Sermons from the Book of Acts

When Crisis Comes

Acts 12: 1-17

January 12, 1997 and September 15, 1999

Biographers inevitably reveal not only the great success in people's lives, but also their many crises. All of us face crises in life. We must learn to see them as an exercise of the providence of God for His glory and our good.

William Carey: forsaken by fellow missionaries; the loss of years worth of translations and printing press in camp fire; the death of a child; the insanity of his wife; cruel rumors (after Fuller's death) back in England affected his support.

Charles Haddon Spurgeon: ridicule from the secular press and attacks from fellow Christians; opponents created a mad stampede which killed seven people in the Great Surrey Gardens Music Hall where he preached; his wife was a virtual invalid; he suffered ill health, including bouts of depression; his own Baptist Union censured him and kicked him out in the Downgrade Controversy.

I. Crisis Confronts the Church (v. 1-4)

It is ironic that as the Jews celebrated God's deliverance from their bondage the Christians found their leader imprisoned. Note the setting, after much forward movement though still in the wake of the persecution arising from Stephen's death.

1. Explainable nature of crises

Crisis in the natural realm:

a. Imperfect world will inevitably yield crises. It rains upon the just and the unjust. Life will yield crises.

b. Evil men whose intentions are according to their nature. So, as those who are at enmity with God, they will oppose whatever they can of God's work. "Natural man receives not the things of the Spirit of God for they are foolishness to him." "The preaching of the cross is foolishness to those who do not believe." See Romans 1:28-32. In this case, Herod Agrippa I, grandson of Herod the Great, educated in Rome, friend of Caligula and Claudius, feigned to worship the Lord for political purposes. He simply used his evil acts upon the church to further his position.

c. The world is opposed to God. It is under the control of "the god of this world." It is that system of thinking and living that is contrary to God in everything. That's why we are told to not love the world. See I John 2:15. "Do not marvel, brethren, if the world hates you" (I John 3:13). Example: I get somewhat puzzled by some of the Christian talk-show hosts who act so incensed that the world acts like the world. The world is supposed to be in opposition because that is its nature.

d. Our adversary, the devil, is ever attempting to thwart our progress, hinder our joy, rob us of peace, and discourage our obedience. See I Peter 5:8-9.

2. Unexplainable nature of crises

But wait...we are the redeemed of the Lord; we belong to the Lord of hosts who has conquered sin, Satan and the world. God is for us so who can be against us. Example: "Pop-version Christians" everything is nice, comfortable, hassle-free, wrinkle free.

a. Sometimes after our grandest experiences we find ourselves facing valleys of despair.

Examples: After Jericho came Ai; after crossing the Red Sea came the hunger and thirst of the wilderness journey. The church seemed to be on a roll at this point. Bunyan helps us see this in Pilgrim's Progress as Christian, a true believer, faces opposition within and without. He faces crises of devilish attack, desponding over his own failures, doubt, ruin by enemies of the gospel.

b. We must not mistrust the hand of Providence, though it often perplexes us.

Quote Heidelberg Catechism question 27. Piper notes bitter providence with Naomi (pleasant), later Mara (bitter). "For the Almighty has dwelt very bitterly with me. I went out full but the Lord has brought me back empty. Why do you call me Naomi, since the Lord has witnessed against me and the Almighty has afflicted me?" (Ruth 1:20-21). Example: James is slain and Peter is delivered. There was no "punishment" of James. But we see the eternal purpose of God unfolded in both the sweet and bitter providence. God's providence, that is, His sustaining and governing His universe, is not suspended when His children meet with unexpected and untimely trouble. "The Lord reigns," the Psalmist reminds us.

c. Those unexplainable crises, the kind of circumstances we would never invite on our own, are times to learn to rest in the wisdom and goodness of our Lord.

The distinguishing mark of a Christian is that we face crises with a hope (a confident expectation) while the unbelieving world has no hope. Spurgeon says, "Whatever God ordains must be. The wisdom of God always has a purpose." See Philippians 1:12-14, 19-21. John Piper says, "I should feel a deep satisfaction in the works of God's providence in that they reveal more of God to me and shape me for His good into the kind of person who treasures this God more fully."

II. The Church Must Respond to Crisis

It may be a crisis confronting the whole church or confronting one individual; yet because of our relationship to one another, what confronts one confronts all. We see the grand oneness of the church at this point. We see their concern for the individual but also the great concern for the work of God's kingdom through them.

1. On the individual level

We see Peter's maturity since his denial on the night of our Lord's arrest. Note his progress from denial through early events to his time in jail in Acts 4-5. Note also Peter's serenity in the midst of his adversity. There is a strange humor in what took place (v. 7-11). It is the crucible of trials that we learn to trust. See James 1:2-4.

See also I Peter 1:3-9, 13-16 - note:

(a) The reality of trials/crises v. 16

(b) The purpose of trials v. 7-9

But, as members of the Body of Christ, we do not stand alone...

2. On the corporate level (v. 5, 12)

a. Gather together

- Fellowship

- Encouragement

- Acceptance and love

- Exhortation

- Instruction from God's Word

- Worship

- Joy

b. Pray (v. 5)

i. The church is viewed in oneness - "by the church." We are to agree together in prayer. See Philippians

2:2, Colossians 4:2

ii. The prayer is to God v. 5. Not Herod - no appeal to the state in this situation, no picketing or protesting in this case. Not to the Jewish religious authorities. Not "a prayer" just to be praying. Example: "Our Father who art in heaven, hallowed be Thy name." See Hebrews 4:14-16 and Ephesians 3:11-19. It is a recognition of:

a. God's sovereignty

b. God's power to act

c. God's command and invitation to pray

d. God's consolation as His children look to Him

e. God's infinite care of His children

iii. The prayer is intense. No "warmed over" prayers, but red-hot intensity. Original Greek implied "fervently," "tight or strained." Arrows are best shot from a tight bowstring. Our prayers corporately should show that same intensity as they wing their way to God's throne of grace. The response of the people really should not be lumped in with unbelief (v. 13-17), rather, they had sought in prayer to prepare for life without Peter, as well as his deliverance. They prayed so that their minds and wills might be joyfully in concert with the will of God.

iv. The prayer is focused. "For him," i.e. concerning Peter or on behalf of Peter. "Not merely for his liberation, but for a happy issue to this trial, both to him and to the cause for which he suffered" (J.A. Alexander 446).

Conclusion

When crisis comes:

Individually - prepare to trust and obey

Corporately - gather together and pray

Ultimately - rest in providence and see the glory of God.

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