February 1, 2023 -- Acts 12:20-24 -- The Acts of the Apostles: Two perspectives on death

People loved by the Father, in the Spirit's power: Sh'ma ~ hear and obey Jesus!

Now Herod was angry with the people of Tyre and Sidon, and they came to him with one accord, and having persuaded Blastus, the king's chamberlain, they asked for peace, because their country depended on the king's country for food. 21 On an appointed day Herod put on his royal robes, took his seat upon the throne, and delivered an oration to them. 22 And the people were shouting, “The voice of a god, and not of a man!” 23 Immediately an angel of the Lord struck him down, because he did not give God the glory, and he was eaten by worms and breathed his last.
24 But the word of God increased and multiplied.
Acts 12:20-24 ESV

In the context of Acts you learn King Herod was persecuting the Christian believers. This chapter starts with the fact he’d killed James the brother of John and was laying violent hands on those who belonged to the church. When Jesus called Saul who was later renamed Paul, His thunderous voice asked, “Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting Me?” (Acts 9:4). Notice that Jesus links Himself so closely to His people that to harm the people of God is to seek to harm Jesus Himself.

From a human perspective King Herod’s death could be explained as a stroke followed by an opportunistic and fatal parasitical infection. From the perspective of heaven, King Herod was struck down and judged by God for his hubris. Dear believers, the promise of God is sure, He sees a sparrow fall (Matthew 10:29) and Jesus has declared each human is far more valuable than a sparrow. When a leader acts against the people of God that person will face the judgment of God—both in the manner and timing of death and then at the Last Judgment.

Death ought to be a fearsome thing for those who do not believe! They will face the Judge of All the Earth and He will do right and His holiness will be avenged. Death for the Christian is the final punishment of God against sin, as was promised in Genesis 2:17. However, Jesus bore the curse of God against our sin so that at our death, sin no longer has any claim or any hold on the believer. Death is swallowed up in victory (I Corinthians 15:54).

Dear family in our Lord Jesus Christ—preach the power of Jesus Christ and the fear of the LORD. Go to unbelievers and speak the hope that is yours through the love of God the grace of Christ in the fellowship of the Spirit. Some will reject you, but are in fact rejecting Jesus. Others will embrace Jesus because of your bold witness. Thanks be to God for this.

Father in heaven, to You alone belongs all the praise and honour and glory~hallowed be Your Name! We pray for our leaders, elected and self-appointed, who act as if they had achieved any victory or wealth or position in their own strength. While there is yet time, let our leaders learn the greatest blessing that is available, which is humble obedience to Jesus. Raise up advisors and counselors, believing family members and friends so that the Gospel will penetrate the inner circles of worldly power. Faithful Father, renew in Your people, all of us, a holy zeal to live for Jesus, to speak of Him far and wide and this by the powerful Spirit Whom You have so generously given as a seal of Your faithful love and the guarantee of the inheritance that is ours in Jesus. Amen.

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Shane and Shane “Only There”

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