A Competition of Sovereigns
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Self-appointed sovereigns are enemies of God and the Gospel (18-25)
Self-appointed sovereigns are enemies of God and the Gospel (18-25)
Enemies of the Gospel have a growing anger toward believers (18-19)
Enemies of the Gospel have a growing anger toward believers (18-19)
This is Herod Agrippa I. He was quite a character. He lived a wanton life that led to the embarrassment of his family. He eventually had to move in with his sister and her husband. He was jailed as a possible rebel against the crown. After being released, Caligula made him king over the area that included the Jews. He was always on the radar as a bit of a loose canon. He had an obvious “God-complex.”
The disappearance of Peter was a direct “slap-in-the-face” of Herod’s court. An embarrassment.
Herod had the soldiers executed for failing to guard Peter.
Herod goes to Caesarea. Possibly for some games that were held every five years (that would make this about 44 AD).
There is nothing so angering to the world than for Christians—who the world views as their enemy—to continue to grow and flourish.
Article yesterday from BBC said that Christian persecution in the Middle East has reached “genocidal levels.”
1 in 3 people are suffering from some form of persecution.
Entire countries are losing their Christian witness.
Formerly “reached” areas, are now becoming “unreached,” meaning less than 2% of the population professes Christianity as their faith.
Enemies of the Gospel have a growing antipathy toward truth (20)
Enemies of the Gospel have a growing antipathy toward truth (20)
The primary goal of the people of Tyre and Sidon was not truth, but was peace.
Today, the common cry is that it is ok to “discover your truth,” as long as you do not upset others around you.
However, truth is unchangeable. Or as Hubmaeir would say “truth is immortal/unkillable.”
When truth is sacrificed for the sake of peace, we will have neither truth nor peace. We will have chaos.
Enemies of the Gospel have an over-exalted view of their self-worth (21-22)
Enemies of the Gospel have an over-exalted view of their self-worth (21-22)
Read picture from “Acts” in NICNT from FF Bruce.
It is not uncommon for people to set themselves up as being their own god. This is evidenced through:
Seeking our glory above God’s
Establishing our laws/morality above God’s
Being more committed to our kingdom than God’s
God is the True Sovereign (23-25)
God is the True Sovereign (23-25)
God will judge those who set themselves up against God (23)
God will judge those who set themselves up against God (23)
Question: What opposition to Christianity do we see today? Do you ever grow impatient?
Think through the Bible. What stories show us when there was opposition against God? How was the story resolved?
God will accomplish through His Word what He desires (24)
God will accomplish through His Word what He desires (24)
“For as the rain and the snow come down from heaven, And do not return there without watering the earth And making it bear and sprout, And furnishing seed to the sower and bread to the eater;
So will My word be which goes forth from My mouth; It will not return to Me empty, Without accomplishing what I desire, And without succeeding in the matter for which I sent it.
For the word of God is living and active and sharper than any two-edged sword, and piercing as far as the division of soul and spirit, of both joints and marrow, and able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart.
Question: How has God used His word to accomplish something in your life?
Are you spending daily time in the Word of God?
Do you have particular verses that are meaningful for you during times of trial?
God will use you to accomplish His mission if you will trust Him (25)
God will use you to accomplish His mission if you will trust Him (25)
Philippians
There has never been the slightest doubt in my mind that the God who started this great work in you would keep at it and bring it to a flourishing finish on the very day Christ Jesus appears.