Let's look in our Bibles in Acts 12, and I'm going to read verse by verse, down to verse 5, and I'll read a verse Brother Nasson can translate. But I've entitled this message, Persecution of God. persecution of God. I know that even saying that sounds strange, because the world, religious world particularly, thinks that when things are calm, that means God's working, and if there's persecution, that's Satan working. But we're gonna see today that there's nothing that happens but what comes from God's hand. I'm going to be honest. Now God uses means, and that's why we read here in verse one of Acts 12, Now about that time Herod the king stretched forth his hands to vex certain of the church. The name Herod is a title. It was a family of rulers back in the day. We know that in the days of Jesus' birth, there was Herod the Great, he was called, and he's the one that sent out throughout the land to kill every male child two years old and younger. Well, we're talking about the birth of Jesus Christ by the name of Agua. He died of a flu in the name of Jeremiah. That story we find in Matthew chapter two, verses one to 16. We're not gonna turn there, but I'm just making reference so that we can understand who that Herod was versus this Herod. But the reason I'm bringing that up is for us to see that even in relationship to that Herod, the great, when he killed those children two years and younger throughout the land, attempting really to kill the Lord Jesus Christ, that even that was ordained of God. I will have you look there in Matthew chapter two, two verses that show us that even that persecution, that killing of those children, was ordained of God. Look at Matthew chapter 2 and verse 15. It says that the Lord Jesus, as a young child, was taken into Egypt, in verse 14, and was there until the death of Herod, that would be Herod the Great, and that it might be fulfilled which was spoken of of the Lord, by the prophet saying, out of Egypt have I called my son. If God hadn't ordained it, it couldn't be prophesied. So Herod the Great here did what he did willingly, and yet it was already prophesied that through this means God's own son would be taken down into Egypt to hide there and then brought back out. You know, power now. So that was prophesied by the prophet Hosea in Hosea 11-1. But here's the second proof that everything that takes place, even by way of persecution and death is of the Lord. It says there in verse 16, then Herod, Herod the Great, when he saw that he was mocked by the wise men, was exceeding wrath." See, he told those wise men to come back by and tell him where was this child, but they went another way being warned of God. And so he was wrath. And notice, sent forth and slew all the children that were in Bethlehem and all the coasts thereof from two years old and under according to the time which he had diligently inquired of the wise men. you. This is just a little side point, but important, because we see in religious where often they have the wise men coming to the manger and bowing down around the manger. But the scriptures up in verse 11 say that when the wise men came, they came into the house where Mary and Joseph were staying. And the fact that Herod went out and slew all children two years old and younger According to the time it says that he had diligently inquired of the wise men, the Lord Jesus would have been already two years old. I know. Now, what I am going to do, I am going to answer you. I am going to answer you. I am going to answer you. Verse 11 refers to him as the young child. It's not a babe wrapped in swaddling clothes. It's a young child. Two years had passed. Same word is used again in verse 13. You see when the angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream and warned him to take the young child and his mother and flee into Egypt and be thou there until I bring thee word for Herod will seek the young child to destroy him. That's what it was all about. You want it to be. You want it to be. Two years previous, the message of the Savior being born was not made to Herod. It wasn't made to the politicians of the day. God was preserving his son alive. It was revealed to shepherds out in the field. They came to the manger. They came to the feeding trough and worshiped him. But now, two years later, Right under his nose, Herod would learn from the wise men. These were men from outside of Israel that the Lord brought to declare unto him the birth of this child, the God child. And Herod was wroth. I don't know. But the point we're seeing here is that the kings of this earth, the rulers, are not the ones who control anything. It's the Lord that directs in all things. He's the King of kings and the Lord of lords. Again, someone may ask, well, How do we know that Herod killing all those babies was of the Lord? Well, read verse 17 and 18. Then was fulfilled that which was spoken by Jeremiah the prophet saying in Ramah, was there a voice heard lamentation and weeping and great mourning, Rachel weeping for her children and would not be comforted because they are not. I know when the Lord took Job's children that he bowed down and worshiped and sinned not against God with his mouth. He charged not God with sin for having taken his children. And I know human nature says, well, these are babies. How could God do this? We know that every child born in this world is born a sinner and that we come forth from the womb speaking lies. You notice it doesn't say anywhere here that innocent babies were killed. It says that the Lord purposed that these children should be taken in this manner and that there wasn't anybody that could stay his hand or say, what doest thou? Even though it was through the hand of Herod. We are. We are. There is a false teaching today in places or circles that call themselves Christian that believe that somehow a child when they're born into this world, they're born innocent, up to a certain age of accountability, and then after that, they're accountable for their sin. That's nowhere taught in scripture. That is it. That is it. In Psalm 58 and verse 3, it says there that those that are born come forth from the womb speaking lies. In other words, you don't have to teach a child to lie. Children lie because they're born sinners. That's in Psalm 58 and verse 3. We don't. If you look in Psalm 51 and verse 5, here's the testimony of David when he said, behold, I was shapen in iniquity. That's talking about the fetus in the womb. While in the womb being formed was already being formed a sinner. And in sin did my mother conceive me. In other words, she came forth as a sinner. So you can't say innocent children died. Hmm. In fact, when you read the history of Israel in the Old Testament, the Lord told Israel to go in and to kill all the inhabitants, man women and children, along with their beasts, to completely destroy them? I had a lady this week that was shocked when she read that. She said, I was just reading that in the Old Testament. How could God do that? And my answer was simple, because he's just and holy. And we as creatures are sinful and deserve nothing more or less than condemnation. Many times though, when a man and woman being there fight, bro, You know, So you say, well, how do you know this here was different than the one we're looking at here in Acts 12? Well, verse 19 says, that when Herod was dead, behold, an angel of the Lord appears in a dream to Joseph in Egypt, saying, arise and take the young child and his mother and go into the land of Israel, for they are dead, which sought the young child's life." See, God is sovereign to spare his own son alive to this point, but to kill all these others. Even Herod that executed this judgment now was dead by God's sovereign hand. Hello. Hello. I'm going to give you a little bit of information. Now we know from the history of the Herods that Herod Agrippa, the one that we're reading about here in Acts 12, the first was actually the grandson of Herod the Great. So here's his grandson now ruling and reigning. I don't know. You say, but doesn't it typically pass from father to son? And the answer is yes, there was another Herod that took over from this Herod, who slew all these children, and that would have been the son of Herod the Great, and he's the one who was presiding over the trial of the Lord Jesus. That Herod, was the one that we read about in Luke chapter 23 and verses 7 through 12, when it says, as soon as he knew that he belonged unto Herod's jurisdiction. That's talking about Pilate. Pilate was a governor representing the Roman government. Herod was a Jew who represented the Jewish people under Roman authority. You see, it was all political. You know, You know what? Now you can read there in Luke 23, eight that when Herod saw Jesus, he was exceedingly glad for he was desirous to see him for a long season because he had heard many things of him and he hoped to have seen some miracle done by him. If you want to survive, put it. If you want to survive, put it. If you want to survive, put it. If you want to survive, put it. If you want to survive, put it. If you want to survive, put it. If you want to survive, put it. If you want to survive, put it. If you want to survive, put it. If you want to survive, put it. If you want to survive, put it. If you want to survive, put it. If you want to survive, put it. If you want to survive, put it. If you want to survive, put it. If you want to survive, put it. If you want to survive, put it. If you want to survive, put it. If you want to survive, put it. If you want to survive, put it. If you want to survive, put it. If you want to survive, put it. If you want to survive, put it. If you want to survive, put it. If you want to survive, put it This is an amazing thing when you consider from Christ's childhood as a two-year-old child to this point where he would have been 30 years old or older, possibly 33, that Herod, who's the governor in Israel, Israel's not that big a land, never set eyes on the Lord Jesus, ever. The Lord God kept this encounter until this time. Again, it's the Lord that is sovereign. We're going to put it to the top. I don't know. I don't. And to show that the Lord himself remained sovereign, even in the face of this encounter, verse 9, it says that Herod, now he's the ruler, he questioned him with many words, but notice, our Lord answered him nothing. We're gonna get more. And that's when Herod began to mock him. You can see in verse 11, with the chief priests in verse 10, that stood and vehemently accused him, Herod with his men of war, set him at nought and mocked him and arrayed him in a gorgeous robe and sent him again to Pilate. And verse 12 says, the same day Pilate and Herod were made friends together, for before they were at enmity between themselves. We're going to do all day. Yes, we can. I do. I don't know. Now Pilate was a Roman, Herod was a Jew. Normally they didn't get along. And yet when it came to condemning the Lord Jesus Christ, they became friends. I liken it to congregations today that are separated, they don't get along, but put a gospel preacher out there that begins to preach Christ and all his glory, and all of a sudden you see these churches, these congregations uniting together against that one because they hate the Christ of Scripture. I'm not going to. Jesus Christ, Jesus Christ. or say, I'm going to get that. Now remember, the title of this message is Persecution of God. It's by God. There's not one thing that Herod or Pilate or these chief priests or Israel did unto our Lord, but what God ordained it. The reason I say that, again, is found in Scripture. If you look in Acts chapter 4, we're getting back now to our text, but in Acts chapter 4, beginning with verse 25. Here, the early church in their prayer is quoting from Psalm chapter two and verse one, when it says, who by the mouth of thy servant David has said, why did the heathen rage and the people imagine vain things? So again, it goes back to the Psalms and prophesize what took place in their condemning the Lord Jesus Christ, gathering together and imagining vain things against him. They think by putting him to death, they'll be rid of him. Little did they know. I mean, I mean, Now if you go back and read in Psalm 2 it says, The kings of the earth stood up and the rulers were gathered together against the Lord and against his Christ. That's what was being manifest here, their hatred towards God and his Christ, that is the Lord Jesus. Jesus Christ. Back there in Psalm 2, it actually says against the Lord and his anointed one. Well, that's what the word Christ means, one anointed of God to come for the salvation of his people. But part of that was God ordaining that these wicked hands, like Peter preached on the day of Pentecost, God purposed it by them, they offer up to shed his blood for the salvation of that people he came to save. That's the glory of God's sovereignty and providence. Yes. See, if one verse explains the other, because in verse 27, that's exactly what it says, 27, 28. From a truth against thy holy child, Jesus, whom thou hast anointed both Herod and Pontius Pilate with the Gentiles, that would be the Roman soldiers that put him to death, and the people of Israel consenting to his death, were gathered together, but look at verse 28, for to do whatsoever thy hand and thy counsel determined before to be done. Would you rather put him in one and go to another, verse 70, verse 80? Yo, yo. But now, when we come to Acts chapter 12, this heret Agrippa would have been another herod that would have succeeded the one that presided over Christ's death. This shows you that men come and go in politics, but the Lord ever reigns. He does not change. And we're gonna see in this chapter 12, before it's all said and done, that this Herod who was a descendant of Herod the Great, exercising, again, his hatred toward these that were preaching this Christ. You can understand, he's defending his lineage. He's defending his heritage. These that put Christ to death, and now his disciples are standing up preaching him everywhere. He's thinking, we can't have this, and attempts to put a stop to it. The truth is that I am not a hero. I am just a human being. I don't know. And to make an example of these, that's why we read in verse two, he killed James. There was no hesitation. They went and took his head off and killed him to be an example. And his intent, because it says James the brother of John with a sword. So he executed him on the spot. And then, When he saw, verse 3, that it pleased the Jews, remember this is the Jews' leader under the Roman government, he procured, he proceeded further to take Peter also. So his intent was to kill Peter. But guess what? God is sovereign. Well, God purposed that James should be taken, not Peter. Uh, you know, that's the point. You know, that's the point. Uh, you know, that's the point. Uh, you know, that's the point. Uh, you know, that's the point. Uh, you know, that's the point. Uh, you know, that's the point. Uh, you know, that's the point. Uh, you know, that's the point. Uh, you know, that's the point. Uh, you know, that's the point. Uh, you know, that's the point. Uh, you know, that's the point. Uh, you know, that's the point. Uh, you know, that's the point. Uh, you know, that's the point. Uh, you know, that's the point. Uh, you know, that's the point. Uh, you know, that's the point. Uh, you know, that's the point. Uh, you know, that's the point. Uh, you know, that's the point. Uh, you know, that Let's remember this lesson. that men by their titles have certain authority to do what they do, but they do not have all power to do what they do. That power is with God. What I want you to do is go to the wall and then I can see you. Then I'll go to the wall and then I can see you. Go to the wall and then I can see you. Go to the wall and then I can see you. Our current president of the United States is finding this out because he was elected to have the authority to straighten anything out he wanted to. But now he's finding out he doesn't actually have all power to do that. And in that the Lord is determining all things. It's not in man's hands. It's the Lord that disposes all things. If you look in the book of Daniel, Chapter 2 and verse 21, you'll find there that God is the one who raises up kings and sets them down. It says in verse 20, when Daniel was interpreting Nebuchadnezzar's dream, Nebuchadnezzar was a powerful king. He had the authority to rule, but he did not have all power to rule. That remained with God. And it says in verse 21 concerning God, well, verse 20, Daniel answered and said, blessed be the name of God forever and ever, for wisdom and might are his. That's that word power. and he changeth the times and the seasons, he removeth kings and he setteth up kings, he giveth wisdom unto the wise and knowledge to them that know understanding, he revealeth the deep and secret things, he knoweth what is in the darkness and the light dwelleth with him. So let's go to the book of Daniel, which was written in 1920, which is a Muslim book. When the Lord was saying, why did you tell me? I'm not a Muslim. I'm not a Muslim. I'm not a Muslim. I'm not a Muslim. I'm not a Muslim. I'm not a Muslim. I'm not a Muslim. I'm not a Muslim. I'm not a Muslim. I'm not a Muslim. I'm not a Muslim. I'm not a Muslim. I'm not a Muslim. I'm not a Muslim. I'm not a Muslim. I'm not a Muslim. I'm not a Muslim. I'm not a Muslim. I'm not a Muslim. I'm not a Muslim. I'm not a Muslim. I'm not a Muslim. I'm not a Muslim. I'm not a Muslim. I'm not a Muslim. I'm not a Muslim. I'm not a Muslim. I'm not a Muslim. I'm not a Muslim. I'm not a Muslim. I'm not a Muslim. I'm Now, when you bring that back to Acts chapter 12, you say, well, why would he have killed James the brother of John and not gone ahead and killed Peter and gotten it over with. Well it says there in verse 3 that then were the days of unleavened bread. This was the time of the Passover. Now amazingly, Christ is the Passover. He fulfilled the Passover. Those that were his didn't celebrate the Passover anymore. They celebrated Christ. But these being religious, because it was a religious season, he decides to put on hold the execution of Peter and plan to kill him later. Well, who put him on hold? It was the Lord. There was no way that Peter was going to die at this time. Peter would die later as a martyr at the end of his life after God had finished with him, but at this time there was nobody going to lay a hand on Peter. Good morning. Now, to put on a puna as it is made, or to add a puna, a, pe, pe, tulo, mutawi, yamulu. So, when you put a puna, a, pe, pe, tulo, mutawi, yamulu. Yes, when you put a puna, a, pe, pe, tulo, mutawi, yamulu. Yes, when you put a puna, a, pe, pe, tulo, mutawi, yamulu. Yes, when you put a puna, a, pe, pe, tulo, mutawi, yamulu. Yes, when you put a puna, a, pe, pe, tulo, mutawi, yamulu. Yes, when you put a puna, a, pe, pe, tulo, mutawi, yamulu. Yes, when you put a puna, a, pe, pe, tulo, mutawi, yamulu. Yes, when you put a puna, a, pe, So here again, all the while these were doing their will and exercising their will in opposition to these who are the Lords, yet God himself was ruling and overruling. They could not do one thing more or less than what he ordained. If James was killed, it's because God purposed that he should be taken at that time in that way. If Peter was spared, it's because God purposed that he should be spared at this time. Good morning. I'm I'm. That's why that one. Now remember, this is Herod's grandson. So he would have been aware of the story that when they had crucified our Lord Jesus Christ, that they had sealed the tomb and Roman soldiers put there to guard the tomb, and yet Christ was raised from the grave. They could not hold him. He would have been conscious of this. You know, Jesus Christ. Now, you have to realize the Pharisees had contrived a lie saying that the disciples had come and stolen the body of the Lord. They didn't believe in his resurrection. They would not. Such was their hardness. So this opposition against these was actually opposition against Christ. They were determined once and for all to quiet and to squelch any testimony of the Lord Jesus. We'll say, why? Google zero regime. I don't. Now remember, our Lord was crucified during this particular time, some 20 years previous. But it was still fresh in his mind to the point where in verse four, when he had apprehended Peter, He put him in prison and, notice, delivered him to four quaternions of soldiers to keep him. That means there were four at a time that were watching Peter to make sure that nothing happened. I'm thinking right here. See, there was a heavy guard that they put outside the tomb of the Lord Jesus, but that tomb could not hold him in. And even here with Peter, they had two watching the door. And if you look in verse six, when Herod would have brought him forth the same night Peter was sleeping between two soldiers bound with two chains. That's how serious Herod was that this one was not going to get away. We are. But here we see an example again of how persecution is from God's hand. He determines just how far that these will go against his church and no further. God determines it. I'm going to the corner. This very proud and arrogant, hardened sinner by the name of Herod that determined to do what he would do could not do one thing more than what God had determined should be done. I don't know. Before we get done with chapter 12, we're going to see that this very one who had purposed to kill Peter, along with James, ends up himself under the hand of God being executed. You might ask, well why would God purpose persecution against his church? Remember last week we saw the blessings of affliction when God afflicts his own. What does it do? It causes them to cry unto him. I don't know. everything is going well according to God's purpose we have to admit that with this sinful heart we get a little bit cocky, we get a little proud, we walk with our shoulders back and head high a little more thinking somehow we're somewhat and the Lord uses persecution to lay us low. I don't know. I don't know. And you can see that in verse five, Peter therefore was kept in prison, but look it, prayer was made without ceasing of the church unto God for him. The Lord was causing his people to cry out. That's true prayer when the Lord gives it. I'm going to give you an example. I'm going to give you an example. But here's where we see also the Lord making a difference between the popular message of the world and religion and that which exalts the Lord Jesus Christ revealed to these few. See, all the while they were persecuting the church here, they were going on in their religion. Now, verse 4 in the King James is a mistranslation when it says there, intending after Easter. If you look in the original, that word is actually Passover. But here again, the translators put, imposed their tradition into the translation. When they translated this back in King James Day, it's become known as Easter, but Easter is a celebration of the goddess, Ascarte, has nothing to do with the Passover or Christ's death. So that should be better. I don't know how it's translated in your Bible, but it should read Passover, intending after the Passover. to bring him forth to the people. But all of our people, all of them are going to win. I mean, I'm going to tell you, I'm going to tell you, I'm going to tell you, I'm going to tell you, I'm going to tell you, I'm going to tell you, I'm going to tell you, I'm going to tell you, I'm going to tell you, I'm going to tell you. First of all, I would like to thank you for the opportunity to be here today. I would like to thank you for the opportunity to be here today. I would like to thank you for the opportunity to be here today. I would like to thank you for the opportunity to be here today. I would like to thank you for the opportunity to be here today. I would like to thank you for the opportunity to be here today. I would like to thank you for the opportunity to be here today. But the point we see here is that men cover themselves with religion to act as if they are truly worshiping God, but all the while in their heart, there's this hatred for God and his son. They don't hate the popular Jesus that's in men's hands, but they hate sovereign Christ who came to save whom he will and has saved them and nothing can touch them or take them from his hand or say unto him, what doest thou? That's the Christ that religious people hate. You know, you know, Yes. Yes. Yes. I don't. that God ordains persecution, that we may know that He is God, that our lives are not our own, but also to know that even as Christ suffered, you know, when the scriptures, Christ said that if they hated me, they'll hate you. This is the way that God separates the wheat from the chaff to demonstrate who are His. It's through this suffering that he brings that these should never put confidence in the flesh or any man, but look to Christ alone. So, I'm. Back when I was growing up, I used to hear about persecution in other lands. And here I was, I made my profession and I was climbing the ranks, becoming more and more important in the organization I was in. And I would marvel at the fact that I wasn't being persecuted. There wasn't any reason to be persecuted. I was enjoying the freedom, but I will tell you until It pleased God to reveal this Christ in me, turn me upside down. And when I went forth from there beginning to declare this Christ, all of a sudden I found out I had a lot of enemies because this Christ has nothing to do with religion of our day. You know, you know. I don't know. I don't know. I will tell you ever since the Lord revealed Christ in this heart and I've declared him, there are enemies of this gospel out there that would just as soon see me dead as they would to have me continue to preach this gospel. They've so much as told me that. And yet here I am spared alive like Peter. until God purposes to take me. And in that I rest. In that I rest. And you too. Whatever opposition we face, it does not change who is this Lord Christ that he has revealed in us that we must preach. We don't see. You know, How are we to live in light of all of this? One last scripture, Philippians chapter one, from verse 27 down to verse 30. It tells us here, let your conversation, regardless in good times or bad, let your conduct, your conversation be as it becometh the gospel of Christ. That is stand against all of men's traditions. and that whether I come and see you, Paul says, or else be absent, I may hear of your affairs that ye stand fast in one spirit. See, that's what this persecution did. It drew the church together. It didn't divide it. Drew them together in one spirit with one mind striving together for the faith that is Christ who is the faith of the gospel. Boko Loma is a very very good, you know, I feel it because what you really know, it's not about the 7 Americans that fancy it. It's not about the 7 Americans that fancy it. It's not about the 7 Americans that fancy it. It's not about the 7 Americans that fancy it. It's not about the 7 Americans that fancy it. It's not about the 7 Americans that fancy it. It's not about the 7 Americans that fancy it. It's not about the 7 Americans that fancy it. It's not about the 7 Americans that fancy it. It's not about the 7 Americans that fancy it. It's not about the 7 Americans that fancy it. It's not about the 7 Americans that fancy it. It's not about the 7 Americans that fancy it. It's not about the 7 Americans that fancy it. It's not about the 7 Americans that fancy it. It's not about the 7 Americans that fancy it. It's not about the 7 Americans that fancy it. It's not about the 7 Americans that fancy it. It's not And you notice in verse 28, you say, who gives this faith? It's God himself. And it says, in nothing terrified by your adversaries. When our eyes are drawn to Christ, back here in Acts 12, Peter was sleeping between the two guards. You talk about God giving his servant rest. He was sleeping in the face of what awaited him and yet none of that moved him by God's grace. I'm going to get. So here's what I've said. that through persecution, God separates the wheat from the chaff. You remember, I mentioned last week about the woman pounding the rice and winnowing it, and the chaff blows away, she's pounding it. That's representative chasing of, but it's getting rid of the chaff. And here in verse 28, those that oppose it says, that's an evidence of their perdition. left to themselves, that's what they do, but it says, verse 28, to you that are being opposed, for Christ's sake, of salvation. And what? That of God. God's made the difference. Now she'd be right in there with them. I mean, I'm a senior. I'm a senior. I'm a senior. I mean, I mean, Now, here's the verse that the Lord comforted me with years ago, as I saw many of my friends turn and go away. Even down through the years, up to recently, people will constantly, it seems they're with you, and then suddenly they turn and go their way. But look at verse 29, Philippians 1, for unto you it is given in the behalf of Christ, in other words, the fact that he is your redeemer and substitute, not only to believe on him, but don't put a period there, comma, but also to suffer for his sake. It's part of the calling to Christ, not only to believe on him, but to suffer for his sake, and both are of God, both. I'm going to have a way out. Christine. So there again, in persecution, the Lord exposes those who are against Christ, they're His enemies, but He reveals also those that are His by His grace. And through it, again, God purposing it, it's for our good and His glory. I'm. When it says there in Acts 12 and verse five, that prayer was made without ceasing of the church unto God for him, that was God working. In fact, that word prayer, it's a medical term in the original. It means to stretch a muscle just as far as it can stretch to its limits. That's what God's doing. He's causing us to despair of ourselves and to cry unto him and carry on. when he causes us to do that, that's a mercy. I'm. But we're gonna leave it there for this week. Next week, we'll come back and see this great deliverance that God wrought on Peter's behalf and how it is that he cares for his own. That's a good example. James was blessed in that he was taken because he had no more suffering and he was with his Lord. Peter was blessed in his keeping and deliverance because the Lord purposed that he should be kept in order to preach the gospel further. But I don't think that number will go because we're going to be able to do another thing. For many people, I don't believe so. you