Sermon OverviewScripture Passage: Acts 12:1Troubles come and go every day, but every so often we come up against an unexpected, ferocious crisis. In all the confusion, when we’re unsure where to turn, we can turn to the Christ of every crisis.In Acts 12, the Early Church was facing a genuine crisis as Herod unleashed violence on its members.“Now about that time Herod the king stretched out his hand to harass some from the church. Then he killed James the brother of John wit...
Sermon Overview
Scripture Passage: Acts 12:1
Troubles come and go every day, but every so often we come up against an unexpected, ferocious crisis. In all the confusion, when we’re unsure where to turn, we can turn to the Christ of every crisis.
In Acts 12, the Early Church was facing a genuine crisis as Herod unleashed violence on its members.
“Now about that time Herod the king stretched out his hand to harass some from the church. Then he killed James the brother of John with the sword. And because he saw that it pleased the Jews, he proceeded further to seize Peter also...” (Acts 12:1-3).
When we’re in the middle of a crisis, we must respect the mystery of God’s providence.
Just because things don’t make sense to us at the moment doesn’t mean they do not make sense. Life is not a problem to be solved; it is a mystery to be lived. Life isn’t a series of good, then bad; the good and bad run parallel, happening simultaneously and working together.
Second, we should request the ministry of God’s people.
“Peter was therefore kept in prison, but constant prayer was offered to God for him by the church” (Acts 12:5). As God’s people, we must pray to God without ceasing, intensely and specifically. God is pleased when His children pray, but He is even more pleased when His children pray together.
Adrian Rogers says, “The devil mocks at our schemes, laughs at our organizations, ridicules our talents, but he fears our prayers.”
Third, we can rest in the mastery of God’s peace.
Because he was no longer afraid of death and he knew that God’s people were praying for him, Peter slept in prison. Even in the crisis, God was still on His throne; as a result of the church’s prayers, an angel of the Lord broke Peter out of prison.
We must remember that if God is not working according to what we can see, it doesn’t mean God is not working. We can rejoice in the majesty of God’s power, because even if evil seems to succeed, it is temporary. The Christ of every crisis is eternal.
Apply it to your life
Are you facing a genuine crisis, and you aren’t sure where to turn? Live by God’s promises, invite other believers to pray with you, and rest in God’s peace. Remember that the Christ of every crisis is with you in your circumstances.
