32. Give God the Glory

Posted on Posted in Sermon Notes Tagged with , , , ,

Hymns: RHC 93 To God Be the Glory 44 We Praise Thee, O God, Our Redeemer 419 Take My Life and Let It Be

Acts 12:18-25

18 Now as soon as it was day, there was no small stir among the soldiers, what was become of Peter. 19 And when Herod had sought for him, and found him not, he examined the keepers, and commanded that they should be put to death. And he went down from Judaea to Caesarea, and there abode. 20 And Herod was highly displeased with them of Tyre and Sidon: but they came with one accord to him, and, having made Blastus the king’s chamberlain their friend, desired peace; because their country was nourished by the king’s country. 21 And upon a set day Herod, arrayed in royal apparel, sat upon his throne, and made an oration unto them. 22 And the people gave a shout, saying, It is the voice of a god, and not of a man. 23 And immediately the angel of the Lord smote him, because he gave not God the glory: and he was eaten of worms, and gave up the ghost. 24 But the word of God grew and multiplied. 25 And Barnabas and Saul returned from Jerusalem, when they had fulfilled their ministry, and took with them John, whose surname was Mark.

Give God the Glory

OUTLINE

  • God’s Honour (v18-19)
  • God’s Wrath (v20-25)

INTRODUCTION

There was a Dennis Byrd was a professional football player. As an up-and-coming defensive superstar for the New York Jets, he was predicted to help turn the Jets organization around. Then tragedy struck.

On November 29, 1992, the Jets were playing the Chiefs. Dennis was about to sack the quarterback when he collided with a teammate and his spinal cord was snapped. In a split-second, his football career ended. He was paralyzed from the neck down. Everything he had planned for his life came to a screeching halt.

Later, he wrote about waking up in the middle of the night at Lenox Hospital in a halo brace, not knowing where he was, not knowing why he couldn’t move, not knowing what was happening. Suddenly, he went from dreaming of making it to the Pro Bowl to hoping he could someday hold his daughter in his arms again.

From a worldly perspective, Dennis was no longer able to reach his potential. But in God’s eyes, Dennis Byrd is capable of much more than sacking quarterbacks. In God’s eyes, Dennis Byrd is capable of giving him glory, and Dennis has done that in a tremendous way.

The world watched and listened as Dennis Byrd told the media that Christ was his source of comfort in his time of tragedy. The doctors announced to the media that Dennis may never walk again, and it would be years before they would know. Dennis told the media that with God’s help, he would walk again—soon.

On opening day of the 1993 football season, less than a year after the tragic collision, millions of television viewers watched Dennis Byrd walk out to the middle of the Meadowlands Stadium while 75,000 fans stood cheering in ovation. The miracle in Dennis Byrd’s life is not that he broke his neck and walked again. The miracle is that the injury that destroyed his career didn’t destroy his life. Christ was the center of his life. That tragedy did not deter him from trusting God and giving Him honour and glory in spite and despite his grave injury.

For the believer, there is no setback that God did not allow. Every trial and every tribulation that comes in the believer’s life is set there by God to strengthen his faith and to give God the glory. Our God is real, invisible but living, ready to make good the lives of His people as He molds them through life to conform to His image.

The Bible also tells us that there are those who stubbornly refused to acknowledge God and live in wickedness and rebellion especially in persecuting the people of God.

The Babylonian king Belshazzar, grandson of Nebuchadnezzar, had a great feast to a thousand of his lords and drank wine before the thousand.

While he tasted his wine, he commanded to bring the golden and silver vessels which Nebuchadnezzar his grandfather had taken out of the temple which was in Jerusalem that he and his wives and concubines might drink therein. While they drank wine and praise the gods of gold, and of silver, of brass, of iron, of wood and of stone, there came in the same hour a man’s hand and wrote over the wall of the king’s palace, the king frightened and alarmed cried aloud to bring the astrologers and magicians to interpret the writing. There was none who could interpret except Daniel, the captive from Israel was called in, he told the king.

Daniel 5:18-31 O thou king, the most high God gave Nebuchadnezzar thy father a kingdom, and majesty, and glory, and honour: And for the majesty that he gave him, all people, nations, and languages, trembled and feared before him: whom he would he slew; and whom he would he kept alive; and whom he would he set up; and whom he would he put down. But when his heart was lifted up, and his mind hardened in pride, he was deposed from his kingly throne, and they took his glory from him: And he was driven from the sons of men; and his heart was made like the beasts, and his dwelling was with the wild asses: they fed him with grass like oxen, and his body was wet with the dew of heaven; till he knew that the most high God ruled in the kingdom of men, and that he appointeth over it whomsoever he will. And thou his son, O Belshazzar, hast not humbled thine heart, though thou knewest all this; But hast lifted up thyself against the Lord of heaven; and they have brought the vessels of his house before thee, and thou, and thy lords, thy wives, and thy concubines, have drunk wine in them; and thou hast praised the gods of silver, and gold, of brass, iron, wood, and stone, which see not, nor hear, nor know: and the God in whose hand thy breath is, and whose are all thy ways, hast thou not glorified: Then was the part of the hand sent from him; and this writing was written. And this is the writing that was written, MENE, MENE, TEKEL, UPHARSIN. This is the interpretation of the thing: MENE; God hath numbered thy kingdom, and finished it. TEKEL; Thou art weighed in the balances, and art found wanting. PERES; Thy kingdom is divided, and given to the Medes and Persians. Then commanded Belshazzar, and they clothed Daniel with scarlet, and put a chain of gold about his neck, and made a proclamation concerning him, that he should be the third ruler in the kingdom. In that night was Belshazzar the king of the Chaldeans slain. And Darius the Median took the kingdom, being about threescore and two years old.

God judgment came swiftly in the fullness of time when the iniquity of the rebellious is full. Our text gives us the story of God’s judgment upon Herod, called Herod Agrippa I, grandson of Herod the Great, grew up in Rome with future emperor Claudius who ruled Palestine from A.D. 41-44.

Herod dies a gruesome and painful death. The Jewish historian Josephus claims that he suffered five days before he died. The one and only true God utterly humiliates this arrogant earthly ruler, who has not only opposed the work of God on earth, but also dared to put himself in the place of God. 

There has been a variety of suggestions based on known afflictions involving worms to explain the nature of Herod’s death. Luke’s point, however, is that an angel strikes him down.[1]

The gathered crowd (the dēmos)—the citizens of Caesarea and possibly also including the delegations from Tyre and Sidon—begins to acclaim Agrippa as a divine being. 

Ironically, hundreds of years earlier, the ruler of Tyre dared to consider himself a god. God warned him through the prophet Ezekiel that his insolence would lead to his sudden demise and death.

Ezekiel 28:2 Son of man, say unto the prince of Tyrus, Thus saith the Lord GOD; Because thine heart is lifted up, and thou hast said, I am a God, I sit in the seat of God, in the midst of the seas; yet thou art a man, and not God, though thou set thine heart as the heart of God:

Ezekiel 28:6-8 Therefore thus saith the Lord GOD; Because thou hast set thine heart as the heart of God; Behold, therefore I will bring strangers upon thee, the terrible of the nations: and they shall draw their swords against the beauty of thy wisdom, and they shall defile thy brightness. They shall bring thee down to the pit, and thou shalt die the deaths of them that are slain in the midst of the seas.

This prophetic oracle a deeper reference to the fall of Satan himself. The first sin did not occur on earth but in heaven when the most beautiful of God’s archangel fell when he lifted himself above God. Pride is the oldest and sin that bring God’s judgment.

Two thoughts 

  • God’s Honour (v18-19)
  • God’s Wrath (v20-25)
  • God’s Honour (v18-19)

18 Now as soon as it was day, there was no small stir among the soldiers, what was become of Peter. 19 And when Herod had sought for him, and found him not, he examined the keepers, and commanded that they should be put to death.

Peter escaped from prison when God sent an angel to deliver him. You recall our last sermon on 15 January “In Every Thing by Prayer” from Acts 12:1-17.

OUTLINE

  • Tribulation – Problem (v1-5a)
  • Tranquility – Prayer (v5b-7)
  • Triumph – Peace (v8-17)

The early church faced countless persecutions, violent opposition to her existence. But the church of God on earth is a supernatural body, endued and protected by the power of God from on high. The church is a protected people, this is pour privilege as God’s children.

We see this enacted, dramatically portrayed as the power of God was unleashed to ensure the success of the church and its mission despite violent opposition. 

God directly intervenes by sending an angel to free the apostle Peter from his imprisonment and stems the persecution by striking down the king of the land. 

What did the church do in times of tribulation, when persecution comes, when there is a problem in life? Pray!

The reformer Martin Luther admits, “The less I pray, the harder it gets, the more I pray, the better it goes.”

That’s why the Apostle Paul advises the believers to pray without ceasing. When you stop cleaving to Jesus, start looking at the waves around you, you will become discouraged and afraid and doubt and lose heart.

The men of God in the bible and throughout church history who are men of prayer. The understood the enormity of their need and the inadequacy of their strength. Prayer testifies to our faith in God. We are lacking to run our own life we need God’s help. Prayer is an act of faith. 

As we cultivate a vibrant prayer life, over the years, we see by and by prayers answered, as you taste more and more of God’s goodness, your faith grows. Doubts and fears will fade, to be replaced by a steadfast confidence in God. 

Luke 18:1-8 And he spake a parable unto them to this end, that men ought always to pray, and not to faint; Saying, There was in a city a judge, which feared not God, neither regarded man: And there was a widow in that city; and she came unto him, saying, Avenge me of mine adversary. And he would not for a while: but afterward he said within himself, Though I fear not God, nor regard man; Yet because this widow troubleth me, I will avenge her, lest by her continual coming she weary me. And the Lord said, Hear what the unjust judge saith. And shall not God avenge his own elect, which cry day and night unto him, though he bear long with them? I tell you that he will avenge them speedily. Nevertheless when the Son of man cometh, shall he find faith on the earth?

The burdens of life can often be so overwhelming at times that they threaten to rob the believer of his confidence in God’s ability to help him through yet another impasse. This parable by our Lord Jesus teaches us the lesson never to give up on the Lord: “men ought always to pray and not to faint”. Prayer is the believer’s power with God. Persistence in prayer is not the natural habit of the believer. Jesus uses this parable to teach this lesson. This parable encourages us to never stop praying even in the toughest of circumstances. Our faith cannot be seen but our prayer life can be seen, it is evidence of true faith. It gives hope to the children of God who are going through any trouble, call upon Him and He will help you. He is always fair, always just, on our part we must make sure we are on the Lord’s side.

The infant church organised a prayer meeting to seek God’s help. You recall in the Garden of Gethsemane when the soldiers came and forcibly hurled Jesus away, Peter responded by taking his sword and cut off the year of the high priest’s servant.

Matthew 26:52-56 Then said Jesus unto him, Put up again thy sword into his place: for all they that take the sword shall perish with the sword. Thinkest thou that I cannot now pray to my Father, and he shall presently give me more than twelve legions of angels? But how then shall the scriptures be fulfilled, that thus it must be? In that same hour said Jesus to the multitudes, Are ye come out as against a thief with swords and staves for to take me? I sat daily with you teaching in the temple, and ye laid no hold on me. But all this was done, that the scriptures of the prophets might be fulfilled. Then all the disciples forsook him, and fled.

The disciples have come a long way. They have learned to trust God. Stephen has been martyred. James has just been martyred, beheaded at the beginning of the chapter. Great cruelty.

And He spoke also a parable to them, the King James translator correctly translated in the italics “to this end” to show purpose. Jesus speaks this parable “to this end”, to this purpose, “that” He is speaking to encourage, exhort, give confidence in the heart that “believers must always pray and not faint”.

The literal translation can be “it is necessary always to pray and not to faint”. The word “ought” is used to carry the sense of necessity of duty or command”. 

Notice also this word for “pray” always refers to “prayer to God” in the NT. The 

disciples are to pray under all types of necessity. 

The key word is the adverb “always” – it connotes “time”, it means “at all times”, it speaks of constancy in prayer, a consistent prayer life. 

“To faint” is to lose heart, to let despondency take over, become discouraged, give up, grow weary, to despair, to be demoralized, to lose one’s motivation, to stop praying. It is necessary to pray in all circumstances especially in the afflictions and hardships of life. This we see illustrated in the parable. Who do you think is more important in the parable, the widow, the judge or the adversary? Let this thought be in your mind as we study this parable.

What are widows like in Israel? Well, widows are the most helpless people in ancient Israel. They are despised and often the victim of unfair treatment. They have no social status, no money, women don’t earn money, having no influence, no husband to back or support them, most vulnerable and easily bullied. The most difficult is to be both a widow and childless, this is a double hardship. Such a woman has no husband to be provider, and protector and also has no son or even prospects for a son to carry on the family name and to support her in her old age. While we are not told the background of this widow, we do see that as a woman, she is going personally to court because there is no man to plead her case or plead her cause. Well, perhaps this is a rich widow, we do not know, Jesus doesn’t say. The OT is full of injunctions to Israel and her judges to care for the fatherless and widows, to relieve them of their afflictions. We can see also God’s judgement pronounced upon those who oppress the widow. Is she that helpless? I believe this is not the emphasis but rather her persistence. Verse 6 tells us that the judges says “5 Yet because this widow troubleth me, I will avenge her, lest by her continual coming she weary me.”

This widow we can see is in great distress and in her helpless estate, being sorely pursued by her adversary, enemy or tormentor. She sought the help of this judge. She seemed to have only one avenue for recourse – to appeal to this wicked or unjust judge, an almost impossible task. What did she say to the judge? “Avenge me of my adversary” This word “avenge” means to do justice, to vindicate, protecting one from another or taking just “vengeance”. It is in the imperative, a command. It involves the attempt of the widow to exert the force of her will upon the will of the unjust judge. 

What was the response of the judge to the widow’s plea? Verse 4a says, “And he would not for a while…” Jesus says, “he would not [help] for a while [after a period of prolonged pleading by the widow].” 

Notice here the judge’s continued refusal in response to her continual asking. Here we want to pause to consider this widow’s situation that caused her to be so persistent. She was at her wits end. There is no other way that she would think of that has the power/influence to right the wrong that she has suffered and continue to suffer. It is so unbearable, she was desperate. The emphasis is not that one need to pester God until He reluctantly responds but that He will vindicate His misunderstood and suffering people. The encouragement is therefore, under any circumstances, we should never give up but continue to trust the Lord.

We are to wait upon God as He works out His justice in apparent slowness. We wrestle with the problem of evil and apparent injustice in this world. This is what we call “theodicy”, the justification of God in the presence of sorrow and suffering in this world. If there is a God why doesn’t He stop all these suffering? What we have to realize is that God always does what’s right but not always what is merciful. 

Is there a God who cares, does He not know their sufferings? Well, the existence of the human race is the testimony of the long suffering of God, if God would work according to His justice, we will all be wiped out. Jesus hasn’t come yet, it does not mean He is slack and will not fulfil His promise to receive His people to glory but He is allowing time for more to repent. 

“6 And the Lord said, Hear what the unjust judge saith. 7 And shall not God avenge his own elect, which cry day and night unto him, though he bear long with them? 8 I tell you that he will avenge them speedily.”

To bear long is to be patient, to be patient in bearing the offences and injuries of others, to be mild and slow in avenging, to be long suffering, slow to anger, slow to punish, God deterring the punishment of sin to allow time for repentance!

Contrast Judge’s Delay with God’s Ready Response (v6-8a)

Our Lord now turns His audience from the unjust judge to God Himself, who always do justice and does not fail in showing compassion for believers who suffer. Even the unjust judge will not tolerate pestering how much more our infinitely just Judge? God will certainly respond to His beloved one “his own elect” by making right the wrong that they suffer when they cry to Him. Our God will always do what’s just and right and is filled with compassion to help His children who are suffering. 

God’s respond will be swift and very reassuring, Jesus says, “8 I tell you that he will avenge them speedily.” 

By way of application, in working life, it is not uncommon during crisis time to shift responsibility, pass the bug, by finding a scapegoat whenever things go wrong. We may find ourselves unjustly blamed, accused, the mistake is not from us but we have to bear the consequences. As an admonition, do not take matters into our own hands and seek revenge ourselves. The Bible tells us when our enemy thirst, give him drink, when he is hungry, gives him food. In this way, you provide a way for them to repent. God says vengeance is mine. But we are often quick to react, and that’s how war starts, our tendency is to overreact. We are taking vengeance without giving them an opportunity to repent whilst God desire not anyone to perish but all should come to repentance.

Hence, the Lord is saying, leave it to Me, I will do it in My time. If we leave things to God, we will continue to pray. We leave it to God to do it in the right time and in right measure. 

Realize also that anyone that touches you touches “the apple of My eye”, the Lord says. The eye is the most sensitive part of the body. We are most precious before God this is the endearing term “his own elect” in verse 7. God is using your tribulation to work repentance in their hearts. Therefore there is no need to take revenge. God will do so in His time. Continue to trust Him.

This is the test of true faith. When we stop praying, we stop believing. When we pray, God gives us faith. Faith keeps us praying and praying strengthens our faith, paradoxical but true. This is the mysterious interplay of man’s responsibility and God’s sovereignty. May the Lord find us prayerful! May the Lord find us faithful! May we never give up but always hope in God, continue to trust Him no matter what the situation, for He is in control and He cares for you! 

  • God’s Wrath (v20-25)

20 And he went down from Judaea to Caesarea, and there abode. And Herod was highly displeased with them of Tyre and Sidon: but they came with one accord to him, and, having made Blastus the king’s chamberlain their friend, desired peace; because their country was nourished by the king’s country. 21  And upon a set day Herod, arrayed in royal apparel, sat upon his throne, and made an oration unto them. 22 And the people gave a shout, saying, It is the voice of a god, and not of a man. 23 And immediately the angel of the Lord smote him, because he gave not God the glory: and he was eaten of worms, and gave up the ghost. 

According to the historian Josephus, Herod appeared in front of the people early on a sunny morning wearing an unusual robe made entirely of silver. As the bright morning sun shone on the robe and reflected brightly off it, Herod gleamed in dazzling splendour. The effect on the people was precisely as Herod intended. They acclaimed him as a god. This is certainly not unusual for the time. Emperors were often honoured as gods after their deaths. 

Gaius Caligula, however, was at this time insisting that people worship him as a god during his reign. Herod sought no less an honour.[2]

Now, when Agrippa had reigned three years over all Judea, he came to the city Caesarea, which was formerly called Strato’s Tower; and there he exhibited shows in honour of Caesar, upon his being informed that there was a certain festival celebrated to make vows for his safety. At which festival, a great multitude was gotten together of the principal persons, and such as were of dignity through his province.

On the second day of which shows he put on a garment made wholly of silver, and of a contexture truly wonderful, and came into the theatre early in the morning; at which time the silver of his garment being illuminated by the fresh reflection of the sun’s rays upon it, shone out after a surprising manner, and was so resplendent as to spread a horror over those that looked intently upon him; and presently his flatterers cried out, one from one place, and another from another (though not for his good), that he was a god; and they added, “Be thou merciful to us; for although we have hitherto reverenced thee only as a man, yet shall we henceforth own thee as superior to mortal nature.”

Upon this the king did neither rebuke them, nor reject their impious flattery. But, as he presently afterwards looked up, he saw an owl sitting on a certain rope over his head, and immediately understood that this bird was the messenger of ill tidings, as it had once been the messenger of good tidings to him; and fell into the deepest sorrow. A severe pain also arose in his belly, and began in a most violent manner.

He therefore looked upon his friends, and said, “I whom you call a god, am commanded presently to depart this life; while Providence thus reproves the lying words you just now said to me; and I, who was by you called immortal, am immediately to be hurried away by death. But I am bound to accept of what Providence allots as it pleases God; for we have by no means lived ill, but in a splendid and happy manner.”

When he said this, his pain was become violent. Accordingly, he was carried into the palace; and the rumour went abroad everywhere, that he would certainly die in a little time.

But the multitude presently sat in sackcloth, with their wives and children, after the law of their country, and besought God for the king’s recovery. All places were also full of mourning and lamentation. Now the king rested in a high chamber, and as he saw them below lying prostrate on the ground, he could not himself forbear weeping. And when he had been quite worn out by the pain in his belly for five days, he departed this life, being in the fifty-fourth year of his age, and in the seventh year of his reign.

It must struck fear in the hearts of all who behold the judgment of God upon those who rob God of His glory.

Isaiah 42:8 I am the LORD: that is my name: and my glory will I not give to another, neither my praise to graven images.

24 But the word of God grew and multiplied. 25 And Barnabas and Saul returned from Jerusalem, when they had fulfilled their ministry, and took with them John, whose surname was Mark.

God’s Name was gloriously magnified. He magnified His own Name. His people gave Him the glory and are thankful to be His people as they lived with fear and trembling doing His will.

CONCLUSION

  • God’s Honour (v18-19)
  • God’s Wrath (v20-25)


May God’s people give Him all glory and praise as they lived under His careful and faithful care. Amen. 

[1] Zondervan Illustrated Bible Backgrounds Commentary, NewTestament – Zondervan Illustrated Bible Backgrounds Commentary on the New Testament – John, Acts.

[2] Zondervan Illustrated Bible Backgrounds Commentary, NewTestament – Zondervan Illustrated Bible Backgrounds Commentary on the New Testament – John, Acts.