The Importance of Numbers

1 ARE NUMBERS IMPORTANT? • IMAGINE THIS: A COUPLE GOES TO THE BEACH WITH THEIR THREE CHILDREN. • DURING THE COURSE OF THE DAY, ALL OF THEIR CHILDREN GO MISSING. • THE COUPLE SEARCHES EVERYWHERE AND FINALLY FIND TWO OF THEM. • THE HUSBAND TURNS TO HIS WIFE AND SAYS, "LET'S GO." • SHE SAYS, "WE CAN'T GO YET. WE'VE ONLY GOT TWO OF OUR KIDS." • HE SAYS, "DOESN'T MATTER. NUMBERS AREN'T IMPORTANT." • ARE NUMBERS IMPORTANT? OF COURSE THEY ARE! • GOD EVEN WROTE A WHOLE BOOK ON IT. • NOW, I AM NOT TRYING TO SAY THAT GOD ONLY CARES ABOUT NUMBERS • THAT WOULD BE SILLY, BUT THE GROWTH OF THE CHURCH • IS VERY IMPORTANT TO GOD • NOT JUST NUMERICAL GROWTH • BUT GEOGRAPHIC GROWTH, GROWTH IN MATURITY • GROWTH IN FAITH, GROWTH IN SERVICE • IN THE CHRISTIAN LIFE WE ARE CALLED TO GROW OUR CHURCH IN ALL THESE WAYS • WE NEED TO KNOW THAT ONE OF THE WAYS WE PARTICIPATE IN • GROWING GOD’S CHURCH IS BY SHARING WITH OTHERS • HOW GOD HAS WORKED IN OUR LIVES • WHEN WE SHARE GOD’S WORKING IN OUR LIVES • THERE WILL BE SOME WHO OPPOSE US • WE NEED TO TRUST THAT GOD WILL GROW THE CHURCH • NO MATTER WHAT THE OPPOSITION MIGHT DO • BECAUSE HE KNOWS EXACTLY WHAT NEEDS TO HAPPEN FOR THE CHURCH TO GROW, • NUMERICALLY, IN MATURITY • IN SERVICE AND FAITH • TODAY WE ARE GOING TO LOOK AT • THE SECOND HALF OF A STORY ABOUT • GOD WORKING IN PETER’S LIFE • AND WAY THAT GOD GOES ABOUT GROWING THE CHURCH • IN THE FACE OF PERSECUTION TURN TO ACTS 12:13 • KING HEROD HAD BEGUN PERSECUTING CHRISTIANS • SOON AFTER BEING PUT IN POWER • HE ARRESTED SOME, HE EXECUTED THE APOSTLE JAMES • WHEN HE SAW THIS PLEASED THE JEWS • HE ARRESTED PETER AND PLANNED TO EXECUTE HIM • BUT ON THE NIGHT BEFORE PETER’S EXECUTION • THE LORD SENT AN ANGEL WHO FREED PETER FROM PRISON • AFTER BEING FREED PETER WENT TO A HOUSE • WHERE CHRISTIANS WERE GATHERED TO PRAY FOR HIM ACTS 12:13–17 WHEN HE KNOCKED AT THE DOOR OF THE GATE, A SERVANT-GIRL NAMED RHODA CAME TO ANSWER. WHEN SHE RECOGNIZED PETER’S VOICE, BECAUSE OF HER JOY SHE DID NOT OPEN THE GATE, BUT RAN IN AND ANNOUNCED THAT PETER WAS STANDING IN FRONT OF THE GATE. THEY SAID TO HER, “YOU ARE OUT OF YOUR MIND!” BUT SHE KEPT INSISTING THAT IT WAS SO. THEY KEPT SAYING, “IT IS HIS ANGEL.” BUT PETER CONTINUED KNOCKING; AND WHEN THEY HAD OPENED THE DOOR, THEY SAW HIM AND WERE AMAZED. BUT MOTIONING TO THEM WITH HIS HAND TO BE SILENT, HE DESCRIBED TO THEM HOW THE LORD HAD LED HIM OUT OF THE PRISON. AND HE SAID, “REPORT THESE THINGS TO JAMES AND THE BRETHREN.” THEN HE LEFT AND WENT TO ANOTHER PLACE. WE NEED PATIENCE IN PRESENTING GOD • SOMETIMES IT TAKES AMAZING PATIENCE • TO TELL OTHERS WHAT GOD HAS DONE IN YOUR LIFE • IT IS THE MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT • PETER HAS JUST BEEN FREED FROM PRISON • HOURS BEFORE HE WAS TO BE EXECUTED • AND HE GOES TO THE HOUSE • WHERE HE KNOWS PEOPLE ARE GATHERED AND PRAYING FOR HIM • ALL HE WANTS TO DO IS TELL THESE PEOPLE WHAT HAS HAPPENED… HOW GOD HAS… • HE KNOCKS ON THE OUTER DOOR OF THE HOUSEHOLD • THIS WOULD BE A SMALL GATE ON THE STREET • THAT WOULD LEAD INTO A COURTYARD • A YOUNG GIRL NAMED RHODA COMES TO THE DOOR • WE KNOW PETER TOLD LUKE THESE EVENTS • AND SINCE PETER MENTIONED HER NAME IT IS LIKELY HE KNEW HER • THE FACT THAT SHE RECOGNIZES HIS VOICE MAKES THIS EVEN MORE LIKELY • BUT SHE IS SO EXCITED SHE DOES NOT OPEN THE GATE TO LET HIM IN, SHE LEAVES HIM STANDING OUT ON THE STREET. • SHE RUNS OF TO TELL EVERYONE PETER IS OUTSIDE THE GATE • THE PEOPLE SHE IS TELLING THIS TO ARE GATHERED • TO PRAY FOR PETER, WE ASSUME THEY PRAYED FOR HIS RELEASE • AND WHEN THIS YOUNG GIRL TELLS THEM HE IS AT THE GATE • “YOU ARE OUT OF YOUR MIND!” • THE VERY THING THEY ARE PRAYING FOR HAS HAPPENED • THEY THINK SHE IS CRAZY FOR SUGGESTING THEIR PRAYS WERE ANSWERED • NOW WE NEED TO NOTICE SOMETHING HERE • THE TEXT SAYS • BUT SHE KEPT INSISTING THAT IT WAS SO. THEY KEPT SAYING, “IT IS HIS ANGEL.” • THE WAY THIS IS WORDED MEANS THAT THIS EXCHANGE • WENT ON FOR A WHILE. THEY WENT BACK AND FORTH A FEW TIMES • AND THIS ENTIRE TIME PETER THE ESCAPED FUGITIVE • IS STANDING OUT ON THE STREET… • SOME ONE MIGHT ASK… WHAT DID THEY MEAN • WHEN THEY SAID; “IT IS HIS ANGEL.” • THE SIMPLEST SOLUTION IS THAT • THE WORD BEING TRANSLATED ANGEL • LITERALLY MEANS MESSENGER • THESE PEOPLE SEEM TO THINK PETER SENT A MESSENGER FROM PRISON • AND WHILE THIS CONVERSATION IS GOING ON • PETER CONTINUED KNOCKING; • THIS IS SOME SERIOUS PATIENCE • HE MUST THINK IT IS VERY IMPORTANT • TO TELL THEM WHAT GOD HAS DONE • HE COULD HAVE JUST LEFT WHEN RHODA DID NOT OPEN THE DOOR • BUT HE DID NOT… HE STAYS AND WAITS • SOMETIMES WE WALK AWAY • WHEN WE SHOULD STAY AND WAIT (RIFF) • IF WE ARE PATIENT, WE MIGHT HAVE A CHANCE • TO TELL PEOPLE WHAT GOD HAS DONE IN OUR LIVES… • FINALLY, THEY OPEN THE DOOR AND • THEY SAW HIM AND WERE AMAZED. • THIS MUST HAVE BEEN A NOISY KINDA OF AMAZED • CAUSE THE NEXT THING PETER DOES IT • MOTION TO THEM WITH HIS HAND TO BE SILENT, • REMEMBER HE IS A FUGITIVE WHO WAS ABOUT TO BE EXECUTED • IT IS THE MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT AND THESE PEOPLE • ARE NOW STANDING AT THE GATE ON THE STREET • MAKING ENOUGH NOISE THAT PETER HAS TO MOTION WITH HIS • HAND FOR THEM TO BE SILENT… • ONCE THEY WERE QUIET HE • DESCRIBED TO THEM HOW THE LORD HAD LED HIM OUT OF THE PRISON. • THIS IS PETER TELLING THESE FOLKS HOW GOD WORKED IN HIS LIFE • THIS IS WHAT WE NEED TO BE DOING.. • LETTING PEOPLE KNOW HOW GOD HAS GOTTEN US THROUGH TOUGH TIMES • AND PETER CONSIDERED THIS IMPORTANT ENOUGH • TO RISK HIS LIFE, TO STAND OUTSIDE A GATE • IN THE MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT RIGHT AFTER • ESCAPING FROM PRISON…. • HOW IMPORTANT DO WE CONSIDER IT? (RIFF) • HOW MUCH TIME AND EFFORT DO WE PUT INTO MAKING SURE • WE TELL OTHERS WHAT GOD HAS DONE FOR US?.... • AND THEN BEFORE HE LEAVES PETER GIVES THEM AN INSTRUCTION • “REPORT THESE THINGS TO JAMES AND THE BRETHREN.” • THIS JAMES IS THE HALF BROTHER OF JESUS, NOT THE APOSTLE • AT THIS POINT HE IS THE LEADER OF THE CHURCH IN JERUSALEM • SO PETER IS TELLING THEM • MAKE SURE THE REST OF THE CHURCH KNOWS WHAT GOD HAS DONE • AS SOON AS HE HAD DONE THIS IT SAYS; • HE LEFT AND WENT TO ANOTHER PLACE • A LOTA PEOPLE MAKE A BIG DEAL ABOUT WHERE • PETER MIGHT HAVE GONE • BUT LUKE JUST SAYS HE WENT TO ANOTHER PLACE • I THINK IF WHERE HE WENT WAS IMPORTANT • LUKE WOULD HAVE TOLD US WHERE HE WENT • LUKE MAY NOT TELL US WHERE PETER WENT • BUT HE DOES TELL US WHAT HAPPENED • IN JERUSALEM AFTER PETER LEFT ACTS 12:18–19 NOW WHEN DAY CAME, THERE WAS NO SMALL DISTURBANCE AMONG THE SOLDIERS AS TO WHAT COULD HAVE BECOME OF PETER. WHEN HEROD HAD SEARCHED FOR HIM AND HAD NOT FOUND HIM, HE EXAMINED THE GUARDS AND ORDERED THAT THEY BE LED AWAY TO EXECUTION. THEN HE WENT DOWN FROM JUDEA TO CAESAREA AND WAS SPENDING TIME THERE. GOD WORKING IS NOTICED • HEROD HAD 16 MEN WORKING IN SHIFTS OF 4 TO GUARD PETER • PETER WAS CHAINED TO TWO OF THEM AT ALL TIMES • AND YET HE HAD ESCAPED NOT JUST FROM THESE MEN • BUT FROM THE ENTIRE PRISON • AND WHEN DAY BREAK COMES • THERE WAS NO SMALL DISTURBANCE AMONG THE SOLDIERS • LUKE USES A PHRASE HERE THAT MEANS • THESE PEOPLE WERE VERY DISTURBED • THEY HAD NO EXPLANATION FOR HOW PETER COULD HAVE ESCAPED • AND THEY KNEW THEY WERE GONNA BE IN ALOTTA TROUBLE… • WHEN THE TEXT SAYS; HEROD HAD SEARCHED FOR HIM AND HAD NOT FOUND HIM, • IT MEANS HE ORDERED A SEARCH; HE DID NOT SEARCH HIMSELF • AND THEN WE SEE THAT HEROD • EXAMINED THE GUARDS AND ORDERED THAT THEY BE LED AWAY TO EXECUTION. • IT IS LIKELY THIS IS TAKING ABOUT THE 4 GUARD THAT WERE • PERSONALLY GUARDING PETER, THE TWO CHAINED TO HIM • AND THE TWO AT THE DOOR OUTSIDE HIS CELL • NOW IT IS NOT A BIG DEAL BUT THE WORD EXECUTION IS NOT ACTUALLY • IN THE TEXT, THEY ADDED IT BECAUSE THAT STATEMENT • THAT THEY BE LED AWAY WAS A POLITE WAY OF SAYING • THAT HEROD HAD THESE MEN KILLED… • THEN HEROD LEFT JERUSALEM • HE WENT DOWN FROM JUDEA TO CAESAREA AND WAS SPENDING TIME THERE. • THE WAY LUKE WORDS THIS MEANS THAT THERE IS A CONNECTION • BETWEEN THE EVENTS OF PETER’S ESCAPE AND HEROD LEAVING TOWN • MAYBE HE WAS WORRIED ABOUT THE PEOPLE • THEY HAD LIKED IT WHEN HE EXECUTED JAMES • MAYBE HEROD WAS WORRIED THE PEOPLE • WOULD NOT LIKE THAT PETER HAD ESCAPED… • HEROD HAD PERSECUTED THE CHURCH • HE HAD ARRESTED AND MISTREATED CHRISTIANS • HE HAD EXECUTED THE APOSTLE JAMES • HE HAD WANTED TO DO THE SAME THING TO PETER • BUT GOD HAD WORKED IN PETER’S LIFE • GOD HAD SENT AN ANGEL WHO FREED PETER • FROM PRISON AND SAVED HIM FROM EXECUTION • BUT GOD IS NOT DONE WITH HEROD ACTS 12:20–24 NOW HE WAS VERY ANGRY WITH THE PEOPLE OF TYRE AND SIDON; AND WITH ONE ACCORD THEY CAME TO HIM, AND HAVING WON OVER BLASTUS THE KING’S CHAMBERLAIN, THEY WERE ASKING FOR PEACE, BECAUSE THEIR COUNTRY WAS FED BY THE KING’S COUNTRY. ON AN APPOINTED DAY HEROD, HAVING PUT ON HIS ROYAL APPAREL, TOOK HIS SEAT ON THE ROSTRUM AND BEGAN DELIVERING AN ADDRESS TO THEM. THE PEOPLE KEPT CRYING OUT, “THE VOICE OF A GOD AND NOT OF A MAN!” AND IMMEDIATELY AN ANGEL OF THE LORD STRUCK HIM BECAUSE HE DID NOT GIVE GOD THE GLORY, AND HE WAS EATEN BY WORMS AND DIED. BUT THE WORD OF THE LORD CONTINUED TO GROW AND TO BE MULTIPLIED. GOD REMOVES OBSTACLES • HEROD WAS NOT A HAPPY MAN • HE DID NOT LIKE THE CHURCH • AND HERE IT SAYS HE WAS ANGRY WITH TYRE AND SIDON • NOW HE DID NOT RULE OVER THESE LANDS • BUT THE PEOPLE OF TYRE AND SIDON DEPENDED • ON THE LANDS HEROD DID RULE TO GET THEIR FOOD • SO THESE PEOPLE GOT BLASTUS THE CHAMBERLAIN ON THEIR SIDE • AND ON THE BIG DAY WHEN • WHEN THEY WERE GOING TO SIGN A TREATY • HEROD SHOWS UP DRESSED VERY FANCY • SITS DOWN AND STARTS HIS SPEECH • WE ACTUALLY HAVE HISTORICAL ACCOUNTS • OF THIS EVENT OUTSIDE THE BIBLE • HEROD’S OUTFIT WAS SILVER AND GOLD AND SPARKLED • SO BRIGHTLY PEOPLE WERE “BLINDED” BY IT • FROM THE HISTORICAL ACCOUNTS WE KNOW • THAT MANY OF THE PEOPLE IN THE AUDIENCE • WERE PEOPLE FROM TYRE AND SIDON • AS HEROD IS GIVING HIS SPEECH THESE PEOPLE • KEPT CRYING OUT, “THE VOICE OF A GOD AND NOT OF A MAN!” • MAYBE HE REALLY WAS THAT IMPRESSIVE • MAYBE IT WAS JUST THE SPARKLY CLOTHES • OR MAYBE THEY WERE JUST TRYING TO GET ON • HEROD’S GOOD SIDE, BUTTERING HIM UP SO SIGN THE TREATY • BUT HEROD NEVER GOT THE CHANCE TO SIGN THE TREATY • IMMEDIATELY AN ANGEL OF THE LORD STRUCK HIM BECAUSE HE DID NOT GIVE GOD THE GLORY, AND HE WAS EATEN BY WORMS AND DIED. • SEE HEROD KNEW BETTER • THESE PEOPLE CHANTING THAT HE HAD • THE VOICE OF A GOD AND NOT OF A MAN • THEY WERE PAGANS… THEY DID NOT KNOW GOD • HEROD WAS NOT A DEVOUT JEW • HE DID NOT KEEP JEWISH PRACTICES • BUT HE KNEW THERE WAS A GOD • AND HE KNEW IT WAS NOT HIM • AND HE ALLOWED THESE PAGANS TO GIVE HIM GLORY • HE DID NOT CORRECT THEM, HE DID NOT STOP THEM CHANTING • HE AND BECAUSE • HE DID NOT GIVE GOD THE GLORY, AND HE WAS EATEN BY WORMS AND DIED. • NOW, I ASSUMED HE DIED RIGHT AWAY AND MAYBE HE DID • BUT WHEN I READ THE HISTORICAL ACCOUNT • IT SAID THAT IT TOOK HEROD 5 DAYS TO DIE • AND WHEN HE FINALLY DIED, HE BURST OPEN • AND HIS GUT WAS FULL OF WORMS… • HE HAD ONLY RULED FOR 3 YEARS • IN HIS ARROGANCE HE HAD OPPOSED THE CHRISTIANS IN JERUSALEM • HE HAD ARRESTED AND MISTREATED SOME • HE HAD EXECUTED THE APOSTLE JAMES • HE HAD ARRESTED AND PLANNED TO EXECUTE PETER • BUT GOD HAD SENT AN ANGEL TO FREE PETER • AFTER PETER WAS FREED HEROD WENT TO CAESAREA • IN HIS PRIDE HE HAD ALLOWED THE PEOPLE • TO CALL HIM A GOD • AND HE HAD BEEEN STRUCK DOWN BY AN ANGEL • THIS MAN HEROD HAD OPPOSED THE CHURCH • HE HAD PERSECUTED THE CHURCH • AND GOD HAD REMOVED HIM AS AN OBSTACLE • REMOVED HIM AS SOMETHING THAT WOULD HAVE • SLOWED OR STOPPED THE GROWTH OF THE CHURCH… • I GUESS I ALWAYS UNDERSTOOD WEEDS WERE BAD • BUT REALLY TO ME, THEY WERE JUST NOT A MAJOR ISSUE • I KNEW THEY WERE A PROBLEM THEY JUST NEVER HAD ANY IMPACT • ON ANYTHING I DID • BUT SEE…. NOW I HAVE A LITTLE GARDEN • NOT MUCH OF A GARDEN BUT A LITTLE GARDEN • AND I LOVE MY PLANTS.. I GO CHECK ON THEM • 3 OR 4 TIMES A DAY.. JUST TO MAKE SURE THEY ARE GROWING • AND EVERY NOW AND THEN THESE LITTLE WEEDS SHOW UP • I NOTICE THEM RIGHT AWAY.. THEY DON’T LOOK LIKE • MY PLANTS, THEY REALLY STAND OUT IN THE GARDEN • SO I PULL THOSE LITTLE WEEDS RIGHT OUTTA THE GROUND • OR MAYBE SKY PULLS THEM.. HE IS GOOD AT HELPING WITH THAT • BUT SEE IF WE DID NOT PULL THEM • THEY WOULD EVENTUALLY HARM THE PLANTS • THEY WOULD BE TAKING NUTRIENTS FROM THE SOIL • AND EVENTUALLY THEY WOULD CHOKE OFF THE WHOLE GARDEN • AND NOTHING COULD GROW • HEROD WAS A WEED.. IN HIS CASE HE WAS A BIG POWERFUL WEED • AND HE WAS STARTING TO CHOKE THE CHURCH • SO GOD PULLED THAT WEED RIGHT OUTTA THE GROUND… • WE NEED TO KNOW THAT GOD REMOVES OBSTACLES TO CHURCH GROWTH • HE HAS DONE IT ALL THROUGH HISTORY….. • WE CAN GET ALL STRESSED OUT OVER HOW THINGS • ARE GOING IN THIS COUNTRY… AND I CAN UNDERSTAND WHY WE DO • BUT THE TRUTH IS OUR GOD IS A MIGHTY GOD • AND NO WEED NO MATTER HOW TOUGH • IS GOING TO STOP HIS CHURCH FROM GROWING… BECAUSE GOD GROWS THE CHURCH • LUKE CONCLUDES THIS ACCOUNT • OF HEROD’S PERSECUTION BY SAYING • BUT THE WORD OF THE LORD CONTINUED TO GROW AND TO BE MULTIPLIED. • LUKE IS WRITING THIS BOOK • TO EXPLAIN TO A FELLA NAMED THEOPHILUS • HOW THE CHURCH GOT FROM JERUSALEM TO ROME • EVERY NOW AND THEN WE SEE STATEMENTS LIKE THIS ONE • STATEMENTS TALKING ABOUT THE CHURCH GROWING • WHEN LUKE MENTIONS THAT THE CHURCH MULTIPLIED • THAT IS TALKING ABOUT NUMERIC GROWTH • MORE PEOPLE JOINED THE CHURCH • AND WHEN HE SAYS THE CHURCH CONTINUED TO GROW • THAT IS ABOUT GEOGRAPHIC GROWTH • THE CHURCH INCREASED THE AREA IT REACHED • BOTH OF THESE KINDS OF GROWTH ARE IMPORTANT • BOTH ARE PART OF GOD’S PLAN • EVERY CHURCH SHOULD BE SEEKING TO GROW • NOT JUST IN NUMBERS AND AREA • BUT IN MATURITY, IN SERVICE, IN LOVE….. • WE HAVE A PART IN THAT GROWTH • WE PRESENT THE GOSPEL TO FOLKS • WE PREACH AND TEACH GOD’S WORD • WE TELL PEOPLE HOW GOD HAS WORKED IN OUR LIVES • WE LOVE AND SERVE OUR NEIGHBORS • WE GROW TO BE MORE LIKE CHRIST • BUT ULTIMATELY IT IS GOD WHO GROWS THE CHURCH • IN ALL THESE AREAS NOT JUST NUMBERS….. • WE NEED TO DO OUR PART AND TRUST • IN GOD FOR THE GROWTH PETER HAD GIVEN GLORY TO GOD FOR HIS ESCAPE • PETER WENT OUT OF HIS WAY TO MAKE SURE • PEOPLE KNEW HOW GOD HAD SAVED HIM FROM EXECUTION • BUT HEROD HAD TAKEN GLORY FOR HIMSELF • HE HAD SOUGHT TO KILL PETER BECAUSE IT MIGHT PLEASE THE PEOPLE • HE HAD ACCEPTED THE PRAISE OF THE PEOPLE • WHEN THEY SAID; “THE VOICE OF A GOD AND NOT OF A MAN!” • AND THE ANGEL OF THE LORD STRUCK HIM DOWN • GOD REMOVED AN OBSTACLE… A WEED.. THAT WAS • AFFECTING THE GROWTH OF THE CHURCH • WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT WE • TELL OTHERS HOW GOD HAS WORKED IN OUR LIVES • SOMETIMES THIS WILL MEAN WE MIGHT HAVE TO • PATIENTLY WAIT OUTSIDE THE GATE AT NIGHT • UNTIL PEOPLE WILL QUIET DOWN LONG ENOUGH • FOR US TO TELL THEM WHAT GOD HAS DONE • WE NEED TO KNOW THAT THERE WILL BE PEOPLE • WHO WILL BE OBSTACLES TO GOD’S GOSPEL • TO THE GROWTH OF THE CHURCH • WE CAN BE CERTAIN GOD WILL DEAL WITH THEM • MAYBE NOT THE WAY WE WOULD WANT • OR WHEN WE MIGHT WANT • BUT HE WILL CERTAINLY DEAL WITH THEM • AND THE CHURCH WILL GROW • SOMETIMES THIS GROWTH WILL BE IN NUMBERS OR AREAS • BUT OTHER TIMES THE GROWTH WILL BE • IN MATURITY, OR SERVICE OR LOVE • WE CAN KNOW AND TRUST THIS BECAUSE • WE HAVE A MIGHTY GOD WHO LOVES US AND CARES FOR US • A GOD WHO WANTS AN ETERNAL RELATIONSHIP WITH US • BUT WE ALL SIN…. 94