Thursday Night Bible Study (2): Acts 12

Acts 12

Acts 12: 1-4 - starts out the same way that chapter 11:1-3 began. Peter and the Church face persecution. There will be times in our lives that the LORD asks us to stand up, be bold, and do something that causes, both Christian brothers/sisters and the world to think critically of us. In my mind, I would think that the criticism from the church would have hurt Peter on a deeper level, then that of Herod arresting him. Why? Because Peter expects the persecution from Herod, the rest of the world, since they don't accept Jesus Christ as their King. They beat to a different drum. Herod beats to the drum of society, to the likes and dislikes of the Jews. Along the same thought process, the Holy Spirit explained to me that James died for Christ and Peter was arrested for preaching Jesus. That's bold and very uncomfortable. That's also how it could end for some of us. When we accept Jesus and begin to live like examples for Him, we aren't given an all access pass to beach front property in Malibu. We are called to go where He calls us because "Where He guides, He provides."

12:4 - Peter is arrested and placed in prison where he is watched over by 16 men. Don't miss the seriousness and the impossibility of this scenario. Check it: 16 incredibly trained soldiers guarding Peter in a prison made of stone and iron. If that wasn't bad enough, I'm sure there was a door on the prison cell and that door was locked. Now, Peter couldn't escape that prison even if he had someone deliver a cake with TNT and a saw placed in the center. What also struck me about this verse is that Peter was held over night because of the Passover, so he had time to dwell on the fact that he could be put to death the next day.

12:5 - Once the Church heard about Peter's arrest, which I bet was pretty soon after it happened, they began to pray to the LORD. This isn't one of those wimpy prayers where the Church doesn't believe that God will act, but they sat "earnestly praying!" The word earnestly is defined as showing sincere and intense conviction. This should define our prayer lives. The early Church sought after Jesus with earnest. Keep that thought on the forefront of your mind - we'll visit it again.

12:6 - Here is Peter in an extremely impossible situation where he could lose his life the next day and the playa falls asleep. He doesn't fall asleep because there is nothing else to do or because he's narcoleptic. Peter falls asleep because he trusts that the LORD will provide, whether it be freeing him or saving him in Heaven. Peter's faith in the LORD gives him the peace of the LORD so that he can sleep in a very troubling situation. Do we have that faith? Could we find His peace in that troubling of a circumstance? We could learn from Peter's faith in the LORD.

12:7-10 - Peter is miraculously rescued by an angel and the prayers of the Church are answered. This situation is incredible - God is in the business of doing the impossible. Matthew 19:26 sums up the event. God does the impossible for Peter. Again, if the LORD calls us to do something, He will provide the way. He shows that once more to Peter (and us.)

12:11 - Here is a man, Peter, who has seen truly breath taking events occur at the hands of Jesus Christ and His Father, but Peter still found it difficult (at first) to believe his own eyes. Peter truly thought that he was experiencing a vision of what, in all actuality, was his reality. The lesson I learned from this: God is beyond all I can comprehend and can do absolutely anything He wishes for those He finds favor upon. Blows my mind.

12:12 - Remember the thought you left on the forefront of your mind? Open the trunk and grab said thought. It's important to notice that the Church began praying for Peter when Herod arrested him and they did not stop until they saw an action take place from the LORD. They wouldn't stop until the LORD provided - let it be Peter's demise or his freedom. We need that prayer life. We need to stay faithful with who or what the LORD has called for us to pray. We don't always know why He commands for us to act but He knows, and more often then not, He will make it evident in His perfect timing.

12:13-15 - Peter comes to the house of Mary, the mother of John, and Rhoda (awesome name) comes to answer the door. When Rhoda hears that it's Peter at the door, she runs back to the others in such an excitement that she forgets to let Peter in. I want that excitement. The others who are praying respond with, "You're out of you mind." I want people to think that we are crazy, out of our minds with what Jesus asks us to do. I want us to be considered crazy for serving Jesus - doing what others and the world find ridiculous. It's then that the LORD has us in His palms, that we find comfort only in Him, and then that we are dangerous. We as Christians today care too much about what society thinks of us and not what Jesus thinks of us. When in reality, its only Jesus' thoughts that count and matter. I guarantee you, He will never find you crazy, but He will ask you to do the world's idea of ridiculous. But, then its a question of who we serve - the world or the Almighty God. (This passage has helped me when ppl call me crazy when it comes to what Jesus has called me to do - not with the craziness that actually is me.)

12:16 & 17 - The Church who had been praying for God's deliverance for Peter, were astonished. They had no idea how God would act. Verse 17 expresses that Peter didn't need the LORD to tell him to get out of Dodge, he just got out of Dodge. Sometimes we don't need the LORD to tell us His will for us. Sometimes it's obvious.

12:18 & 19 - Herod cross examines the guards that were holding Peter. I'm sure their interviews went like this: "Dude, I have no idea what happened. There was a light and then he was gone. The door unlocked on its own and Peter was gone..." Sound crazy, huh? Acts of God often cannot be explained and thus, sound crazy. But Herod wanted none of it, so he executed the soldiers. Herod was lost. He had miracles of God's Son all around him and never accepted Him. The story of Herod is sad, but what's even more depressing is that there are people just like him today. They're our roommates, our neighbors, our friends, and our family members. Reach them.

12:19-23 - Herod is struck dead for allowing the people to call him a god. The LORD killed not only the men holding Peter in prison, but the man who had the power to send Peter there. The LORD guided and provided for Peter; also for anyone else Herod planned on persecuting. God is a jealous God. He will not accept anyone proclaiming falsities about Him or anyone persecuting His people. If we are His, He will shepherd us. A struggle I have dealt with before and some of you may go through, is that of being a false prophet. It's a tool of Satan to use against us. Know this, the LORD doesn't take false teachings lightly. Meaning, He would deal with us if we were falsely teaching about His word and His Son, Christ Jesus.

12:24 & 25 - Herod died. All through history the people, or groups who oppose Jesus Christ have all died, or been destroyed. BUT the Truth and the Way and the Life has continued to grow and get stronger, even today! The Church, Christ's Bride, hasn't ended, hasn't died, hasn't gone anywhere, and by the Grace of God it will never cease. That's the power of Christ and the Truth He is. Enough said.

Next week will be Acts 13 & 14! Great stuff.