Session 11 - James MacDonald

Notes from this session (expositional sermon on Acts 12):

God is in control

1. Even when I suffer (Acts 12:1-5)
- Sincerity is not an exemption from suffering
- Service to God does not mean exemption from suffering
- 16 soldiers guarding 1 guy
- Stature is not an exemption from suffering
- God allows it - He will use it - He is in control

2. Even when it's midnight (v. 6-11)
- At midnight means I can't think of a way this can get fixed
- After this it will be totally in your hands
- Peter is sleeping - not stressed - Peter knew that God was in control and he trusted Him
- Just because it's down to the wire and past the point of no return, doesn't mean that God is not going to act
- We try to put God on our program, and what we need to do is get on His program

3. Even when my faith is weak (v. 12-19)
- They thought it was his angel (i.e. that he was dead) - they were praying but really were thinking that it was over. Their faith was very weak - yet God answered.
- Faith is important, but sovereignty supersedes faith. God is bigger.

4. Even when the wicked seem to prosper (v. 20-25)
- The crowd could have shouted "this just isn't right - do something God! Why don't you act?"
- Don't think that God's silence about something means that He doesn't see or care or know.
- That's what I think about that!
- He struck him down because he did not give God the glory - God will not share His glory with another
- God is in control when the wicked "seem" to prosper

But the Word of God continued to increase and spread.