How a church should be? ?
Acts 12:1-11
Acts 12:1-11.
was done by the angel was real, but thought he was seeing a vision. 10 When they were past the first and the second guard posts, they came to the iron gate that leads to the city, which opened to them of its own accord; and they went out and went down one street, and immediately the angel departed from him.
11 And when Peter had come to himself, he said, “Now I know for certain that the Lord has sent His angel, and has delivered me from the hand of Herod and from all the expectation of the Jewish people.” The church was born in Acts chapter 2.
The believers of the church were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to declare the wonderful works of God in many languages. The apostles began to preach the gospel of Jesus Christ and the church began to grow. On that very day, 3000 got saved.
In chapter 4, on one day, 5,000 men were added to the church. The church began to grow. The gospel began to fill Jerusalem. The gospel because of the massive growth the church. Persecution began by jailing the apostles and threatening them against preaching, threatening them that if they
preached anymore, the would be beaten. They preached and they were beaten.
Role of a Leader
1. Do not please Men but God. Herod did what please men but James and Peter did what pleased God. V 3, And because he saw that it pleased the Jews, he proceeded further to seize Peter also.
Galatians 1:10, For do I now persuade men, or God? Or do I seek to please men? For if I still pleased men, I would not be a bondservant of Christ.
1 Thessalonians 2:4, But as we have been approved by God to be entrusted with the gospel, even so we speak, not as pleasing men, but God who tests our hearts.
Proverbs 29:25, The fear of man brings a snare, But whoever trusts in the Lord shall be safe.
John 12:43, for they loved the praise of men more than the praise of God.
Acts 5:29, But Peter and the other apostles answered and said: “We ought to obey God rather than men.
2. God is NOT dependent on you!
James got killed. Peter got arrested. Church is happening. The church is established by Jesus Christ. It was here before you came to the earth, and it will be here after you leave also!
1 Kings 19:10, So he said, “I have been very zealous for the Lord God of hosts; for the children of Israel have forsaken Your covenant, torn down Your altars, and killed Your prophets with the sword. I alone am left; and they seek to take my life.”
Romans 11:2-4, God has not cast away His people whom He foreknew. Or do you not know what the Scripture says of Elijah, how he pleads with God against Israel, saying, 3 “Lord, they have killed Your prophets and torn down Your altars, and I alone am left, and they seek my life”? 4 But what does the divine response say to him? “I have reserved for Myself seven thousand men who have not bowed the knee to Baal.” Stephen was killed in Acts 7.
Every Apostle except John martyred. Thousands who led the church gave their life. Church is still going on. Do not put so much importance on you. You are insignificant in the plans of God.
Numbers 20:7-11, Then the Lord spoke to Moses, saying, 8 “Take the rod; you and your brother Aaron gather the congregation together. Speak to the rock before their eyes, and it will yield its water; thus you shall bring water for them out of the rock, and give drink to the congregation and their animals.” 9 So Moses took the rod from before the Lord as He commanded him. 10 And Moses and Aaron gathered the assembly together before the rock; and he said to them, “Hear now, you rebels! Must we bring water for you out of this rock?” 11 Then Moses lifted his hand and struck the rock twice with his rod; and water came out abundantly, and the congregation and their animals drank. 3. Do not worry about troubles.
God will be with you always. No matter where you are God is present with you. Peter is in the prison.
Next day he is going to be executed yet he could sleep peacefully. V 6-8, And when Herod was about to bring him out, that night Peter was sleeping, bound with two chains between two soldiers; and the guards before the door were keeping the prison. 7 Now behold, an angel of the Lord stood by him, and a light shone in the prison; and he struck Peter on the side and raised him up, saying, “Arise quickly!” And his chains fell off his hands. 8 Then the angel said to him, “Gird yourself and tie on your sandals”; and so he did. And he said to him, “Put on your garment and follow me.”
God had promised you He will be with you in trouble. John 15 Jesus said they will persecute you. John 16 they will kill you.
Luke 12:4-5, “And I say to you, My friends, do not be afraid of those who kill the body, and after that have no more that they can do. 5 But I will show you whom you should fear: Fear Him who, after He has killed, has power to cast into hell; yes, I say to you, fear Him!
Disciples.
1. Prayer
Learn to pray for the leaders. Not going to the leaders for prayers. We have series of messages on the Prayer.
- a) Do not worry about the result.
James got killed but they did pray. That did not stop them praying for Peter.
1 John 5:14, Now this is the confidence that we have in Him, that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us.
- b) Persistent prayer.
Not just one day but pray as long as it takes. Peter was in the prison for the entire Passover week. V 3-4, And because he saw that it pleased the Jews, he proceeded further to seize Peter also. Now it was during the
Days of Unleavened Bread. 4 So when he had arrested him, he put him in prison, and delivered him to four squads of soldiers to keep him, intending to bring him before the people after Passover.
- c) Praying in the night
The prayer meeting is going on even during the night at John Mark home.
Acts 12:12, So, when he had considered this, he came to the house of Mary, the mother of John whose surname was Mark, where many were gathered together praying.
Remember Jesus told them to stay in the upper room until the promise is given by the Father. 1 Corinthians 15 says Jesus appeared to over 500 people. Yet after 9 days on the 10th day, the day of Pentecost only 120 left.
- d) Gathering as fellowship.
Acts 12:12, So, when he had considered this, he came to the house of Mary, the mother of John whose surname was Mark, where many were gathered together praying.
They had come together in one place.
Hebrews 10:25, not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching. You will have difficult people.
It is an opportunity to love and serve the people.
- e) Willing to take risk for the Gospel.
If Herod knew that they were assembled together and praying they could be a possible target yet that did not waver them to stand together as one in faith. Are you willing to take risk for the sake of Gospel?