From Pastor Josh Laxton
“This is the Law of Gospel motion: For every gospel action there is an attempt by the evil one (through any means necessary) to have an equal and opposite reaction.”
“We have to change our perspective about Christian death. Death, for the believer, is the entrance of life eternal. Our days have been numbered by the Lord, not us. That’s why we should never take our death in our own hands. Yet, to die, as the Apostle Paul said, is gain and to live is Christ. Death is gain. Living is Christ. God was ready for James to come home. God still had work for Peter to do. In James’ death, God was glorified, and in Peter’s living God was glorified.”
“We should not be looking for a fight with the world. We should be looking for ways to win the world.”
In this passage in Acts, we see that even though Jesus is King, there is suffering and hardship in the world due to sin. James was beheaded, Peter was in prison and Herod was enjoying popularity for his role in persecuting believers.
The church powerfully prays for Peter when he is in jail. God comes to Peter’s aid in a miraculous way. An angel is sent to release Peter from prison while he is under Roman guard. Peter walks out of the jail under extraordinary circumstances and goes to the house where the believers are praying. Peter, after finally being let into the house, shares the miracle that just happened to him. Peter’s salvation from the clutches of Herod demonstrated the power of prayer and how important prayer is for believers to practice faithfully.
Every one of us gives our allegiance to something and/or someone. Herod accepted adoration that should have been God’s. He let his earthly power go to his head and rule his life. God took care of this prideful attitude and Herod was struck down by an angel — he was eaten by worms and died.
We, too, are to take courage in the face of hardship and look to our almighty and powerful God who rules and reigns in all things, big and small. Pray continuously. Look for a miracle and when it comes, have eyes that can see and recognize what God is doing. Know that God is in charge of all things. He will take care of the proud who, like King Herod, try to take the praise and adoration that are God’s alone.
Rest in the Lord and know that even when the situation is bleak, God is our deliverer, provider, and rescuer. Even through adverse situations, as we are faithful to share God’s word with our neighbors and nations, God will have His word continue to spread and flourish.
Main point: GOD’S SOVEREIGNTY doesn’t always line up with human strategy. We should seek to align our human strategy with God’s sovereignty.
God’s sovereignty is God’s rule and reign over all creation as He works in, through, and over all creation to bring about His ultimate end — which is to be glorified in all the earth as He redeems a people from all peoples to reflect His glory in all spheres of life, thereby bringing heaven to earth. (Strategy = Why, Where, What, How. Strategy is the why behind our efforts, where we would go, what we would do, and how we would do it.)
1. God’s Sovereignty and the Non-Christian Strategy for Life.
(King Herod, unbelieving Jews, and soldiers)
• God’s sovereignty invades the life of non-Christians.
• Non-Christians strategically will oppose God’s sovereignty enacted through His people (Law of Gospel Motion).
• Non-Christians might strategically win battles, but they will not win the war against God’s sovereignty.
2. God’s Sovereignty and the Christian Strategy for Life.
(James, Peter and the Church)
• God’s sovereignty may involve different strategies for different Christians. We should not presume to know the mind of the Lord. We choose to trust His sovereign strategies even though we don’t understand them.
• God’s sovereignty should lead Christians to strategically sleep (like Peter did) and seek.
-While Peter is sleeping, the Church is seeking and the Bible says they were praying earnestly.
Thoughts about prayer and God’s sovereignty:
(1) Prayer is the means of communicating with the sovereign King about His sovereign will.
(2) Prayer continues even though the outcomes of God’s sovereignty may oppose our supplications.
(3) If we can keep the model of the Lord’s prayer before us in our prayer, it will never lead to the ceasing for prayer but the continuation of it.
(4) Prayer that works with God’s sovereignty to move mountains miraculously doesn’t require massive faith but mustard seed-like faith.
• God’s sovereignty works in a supernaturally strategic way to accomplish His unbelievable plan in/for our life.
• God’s sovereignty will always lead Christians to strategically be part of His church.
If God in His sovereignty chooses to use the Church, then Christians, in their strategy for living, should choose to be part of His church.
• God’s sovereignty doesn’t mean Christians should be strategically stupid.
Jesus did not pick fights, but preached and performed the good news and signs of the Kingdom. That, in and of itself, in many cases and ways will elicit opposition. We don’t go looking for opposition to fight, but we look for opportunities to share the Gospel.
This week, write down two or three situations that you are currently living through that are really difficult. These might be a family struggle, a work project that seems impossible, tests that are challenging, a medical issue, or friendships that are frayed — or maybe something else.
Spend time in prayer, lifting these difficulties up to God. Ask God for his guidance, wisdom, and direction. Write down what the Holy Spirit impresses on you concerning each situation you have listed. Turn them over to God in prayer.
Remember how God heard the prayer of the believers for Peter in Acts 12:5, and how God provided a miracle in Acts 12: 8-11, and confirmed the believers’ prayer in Acts 12:12-17. However, in Acts 12:2, God in His sovereignty did not save James from death. No matter the outcome of the situations we pray for, we are called to pray through them and trust God for Him to work out His will in each situation.
Bible Verses:
Look expectantly for God to be working in your difficult situations this week. Be sensitive to the Holy Spirit and His leading in your life. Believe confidently that God will be with you to comfort you and provide answers to your prayers.
Realize that God in His sovereignty sometimes answers our prayers in the way we have asked, and sometimes in His sovereignty, He answers them in His own way and time.
Lord, we ask you to help us be your people who are on mission for you. Let us boldly share the good news of the Gospel with others. We know that people all around us are living in darkness and we are called, as followers of King Jesus, to be light in our world. Let us not hide our faith, but let us realize that you want to use us, through the power of the Holy Spirit, to reach others who so desperately need a Savior. Place people in our path this week who need to know your love and compassion. Give us the words to say so that lost people will commit their lives to Jesus as their Savior and King.
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» May 20-21
EMPOWERED | Martyrdom, Escape, and Judgement | Senior Pastor Josh Laxton
» May 27-28
EMPOWERED | Sermon Title TBA| Executive Pastor to the Senior Pastor Derwin Anderson
» May 20-21
EMPOWERED | Martyrdom, Escape, and Judgement | Senior Pastor Josh Laxton
» May 27-28
EMPOWERED | Sermon Title TBA| Executive Pastor to the Senior Pastor Derwin Anderson
Mondays, June 5 through July 25 at 10:00 a.m. or Tuesdays, June 6 through July 26 at 6:30 p.m.
Do you have trouble thinking of words to say to God when you pray? Are you afraid some emotions are too intense to express to God? Do you reach the end of a day only to realize you haven’t prayed at all? You’re not alone. Prayer is the way we relate to God, but sometimes it’s a struggle. Throughout God’s Word, we encounter many voices who teach us how to pray.
Saturday, June 3 at 8:00 a.m.
Don't miss out on our next serve day as we care for our neighbors and local community. We'll gather as a large group in the morning for worship and then head out to serve throughout the community on various projects.
May 13-May 28
Did you know that over 80% of women considering abortion who see their babies on an ultrasound changed their minds and choose life instead? That's why we're partnering with The Pregnancy Centers of Sanford and Winter Park collecting loose change that can help save lives! So stop by the Commission table in the foyer this weekend and pick up a baby bottle. Then get your whole family involved to fill it with loose change, cash or checks, and return it to the Commission area by May 28 to help cover the costs of a free pregnancy tests, life-affirming counsel, baby supplies and even a life-saving ultrasound.
