Living Sacrifice Evangelism "We offer up ourselves daily as a living sacrifice holy and incorruptible in the sight of God"

Acts 12 - Lessons Learned

Author: Jonathan Sampson

It’s dumb to do things just because you know people will like it.

Herod killed James, and seeing that it pleased the Jews, he proceeded to kill Peter too.
12:1-3

Although times seem difficult, the prayer of friends/family is an amazing weapon.

Peter was put into prison and guarded by sixteen soldiers. The Bible says, “But people were praying.” Peter was under intense security, and scheduled to be killed the very next day – but people were praying.
12:4-5

Sometimes it feels as though our problems are forever connected to us.

Peter was chained to two guards, whose sole-purpose at this point of their lives was to ensure that Peter would be guarded, and killed. What could make this worse? Peter is chained to two guys who are commanded to guard him until he is to be killed. Not only that, but fourteen other guards all watching over him too!
12:6

Sometimes God has to slap you before he will release you from bondages.

The Angel of the Lord appeared in the prison, while the guards were sleeping. Instead of poofing Peter from one place to another, he first slapped him on the side and then told him to get up. Sometimes before God releases us from certain things, we must first feel a little slap.

But when the Angel of the Lord told Peter to “get up”, Peter’s chains fell off freeing him from his two guards. When the Lord speaks, the world listens. If God tells you to “get up”, and “Do something”, then you will be assured that nothing can keep you.
12:7

Don’t let confusion keep you from following the Lord.

When the Angel of the Lord told Peter to follow him, Peter did as the Word said. Peter wasn’t 100% sure that it was really happening though. He just knew what The Word said, and did it – dream or reality, it didn’t matter.
12:8-11

When God delivers you, tell somebody – especially somebody who was praying for you.

When Peter was delivered, he had thought about what God did. Immediately, after considering what God did, he went and told his friends. His friends had been praying for him.
12:12-17

Give credit where credit is due – especially when it is obviously due!

The next morning after Peter’s exodus, the soldiers awoke and saw that Peter was no longer under their arms. Herod, after examining all sixteen soldiers decided that they should all be put to death. Instead of admitting that something amazing had taken place – a man escaped from the guard of 16, when he was chained to two of them…and none of the soldiers knew – Herod decided to ignore the obvious, and reject credit to God for this event.
12:18-20

In the end, God will get the glory and his Word will be multiplied.

At the end of this chapter, we see that Peter was freed, his guards were executed, Herod died from some type of worm infection, and the Word of God was multiplied. In the end, God gets the glory…always remember that.
12:21-23

Don’t stop working, until the job is done.

Barnabas and Saul returned from Jerusalem only after they had completed their work. Not before hand, even though they too encountered much opposition every day.
12:24-25