1 00:00:02,720 --> 00:00:07,480 Speaker 1: Life Audio. Well, good morning. For those of you who 2 00:00:07,480 --> 00:00:10,280 Speaker 1: don't know me, my name is Sean mcdale. Not only 3 00:00:10,320 --> 00:00:13,960 Speaker 1: does my family call the Shoreline our home church, but 4 00:00:14,000 --> 00:00:16,560 Speaker 1: I get to teach now and then as a part 5 00:00:16,640 --> 00:00:22,000 Speaker 1: of the pastoral teaching staff. Thank you one person appreciates that. 6 00:00:25,160 --> 00:00:28,560 Speaker 1: With that said and the enthusiasm in the room, I 7 00:00:28,600 --> 00:00:30,880 Speaker 1: do want to start with a question. And I'm curious 8 00:00:31,480 --> 00:00:34,919 Speaker 1: how many of you recognize the name Nobil Kureshi by 9 00:00:35,000 --> 00:00:38,360 Speaker 1: sho hands. Okay, good, maybe a dozen or two of 10 00:00:38,360 --> 00:00:42,919 Speaker 1: you do so. Nabil was a former Muslim challenged by 11 00:00:42,960 --> 00:00:47,599 Speaker 1: a Christian apologist to consider the evidence for Christianity, even 12 00:00:47,640 --> 00:00:50,440 Speaker 1: though it cost him a lot with his family, ended 13 00:00:50,479 --> 00:00:57,440 Speaker 1: up becoming a Christian three master's degrees, got his medical doctorate, 14 00:00:58,400 --> 00:01:03,120 Speaker 1: was working on his PhD at Oxford, New York Times 15 00:01:03,200 --> 00:01:09,360 Speaker 1: best selling author Amazing Apologist, tragically died a decade ago 16 00:01:09,560 --> 00:01:14,920 Speaker 1: in twenty seventeen because of stomach cancer. I remember when 17 00:01:14,920 --> 00:01:17,240 Speaker 1: this happened and I asked my dad. At that time 18 00:01:17,360 --> 00:01:21,319 Speaker 1: was in his mid to late seventies, moving towards the 19 00:01:21,360 --> 00:01:24,360 Speaker 1: end of his career in ministry. I said, Dad, why 20 00:01:24,400 --> 00:01:30,640 Speaker 1: do you think God allowed no Bil to die? Never 21 00:01:30,640 --> 00:01:32,399 Speaker 1: forget what he said. He looked at me, he goes, son, 22 00:01:33,040 --> 00:01:36,480 Speaker 1: I don't know the answer to that, but why wouldn't 23 00:01:36,520 --> 00:01:45,720 Speaker 1: he take me? Humanly speaking, that's a very natural response. 24 00:01:46,840 --> 00:01:49,840 Speaker 1: How would God protect one of his servants but not 25 00:01:50,360 --> 00:01:54,440 Speaker 1: the other? Many ways, this question is a part of 26 00:01:54,480 --> 00:01:58,400 Speaker 1: the bigger question of the problem of evil and suffering 27 00:01:58,960 --> 00:02:01,760 Speaker 1: in the world. Personal question for many of us here, 28 00:02:01,800 --> 00:02:05,320 Speaker 1: why did God allow me to lose my job? Why 29 00:02:05,360 --> 00:02:09,440 Speaker 1: did God allow my family or friend to die of cancer? 30 00:02:10,760 --> 00:02:16,200 Speaker 1: Where is God when I hurt? I'm not a Christian 31 00:02:16,240 --> 00:02:19,760 Speaker 1: because I have a simple answer for that question. I'm 32 00:02:19,760 --> 00:02:23,240 Speaker 1: a Christian in part because God invites that question. He's 33 00:02:23,280 --> 00:02:27,000 Speaker 1: big enough for that question, and I think Christiane offers 34 00:02:27,040 --> 00:02:33,800 Speaker 1: the most satisfying, emotional, existential, and intellectual response to the 35 00:02:33,880 --> 00:02:38,880 Speaker 1: problem of suffering an evil. We've been working through the 36 00:02:38,919 --> 00:02:41,880 Speaker 1: Book of Acts. When you get to Acts, chapter twelve, 37 00:02:41,960 --> 00:02:46,920 Speaker 1: it's interesting because God spares Peter, and everybody wants to 38 00:02:46,960 --> 00:02:53,880 Speaker 1: talk about that miracle, but he let James die. Why 39 00:02:54,000 --> 00:02:58,680 Speaker 1: protect one but not the other? I think opening up 40 00:02:58,720 --> 00:03:03,360 Speaker 1: this chapter and wrestling with this question can help us 41 00:03:03,600 --> 00:03:08,800 Speaker 1: be better witnesses for the Gospel today. So let's stand 42 00:03:08,919 --> 00:03:12,840 Speaker 1: if you're able and listen to Acts Chapter twelve together 43 00:03:12,960 --> 00:03:13,600 Speaker 1: Acts twelve. 44 00:03:14,360 --> 00:03:17,320 Speaker 2: About that time, King Herod Agrippa began to persecute some 45 00:03:17,360 --> 00:03:20,440 Speaker 2: believers in the church. He had the apostle James, John's 46 00:03:20,440 --> 00:03:23,320 Speaker 2: brother killed with a sword. When Herod saw how much 47 00:03:23,360 --> 00:03:26,560 Speaker 2: this pleased the Jewish people, he also arrested Peter. This 48 00:03:26,600 --> 00:03:30,160 Speaker 2: took place during the Passover celebration. Then he imprisoned him, 49 00:03:30,520 --> 00:03:33,080 Speaker 2: placing him under the guard of four squads of four 50 00:03:33,120 --> 00:03:36,560 Speaker 2: soldiers each. Herod intended to bring Peter out for public 51 00:03:36,560 --> 00:03:39,680 Speaker 2: trial after the Passover, but while Peter was in prison, 52 00:03:39,920 --> 00:03:42,680 Speaker 2: the church prayed very earnestly for him. The night before 53 00:03:42,720 --> 00:03:45,000 Speaker 2: Peter was to be placed on trial, he was asleep, 54 00:03:45,320 --> 00:03:48,680 Speaker 2: fastened with two chains between two soldiers. Others stood guard 55 00:03:48,720 --> 00:03:51,120 Speaker 2: at the prison gate. Suddenly there was a bright light 56 00:03:51,160 --> 00:03:53,160 Speaker 2: in the cell and an angel of the Lord stood 57 00:03:53,160 --> 00:03:55,880 Speaker 2: before Peter. The angel struck him on the side to 58 00:03:55,960 --> 00:03:58,920 Speaker 2: awaken him and said quick, get up, and the chains 59 00:03:58,920 --> 00:04:01,839 Speaker 2: fell off his wrists. Then the angel told him get 60 00:04:01,920 --> 00:04:04,520 Speaker 2: dressed and put on your sandals, and he did. Now 61 00:04:04,520 --> 00:04:06,480 Speaker 2: put on your coat and follow me, the angel ordered. 62 00:04:06,800 --> 00:04:09,760 Speaker 2: So Peter left the cell following the angel, but all 63 00:04:09,800 --> 00:04:12,240 Speaker 2: the time he thought it was a vision. He didn't 64 00:04:12,240 --> 00:04:15,080 Speaker 2: realize it was actually happening. They passed the first and 65 00:04:15,120 --> 00:04:17,960 Speaker 2: second guard posts and came to the iron gate leading 66 00:04:18,000 --> 00:04:20,839 Speaker 2: to the city, and this opened for them all by itself, 67 00:04:21,320 --> 00:04:24,080 Speaker 2: so they passed through and started walking down the street, 68 00:04:24,400 --> 00:04:27,880 Speaker 2: and then the angel suddenly left him. Peter finally came 69 00:04:27,920 --> 00:04:31,120 Speaker 2: to his senses. It's really true, he said, The Lord 70 00:04:31,120 --> 00:04:33,159 Speaker 2: has sent his angel and saved me from Herod and 71 00:04:33,200 --> 00:04:35,719 Speaker 2: from what the Jewish leaders had planned to do to me. 72 00:04:36,240 --> 00:04:38,799 Speaker 2: When he realized this, he went to the home of Mary, 73 00:04:38,960 --> 00:04:41,760 Speaker 2: the mother of John Mark, where many were gathered for prayer. 74 00:04:42,360 --> 00:04:43,320 Speaker 1: He knocked at the door in. 75 00:04:43,360 --> 00:04:45,719 Speaker 2: The gate, and a servant girl named Rhoda came to 76 00:04:45,760 --> 00:04:49,200 Speaker 2: open it. When she recognized Peter's voice, she was overjoyed 77 00:04:49,279 --> 00:04:52,080 Speaker 2: that Instead of opening the door, she ran back inside 78 00:04:52,080 --> 00:04:54,880 Speaker 2: and told everyone, Peter is standing at the door. You're 79 00:04:54,920 --> 00:04:57,840 Speaker 2: out of your mind, they said. When she insisted, they 80 00:04:57,880 --> 00:05:01,680 Speaker 2: decided it must be his angel. Meanwhile, Peter continued knocking. 81 00:05:02,160 --> 00:05:04,080 Speaker 2: When they finally opened the door and saw him, they 82 00:05:04,120 --> 00:05:06,720 Speaker 2: were amazed. He motioned for them to quiet down and 83 00:05:06,760 --> 00:05:08,920 Speaker 2: told them how the Lord had led him out of prison, 84 00:05:09,600 --> 00:05:11,760 Speaker 2: tell James and the other brothers. What happened, he said, 85 00:05:12,279 --> 00:05:15,200 Speaker 2: and then he went to another place. At dawn, there 86 00:05:15,240 --> 00:05:17,800 Speaker 2: was a great commotion among the soldiers about what had 87 00:05:17,800 --> 00:05:21,640 Speaker 2: happened to Peter Herod. Agrippa ordered a thorough search for him. 88 00:05:22,279 --> 00:05:25,440 Speaker 2: When he couldn't be found, Herod interrogated the guards and 89 00:05:25,520 --> 00:05:29,559 Speaker 2: sentenced them to death. Afterward, Herod left Judea to stay 90 00:05:29,600 --> 00:05:32,680 Speaker 2: in cesarea for a while. Now, Herod was very angry 91 00:05:32,720 --> 00:05:35,039 Speaker 2: with the people of Tire and saidan so they sent 92 00:05:35,080 --> 00:05:37,719 Speaker 2: a delegation to make peace with him, because their cities 93 00:05:37,720 --> 00:05:41,200 Speaker 2: were dependent upon Herod's country for food. The delegates won 94 00:05:41,240 --> 00:05:44,960 Speaker 2: the support of Blastis, Herod's personal assistant, and an appointment 95 00:05:45,000 --> 00:05:47,839 Speaker 2: with Herod was granted. When the day arrived, Herod put 96 00:05:47,880 --> 00:05:50,800 Speaker 2: on his royal robes, sat on a throne, and made 97 00:05:50,839 --> 00:05:53,640 Speaker 2: a speech to them. The people gave him a great ovation, 98 00:05:53,760 --> 00:05:57,560 Speaker 2: shouting it's the voice of a God, not of a man. Instantly, 99 00:05:57,800 --> 00:06:01,000 Speaker 2: an angel of the Lord struck Herod with the because 100 00:06:01,000 --> 00:06:03,880 Speaker 2: he accepted the people's worship instead of giving glory to God. 101 00:06:04,520 --> 00:06:07,919 Speaker 2: So he was consumed with worms and died. Meanwhile, the 102 00:06:07,920 --> 00:06:10,240 Speaker 2: word of God continued to spread, and there are many 103 00:06:10,240 --> 00:06:13,680 Speaker 2: new believers. When Barnabas and Saul had finished their mission 104 00:06:13,680 --> 00:06:22,520 Speaker 2: to Jerusalem, they returned, taking John Mark with them. 105 00:06:22,839 --> 00:06:28,560 Speaker 1: Acts twelve starts with the death of James. Not James 106 00:06:28,560 --> 00:06:32,480 Speaker 1: the brother of Jesus, Not James the son of Alpheus 107 00:06:32,480 --> 00:06:36,839 Speaker 1: who's also member the Twelve, but James, a fisherman, brother 108 00:06:36,960 --> 00:06:42,120 Speaker 1: of John in the inner circle of Jesus. Now, don't 109 00:06:42,400 --> 00:06:47,080 Speaker 1: miss how radical this news was for the early Church. 110 00:06:48,200 --> 00:06:52,159 Speaker 1: A decade ago. This started. The church is drowing. People 111 00:06:52,240 --> 00:06:55,920 Speaker 1: are coming to faith. Although Stephen died, he wasn't a 112 00:06:55,960 --> 00:06:59,000 Speaker 1: member of the Twelve. Put yourself in their shoes, and 113 00:06:59,000 --> 00:07:03,839 Speaker 1: all of a sudden you hear the news whose herod killed? James, 114 00:07:05,800 --> 00:07:11,120 Speaker 1: one of Jesus' closest friends, one of the Twelve gone. 115 00:07:11,360 --> 00:07:15,040 Speaker 1: You might be tempted to think the wheels are coming 116 00:07:15,120 --> 00:07:20,320 Speaker 1: off this movement, joy, grief, disappointment. What would have been 117 00:07:20,360 --> 00:07:23,560 Speaker 1: going through your mind? Now? I have to admit when 118 00:07:23,800 --> 00:07:28,080 Speaker 1: Pastor George assigned me to this passage, I was like, awesome. 119 00:07:29,120 --> 00:07:32,000 Speaker 1: Now here's why. It turns out I did my doctoral 120 00:07:32,120 --> 00:07:36,520 Speaker 1: research on the death of the Apostles. I wrote a 121 00:07:36,560 --> 00:07:40,440 Speaker 1: three hundred page academic book on this and published it 122 00:07:40,520 --> 00:07:44,040 Speaker 1: studying the stories of the journeys the apostles, trying to 123 00:07:44,080 --> 00:07:48,360 Speaker 1: figure out what's tradition we can't corroborate, and what's actually historical. 124 00:07:48,920 --> 00:07:53,440 Speaker 1: What's fascinating about James is the historical evidence that this 125 00:07:53,520 --> 00:07:57,120 Speaker 1: really happened. Now, let me just frame one piece. Humor 126 00:07:57,200 --> 00:08:00,800 Speaker 1: me for a moment here, if you will. Now, Now, Herod 127 00:08:00,840 --> 00:08:04,040 Speaker 1: Agrippa is the one who assigns the death of James. 128 00:08:04,400 --> 00:08:07,400 Speaker 1: There's a lot of Herod's in the Bible. It's easy 129 00:08:07,440 --> 00:08:11,320 Speaker 1: to get him confused. Herod the Great was Herod when 130 00:08:11,680 --> 00:08:16,880 Speaker 1: Jesus was born. Now, Herod the Great was a massive builder, 131 00:08:17,720 --> 00:08:23,080 Speaker 1: but he utterly terrorized the Jews. I was in Israel 132 00:08:23,240 --> 00:08:27,040 Speaker 1: a year or two before Covid, and our Jewish guide said, 133 00:08:27,680 --> 00:08:31,960 Speaker 1: up until the time of Hitler, basically, Herod the Great 134 00:08:32,120 --> 00:08:35,520 Speaker 1: was the greatest nemesis of the Jewish people. But then 135 00:08:35,559 --> 00:08:38,080 Speaker 1: when you come to Herod Agrippa, who reigned for three 136 00:08:38,160 --> 00:08:43,040 Speaker 1: years roughly from forty one to forty four, Josephus, who's 137 00:08:43,120 --> 00:08:46,840 Speaker 1: a Jewish writer the end of the first century, paints 138 00:08:46,920 --> 00:08:51,880 Speaker 1: him very differently. Josephus tells us he was actually he 139 00:08:52,000 --> 00:08:57,200 Speaker 1: observed the Jewish rituals, lived in Jerusalem and acted in 140 00:08:57,240 --> 00:08:59,960 Speaker 1: a way to please the Jews. Now why does that matter. 141 00:09:00,400 --> 00:09:03,840 Speaker 1: You have this little phrase in Acts twelve two that says, 142 00:09:03,920 --> 00:09:06,920 Speaker 1: and when he saw this the death of James, that 143 00:09:07,080 --> 00:09:14,080 Speaker 1: it pleased the Jews. So this incidental comment in the 144 00:09:14,120 --> 00:09:17,800 Speaker 1: Book of Acts matches up with history and the Herod 145 00:09:17,840 --> 00:09:21,040 Speaker 1: at that time, and it's confirmed by Josephis. That's because 146 00:09:21,040 --> 00:09:24,959 Speaker 1: this Book of Acts is historical, it's not mythical. Now 147 00:09:25,000 --> 00:09:27,280 Speaker 1: the story goes on and after the death of James, 148 00:09:27,880 --> 00:09:32,120 Speaker 1: Herod seizes Peter, throws him in prison, and prays to 149 00:09:32,200 --> 00:09:35,280 Speaker 1: bring him out, put him on trial, and likely execute him. 150 00:09:35,679 --> 00:09:38,920 Speaker 1: Now what's fascinating about this is two questions emerged to 151 00:09:38,920 --> 00:09:42,160 Speaker 1: me when I'm reading this. The first question is, how 152 00:09:42,200 --> 00:09:46,520 Speaker 1: could Peter sleep knowing that Herod was planning to put 153 00:09:46,559 --> 00:09:51,640 Speaker 1: him on trial and probably execute him the next day. Like, seriously, 154 00:09:52,640 --> 00:09:55,600 Speaker 1: think of the day in your life where you knew 155 00:09:55,640 --> 00:09:58,440 Speaker 1: the next day was going to be the worst day 156 00:09:58,600 --> 00:10:01,959 Speaker 1: of your life. Now, chances are you weren't about to 157 00:10:02,040 --> 00:10:06,560 Speaker 1: be put on trial and be executed. Other chances are 158 00:10:06,800 --> 00:10:10,720 Speaker 1: you didn't sleep. Well. Peter knows he's put it on trial. 159 00:10:11,400 --> 00:10:14,920 Speaker 1: James is executed, probably going to get executed, and he's 160 00:10:15,080 --> 00:10:18,960 Speaker 1: sleeping so solidly that the angel has to shake him. 161 00:10:19,640 --> 00:10:22,760 Speaker 1: How did he sleep? The one reason might be he 162 00:10:22,840 --> 00:10:26,239 Speaker 1: was just utterly exhausted and his body shut down. That's possibility. 163 00:10:27,160 --> 00:10:30,280 Speaker 1: I think more is going on here, here's anything that's 164 00:10:30,320 --> 00:10:31,840 Speaker 1: going on. My mom said to me, I remember this 165 00:10:31,880 --> 00:10:34,160 Speaker 1: all time. She said, Son, when you have questions or 166 00:10:34,200 --> 00:10:37,640 Speaker 1: doubts about God, or you're struggling, bring out your history book. 167 00:10:38,160 --> 00:10:40,360 Speaker 1: In other words, think about the times that God answered 168 00:10:40,360 --> 00:10:43,120 Speaker 1: prayers in the past and God shut up and ways 169 00:10:43,160 --> 00:10:46,360 Speaker 1: you didn't anticipate, and that'll give you faith and confidence 170 00:10:46,360 --> 00:10:50,760 Speaker 1: in the present. Well, what was Peter's history book? Personally 171 00:10:50,800 --> 00:10:54,600 Speaker 1: called by Jesus. He heard Jesus minister for three years, 172 00:10:54,960 --> 00:10:59,680 Speaker 1: saw Jesus walk on water, healed the blind, raise the dead, 173 00:11:00,920 --> 00:11:06,440 Speaker 1: He saw Jesus brutally crucified, He saw him alive. But 174 00:11:06,480 --> 00:11:09,880 Speaker 1: then he heard Jesus recorded in John twenty one, tell 175 00:11:09,960 --> 00:11:12,760 Speaker 1: him he'd live and tell his old age before he 176 00:11:12,800 --> 00:11:19,320 Speaker 1: would die. Peter had confidence in God's character and confidence 177 00:11:19,360 --> 00:11:24,160 Speaker 1: in God's word. That's how I think he could sleep. 178 00:11:25,559 --> 00:11:28,680 Speaker 1: I actually think that's the peace of the Lord. That 179 00:11:28,800 --> 00:11:33,080 Speaker 1: scripture promises us when we take God's character and God's 180 00:11:33,080 --> 00:11:37,240 Speaker 1: word seriously, and Peter models that for us. But there's 181 00:11:37,280 --> 00:11:40,360 Speaker 1: another question here. What do you think they were praying 182 00:11:40,400 --> 00:11:41,840 Speaker 1: for for Peter in prison? 183 00:11:43,080 --> 00:11:43,200 Speaker 2: Now? 184 00:11:43,160 --> 00:11:45,120 Speaker 1: If I should raise your hand, probably immediately say, well, 185 00:11:45,160 --> 00:11:47,280 Speaker 1: of course they're praying for his safety and protection, and 186 00:11:47,320 --> 00:11:51,839 Speaker 1: that makes sense, but doesn't actually say that. So I 187 00:11:51,920 --> 00:11:54,800 Speaker 1: went back. We're in Act twelve, and I found all 188 00:11:54,880 --> 00:11:59,119 Speaker 1: the other prayers listed before Act twelve, and it surprised 189 00:11:59,240 --> 00:12:01,880 Speaker 1: me what they're praying for and what they didn't pray for. 190 00:12:03,080 --> 00:12:05,920 Speaker 1: So in Acts chapter one, they pray for a candidate 191 00:12:05,960 --> 00:12:10,040 Speaker 1: to replace Judas. Acts chapter four. When they're being persecuted, 192 00:12:10,080 --> 00:12:14,319 Speaker 1: they pray for boldness. Acts chapter six they pray for 193 00:12:14,600 --> 00:12:20,440 Speaker 1: choosing the seven who will serve. Act chapter seven, Stephen 194 00:12:20,480 --> 00:12:23,560 Speaker 1: prays to receive his spirit and not hold the killer's 195 00:12:23,679 --> 00:12:27,679 Speaker 1: sins against him. Then Acts say Peter and John pray 196 00:12:27,920 --> 00:12:31,960 Speaker 1: that Samaritan believers to receive the Holy Spirit. Guess what's 197 00:12:32,040 --> 00:12:37,439 Speaker 1: conspicuous by its absence? No prayers for the protection of 198 00:12:37,559 --> 00:12:43,720 Speaker 1: early believers. Now, don't miss they're proclaiming that Jesus put 199 00:12:43,800 --> 00:12:47,360 Speaker 1: to death by the Roman Empire is the risen Lord 200 00:12:47,840 --> 00:12:51,439 Speaker 1: putting themselves in harms way, wouldn't you think their first 201 00:12:51,440 --> 00:12:55,760 Speaker 1: prayer would be for protection? And there's nothing wrong praying 202 00:12:55,800 --> 00:12:57,960 Speaker 1: for protection. There's other prayers like this in the Bible. 203 00:12:59,120 --> 00:13:01,080 Speaker 1: But my question is when I read this as are 204 00:13:01,160 --> 00:13:05,560 Speaker 1: my prayers about my safety, about my life, about my kingdom, 205 00:13:06,040 --> 00:13:11,000 Speaker 1: or my prayers about God's kingdom? Are my prayers self 206 00:13:11,040 --> 00:13:15,600 Speaker 1: focused or other focused? What would it mean to have 207 00:13:15,640 --> 00:13:18,480 Speaker 1: on your prayer list? And maybe you do. I hope 208 00:13:18,480 --> 00:13:21,560 Speaker 1: you do. Pray for your boss, pray for your neighbor. 209 00:13:22,520 --> 00:13:25,640 Speaker 1: Maybe pray that your business explodes you to make more money, 210 00:13:25,920 --> 00:13:28,960 Speaker 1: not so you have success, so you can give more 211 00:13:29,880 --> 00:13:33,640 Speaker 1: to missions. These are the kind of prayers that the 212 00:13:33,840 --> 00:13:38,400 Speaker 1: early Church prayed. I think they were praying for Peter's safety, 213 00:13:38,440 --> 00:13:40,719 Speaker 1: but I also think they're saying, God, you're sovereign. If 214 00:13:40,720 --> 00:13:43,680 Speaker 1: you don't say Peter, help them witness to his last 215 00:13:43,720 --> 00:13:45,800 Speaker 1: breath to the guards that are going to put him 216 00:13:45,800 --> 00:13:49,080 Speaker 1: to death. I think that's the kind of kingdom focus 217 00:13:49,160 --> 00:13:53,400 Speaker 1: that they had. The story goes on verse six. I 218 00:13:53,400 --> 00:13:55,800 Speaker 1: won't read all of it, but Peter's out, he's sleeping, 219 00:13:56,120 --> 00:13:59,160 Speaker 1: an angel Lord stands next to him. A light shines 220 00:13:59,200 --> 00:14:03,920 Speaker 1: from heaven. Peter's still sleeping, and the angel does it. 221 00:14:03,920 --> 00:14:06,080 Speaker 1: It's not like we're going to church in the morning 222 00:14:06,160 --> 00:14:08,679 Speaker 1: you quietly wake your kids up. This is like he 223 00:14:08,880 --> 00:14:12,439 Speaker 1: grabs them, shakes them. Peter doesn't know what's going on, 224 00:14:13,160 --> 00:14:15,240 Speaker 1: so he's walking up with a light with an angel. 225 00:14:15,520 --> 00:14:19,040 Speaker 1: The cuffs fall off, the door opens up, he walks out. 226 00:14:19,120 --> 00:14:21,640 Speaker 1: He still doesn't know what's going on, and then the 227 00:14:21,680 --> 00:14:29,720 Speaker 1: angel immediately disappears. Now, humanly speaking, Peter's plight was hopeless. 228 00:14:31,080 --> 00:14:34,760 Speaker 1: There's four squads of soldiers, two chains, roman guards, and 229 00:14:34,800 --> 00:14:40,520 Speaker 1: an execution likely tomorrow, it says, and it behold, an 230 00:14:40,560 --> 00:14:43,560 Speaker 1: angel of the Lord stood next to them. This was 231 00:14:43,600 --> 00:14:47,280 Speaker 1: a sudden supernatural intervention. And you know what, the same 232 00:14:47,320 --> 00:14:52,720 Speaker 1: god who saved Peter is the same god we follow today. Now, 233 00:14:52,720 --> 00:14:55,040 Speaker 1: I haven't had a supernatural intervention like this. Part of 234 00:14:55,080 --> 00:14:56,880 Speaker 1: me is like, yeah, that would be cool, but I 235 00:14:56,920 --> 00:14:59,360 Speaker 1: don't really want to be thrown in prison before it. Anyways, 236 00:15:00,400 --> 00:15:03,120 Speaker 1: I'm guessing probably most of you in here haven't had 237 00:15:03,160 --> 00:15:07,720 Speaker 1: that kind of supernatural intervention. But he was thirteen two says, 238 00:15:07,760 --> 00:15:11,000 Speaker 1: do not neglect to show hospitality strangers, for thereby some 239 00:15:11,560 --> 00:15:17,920 Speaker 1: have entertained Angels unaware the supernatural realm is real, and 240 00:15:17,960 --> 00:15:21,000 Speaker 1: we see this coming out in the next verses. So 241 00:15:21,120 --> 00:15:23,040 Speaker 1: verse twelve that says, when you realize this, he went 242 00:15:23,080 --> 00:15:24,960 Speaker 1: to the house of Mary, the mother of John, whose 243 00:15:25,040 --> 00:15:29,480 Speaker 1: other name was Mark, where they were gathered together, and 244 00:15:29,640 --> 00:15:31,280 Speaker 1: he goes and knocks on the door, and a girl 245 00:15:31,360 --> 00:15:33,000 Speaker 1: named rot to answer. By the way, you notice all 246 00:15:33,000 --> 00:15:35,080 Speaker 1: the details that are given here, he doesn't go to 247 00:15:35,200 --> 00:15:38,280 Speaker 1: random house knock on a dart. We're told the mother's name, 248 00:15:38,640 --> 00:15:41,640 Speaker 1: we're told the son's name, and the servant's name. This 249 00:15:41,680 --> 00:15:45,440 Speaker 1: is a real historical event. Now what happens next, It 250 00:15:45,480 --> 00:15:49,720 Speaker 1: says verse fourteen. Recognizing Peter's voice, and since they were 251 00:15:49,760 --> 00:15:53,200 Speaker 1: praying for him at that moment, she immediately knew God 252 00:15:53,280 --> 00:15:57,160 Speaker 1: answered the prayer, opened up the door, invited Peter in 253 00:15:57,280 --> 00:15:59,760 Speaker 1: because he'd been in prison, and gives him a warm meal. 254 00:16:01,720 --> 00:16:03,880 Speaker 1: You're like, wait a minute, that doesn't sound like what 255 00:16:03,920 --> 00:16:07,560 Speaker 1: happened in the story. That's what you would think would happen. 256 00:16:07,760 --> 00:16:10,200 Speaker 1: But what happens I actually think it's somewhat humorous. So 257 00:16:10,240 --> 00:16:13,160 Speaker 1: it's recognizing Peter's voice in her joy, she did not 258 00:16:13,360 --> 00:16:17,880 Speaker 1: open the gate, but ran and reported to Peter that 259 00:16:17,920 --> 00:16:21,960 Speaker 1: Peter was staying at the gate. Hello, get Peter first. 260 00:16:23,440 --> 00:16:26,880 Speaker 1: They said to her, Oh good, we've been praying for Peter. 261 00:16:27,320 --> 00:16:30,120 Speaker 1: Of course he's out the door. Nope. Even they don't 262 00:16:30,120 --> 00:16:32,680 Speaker 1: get them home the memo. You know what they respond, 263 00:16:32,720 --> 00:16:37,320 Speaker 1: They say, you are out of your mind. God answers 264 00:16:37,320 --> 00:16:40,280 Speaker 1: a prayer and their response is, you're out of your mind. 265 00:16:41,520 --> 00:16:44,320 Speaker 1: You know what, friends, God is answering prayers and doing 266 00:16:44,880 --> 00:16:50,560 Speaker 1: supernatural things today. I believe near death experiences are real. 267 00:16:51,000 --> 00:16:53,040 Speaker 1: I think some people have come to the point of death, 268 00:16:53,320 --> 00:16:58,160 Speaker 1: seen visions of Jesus, visions of Heaven, share it, and 269 00:16:58,240 --> 00:17:02,520 Speaker 1: Christians say, you're out of your I think Christians have 270 00:17:02,680 --> 00:17:06,960 Speaker 1: experienced miracles today and seeing them, and we Christians say, 271 00:17:06,960 --> 00:17:10,960 Speaker 1: sometimes you're out of your mind. I think people have 272 00:17:11,160 --> 00:17:14,760 Speaker 1: been saved and experience angelic visitations and we say, you're 273 00:17:14,800 --> 00:17:17,719 Speaker 1: out of your mind. I think people have supernatural dreams, 274 00:17:17,960 --> 00:17:21,840 Speaker 1: especially Muslims, right now, of Jesus, and sometimes we say 275 00:17:22,000 --> 00:17:26,240 Speaker 1: you're out of your mind. But then their response is 276 00:17:27,760 --> 00:17:30,920 Speaker 1: but she kept insisting it, so they said, well it's 277 00:17:30,960 --> 00:17:33,480 Speaker 1: his angel. Then like go, okay, it must be something supernatural. 278 00:17:33,520 --> 00:17:37,000 Speaker 1: But it's still not Peter. It's just ironic but Peter 279 00:17:37,080 --> 00:17:38,800 Speaker 1: kept knocking. I wish it had said how long you 280 00:17:38,880 --> 00:17:41,359 Speaker 1: kept knocking? Is this three minutes? Is he knocking for 281 00:17:41,440 --> 00:17:44,480 Speaker 1: half an hour? I don't know. They finally open it, 282 00:17:44,560 --> 00:17:48,400 Speaker 1: They're amazed, and then he tells an incredible story. Now 283 00:17:48,440 --> 00:17:50,199 Speaker 1: as I read this, I do have to pause and 284 00:17:50,240 --> 00:17:52,480 Speaker 1: ask the question, I'm curious. I want to have you 285 00:17:52,520 --> 00:17:58,560 Speaker 1: raise your hand. Do you think we have guardian angels? Now, 286 00:17:58,560 --> 00:18:01,919 Speaker 1: you don't have to raise your hand. According to Amy Grant, 287 00:18:01,960 --> 00:18:07,320 Speaker 1: we do. Nineteen eighty four, she dropped a song called 288 00:18:07,400 --> 00:18:10,480 Speaker 1: Angel somebody like Who's Amy Grant? Well, in the eighties 289 00:18:10,480 --> 00:18:13,919 Speaker 1: and nineties she was the biggest Christian name in music 290 00:18:14,040 --> 00:18:17,320 Speaker 1: on the planet. And I do realize in my last 291 00:18:17,320 --> 00:18:20,280 Speaker 1: sermon I quoted Petra and now I'm quoting Amy Grant. 292 00:18:20,600 --> 00:18:22,679 Speaker 1: So I'll just lean into the fact that I turned 293 00:18:22,680 --> 00:18:27,000 Speaker 1: fifty this year. Well, Amy Grant wrote a song called 294 00:18:27,040 --> 00:18:30,720 Speaker 1: Angels that dropped in nineteen eighty four. It's about Peter's 295 00:18:30,760 --> 00:18:35,840 Speaker 1: supernatural salvation in Acts twelve and how he runs the 296 00:18:35,880 --> 00:18:38,879 Speaker 1: house and says I have an angel, and basically so 297 00:18:39,080 --> 00:18:42,840 Speaker 1: do you, and NonStop God has protected us from physical 298 00:18:42,840 --> 00:18:45,760 Speaker 1: harm because we have a guardian angel. I'm sorry to 299 00:18:45,880 --> 00:18:48,200 Speaker 1: report to you, but at least in this song, Amy 300 00:18:48,240 --> 00:18:55,639 Speaker 1: Grant has bad theology. The Bible doesn't teach that we 301 00:18:55,720 --> 00:19:00,320 Speaker 1: have guardian angels. It doesn't teach this. Don't conf use 302 00:19:00,400 --> 00:19:06,120 Speaker 1: what the Bible reports with what the Bible teaches. All 303 00:19:06,160 --> 00:19:08,760 Speaker 1: the Bible reports is they say, wait a minute, it's 304 00:19:08,800 --> 00:19:12,679 Speaker 1: Peter's angel. All the reports is their beliefs. It doesn't 305 00:19:12,680 --> 00:19:14,760 Speaker 1: tell us those beliefs are true. And by the way, 306 00:19:14,800 --> 00:19:16,600 Speaker 1: all we know is that they thought at least Peter 307 00:19:16,720 --> 00:19:21,720 Speaker 1: had an angel. Friends, The Bible doesn't teach that we 308 00:19:21,840 --> 00:19:26,639 Speaker 1: have guardian angels always protecting us from harm. By the way, 309 00:19:26,920 --> 00:19:30,200 Speaker 1: why do we write a song about God protecting Peter 310 00:19:30,520 --> 00:19:34,440 Speaker 1: but not write a song about God not protecting James. 311 00:19:36,920 --> 00:19:39,200 Speaker 1: I think we kind of want to believe in guardian 312 00:19:39,200 --> 00:19:41,919 Speaker 1: angels because it makes us feel like we have some control. 313 00:19:42,720 --> 00:19:45,960 Speaker 1: It's sometimes in a world in which we don't have control, 314 00:19:47,440 --> 00:19:49,840 Speaker 1: makes me wonder how much our theology is driven by 315 00:19:49,840 --> 00:19:52,879 Speaker 1: what we want to believe and pop your culture, then 316 00:19:52,920 --> 00:19:59,440 Speaker 1: what's actually in the scriptures? Let's keep going. I also 317 00:19:59,440 --> 00:20:00,920 Speaker 1: want to know why that's the Bible tell us where 318 00:20:00,920 --> 00:20:03,919 Speaker 1: Peter went? Did you notice that all it says, is 319 00:20:03,920 --> 00:20:08,480 Speaker 1: Peter went to another place. It doesn't tell us where. 320 00:20:09,359 --> 00:20:12,720 Speaker 1: I think the reason is it doesn't matter where Peter went. 321 00:20:13,040 --> 00:20:15,800 Speaker 1: What matters is that he left, and why does it 322 00:20:15,880 --> 00:20:18,199 Speaker 1: matter that he left. We're in Act twelve and Acts one, 323 00:20:18,280 --> 00:20:21,919 Speaker 1: verse eight. We're given the thesis statement of Acts that 324 00:20:21,960 --> 00:20:26,159 Speaker 1: there to be witnesses in Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria, and the 325 00:20:26,240 --> 00:20:28,639 Speaker 1: ends of the Earth. In Acts twelve, where are the 326 00:20:28,640 --> 00:20:34,280 Speaker 1: apostles still? This is the participatory part of the program. 327 00:20:35,240 --> 00:20:39,200 Speaker 1: They're still in Jerusalem. The apostles are told to take 328 00:20:39,240 --> 00:20:42,000 Speaker 1: this to the ends of the earth. A decade later, 329 00:20:42,640 --> 00:20:46,520 Speaker 1: they're still in Jerusalem. Steven is martyred. That didn't wake 330 00:20:46,560 --> 00:20:50,440 Speaker 1: him up. James is martyred. That didn't wake him up. Finally, 331 00:20:50,480 --> 00:20:53,760 Speaker 1: Peter's thrown in prison. He's saved. They're like, okay, finally 332 00:20:53,840 --> 00:20:57,840 Speaker 1: we'll listen. That makes me wonder. We're ask the question 333 00:20:57,880 --> 00:21:01,639 Speaker 1: why does God allow evil and suffering? If it took 334 00:21:02,080 --> 00:21:07,840 Speaker 1: suffering and persecution to get the Apostles to finally obey, 335 00:21:09,000 --> 00:21:22,000 Speaker 1: maybe God allows persecution and suffering to get us to obey. 336 00:21:22,960 --> 00:21:27,760 Speaker 1: One purpose God accomplishes through his suffering is drawing his people. 337 00:21:27,840 --> 00:21:31,760 Speaker 1: That's you and me into greater dependence on Him and 338 00:21:31,880 --> 00:21:39,760 Speaker 1: obedience to advance the Gospel. You know, thinking, well, Sean, 339 00:21:39,800 --> 00:21:41,560 Speaker 1: this is Peter though. I mean, come on, he saw 340 00:21:41,600 --> 00:21:46,159 Speaker 1: the risen Jesus saw an angel. What about me. I 341 00:21:46,160 --> 00:21:47,719 Speaker 1: don't have a simple answer for you, but I can 342 00:21:47,760 --> 00:21:49,399 Speaker 1: tell you some of you know this. Three years ago 343 00:21:49,480 --> 00:21:52,120 Speaker 1: I went through the worst physical pain I've ever been 344 00:21:52,160 --> 00:21:54,080 Speaker 1: in my life. I dropped down to one hundred and 345 00:21:54,119 --> 00:21:57,920 Speaker 1: thirty five pounds and for about three hours a day 346 00:21:57,920 --> 00:21:59,720 Speaker 1: it was just lying on my back a breath at 347 00:21:59,720 --> 00:22:03,960 Speaker 1: a time. The pain was so bad. Literally, just like, God, 348 00:22:04,040 --> 00:22:05,600 Speaker 1: get me through this. And I remember hitting a point 349 00:22:05,640 --> 00:22:07,200 Speaker 1: I was like, I don't understand this. God, can you 350 00:22:07,280 --> 00:22:10,359 Speaker 1: take the pain away? All I can pray for is God. 351 00:22:10,440 --> 00:22:12,680 Speaker 1: I don't know why this is happening, but can you 352 00:22:12,760 --> 00:22:17,080 Speaker 1: give me the strength to honor You and be faithful 353 00:22:17,400 --> 00:22:22,160 Speaker 1: through this. I think maybe God allows us to hurt 354 00:22:22,200 --> 00:22:27,040 Speaker 1: and suffer because that's what gets our attention, that's what 355 00:22:27,119 --> 00:22:32,560 Speaker 1: humbles us, and frankly, sometimes that's what breaks us to 356 00:22:32,600 --> 00:22:36,679 Speaker 1: become more like Christ and to be obedient for the 357 00:22:36,760 --> 00:22:43,399 Speaker 1: sake of the Gospel. And verses eighteen and nineteen, it 358 00:22:43,440 --> 00:22:46,719 Speaker 1: says there was a little disturbance among the soldiers, and 359 00:22:46,800 --> 00:22:49,320 Speaker 1: Herod searched for Peter and couldn't find him, and he 360 00:22:49,440 --> 00:22:53,760 Speaker 1: puts the soldiers to death. There's a lot of death 361 00:22:53,800 --> 00:22:56,720 Speaker 1: in this chapter. Starts with the death of James soldiers 362 00:22:56,720 --> 00:22:59,920 Speaker 1: to put to death, ends with the death of Hair 363 00:23:00,960 --> 00:23:04,320 Speaker 1: and death is the enemy, because I wonder if death, 364 00:23:04,840 --> 00:23:08,720 Speaker 1: seeing death around us is also a kind of common 365 00:23:08,800 --> 00:23:11,800 Speaker 1: grace to remind us that this life is not forever, 366 00:23:12,440 --> 00:23:19,680 Speaker 1: and to not build our kingdom here. Just two days ago, 367 00:23:19,720 --> 00:23:25,440 Speaker 1: I was having dinner with a friend at Chipotle and 368 00:23:26,520 --> 00:23:30,960 Speaker 1: his older brother. Much older brother served in World War Two, 369 00:23:31,560 --> 00:23:34,000 Speaker 1: and he was not following the Lord as a mechanic 370 00:23:34,280 --> 00:23:37,840 Speaker 1: on an aircraft carrier. One day he was sick needed 371 00:23:37,840 --> 00:23:42,119 Speaker 1: a sub and that day the engine exploded and killed 372 00:23:42,160 --> 00:23:45,840 Speaker 1: his sub unless just say it woke up his brother 373 00:23:46,520 --> 00:23:51,399 Speaker 1: to follow the Lord. Yeah, death is the enemy, but 374 00:23:51,480 --> 00:23:55,159 Speaker 1: I wonder if it's a kind of God's common grace 375 00:23:55,240 --> 00:23:57,399 Speaker 1: to remind us that we're not God and we need 376 00:23:57,440 --> 00:23:59,640 Speaker 1: to get right with God. You know what's ironic about 377 00:23:59,640 --> 00:24:03,520 Speaker 1: this story. I think God actually gave Herod grace. Harod's 378 00:24:03,520 --> 00:24:07,280 Speaker 1: trying to please the Jews kills James throws Peter in prison. 379 00:24:08,000 --> 00:24:12,720 Speaker 1: Peter's saved by an angel. If Harod wasn't so arrogant, 380 00:24:12,760 --> 00:24:15,199 Speaker 1: he would have thought, you know what, maybe I'm on 381 00:24:15,280 --> 00:24:19,400 Speaker 1: the wrong team here, Maybe I'm fighting against something divine 382 00:24:19,640 --> 00:24:22,160 Speaker 1: and I should be humble and changed. But he didn't, 383 00:24:23,160 --> 00:24:28,399 Speaker 1: and that brings us to Herod's fate. Verse twenty. He says, Now, Herod, 384 00:24:28,400 --> 00:24:30,440 Speaker 1: when he's angry with people, tire and sighed on. You 385 00:24:30,560 --> 00:24:34,840 Speaker 1: just heard the details. He's put on royal clothes, clothes, 386 00:24:35,440 --> 00:24:36,880 Speaker 1: see it on a throne, and what do the people 387 00:24:37,000 --> 00:24:40,480 Speaker 1: shout the voice of a god and not a man? 388 00:24:40,560 --> 00:24:45,040 Speaker 1: And then he struck dead and eaten by worms. Now 389 00:24:45,080 --> 00:24:47,800 Speaker 1: let me ask you the most obvious question that's probably 390 00:24:47,920 --> 00:24:52,040 Speaker 1: ever been asked from this Pulpits what happens in the 391 00:24:52,080 --> 00:24:56,040 Speaker 1: Bible when somebody either A says I oppose God or 392 00:24:56,240 --> 00:24:59,600 Speaker 1: B I am God. How well does it end for 393 00:24:59,640 --> 00:25:07,960 Speaker 1: this Not well? Like never ends well. Whenever somebody poses God, 394 00:25:08,400 --> 00:25:17,439 Speaker 1: they lose every single time. Pharaoh lost, Nebeknezer lost, Goliath lost, 395 00:25:17,880 --> 00:25:26,480 Speaker 1: Senakreb lost, Herod lost friends. God is undefeated like Biola's 396 00:25:26,520 --> 00:25:31,040 Speaker 1: football team. You know, we've never lost the game, and 397 00:25:31,119 --> 00:25:33,400 Speaker 1: we don't have a team. But that is just details. 398 00:25:36,280 --> 00:25:42,120 Speaker 1: Kidding aside. God has never lost and he never will 399 00:25:42,200 --> 00:25:45,280 Speaker 1: lose when it comes to evil and suffering. We might 400 00:25:45,359 --> 00:25:47,800 Speaker 1: not know why God is doing what he's doing, but 401 00:25:47,840 --> 00:25:51,560 Speaker 1: we know evil has been defeated, it will be defeated, 402 00:25:51,800 --> 00:25:57,520 Speaker 1: and suffering will end someday in the future. Goliath looked 403 00:25:57,840 --> 00:26:04,439 Speaker 1: absolutely unbeatable, the Nachrib looked unbeatable, Pharaoh looked unbeatable, Harod 404 00:26:04,440 --> 00:26:08,240 Speaker 1: looked unbeatable, and all of them were humbled by the Lord. 405 00:26:09,520 --> 00:26:14,680 Speaker 1: Evil does not and will not have the last word. No' 406 00:26:14,680 --> 00:26:16,840 Speaker 1: of the questions I read, so, why does the Bible 407 00:26:16,920 --> 00:26:19,720 Speaker 1: report that Herod was eaten by worms? 408 00:26:21,400 --> 00:26:21,480 Speaker 2: Like? 409 00:26:21,560 --> 00:26:25,080 Speaker 1: Seriously, this is the word of God. Well, first off, 410 00:26:25,119 --> 00:26:29,960 Speaker 1: I haven't seen a children's Bible that depicts this yet. 411 00:26:30,640 --> 00:26:34,600 Speaker 1: But why are we given this detail? We're also given 412 00:26:34,600 --> 00:26:38,040 Speaker 1: the death of Judas where he falls headlong and his 413 00:26:38,680 --> 00:26:42,480 Speaker 1: you know, bowels like burst out. Why And here's why? 414 00:26:42,520 --> 00:26:47,320 Speaker 1: I think One reason is oftentimes the Bible depicts somebody's 415 00:26:47,400 --> 00:26:51,439 Speaker 1: death to characterize the kind of life that they lived. 416 00:26:52,720 --> 00:26:57,600 Speaker 1: So in Egypt, do you know, the perfect life span 417 00:26:57,840 --> 00:27:00,919 Speaker 1: was considered one hundred and ten years? So who does 418 00:27:00,920 --> 00:27:08,800 Speaker 1: the Bible report died in one hundred and ten years. Joseph, 419 00:27:08,880 --> 00:27:13,520 Speaker 1: he lived to one hundred and ten, lived a perfect life. 420 00:27:14,440 --> 00:27:19,720 Speaker 1: Judas betrays Jesus, bowls, guts out, Herod says I am God, 421 00:27:20,119 --> 00:27:24,240 Speaker 1: worship me, falls, gets eaten by worms. But there's one 422 00:27:24,240 --> 00:27:27,119 Speaker 1: exception of this. In fact, probably the worst fate in 423 00:27:27,160 --> 00:27:32,600 Speaker 1: the Bible was Jesus. But clearly he didn't sin. That 424 00:27:32,760 --> 00:27:36,959 Speaker 1: is far more gruesome, far more graphic, far more excutiating. 425 00:27:37,800 --> 00:27:40,639 Speaker 1: Why did Jesus experience that fate? And the answer is 426 00:27:40,680 --> 00:27:46,919 Speaker 1: not his sin, but your sin and my sin. If 427 00:27:46,920 --> 00:27:48,680 Speaker 1: we look at the death of Judas, look at death 428 00:27:48,680 --> 00:27:50,960 Speaker 1: of Hair and go, oh, man, what a brutal death. 429 00:27:51,000 --> 00:27:54,399 Speaker 1: Those guys are pretty bad, we're missing the point of 430 00:27:54,480 --> 00:27:58,000 Speaker 1: the story. We're supposed to look at the death of 431 00:27:58,080 --> 00:28:01,800 Speaker 1: Jesus and go, oh, my goodness. That's not a depiction 432 00:28:01,920 --> 00:28:06,960 Speaker 1: of his life. He was sinless. That death characterizes my 433 00:28:07,160 --> 00:28:11,000 Speaker 1: life and the sin that's in me. So if you're 434 00:28:11,119 --> 00:28:16,640 Speaker 1: off put by Herod be eaten by worms, you're missing 435 00:28:16,680 --> 00:28:19,879 Speaker 1: the point of the story about how off putting we 436 00:28:20,000 --> 00:28:23,000 Speaker 1: should be at our own sin, that causing even worse 437 00:28:23,080 --> 00:28:29,160 Speaker 1: death of Jesus, that this brings us to verse twenty four, 438 00:28:29,840 --> 00:28:33,240 Speaker 1: which is the theme of verse twenty four, the theme of 439 00:28:33,240 --> 00:28:35,119 Speaker 1: the chapter twelve, and I think the theme of the 440 00:28:35,119 --> 00:28:38,280 Speaker 1: whole book. It says, but the Word of God increased 441 00:28:38,600 --> 00:28:43,160 Speaker 1: and multiplied. In other words, here goes I'm gonna kill James. 442 00:28:44,720 --> 00:28:48,520 Speaker 1: The gospel still multiplies. I'm throwing Peter in prison, the 443 00:28:48,600 --> 00:28:54,920 Speaker 1: gospel still multiplies. The reality is God's story is advancing 444 00:28:56,000 --> 00:29:00,560 Speaker 1: and we can't control it, but we're invited to be 445 00:29:00,600 --> 00:29:03,840 Speaker 1: a part of it. So let me ask the question 446 00:29:03,840 --> 00:29:06,800 Speaker 1: again that I've wrestled with this passage. Why would God 447 00:29:08,560 --> 00:29:15,200 Speaker 1: protect Peter but not James? Why? I think one reason why? 448 00:29:15,240 --> 00:29:17,400 Speaker 1: I think there's two reasons. The best I can do. 449 00:29:18,280 --> 00:29:23,440 Speaker 1: One reason is if God always protected his followers, then 450 00:29:23,520 --> 00:29:26,920 Speaker 1: people who are not as followers would be tempted to 451 00:29:26,960 --> 00:29:31,120 Speaker 1: become a Christian, not because the repentance of their sins, 452 00:29:31,640 --> 00:29:34,160 Speaker 1: not because they want to be with God, but because 453 00:29:34,200 --> 00:29:37,479 Speaker 1: they want something personal out of it, namely to be 454 00:29:37,520 --> 00:29:42,760 Speaker 1: protected from harm. It might actually discourage people from following 455 00:29:42,800 --> 00:29:46,360 Speaker 1: the Lord for the right reasons. But second, and most importantly, 456 00:29:47,520 --> 00:29:50,240 Speaker 1: acts is about the apostles being witnesses, and it's about 457 00:29:50,280 --> 00:29:55,080 Speaker 1: you and I being witnesses. Today in southern Orange County. 458 00:29:55,800 --> 00:30:00,120 Speaker 1: You know what I believe our greatest testimony is, it's 459 00:30:00,120 --> 00:30:07,200 Speaker 1: when we suffer. Well, that's when we suffer well. Talk 460 00:30:07,320 --> 00:30:13,280 Speaker 1: is cheap everybody virtue signals today. But when you suffer 461 00:30:14,040 --> 00:30:19,600 Speaker 1: and you hurt with hope, When you suffer and you hurt, 462 00:30:20,280 --> 00:30:25,440 Speaker 1: dare I say it with joy, When you suffer and 463 00:30:25,480 --> 00:30:31,440 Speaker 1: you hurt with faith, that doesn't make sense to our 464 00:30:31,520 --> 00:30:38,120 Speaker 1: broken and hurting world. That's a witness and a testimony 465 00:30:38,720 --> 00:30:43,000 Speaker 1: that draws people to the Lord. I think one reason 466 00:30:43,040 --> 00:30:45,240 Speaker 1: God allows us to suffer. In Fact one, Peter three 467 00:30:45,360 --> 00:30:47,720 Speaker 1: seventeen says it may be God's will that we suffer 468 00:30:48,720 --> 00:30:52,000 Speaker 1: is because when we suffer with hope and joy and faith, 469 00:30:52,120 --> 00:30:55,720 Speaker 1: this gets the attention that we really believe it and 470 00:30:55,800 --> 00:31:01,640 Speaker 1: that there is another world and salvation is real. Friends, 471 00:31:01,680 --> 00:31:04,120 Speaker 1: When we read the early chapters of Acts, we see 472 00:31:04,200 --> 00:31:09,080 Speaker 1: two things. We see the lame healed, We see the 473 00:31:09,280 --> 00:31:14,560 Speaker 1: dead raised from the grave. We see God protecting Peter, 474 00:31:15,800 --> 00:31:21,400 Speaker 1: and we see Stephen martyred, and we see James martyred. 475 00:31:21,800 --> 00:31:29,240 Speaker 1: We see both. We have a miracle working, supernatural God 476 00:31:30,000 --> 00:31:35,280 Speaker 1: who allows pain and suffering for reasons we may not know. 477 00:31:36,120 --> 00:31:43,000 Speaker 1: And yet the gospel still advances. I don't have a 478 00:31:43,000 --> 00:31:45,680 Speaker 1: perved answer why God allowed James to be killed and 479 00:31:45,760 --> 00:31:48,520 Speaker 1: yet protect Peter. But what's interesting is two decades later 480 00:31:49,240 --> 00:31:54,960 Speaker 1: Peter also died as a martyr. And I think there's 481 00:31:55,080 --> 00:31:57,680 Speaker 1: ten early sources by the way to corroborate debt. But 482 00:31:57,760 --> 00:32:04,720 Speaker 1: I digress. I don't think God was kinder to Peter 483 00:32:06,360 --> 00:32:10,120 Speaker 1: than he was to James. From our perspective, Peter was 484 00:32:10,160 --> 00:32:14,320 Speaker 1: fortunate because he escaped prison, But from Heaven's perspective, James 485 00:32:14,480 --> 00:32:21,640 Speaker 1: entered the presence of Christ earlier. Decades earlier, Peter still 486 00:32:21,680 --> 00:32:26,080 Speaker 1: had years of hardship and persecution and eventually martyred them 487 00:32:26,840 --> 00:32:30,160 Speaker 1: ahead of them. I think God is kind to Peter, 488 00:32:30,880 --> 00:32:34,320 Speaker 1: and he's kind of James in different ways. And you 489 00:32:34,360 --> 00:32:37,280 Speaker 1: know what, He is kind to you, and God is 490 00:32:37,440 --> 00:32:42,560 Speaker 1: kind to me. If we'll just see it, if we'll 491 00:32:42,600 --> 00:32:45,880 Speaker 1: see it, God had assignment for Peter, and he had 492 00:32:45,920 --> 00:32:48,720 Speaker 1: a different assignment for James. God has an assignment for me, 493 00:32:48,800 --> 00:32:54,120 Speaker 1: and he has a different assignment for you. The question 494 00:32:54,240 --> 00:32:57,240 Speaker 1: is what does that look like to follow that assignment 495 00:32:58,120 --> 00:33:03,240 Speaker 1: in southern Orange County where we live today. If I 496 00:33:03,280 --> 00:33:05,160 Speaker 1: may let me wrap us up, I just asking a 497 00:33:05,200 --> 00:33:10,520 Speaker 1: few questions. If you're suffering, and by the way, if 498 00:33:10,520 --> 00:33:13,520 Speaker 1: you're not, I hate to break it to you, but 499 00:33:13,600 --> 00:33:18,120 Speaker 1: it's only a matter of time. The day I turned 500 00:33:18,120 --> 00:33:20,840 Speaker 1: fifteen May seventeenth, like a month ago, buddy called me, goes, 501 00:33:20,920 --> 00:33:24,480 Speaker 1: welcome to the decade where your body starts to fall apart. 502 00:33:25,320 --> 00:33:27,920 Speaker 1: I said, thanks for that, happy birthday. Wish nice to 503 00:33:27,920 --> 00:33:33,760 Speaker 1: hear from you. Suffering is coming, friends, Taxes and death 504 00:33:33,800 --> 00:33:37,120 Speaker 1: and suffering is a part of life. My question is 505 00:33:37,280 --> 00:33:40,400 Speaker 1: are you allowing that suffering to draw you into deeper 506 00:33:40,960 --> 00:33:49,400 Speaker 1: dependence and reliance upon God and deeper faithfulness in God? 507 00:33:50,360 --> 00:33:54,120 Speaker 1: Do you trust that God is sovereign? Do you believe 508 00:33:54,160 --> 00:33:57,120 Speaker 1: that even if we can't see it, even if it 509 00:33:57,280 --> 00:34:01,400 Speaker 1: doesn't make sense. And really the final question, the most 510 00:34:01,440 --> 00:34:04,400 Speaker 1: important one, is do you really believe that God is good? 511 00:34:05,640 --> 00:34:08,000 Speaker 1: Because what happens with evil and suffering is we get 512 00:34:08,040 --> 00:34:12,640 Speaker 1: so focused on the negative we missed the positive. Acts 513 00:34:12,640 --> 00:34:14,480 Speaker 1: twelve is a chapter of a lot of death, but 514 00:34:14,520 --> 00:34:18,240 Speaker 1: two chapters later, in Acts fourteen, it's like Paul flips 515 00:34:18,239 --> 00:34:22,160 Speaker 1: the script. Let's set want, Paul writes Verses sixteen through seventeen, 516 00:34:22,239 --> 00:34:24,680 Speaker 1: past generations, he allowed the nations to walk in their 517 00:34:24,680 --> 00:34:27,360 Speaker 1: own ways. Yet He did not leave us without a witness, 518 00:34:28,160 --> 00:34:30,600 Speaker 1: for He did good by giving you rain from heaven 519 00:34:30,680 --> 00:34:37,359 Speaker 1: and fruitful seasons, satisfying your hearts with food and gladness. 520 00:34:38,760 --> 00:34:43,600 Speaker 1: God's goodness is all around us, if we'll see it. 521 00:34:44,400 --> 00:34:46,480 Speaker 1: That you got up this morning and could come to 522 00:34:46,600 --> 00:34:50,920 Speaker 1: church is a sign of God's goodness. That coffee I 523 00:34:50,960 --> 00:34:54,400 Speaker 1: had this morning and I enjoyed it dark roast is 524 00:34:54,520 --> 00:34:59,160 Speaker 1: a sign of God's goodness. We live in a country 525 00:34:59,400 --> 00:35:03,040 Speaker 1: we just sell rated. Not a perfect country, but two 526 00:35:03,160 --> 00:35:10,280 Speaker 1: hundred and fifty years of freedom. That's God's goodness. Friends. 527 00:35:10,320 --> 00:35:12,359 Speaker 1: I don't know when it's all said done, why God 528 00:35:12,400 --> 00:35:16,200 Speaker 1: protected Peter but not James. But I know that God 529 00:35:16,280 --> 00:35:19,560 Speaker 1: is good, and I know that when we hurt, God 530 00:35:19,640 --> 00:35:24,880 Speaker 1: wants us to be drawn into reliance upon Him and 531 00:35:24,960 --> 00:35:29,279 Speaker 1: to live our lives knowing that God is good and 532 00:35:29,320 --> 00:35:33,400 Speaker 1: that we get to be a part of His story. 533 00:35:34,680 --> 00:35:38,319 Speaker 1: That's the question and challenge for all of us. What 534 00:35:38,360 --> 00:35:41,719 Speaker 1: does it look like to witness and testify to the 535 00:35:41,760 --> 00:35:46,960 Speaker 1: goodness of God in a broken and hurting world, particularly 536 00:35:47,360 --> 00:35:50,480 Speaker 1: where we live. That's the question God put on my 537 00:35:50,560 --> 00:35:52,880 Speaker 1: heart reading this, and I hope he places it on 538 00:35:52,920 --> 00:35:56,880 Speaker 1: yours as well. Hey friends, if you enjoyed this show, 539 00:35:57,080 --> 00:36:00,319 Speaker 1: please hit that fall button on your podcast app. Most 540 00:36:00,320 --> 00:36:02,520 Speaker 1: of you tuning in haven't done this yet and it 541 00:36:02,600 --> 00:36:05,440 Speaker 1: makes a huge difference in helping us reach and equip 542 00:36:05,480 --> 00:36:08,600 Speaker 1: more people and build community. And please consider leaving a 543 00:36:08,719 --> 00:36:12,759 Speaker 1: podcast review. Every review helps. Thanks for listening to The 544 00:36:12,800 --> 00:36:15,680 Speaker 1: Sean McDowell Show, brought to you by Talbot School of 545 00:36:15,719 --> 00:36:19,160 Speaker 1: Theology at Biola University, where we have on campus and 546 00:36:19,320 --> 00:36:23,480 Speaker 1: online programs and apologetic spiritual formation, marriage and family, Bible 547 00:36:23,560 --> 00:36:25,719 Speaker 1: and so much more. We would love to train you 548 00:36:25,840 --> 00:36:29,319 Speaker 1: to more effectively live, teach, and defend the Christian faith 549 00:36:29,360 --> 00:36:37,600 Speaker 1: today and we will see you when the next episode drops.