by Kyle Butt, M.A. ... Stephen Hawking Is Wrong, God Created the Universe

http://apologeticspress.org/APContent.aspx?category=12&article=3768

Stephen Hawking Is Wrong, God Created the Universe

by	Kyle Butt, M.A.

Stephen Hawking is a brilliant scientist. He has battled a crippling disease since he was 20, made a name for himself on a global scale through his scientific prowess, and been an inspiration to many. But in his latest book, The Grand Design, he is just plain wrong. Michael Holden wrote an article he titled: “‘God Did Not Create the Universe,’ Says Hawking,” in which he stated that Hawking’s new book, co-authored with Leonard Mlodinow, proposes the idea that the laws which hold the Universe together do not need an intelligent Designer.

In fact, Holden quoted Hawking as saying: “Because there is a law such as gravity, the universe can and will create itself from nothing. Spontaneous creation is the reason there is something rather than nothing, why the universe exists, why we exist” (as quoted in Holden, 2010, emp. added). While the book is not yet on the shelves, there are already glaring flaws with Hawking’s reasoning.

First, Hawking cannot explain why the law of gravity exists in the first place. He says “because there is a law of gravity,” but he can give no reason why such a law is present, and is constant. Without an adequate explanation for the origin of laws, such as gravity, any explanation of the origin of a Universe dependent on those laws is incomplete. Furthermore, regardless of what theoretical, mathematical calculations Hawking has concocted, the simple fact of the matter is, if there ever was a time when nothing existed, there would be nothing now. The mere fact that Hawking suggests that anything can “spontaneously create itself out of nothing,” is, with all due respect, ridiculously absurd and completely unscientific! It is impossible to get something from nothing—any way you slice it. Using Hawking’s way of thinking, we could suggest that this article you are reading “spontaneously created itself out of nothing.” Yet such a conclusion defies all known scientific laws.

In Acts 26:24, the Roman governor Festus said to the apostle Paul: “You are beside yourself! Much learning is driving you mad!” While that accusation did not accurately apply to Paul, it does, unfortunately, apply to Hawking’s concept of “spontaneous creation out of nothing.” The Psalmist wrote: “The fool has said in his heart, ‘There is no God.’” Sadly, Hawking’s brilliant mind has been turned to false, unscientific foolishness. Would to God that Hawking and all his fellow scientists would turn to the God of the Bible who speaks “the words of truth and reason” (Acts 26:25).

REFERENCE

Holden, Michael (2010), “‘God Did Not Create the Universe’, Says Hawking,” http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20100902/lf_nm_life/us_britain_hawking.

From Mark Copeland... The Call Of Barnabas And Saul (Acts 13:1-3)

                          "THE BOOK OF ACTS"

                The Call Of Barnabas And Saul (13:1-3)

INTRODUCTION

1. In Acts 1:8, Luke described the commission Jesus gave to His 
   apostles...
   a. To be witnesses to Him
   b. In Jerusalem, in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth

2. Thus far in his historical account, Luke has described how the
   commission was fulfilled...
   a. In Jerusalem - Ac 1:1-8:3
   b. In all Judea and Samaria - Ac 8:4-12:25

3. The rest of Luke's account focuses on the ministry of the apostle
   Paul...
   a. Saul of Tarsus, former persecutor of the church, now apostle to the
      Gentiles
   b. Whose missionary journeys illustrated how the gospel was taken "to
      the end of the earth"

[His first journey began soon after returning to Antioch of Syria with
Barnabas and John Mark (Ac 12:25), with a special call by the Holy
Spirit...]

I. THE CALL OF BARNABAS AND SAUL

   A.  THE CHURCH IN ANTIOCH...
      1. Started by men from Cyprus and Cyrene, by way of Jerusalem - Ac 11:19-21
      2. Strengthened by Barnabas, then later together with Paul - Ac 11:22-26
      3. Blessed with a number of prophets and teachers - Ac 13:1
         a. Barnabas, a Levite from Cyprus - Ac 4:36
         b. Simeon called Niger ("black"), presumably a black African,
            possibly Simon of Cyrene who carried Jesus' cross - cf. Lk 23:26; Mk 15:21
         c. Lucius of Cyrene, also from North Africa - cf. Ro 16:21
         d. Manaen, brought up with Herod the tetrarch (Herod Antipas, 
            who killed John the Baptist and tried Jesus) - Mt 14:1-10;
            Lk 23:7-11
         e. Saul, from Tarsus in Cilicia - Ac 11:25; 22:3 

   B. THE CALL OF THE HOLY SPIRIT...
      1. As they ministered (worshiped) to the Lord and fasted - Ac 13:2
      2. The Spirit told them to separate Barnabas and Saul for the work
         He had for them - Ac 13:2
      3. With fasting, prayer, and the laying on of hands, they are sent
         on their way - Ac 13:3

[And so Barnabas and Saul are "sent out by the Holy Spirit" (Ac 13:4). 
Our next study will follow them as they make their way to the island of
Cyprus.  But for the rest of this study, allow me to share...]

II. SOME OBSERVATIONS

   A. THE DIVERSITY OF THE CHURCH...
      1. Note the racial, cultural and social diversity of the five
         prophets and teachers
      2. Two from North Africa, one from Cyprus, one from Cilicia, one
         from Palestine
      3. One was raised with royalty, another was wealthy, another a
         rabbi
      4. Isn't this the way churches should be? - cf. Ro 10:12; Ga 3:26-28; Col 3:11
      5. Churches should reflect our oneness in Christ, not our society's
         divisions (e.g., white churches, black churches, Hispanic 
         churches); unless language differences are too great

   B. THE PRINCIPLE OF SYNERGY...
      1. Synergy:  the working together of two things to produce a result
         greater than the sum of their individual effects
      2. Two (or more) working together can accomplish more than their 
         working separately
      3. Jesus believed in the principle of synergy - Mk 6:7; Lk 10:1
      4. Barnabas believed in the principle of synergy - Ac 11:25-26
      5. The Holy Spirit believed in the principle of synergy - Ac 13:2,4
      6. We do well to support teams of two or more, not just individuals
         working alone

   C. THE PRACTICE OF FASTING...
      1. Jesus said His disciples would fast, and taught them how to fast
         - Mt 9:14-17; 6:16-18
      2. The church at Antioch fasted - Ac 13:2-3
      3. Elders were appointed with prayer and fasting - Ac 14:21-23
      4. Paul wrote of spouses fasting and prayer during periods of
         separation - 1Co 7:5  
      5. Fasting in conjunction with prayer is suitable in the life of 
         the Christian and the church

   D. THE LAYING ON OF HANDS...
      1. Used often in the appointment or dedication of service - Ac 6:6;
         13:3
      2. Indicating acceptance and approval of those who have been
         selected by the congregation - cf. Ac 6:1-6; 1Ti 5:22; He 6:2
      3. Beseeching God's blessing and protection on those who serve 
         - e.g., Ac 13:1-3
      4. "...the imposition of hands, accompanied by fasting and prayer,
         was, in this case, as in that of the seven deacons [Ac 6:6], 
         merely their formal separation to the special work to which they
         had been called. This, indeed, is sufficiently evident from the
         context.  What they did was doubtless what they had been told to
         do by the Holy Spirit.  But the Holy Spirit simply said to them,
         'Separate me Barnabas and Saul to the work to which I have 
         called them.' The fasting, prayer, and imposition of hands was,
         then, merely their separation to this work." - J. W. McGarvey, 
         Commentary on Acts, commenting on Ac 13:1-3
      5. "It was a ceremony deemed by infinite wisdom suitable to such a
         purpose; and, therefore, whenever a congregation has a similar 
         purpose to accomplish, they have, in this case, the judgments 
         and will of God, which should be their guide." - J.W. McGarvey,
         ibid.

CONCLUSION

1. Thus Barnabas and Saul are sent out on their missionary journey...
   a. Separated and sent out by the Holy Spirit Himself to the task 
      before them
   b. With fasting, prayer, and the laying on of hands by those left
      behind

2. Barnabas and Saul will return to the church of Antioch of Syria...
   a. It will serve as the point of departure for Paul's three missionary
      journeys
   b. As Saul, soon to be called Paul (Ac 13:9), does his part in 
      fulfilling the Great Commission

Thousands of years later and thousands of miles away, we benefit from
the work of those willing to go (and willing to send).  May their
example encourage us to do our part today in spreading the Gospel...

Executable Outlines, Copyright © Mark A. Copeland, 2012

From Gary... A sign from your own lips

 

Is it just me, or has cursing become more prevalent than it was, say, 40 years ago? It seems that people just don't care what comes out their mouth, and if they do, it is only to outdo the level of filth of their associates. Well, I decided to define this topic a bit by consulting a dictionary....

Artha

curse ~ verb    uncommon
 1. utter obscenities or profanities
      The drunken men were cursing loudly in the street
 2. heap obscenities upon
      The taxi driver who felt he didn't get a high enough tip cursed the passenger
 3. wish harm upon; invoke evil upon
      The bad witch cursed the child
 4. exclude from a church or a religious community
     The gay priest was excommunicated when he married his partner
 

curse ~ noun    common
 1. profane or obscene expression usually of surprise or anger
      expletives were deleted
 2. an appeal to some supernatural power to inflict evil on someone or some group
 3. an evil spell
      a witch put a curse on his whole family; he put the whammy on me
 4. something causing misery or death
       the bane of my life
 5. a severe affliction

So, cursing is the vocal expression of a negative wish upon something (or someone). Oh, I left out the enthusiasm that usually accompanies what is said.  We become angry and curse the object of our hatred.  Consider this passage...

Job (NASB)

Job 2:7  Then Satan went out from the presence of the LORD and smote Job with sore boils from the sole of his foot to the crown of his head.
Job 2:8  And he took a potsherd to scrape himself while he was sitting among the ashes.
Job 2:9  Then his wife said to him, "Do you still hold fast your integrity? Curse God and die!"
Job 2:10  But he said to her, "You speak as one of the foolish women speaks. Shall we indeed accept good from God and not accept adversity?" In all this Job did not sin with his lips.

That Job's wife could even consider that He say such things is a testament to the severity of the affliction (might we say - curse) of Job; an indication of his desperate straits.  Verse 10 shows that Job realized that any such curse would be a sin and so chastised her for her foolishness.  But, now that I think about it- isn't all cursing foolishness, because it is the expression of the evil intents within the heart.  Frankly, I think we should all be careful about what we say and remember the Scripture found in the book of Jude...

Jude (NASB)

Jud 1:1  Jude, a bond-servant of Jesus Christ, and brother of James, To those who are the called, beloved in God the Father, and kept for Jesus Christ:
Jud 1:2  May mercy and peace and love be multiplied to you.
Jud 1:3  Beloved, while I was making every effort to write you about our common salvation, I felt the necessity to write to you appealing that you contend earnestly for the faith which was once for all handed down to the saints.
Jud 1:4  For certain persons have crept in unnoticed, those who were long beforehand marked out for this condemnation, ungodly persons who turn the grace of our God into licentiousness and deny our only Master and Lord, Jesus Christ.
Jud 1:5  Now I desire to remind you, though you know all things once for all, that the Lord, after saving a people out of the land of Egypt, subsequently destroyed those who did not believe.
Jud 1:6  And angels who did not keep their own domain, but abandoned their proper abode, He has kept in eternal bonds under darkness for the judgment of the great day,
Jud 1:7  just as Sodom and Gomorrah and the cities around them, since they in the same way as these indulged in gross immorality and went after strange flesh, are exhibited as an example in undergoing the punishment of eternal fire.
Jud 1:8  Yet in the same way these men, also by dreaming, defile the flesh, and reject authority, and revile angelic majesties.
Jud 1:9  But Michael the archangel, when he disputed with the devil and argued about the body of Moses, did not dare pronounce against him a railing judgment, but said, "The Lord rebuke you!"

Leave judgment to God and do not take matters into your own hands by uttering a curse. Consider the actions of a "man after God's own heart"...

1 Samuel, Chapter 24 (NASB)

1Sa 24:1  Now when Saul returned from pursuing the Philistines, he was told, saying, "Behold, David is in the wilderness of Engedi."
1Sa 24:2  Then Saul took three thousand chosen men from all Israel and went to seek David and his men in front of the Rocks of the Wild Goats.
1Sa 24:3  He came to the sheepfolds on the way, where there was a cave; and Saul went in to relieve himself. Now David and his men were sitting in the inner recesses of the cave.
1Sa 24:4  The men of David said to him, "Behold, this is the day of which the LORD said to you, 'Behold; I am about to give your enemy into your hand, and you shall do to him as it seems good to you.'" Then David arose and cut off the edge of Saul's robe secretly.
1Sa 24:5  It came about afterward that David's conscience bothered him because he had cut off the edge of Saul's robe.
1Sa 24:6  So he said to his men, "Far be it from me because of the LORD that I should do this thing to my lord, the LORD'S anointed, to stretch out my hand against him, since he is the LORD'S anointed."
1Sa 24:7  David persuaded his men with these words and did not allow them to rise up against Saul. And Saul arose, left the cave, and went on his way.
1Sa 24:8  Now afterward David arose and went out of the cave and called after Saul, saying, "My lord the king!" And when Saul looked behind him, David bowed with his face to the ground and prostrated himself.
1Sa 24:9  David said to Saul, "Why do you listen to the words of men, saying, 'Behold, David seeks to harm you'?
1Sa 24:10  "Behold, this day your eyes have seen that the LORD had given you today into my hand in the cave, and some said to kill you, but my eye had pity on you; and I said, 'I will not stretch out my hand against my lord, for he is the LORD'S anointed.'
1Sa 24:11  "Now, my father, see! Indeed, see the edge of your robe in my hand! For in that I cut off the edge of your robe and did not kill you, know and perceive that there is no evil or rebellion in my hands, and I have not sinned against you, though you are lying in wait for my life to take it.
1Sa 24:12  "May the LORD judge between you and me, and may the LORD avenge me on you; but my hand shall not be against you.
1Sa 24:13  "As the proverb of the ancients says, 'Out of the wicked comes forth wickedness'; but my hand shall not be against you.
1Sa 24:14  "After whom has the king of Israel come out? Whom are you pursuing? A dead dog, a single flea?
1Sa 24:15  "The LORD therefore be judge and decide between you and me; and may He see and plead my cause and deliver me from your hand." 

I am going to think about these things today- and I hope you will as well!!!!

From Jim McGuiggan... "YOU COMIN'?"

"YOU COMIN'?"

Jesus is to blame. The Christ of the cross is to blame. If it weren't for him I might be able to find some peace but he and his cross disturb me and won't let me be content with what I see when I look within and around me. If your loved one is quadriplegic you know that in many ways he or she isn't physically able to help you care for them and in some sense you adjust to the situation—you expect nothing and in that respect you aren't disappointed. If you truly believe there's nothing better to be hoped for in this world I suppose you might rage in your hopelessness or eat, drink (or starve) and die tomorrow; but if hope were dead would there not be some kind of resignation, a reluctant, numbed acceptance of things as they are? Maybe, but would that not be better than vainly hoping? Is that not what the old Greek story means to say in the story of Pandora's "box"—when she opened the forbidden box everything in it escaped except...hope. And it became the source of torment to all because they could never be content with things as they are.

In an early essay Bertrand Russell said that because we know the truth of human existence—that it's a pointless accident—we must face it and build a future on "unyielding despair." Well, it's into this world, with all its pain, loss, disappointment, loneliness, cruelty, entrenched evils and invincible selfishness that Jesus came, making claims and promising much.

In the first century he offended the Romans and their view of power and empire. He offended the Greeks and their view of God and wisdom. He offended the Jews and their view of God's faithfulness and their place in his purposes. And he continues to scandalize us all to this day. Don't you know I'm talking about the real Christ and not the one we hear about in so much preaching. Or the real one we don't hear about in so much preaching. The one who's hidden under ceaseless explanations of what this or that verse means, who's hidden behind the patter of the wise who handle all the "difficult questions" people ask, the one who's buried under the same unending calls for us all to be morally better—as if we hadn't heard this call ten-thousand times. Christless moralizing with the usual Bible verses thrown in to prove we're different from the secularists who preach the same Christless moralizing—and who now and then use Bible verses.

There are people who care nothing for him—and never did—they're not affected by him. The crass hedonists who think life's a one way ticket so, to the degree that they can manage it, they party the nights away. Maybe towards the end they think of "fire insurance" (though even that's not of great concern now). The world can't be made better—certainly not in their lifetimes—so why worry about it? Get what you can as quick as you can, throw a handful of coins in the direction of the world's needy during a big public musical concert and get back to the usual partying.

They ignore the churches with their inner squabbles. [That might be a smart thing!] Or, they listen for a while to their squabbles and discover how pathetic they are in the face of the world's great needs and wrongs—before they go back to the partying. Not a bad philosophy that; a happy life and an endless sleep at the end.

The Jesus of the cross disturbs those who hear him. Here are three general areas. There's the state of the world and the church and our own personal situations.

If you hear him, Jesus is too stubbornly real and we can't get away from him. Not that we're trying to, you understand. We neither try to nor want to get away from him but being in his presence and listening to his kingly promises that are written in blood can make us impatient with the chaotic, oppressive, confused, rebellious and cruel world. Why hasn't his sovereignty transformed the world already? As sad-spoken Matthew Arnold said, in the beginning, the tide of faith was fully in and covered the earth like a garment. But now, he said,—it would appear—all we hear is the faint sound of its "melancholy long withdrawing roar" as it retreats and leaves bare the naked shingled shores of the world. Sometimes we sorely want the present King of Kings to show himself more powerfully—more powerfully, that is, in the more common understanding of power. We'd like him to obliterate all the oppressive structures of the world—structures that we have neither the desire to destroy nor the strength to do it, supposing we had the desire. And why would we desire it, aren't we the ones that build them? The state of the world seems to "prove" that the Christian's claim that Jesus is Lord of Lords is sheer nonsense.

And when we look at the church as a whole and consider how pathetic and weak it is, how self-serving, as it fine-tunes its theology and gorges on rich truth and wants more to gorge on while a world of Lazaruses starves. Not content to draw lines of fellowship in places where the heart of the gospel is attacked, many church leaders insist on keeping us all in separate pens based on the flimsiest differences and they call it "defending the faith." We pay our ministers to "stand for the truth" if they're willing to stand for the truth that we pay them to stand for. In a world of tortured and tormented, sick and oppressed, humiliated, blind and despairing fellow-humans in their thousands of millions and our latest inner-church crusade is what? IS WHAT?

It's much easier to believe the too-rich-to-be-fully-grasped doctrines of the person and work of Jesus Christ in and as whom God revealed himself than it is to believe in the church as it church-shops its way from one assembly to another. And as we shop our first question is not, "What is your gospel here?" it's, "What programs do you have to suit me here?" "What are my rights here?" "Does this church know we're living in the 21st century?" At one end of the spectrum we have these primetime hucksters that ceaselessly beg for money to fund their programs (or other hidden things) and on the other there are churches that are offended if there's talk about sharing our wealth. Time and money is spent on leadership agendas that usually have to do with "making our church grow." Then there's the "preaching" [?]. 

And then there's the personal, bitter disappointment with oneself. There are times when you think you see real progress and then like a bolt of lightning and a thunderclap events expose your heart—it's seems as shrivelled as ever it was even after years of longing for better. Just when you think you've experienced significant growth you're brought face to face with outrageous meanness or corruption or bitterness that pours out of you. Those who know nothing of such experiences often find themselves with a smug smile of self-congratulation at their moral maturity and consistency. When our eyes focus on all this and more Jesus seems more and more distant and beyond us. And in our worst moments, Pack it in—walk away, comes to mind. Then you understand what Dorothy Sayers was getting at when she wrote:

I am battered and broken and weary and out of heart,
I will not listen to talk of heroic things,
But be content to play some simple part,
Freed from preposterous, wild imaginings...
Men were not made to walk as priests and kings.

Thou liest, Christ, Thou liest; take it hence,
That mirror of strange glories; I am I;
What wouldst Thou make of me? O cruel pretense,
Drive me not mad so with the mockery
Of that most lovely, unattainable lie!

And for a while—a day, a week, a month, a year—you sulk and snarl and prowl. Then you see him! He's always been there; you just didn't notice during that wretched period. You see him looking at you with those big eyes of his, calm and compelling, and as he moves away he looks back and motions with his head, "You comin'?" and…

Why can't he leave us alone? Why can't we who have met him leave him alone?

©2004 Jim McGuiggan. All materials are free to be copied and used as long as money is not being made.

Many thanks to brother Ed Healy, for allowing me to post from his website,theabidingword.com.

by Eric Lyons, M.Min. ... Sticky Business

http://apologeticspress.org/APContent.aspx?category=12&article=2250

Sticky Business

by	Eric Lyons, M.Min.

Advances in the science of biomimetics increasingly are reported in major scientific journals around the world. Scientists have attempted to mimic various designs or processes in the biological world for centuries, and 21st-century scientists show no signs of slowing down. In fact, it appears that now, more than ever, scientists are looking to nature for inspirations for their inventions. In June 2007, the journal New Scientist announced a new self-healing glue inspired by human bones (see Butt, 2007). In July 2007, MIT’s Technology Review reported the flight of a robotic fly at Harvard University, and how the government hopes eventually to use such “flies” in surveillance missions (see Ross, 2007; cf. Lyons, 2007). Nature, an international, weekly science journal, recently highlighted another impressive, life-inspired product—a biomimetic adhesive called “geckel,” that can adhere to both dry and wet surfaces (Haeshin, et al., 2007, 448[7151]:338-341).
The term “geckel” is derived from the names of the two creatures that inspired the new versatile adhesive: geckos and mussels. (Gecko + mussel = geckel.) Scientists closely examined the gecko’s “foot pads composed of specialized keratinous foot-hairs,” which “allow the gecko to cling onto vertical and even inverted surfaces” (Haeshin, et al., p. 338). By developing “nanotubes” that mimic “the bundles of fibers that make up the hairs on gecko feet” (Bullis, 2007), scientists have produced small tape samples that can be reused dozens of time. One obstacle to “gecko tape,” however, is water. Re-usable tape that mimics “gecko adhesion is greatly diminished upon full immersion” (Haeshin, et al., p. 338). Thus, scientists turned to the mussel.
Mussels have the ability to adhere to wet or fully immersed surfaces. Northwestern University biomedical-engineering professor Phillip Messersmith observed: “Mussels can stick to anything.... They adhere to a piece of wood, which is organic. They also adhere to the skin of whales” (as quoted in Patel-Predd, 2007). Their astounding stick-to-itiveness comes from a secretion of “specialized adhesive proteins” (Haeshin, et al., p. 338). After years of study, scientists have been able to manufacture a polymer that imitates the adhesive proteins of mussels.
Now, by combining what they have learned from gecko and mussel adhesion, researchers have developed a new adhesive, complete with nanotubes and a sticky protein polymer. Geckel is sticky, reusable, and can attach both to dry and wet surfaces. Scientists foresee it being used in many things, including medical tape and electronic equipment.
Sadly, many of the same scientists who spent thousands of hours studying the marvelous qualities of geckos and mussels believe these animals just evolved over millions of years. They believe that a big bang, plus spontaneous generation, plus time, plus chance equals awe-inspiring animals that hold the key to the invention of many impressive products. Researchers are designing new products based on living creatures that supposedly were not designed. Does this make any sense? None at all. The fact is, design demands a designer. Geckos and mussels, which scientists still cannot fully imitate, were designed by an intelligent Being—“The everlasting God, Jehovah, the Creator of the ends of the earth” (Isaiah 40:28, ASV). “O Lord, how manifold are Your works! In wisdom You have made them all...living things both small and great” (Psalm 104:24-25).

REFERENCES

Bullis, Kevin (2007), “Climbing Walls with Carbon Nanotubes,” Technology Review, June 25, [On-line], URL: http://www.technologyreview.com/Nanotech/18966/.
Butt, Kyle (2007), “Nature Sticks to Design,” Apologetics Press, [On-line], URL: http://www.apologeticspress.org/articles/3413.
Haeshin, Lee, Bruce Lee, and Phillip Messersmith (2007), “A Reversible Wet/Dry Adhesive Inspired by Mussels and Geckos,” Nature, 448[7151]:338-341, July 19.
Lyons, Eric (2007), “Who Makes the World’s Best Fliers?,” Apologetics Press, [On-line], URL: http://www.apologeticspress.org/articles/3436.
Patel-Predd, Prachi (2007), “Nanoglue Sticks Underwater,” Technology Review, July 18, [On-line], URL: http://www.technologyreview.com/Nanotech/19061/.
Ross, Rachel (2007), “Robotic Insect Takes Off for the First Time,” Technology Review, July 19, [On-line], URL: http://www.technologyreview.com/Infotech/19068/.

From Mark Copeland... Herod's Harassment Of The Church (Acts 12:1-25)

                          "THE BOOK OF ACTS"

              Herod's Harassment Of The Church (12:1-25)

INTRODUCTION

1. We have seen that with Saul's conversion the persecution against the
   church diminished...
   a. The churches in Judea, Samaria, and Galilee had peace - Ac 9:31
   b. The gospel had spread as far as Antioch in Syria - Ac 11:19-21

2. But then a new persecution arose against the church in Jerusalem...
   a. Initiated by Herod Agrippa I - Ac 12:1
   b. His grandfather was Herod the Great, who massacred the babies - Mt 2:16
   c. His uncle was Herod Antipas, who beheaded John, and tried Jesus
      - Mt 14:1-14; Lk 23:8-12  
   d. His son was Herod Agrippa II, who tried the apostle Paul - Ac 25:13-26:32

[Thus it was Herod Agrippa I who harassed the church in Jerusalem at
this time.  How God and the church responded to his harassment is
instructive, so let's begin with how...]

I. HEROD KILLS JAMES

   A. JAMES, BROTHER OF JOHN...
      1. Son of Zebedee, one of Jesus' first disciples - Mk 1:19-20
      2. Together with John his brother were called "Sons of Thunder"
         - Mk 3:17
      3. Part of the inner circle of Jesus' closest disciples - cf. Mk 5:37; 9:2; 13:3; 14:33

   B. THE FIRST APOSTLE TO DIE...
      1. Not counting Judas Iscariot, who died before the church began
      2. Jesus foretold James would suffer (the cup and baptism of
         suffering) - Mk 10:35-40
      3. And so Herod killed James with the sword (i.e., beheaded him) 
         - Ac 12:2
      4. Note:  James the apostle was not replaced after his death, nor
         is there any indication in the Scriptures that other apostles 
         were replaced when they died (excluding Judas Iscariot)

[Herod's harassment against the church by killing James pleased the
unbelieving Jews (Ac 12:3).  The most liked by the Jews of any of the
Herods (cf. Josephus), to further incur their favor...]

II. HEROD IMPRISONS PETER

   A. IMPRISONED BY A KING...
      1. Herod arrested Peter during the Days of Unleavened Bread, his 
         trial delayed - Ac 12:3-4
      2. Peter was therefore imprisoned, guarded by four squads of
         soldiers - Ac 12:4

   B. RELEASED BY AN ANGEL...
      1. In the meantime, the church responded with constant (fervent) 
         prayer - Ac 12:5
      2. Peter was bound by chains between two soldiers, with guards
         before the door - Ac 12:6
      3. An angel appeared, freed Peter, and led him out of the prison 
         - Ac 12:7-10
      4. Peter realized it was real, not a vision, that the Lord
         delivered him - Ac 12:11
      5. He goes to the house of Mary, mother of John Mark, where many
         were praying - Ac 12:12
      6. His arrival led to denial, then astonishment, but Peter 
         explained it all - Ac 12:13-17
      7. He gave instructions to inform James (the Lord's brother) and 
         then left - Ac 12:17   

[For some reason, the Lord saw fit to allow James to die while Peter
lived.  Peter would later die for Christ as well (as would most of the
apostles).  As for Herod, God was not done with him yet...]  

III. HEROD STRUCK BY AN ANGEL

   A. EXALTED BY MAN...
      1. Angered by Peter's escape, Herod executes the guards - Ac 12:18-19 
      2. Leaving Judea, Herod goes to Caesarea (seat of the Roman
         government) - Ac 12:19
      3. The people of Tyre and Sidon appeal to him via their friend
         Blastus, his aide - Ac 12:20
      4. Giving an oration, the people praise Herod as having the voice
         of a god - Ac 12:21-22

   B. HUMBLED BY GOD...
      1. Failing to give glory to God, Herod is immediately struck by an
         angel - Ac 12:23
      2. Luke (a physician) tells us he was eaten by worms and died - Ac 12:23
      3. Josephus says that a severe pain arose in his belly and became
         so violent that he was carried into his palace where he died 
         five days later
      4. Dr. A. Rendle Short, who was professor of surgery at Bristol
         University and wrote a book entitled The Bible and Modern 
         Medicine, stated that a great many people in Asia 'harbor 
         intestinal worms', which can form a tight ball and cause 'acute
         intestinal obstruction'. This may have been the cause of Herod's
         death. - Stott, J. R. W. (1994). The message of Acts: The 
         Spirit, the church & the world. The Bible Speaks Today.
         Leicester, England; Downers  Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press.

CONCLUSION

1. With the death of Herod and the end of his harassment against the
   church...
   a. "...the word of God grew and multiplied" - Ac 12:24
   b. Paul and Silas would later be able to complete their ministry and
      return to Antioch with John Mark - Ac 12:25

2. From this account of "Herod's Harassment Of The Church" we learn...
   a. How the church is to react against persecution:  pray! - e.g., Ac 12:5,12; cf. Ac 4:23-31
   b. How God is able to humble governmental authorities who resist Him
      - cf. Rev 17:14

Whether it be through Divine intervention or Divine providence, Jesus as
King of kings and Lord of lords is in ultimate control (cf. Ro 13:1-4).  

As His disciples we must trust Him, even if in His wisdom it means that
some might be martyrs while others go free...

Executable Outlines, Copyright © Mark A. Copeland, 2012

From Gary... At the "core" of...

Two days ago, I watched the Disney movie "John Carter" again, so it came as no surprise when I saw this volcanic picture that I thought of the Edgar Rice Burrough's book "At Earth's core". Written just about 100 years ago, it still had an attraction for me and I must say that I thoroughly enjoyed reading it.  I can't remember all the details, but 500 miles below the surface, our hero encounters intelligent flying reptiles in a prehistoric land called Pellicular. Wow, I surprised even myself on this one, because I read it a couple of years ago.  Memory is such a fleeting thing, but it is of utmost importance.  What we remember can literally make the difference between heaven and hell.  Consider this passage from the Psalms...

Psalm 119

Psa 119:9  b Beth. How can a young man keep his way pure? By keeping it according to Your word.
Psa 119:10  With all my heart I have sought You; Do not let me wander from Your commandments.
Psa 119:11  Your word I have treasured in my heart, That I may not sin against You.
Psa 119:12  Blessed are You, O LORD; Teach me Your statutes.
Psa 119:13  With my lips I have told of All the ordinances of Your mouth.
Psa 119:14  I have rejoiced in the way of Your testimonies, As much as in all riches.
Psa 119:15  I will meditate on Your precepts And regard Your ways.
Psa 119:16  I shall delight in Your statutes; I shall not forget Your word.

Purity is something we all have to strive for.  The best way I have found to help in this effort is to read your Bible and remember it. Admittedly, the remembering part is a bit more difficult than it used to be, but then, that is mitigated by decades of experiences. You or I may never achieve a "hero" status, but we can do, what we can do. So, do that and leave the rest up to God. He is the real HERO anyway!!!