself in the place of God
We do it all the time
It is all about ME and what I can do and what I can receive
E. Idolatry is the #1 sin in the bible
- We continuously put gods before Him
F. Verses24-25 — The Word of God continues to spread and many new believers
- Barnabas and Saul take John Mark to finish their mission
G. Satan attacks yet Herod dies and the church marches forward
- We will see the same type of situations
a. Bad stuff
b. Yet the church marches forward
- Church may not look the same but grow non the less
H. The unstoppable force the church moves ahead and will until the return of Jesus
- Let’s decide to get on the train because the mission is moving ahead
Key Point — Jesus will always prevail so the church will always prevail
Call to Action
1. Decide to stay on mission regardless of the opposition
2. Pray Big Prayers and Trust that God hears You
3. Be Wise and Spirit Filled, know that attacks are all around
Want a record of your sermon notes for today? Click the EMAIL button to send a copy!