Amen
Talia sermon tonight is King Herod's downward spiral to reprobation King Herod's downward spiral to reprobation and
Let's pray Lord. We thank you so much for the scriptures and Lord that you clearly show
things in your word Lord to pray that we would
Just take the things that you say at face value and Lord even if we have a hard time believing some things
That are in your word. I pray that we would just
Do that indeed Lord that we would just look at the scriptures and believe them for what they say and
Not let people try to explain them away from us in Jesus name we pray. Amen
All right, so
Turn over to Romans chapter 1 really quickly
Romans chapter 1 verse 28 the Bible says being filled with all unrighteousness fornication
Excuse me verse 28 and even as they did not like to retain God their knowledge
God gave them over to a reprobate mind to do those things which are not convenient
So there's people that don't want to retain God in their mind and the Bible says that some you know
It's teach it teaches in Romans chapter 1. I don't have time to go through the whole passage
But God gives people over to a reprobate mind and we'll see
tonight how Herod
Became a reprobate and so I've been wanting to do this study for a while, so there is a lot of scriptures
I'm gonna go back. I just kind of went and
And just went through all the verses that talk about Herod now
We're not talking about Herod the one that tried to kill baby Jesus. Okay. We're talking about his son
Herod the Tetrarch and
He would he end up becoming just like his daddy a reprobate so
Look at verse number one back in our main text and we're gonna be going back there of course like we always do
On Thursday nights a Bible study, so we're gonna study this chapter. I'm gonna try to get through the whole thing
It's a big chapter, but most of what we're gonna be dealing with is about
Herod so I'm gonna I'm gonna do something different tonight. I'm gonna jump back and forth from the story, okay
I'm gonna jump from one from one part of the story, and I'm gonna have like little intermission
So your brains could be entertained a little bit like it's a commercial break kind of okay
So that'll help you and not be all heavy-duty in the scriptures. Hopefully it'll help you okay, and
Well we need to have some sponsors though, so if anybody wants to come up and do a commercial for me. I'm just kidding
So verse number one says now about the time about that time Herod the king stretched forth his hands to vex
certain of the church and
So this is basically where Herod goes and starts his downward spiral to total reprobate, okay?
So turn over to Matthew chapter 14
So what's the deal with Herod Herod he kind of came on the scene and we know that he killed John the Baptist
He stole his brother's wife
Philip he stole his wife John preached against him
He was thrown into prison because his wife wanted to kill John, but see Herod wasn't a full-blown reprobate at that time
He actually liked to hear the preaching of John
He he heard what he had to say and in the Bible says he did some of the things that John taught
Unfortunately though for Herod
He didn't get saved
You know and Herod seems to me like a guy that just cared too much about what everybody else thought
And that was that's a big problem with some people you know when you go to pray with somebody and maybe they're for one friend
It's kind of making fun of them or making fun of you
Then you'll have to one of them won't believe one will and then you get to pray with that guy
And then they say no
I'll do it at home and a lot of the reasons why people do that because they're afraid
Their friends are gonna mock them they're afraid of what they're gonna say and like when I got saved
I didn't care who was there. You know I did not care at all
I like barely thought about for a second. I was like yeah, whatever. I want to I want to get saved
so some people
Just want to get saved and some people just keep you know pushing it and pushing it and pushing it
And they don't notice people that like even in your own life. They'll be oh, they'll seem to be open to things
But then they just keep pushing it back and pushing it back and pushing it back
There's people that you just keep giving the gospel to or you try to
Talk about spiritual things and it seems like they just get worse and worse and worse
And then also they just want nothing to do with you. They want nothing to do with God
They want nothing to do with the Bible they want nothing to do with church, and those are the people that I believe
Become reprobates. They've just been given so much and yet
They just keep pushing God to the side. They don't want to retain at some point
They make a decision in their heart and say hey, I don't want God anymore. I don't want anything to do with him
I'm making the decision to not be saved and that's the most dangerous position
You could be in when you understand the truth, and then you say no
That's the dangerous position to be in and I believe that Herod did that so Matthew chapter 14 verse 1
Let's read about Herod here
It says at the time Herod the tetrarch heard of the fame of Jesus and said unto his servants
This is John the Baptist. He has risen from the dead and therefore mighty works to show forth themselves in him for Herod
Had laid hold on John and bound him and put him in prison for Herodias
Sake his brother Philip's wife for John said unto him it is not lawful for thee to have her
And when he would have put him to death
He feared the multitude
Because they counted him as a prophet so you see that he is always afraid and worried about what other people think
And then verse 6 it says, but when Herod's birthday was kept the daughter of Herodias danced before them and pleased Herod
Whereupon he promised with an oath to give her whatsoever
She would ask and she being before instructed of her mother said give me here John Baptist's head in a charger
So like a yeah, who's ever seen like a silver platter?
Right you know you that saying says you you know put bring it to him on a silver platter
That's where that phrase came from is from this chapter in the Bible and instead of it being some kind of a good food
It was John's head in a charger
Okay, which is a really wicked wicked thing to ask for and it says in verse 9 and the king was sorry
So he was sorry. I guess he got saved then right he repented of all the sins no
Look Judas was sorry that he betrayed Jesus, but he still died and went to hell and hung himself
Okay, just because someone's sorry doesn't mean that
They're they're saved okay, but that's what people that preaches false repentance doctrine want you to believe is that well
You got to be really really sorry. Well. How sorry do you have to be it says he was sorry?
This is nevertheless for the oaths sake and for them which sat with him at meet he commanded it to be given her
So again you see because
You know he wasn't probably expecting this to be a request and so he probably was thinking of any way
He'd get out of it, but for the oaths sake and for him for them
Which said it with him at meet he commanded it to be given her so he cared again too much about what other people thought
But you know that that just goes to show you shouldn't go around making oaths and making promises that you can't keep
Let your gay be a and your Navy name, okay, so don't don't promise like people say hey
I'm gonna tell you something, but you got a promise not to tell anybody
I can't make that promise that that might be well
I you know someone told me that you know someone so killed somebody you want me to keep that promise look
I'm not a Catholic priest. I'm not keeping that stuff confidential if it's something that's wicked like that
I'm gonna have to tell okay, so don't try to make me promise something. I can't promise
anyway
So look at verse 10 it says and he sent and beheaded John in the prison and his head was brought in
A charger and given to the damsel and she brought it to her mother and the disciples came and took up the body and buried it
And went and told Jesus
So now let's look at a parallel passage see the thing about the Gospels is you're gonna get
Different perspectives of different things from all the Gospels and this is talked about in three of the Gospels
Okay, so turn to Mark chapter number six
Mark chapter number six, and this is kind of the more lengthy the lengthy passage that we're gonna look at tonight, but
Just another rendition of what happened it just gives extra details
Mark 6 14 says and Herod and King Herod heard him for his name was spread abroad
And he said that John the Baptist was risen from the dead and therefore mighty works to show forth themselves in him
Others said that it's Elias. They're talking about Jesus here and others said that it was a prophet or as one of the prophets
But when Herod heard thereof he said it is John whom I beheaded
He is risen from the dead
For Herod himself had sent forth and laid hold upon John and bound him in the prison for Herodias sake his brother
Philip's wife
For he had married her for John's had said unto Herod it is not lawful for thee to have thy brother's lot a wife
Therefore Herodias had a quarrel against him and would have killed him
But she could not
so she was so mad that John preached that message against him and they he and and that he said that that she wanted to
kill him and
You know obviously she got her wish through her conniving later on have a whore and her daughter out to be a little dancer for him
But it says, but she could not for her for Herod feared John
See at one time Herod feared John
He feared him because he knew look it says knowing that he was a just man and holy and observed him
He observed to me watch what he did he hurt and it says and when he heard him
He did many things and heard him gladly
So not only was John observing the life or Herod observing the life of John
You know he didn't want to kill him
He feared John and that's pretty funny because you know people don't fear poke pastor polka dot
Do they you don't see him fearing pastor polka dot or James White who would fear James White look at it
It looks like he's a painter or something. You just put one of those little French hats on
He looks like a little painter guy right and you know a lot of these pastors that you see
I mean, I wouldn't be afraid of them for any reason. They're soft as a pillow
They're soft as a feather. They're weak and watered down and but Herod is a king and he feared John
It says knowing that he was a just man and holy and observed him and when he heard him
He did many things and heard him gladly so Herod listened to the preaching of John
So do you ever think that he heard a salvation message from John of course he did because many people were saved
during the preaching of John's ministry and
Verse 21 says and when he convenient day was come that Herod on his birthday made a supper to his Lord's high captains and chief
estates of Galilee
and when the daughter of the said Herodias came in and danced and
Pleased Herod and then that sat with him the king said unto the damsel ask of me whatsoever thou will and I'll give it to
Thee so that's the big mistake that Herod made
Okay, it says and he's swearing to her whatsoever thou shalt ask of me
I will give it thee unto the half of my kingdom
But she must have been a pretty good dancer, huh?
But you know the the problem is is that that he was kind of a pervert. You know he he
Took his brother's wife
That's weird. That's not right
That's sick and the Bible actually calls for the death penalty in that situation
But it says and she went forth and said unto her mother
What shall I ask and she said the head of John the Baptist?
And she came in straightway with haste unto the king and asked saying I will
That thou give me by and by in a charge or the head of John the Baptist and the king was
exceeding sorry
He wasn't just a little bit. Sorry. He was really really really sorry. He was exceeding. Sorry
Yet for the oaths sake and for their for their sakes which sat with him
He would not reject her he gave in to peer pressure didn't he and he made a stupid oath that he should have never have made
and
That just goes to show law
Entertainment can can be your downfall also
Because you know apparently you know being entertained was a big part of his
Of his kingly life, you know and having that you know having women sensually dance in front of you
We don't know how she danced it doesn't say how she danced
But it says that she pleased pleased him with her dancing, so it probably wasn't a Christian dance
I'm guessing it wasn't like you know it was probably a pole involved or something like that who knows but
It was something sensual. It wasn't something godly
I could tell you that it says verse 27 and immediately the king was
sent an executioner and commanded his head to be brought and he went and beheaded him in the prison and
Brought his head in a charger and gave it to the damsel and the damsel gave it to her mother
And when his disciples heard of it they came and took up his corpse and laid it in a tomb, so there's
There's two different accounts there, and then Luke 3 turn to Luke 3
Luke chapter 3 verse 1 the Bible says now in the 15th year of the reign of Tiberius Caesar Pontius Pilate being governor of
Judea and Herod being patriarch of Galilee and
his brother Philip
Tetrarch of Ituria and to the region of Tracon, Traconitis and
like Lasantius and the Tetrarch of
Abilene
Those are some tough words there anyway. I don't know if I got all those right, but Lord forgive me anyway
And then it says verse 2 Annas and Caiaphas being the high priest the word came unto John the son of Zacharias in the wilderness
So during these these so notice it gives you some details about Philip
Philip was the brother of Herod, and he was in control of a certain little area and
And we see that he Herod himself was the Tetrarch of Galilee, which is where Jesus
Lived growing up and that you know Pilate was the governor of all Judea, so he was like you know
He was like the governor. We would have now so like if Judea was like a state then
Pilate would be the the head of the whole thing and Herod was just like
the ruler of Galilee and his brother Philip of all these other little areas so
John the word of the Lord came to John in the wilderness and
Skip down to verse 19 it says, but Herod the Tetrarch being reproved by him for Herodias his brother
Philip's wife and for all the evils which Herod had done so apparently
Herod was a bad guy
Did you ever guess that that would be the case that Herod would be a bad guy?
Now we've all been bad guys in our past except for Alejandra. She wasn't bad
She wasn't a guy either, but she was she wasn't bad. You know she grew up in church
You know she told me one time. I'm sorry. I'm gonna. I'm gonna reveal your little secrets here, but she said you know
I wasn't really doing bad
She was going to church and some people just are religious people that are going to church, but they're just not saved
But some people are bad boys growing up like Justin and Matt no, I don't know who is me
You know some people just are bad and do evil things and Herod. You know Herod was an evil person
He did wicked things. It says added yet this above all that he shut up John in prison now
You know that's kind of basically the it doesn't tell that whole story like it didn't mark
But you kind of get some extra details there now turn over to Luke chapter 9 verse 7
Luke chapter 9 and verse 7
It says now Herod the Tetrarch heard all that was done by him
and he was perplexed because that it was said of some that John was risen from the dead and
of some that Elias had appeared and of others that one of the old prophets was risen again and
Herod said John have I beheaded, but who is this of whom I hear such things and
Desired to see him so part of the reprobation process of
Herod was that you know he heard John's preaching, but did he ever get saved by him he murdered him
He killed him he had him beheaded because he just couldn't get he had he gave into all the pressure
Around him the pressure from his wife the pressure from the people around him the pressure of you know just
Promising to do things that he shouldn't have been promising to do
So now he's here, and he hears of Jesus, and he says it says that he desired to see him
So and and then turn over to Luke chapter 13 verse 31
Luke chapter 13 verse 31 I know I'm going heavy Bible here
But I just kind of want to lay the groundwork and let you see kind of how Herod became
This wicked person that we see in Acts chapter 12 Luke 13 31 says the same day there came certain of the Pharisees
Saying unto him get thee out and depart hence for Herod will kill thee
So now the next the next mention of Herod and Luke is that the Pharisees are saying get out of here
Get out of town depart from from here for Herod will kill thee and what and I love Jesus's response
And it says and he said unto them go ye and tell that Fox behold I cast out devils
And I do cures today and tomorrow and the third day
I shall be perfected when Pilate heard of get when Pilate heard of Galilee he asked whether the man were a Galilean so
You know two people will say that Jesus would never says anything bad about people in the Bible. He's he's just mr.
Sweet all the time he tell he says Herod's a fox and a fox is an animal that
Goes around at night and kills people's animals and eats chickens and eats chicken eggs
You know and we might not think that's bad, but you know a fox is kind of a devious animal
they wait till it's night the cover of night to go do their wicked little things and
People try to kill foxes because they're damaged their their animals their herds
They kept the you know maybe not a cow or whatever, but they go after small animals and eat them
So if you have chickens, and you like eggs, they're a danger to your eggs, right?
So Jesus called him a fox you know he called other people names, too
He called the Pharisees vipers and children of hell why did sepulchres
You know Jesus wasn't you know it's funny that every time it says they thought it was one of the prophets
Risen or they thought this or that they thought it was this guy or that guy now
It just shows you that Jesus wasn't you know what people try to paint him in modern Christianity
He's just some dress wearing hippie. Okay. Jesus was a hard preaching and a hard
He was a hard preacher. He was also loving of course
But when he when the rubber met the road he's like tell that Fox
Behold I cast out devils you go tell that you know he's talking about a king there
He's talking about the king of Galilee a guy that could get him in trouble
And you know so you know these like if President Trump's you know said something like they said you know President Trump's coming to kill
You Pastor Thompson, and I said go tell that Fox go jump in a lake
You know that's what it'd be like you know you're telling some king to you know you're telling them off
So you know what does Jesus attitude towards him though?
You know John the Baptist was his cousin John the Baptist was the greatest born among women
He are born of women excuse me
He is the greatest prophet that ever was and he murdered him so you see what Jesus thinks about Herod
He thinks he's a fox. He doesn't want nothing to do with them now turn to Luke chapter 23
So
Slowly Herod gets worse Luke 23 says verse 7 says and as soon as he knew that he belonged in the heritage
Jurisdiction he sent him to Herod who himself also was at Jerusalem at that time
And this is of course the day of his crucifixion, and it says that when Herod saw Jesus. He was exceeding glad
He was all happy right and he and he was desirous to see him of a long season because he had heard many things
Of him and hoped to have seen some miracle done by him now
What what was he hoping for more entertainment guys brain is filled with entertainment girls dancing now
He wants Jesus to do magic tricks for him
Okay, that's all he just wants to see some kind of miracle. He's heard of miracles
But Herod is obviously not a saved man
Says that he questioned with him many words, but and he answered him nothing
So Jesus is supposed supposedly
Gets people saved into the bitter end till their last breath on their deathbed right, but why doesn't he answer?
Why doesn't he answer Herod here because he's already a reprobate because he's already a reprobate. That's why
Because if he wasn't a reprobate don't you think Jesus would try to get him saved right there?
Yeah, he would have big, but you know people you know in modern
I saw this guy that was saying oh
You know our doctrine of rep the reprobate doctrine is just not biblical well
Why don't you tell me why he didn't give the gospel then right here?
Because he was already a reprobate
He called him a fox not too long. You know a few chapters before that
He answered him nothing. He didn't say a word to him
He didn't say you know what Herod if you just believe in me. You'll have everlasting life. Did he say that no he?
answered him nothing
Wasn't very loving of Jesus was it?
To all these people that think that Jesus just never it look it's called long suffering
But at the end of your suffering long. There's an end to it
You know eventually the long suffering gives way to I'm done with you
You're cast away. You know and at this point. He's basically a trash collector
You know like pastor Anderson sermon about the track the people that are trash
Sometimes these trash these trash cans get to stay around for a little while because he wants some other trash to be part
You know he became friends with
Pilot at this time like they had made some kind of agreement together, and they were buddies after this another reprobate
Because you know pilot he wanted to wash his hands of it, but you know he could have just said no
I'm not killing him, but he didn't do that
He basically gave the people even though they knew he wasn't guilty even though Herod said he wasn't guilty of doing anything
He's they still let him crucify the Lord Jesus Christ
So you know that's the thing is that?
Herod was just looking for a magic show and Jesus wasn't gonna give it to him. You know and people
Think that Jesus was just going around doing miracles whenever he did miracles
How he saw fit when for his timing and for his purposes not so Herod could be
entertained for the afternoon, okay
And Luke 23 10 says the chief priests and scribes stood of the hem
vehemently accused him and
Herod with his men of war set him at naught and mocked him and
arrayed him and gorgeous robe and sent him again to pile it so once he decided not to talk to him then
Herod's like whatever
You know they started let his guys make fun of them and put a robe on them
And that says the same day Pilate and Herod were made friends together for before they were at enmity
between themselves and
Pilate when he had called together the chief priests of the rulers of the people said unto him unto them
Ye have brought this man unto me as one that perverted the people and behold I have examined him before you and have found no
Fault in the man touching those things wherever you accuse him of
No, nor yet Herod, so Herod said you know as wicked as they were they still
Didn't say that he was worthy of the death of the things that they accused him of so
Now this is where we see
back in Acts chapter 12 where we see
Herod go into full reprobate mode okay, so now we see so he rejected John's preaching
You know he was it was too late for him when Jesus saw him
And now look where he's at now in Acts chapter 12 verse number two it says and he killed James the brother of John with
the sword
so
He goes from being not you know wanting to hear John's preaching wanting to see Jesus to murdering
James the brother of John
So it was James the brother of John well you've heard of the sons of thunder right there were the sons of thunder
They were the sons of Zebedee and so he was one of the twelve he was one of the Apostles
he killed one of the Apostles and
So just to just to show you wrote
I'll just read this real quickly Matthew 4 21 says and going from thence
He saw other two brethren James the son of Zebedee and John his brother in a ship of Zebedee their father mending nets
And he called them, so this is they they were this is James from early on
You know one of the one of the closer ones to Jesus, so he just killed him with the sword
so
But I'm gonna pause the story right here
So I told you I was gonna give you a little break because I want to address something else
That's in here in verse number three, and then I'll come back to this reprobate story, okay
About Herod so verse three let's switch gears here for a second and let your brain take a commercial break
There's a lot of scriptures to deal with but first rate says it because it's he saw it pleased the Jews
He proceeded further to take Peter also when they were when were the Days of Unleavened Bread
so
Just like I kind of preached last week about Christmas not being pagan or whatever or you know people say that it's pagan
It's really not well
They also say the same thing about Easter Easter was a pagan holiday, and it was some kind of bad holiday
Well, you know the thing is that the Bible says right here that these were the Days of Unleavened Bread
okay, and and so the next verse after that says and
When he'd apprehended him he put him in prison delivered him to the four
Quantarians of soldiers to keep him intending after Easter to bring him forth to the people
So people get confused by this and say well Easter. It's the only time it's mentioned or whatever you know
The thing is is that it was in William Tyndale's translation
It was mentioned every time it said Passover so basically what Easter means is the Passover
the whole
Passover so from the week from the Days of Unleavened Bread. There's a week
Celebration that they're supposed to come and present themselves to the Lord turn to Exodus chapter 13. I'll show you really quickly
What I'm talking about Exodus 13 verse 6
Because
They were commanded to eat unleavened bread and look the temple had not been destroyed yet, so there was still
Doing Jew stuff right so um
Exodus 13 6 says seven days thou shalt eat unleavened bread and in the seventh day shall be a feast to the Lord
So the Passover was was where they were supposed to kill the lamb
You know that day of Passover is the day they were supposed to kill the lamb
And then you know they're all supposed to eat it in one house and all that stuff, but
But there's a feast that took place before that whole week, and it was the feet called the Feast of Unleavened Bread
That's what it's talking about here, and it says in verse 7 unleavened bread shall thou eat seven days
And there shall be no leavened bread be seen with thee neither shall there be leaven seen with thee in all thy quarters
Exodus 23 turn over to Exodus 23
Exodus
23 verse 14 says three times thou shalt keep a feast unto me in the year thou shalt keep the Feast of Unleavened Bread
Thou shalt eat unleavened bread
Seven days as I command thee and the time appointed of the month Abib
For in it thou camest out of Egypt and none shall appear before me empty so the Lord
Commanded them to keep this Feast of Unleavened Bread
so
Let's go back to Acts chapter 12 look at verse number 4 again
It says and when he had apprehended him he put him in prison and delivered him to four
Quantarians of soldiers to keep him intending after Easter to bring him forth to the people so Easter
Was the Feast of Passover?
So the word Passover and the word Easter are both made up words in the English language. Did you know that?
William Tyndale made those words up
Because there was no English word for it so William Tyndale invented that word and he called
Any time there was it would be used the word Passover abuse he put Easter in his version of the Bible
So Easter is not pagan. It's just the whole feast. It's not it's not just the day of Passover
It's the whole feast included. That's why it only appears that time
So I mean people like to call it pagan they like to say it's all about these bunny rabbits and whatever okay
It's a bunch of garbage
William Tyndale you know if you look at his at his translation you can see that were he calls it Passover in
His version you look at the King James version. It's those words are used interchangeably, but since it was not right to call the whole feast
Easter
Then he just that's why he only used it this in this once in one instance because
That's what we're talking about here is not just the day of Passover, but the whole week together. Okay. I hope that makes sense
But you know the thing is is that we celebrate Easter, but why do we celebrate it?
because
It's been changed for Christians
Observe the Lord's Supper now and
So Jesus instituted the Lord's Supper, and so look if you don't want to call it Easter
Don't call it Easter, but the but Jesus clearly
Changed the Passover in Matthew chapter 26 turn to Matthew chapter 26, and I'll show you real quick
This is only supposed to be like a five-minute time out and we get back into the the story of Herod here
Matthew chapter 26 verse 26
says and as they were eating
Jesus took bread and blessed it and break it and gave it to the disciples and said take eat
This is my body, and he took the cup and gave thanks and gave it to them
Saying drink eat all of it for this is my blood of the New Testament
Which is shed for many for the remission of sins, but I say unto you
I'm not drinking henceforth of the of the kingdom
Excuse me of the fruit of the vine until the day
When I drink it new with you my father's kingdom for I've received oh excuse me. That's it so Jesus said when he
instituted the paths or you know it's not the Passover anymore because Jesus was the Lamb of God
So there's no reason to have a Passover feast anymore because Jesus is the lamb that they were
pictured the
Him coming and dying for us on the cross and you know when God sees the blood applied to us
He passes over us
And that's the picture like they had to strike it in the door in the in their doorpost the the lambs blood
as the door of your heart, so
That's why
You know it was changed because there's no reason to eat a lamb anymore, and you have to have your own personal
relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ and
You know we're not we're not supposed to eat
A lamb anymore because once you receive it you receive it once right you receive the Lord Jesus Christ once
But we remember him through the Lord's Supper and cook and first
I'm not gonna have you go there
But I'm just gonna read it for you first Corinthians 11 24 says when he'd give thanks
He break it and said take eat
This is my body which is broken for you this do in remembrance of me and the same manner
He also he took the cup and when he had stopped saying this cup is the New Testament my blood
This do ye as often as you drink it in remembrance of me
How often do they do the Passover once a year?
So why do we do the Lord's Supper once a year because we're just continuing what the Lord had already put in place
So some people do it like three you know three or four times a year. That's fine. I'm not mad at anybody that does it differently
Whatever, but at this church
We observe it once a year, and we observe it at the time of Easter
So in and the Lord said we're supposed to show his death till he come
So if you do it like every week like the Catholics do what how's that special?
That's not a special time. That's not a special time of remembrance, but if you do it once a year. It's kind of like you know
Remember, you know it's remembering his birthday
It's like remembering his death day the death burial and resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ
There's nothing in the world wrong with calling it Passover or Easter
It's just talking about that feast okay, which was changed by the Lord Jesus Christ
and so we don't eat the lamb anymore okay, but we eat the
Unleavened bread and grape juice the fruit of the vine
Because you know notice Jesus didn't say the wine
I think he put that word in there specifically for the clowns that say that we have to take
Alcoholic wine in the Lord's Supper. That's a completely different sermon, so I'm not gonna go there
Let's go back our time is back in for back to Herod's story here
Okay, so I just wanted to teach you that real quickly
Hopefully that didn't go over your head if you have any questions about that
Please come see me after the service or whatever
Verse three I know we're we're only in verse three. I know well. I'm gonna speed this up, okay
Verse three it says and because he saw it pleased the Jews
He
Proceeded further to take Peter also then were the days of unleavened bread
So Herod he saw that it pleased the Jews to kill James
He proceeded further to take Peter also
So he's just gonna like he's trying to just kill the Apostles one at a time here, so he's full-blown reprobate now
He's a wicked person he murdered John the Baptist he murdered James and now he's trying to murder Peter
Also look at verse four it says that when he had apprehended
He put him in prison and delivered him to four quantarians of soldiers to keep him
Intending after Easter to bring him forth to the people. What did they do with the Lord Jesus Christ?
They brought him forth toward to the people what the people say crucify him
Crucify him his blood be upon us and upon our children, so what's he trying to do with Peter?
He's trying to do the same thing bring him out to the people give them the pleasure of seeing Peter be killed also
Verse 5 Peter therefore was kept in prison
But prayer was made without ceasing of the church unto God for him
So prayer was made without ceasing of the church unto God for him
This is how a church should pray for those in great distress in our church and in churches of like faith and just other people
That you want to pray for hey when someone's in trouble of one of our own
We should be praying without ceasing for those people and just you know put our lives to the side for me at least take a
Few moments and just get down and pray for that person because everybody has some kind of emergency going on not everybody
But different people from week to week have different emergencies going on in their life right God wants us to pray for each other
He wants us to pray for the people in this church
When when they're going through a hard time and look there's people in our church right now going through a hard time
Okay, and it's always gonna be that way next week. It might be Shawn a week after that
It might be Temo next week Sheila next week brother Matt. I'm the pastor here
I hear all the things that you guys are going through you know and I want to I want to pray for you
But I want you guys to pray for each other also, okay
So when people are in a great distress
That's when it's time to get down and pray you know a lot of these prayers that we do that
We do they're important all of them are important obviously they wouldn't put them in the prayer request sheet if it wasn't important to them
But sometimes there's those prayers that kind of are the most important right you got to triage the prayer list sometimes
Okay, and when someone loses their job. That's a big deal
You know when someone?
You know loses their their spouses run away or whatever
Anything like that. That's a big deal in someone's life isn't it?
Someone gets severely injured someone's severely sick
You know there's a difference between having a head cold
And there's and there's a difference between someone having like some kind of debilitating disease
So I would just say this that let's remember to pray for our brothers and sisters in Christ
And you know there's people from other churches
We have a there's a group on Facebook called prayer request group
And it's just people just those are the like the real serious ones it seems like people are just like please pray for you know
It's just like some serious thing and we should
Care about other people besides not just our church, but in other churches also
Verse number six and when Herod would have brought him forth the same night Peter was sleeping between two soldiers bound with two chains
They called him Peter two chains anyways and the keepers before
the door kept the prison
That was his prison name Peter two chains anyway. I'm just kidding
That's it
And behold the angel of the Lord came upon him and shined a light in the prison and smoked Peter on the side
So I don't know how he did that
I don't know if he kicked him or if he smacked him on the side or what
But it says and raised him up saying arise up quickly and the chains fell off from his hands so obviously
This angel is not allowing them to wake up because most of the time if some you know these chains fall off
You know you're gonna hear that or a light shines through
Into the prison house it says the angel said unto him gird thyself and bind on my sandals and so he did
And he saith unto him cast thy garment about thee and follow me
So it just goes to show that sandals are biblical you can wear sandals there. That's okay anyway
So and it says any went out and followed him and wist not that it was true
Which was done by the angel, but thought he saw a vision so Peter's like Paul
I fully not awake right now. You know when someone wakes you up, and they're like trying to rush you to do something like
It's kind of in a cloud right here, right?
Verse 10 says when they were past the first and the second ward they came unto the iron gate the leadeth unto the city
which opened to them of the
His own accord and they went out and passed on through the one street and forthwith the angel departed from him
So the angel did a prison break here. He's like
You know Peter to change time for you to leave and get out of this prison
So obviously you know and here's what I think personally
I think that God it wasn't Peter's time for him to go obviously
But at the same time the Bible says it makes mention of the fact that the church prayed for him without ceasing I
Believe that it was partly it was the prayers of the saints that got him broke out of prison
That's what I believe. I mean obviously it was a miracle
What happened to Peter was a miracle and the thing and you know what we should expect miracles to happen
We're people the people of God were the children of the Lord
We should expect when we pray that big things are gonna happen when we pray big things
Not just small things big things something's about to happen right when you get
Something's about to happen when we pray right that's what we should believe
And I'm not talking about a new Corvette showing up in front of your house. I'm talking about people getting healed from diseases
I'm talking about people you know getting the job. That was almost impossible for them to get, but they got it
I'm talking about people being cured from from whatever
Someone's family member getting saved that they've been praying for for months
Knowing that these family members are saved. That's those are big things that happen right you think surely that person couldn't get saved
Oh, no, they can you just got to pray for him
So we should expect big things when we pray to our God amen
Verse 11 and when Peter was come to himself he said now
I know of a surety that the Lord has sent his angel and hath delivered me out of the hands the hand of Herod and
from all the expectation of the people of the Jews
And when he had considered the thing he came to the house of Mary the mother of John whose surname was mark
where many were gathered together praying and Peter knocked at the door of the gate a
damsel came to Harken named Rhoda
And when she knew Peters voice
She opened not the gate for gladness
But ran in and told how Peter stood before the gate so she's so excited that she doesn't even let Peter in she goes
Hey, guess who's at the door? It's Peter right and like oh, yeah, he's outside
You know you get so excited you forget to do something anyway
I thought that's a cool. That's a cool detail of the story that she was just so excited
She knew who it was she knew the voice, but she's just like guess who's outside everybody. It's Peter
And
it says
In verse 15 and they said unto her thou art mad
But she constantly affirmed that it was even so then said they it is his angel
So just really quickly. I'm gonna make another little timeout here for the story, okay?
Biblical you know guardian angels are a biblical thing and I believe that each person probably does have their own guardian angel
And
the reason why I think that is because they're saying it's his angel like it's you know they think it's his angel, but
Turn over to Matthew. Well. I'll just read it for you actually no turnover Matthew 18 verse 10 Matthew 18 verse 10
I'll just show you this one verse
But the angels are made ministering spirits
Okay, and when Jesus was tempted in the wilderness
Which some people think he wasn't tempted to sin?
Even though it says he was tempted in the wilderness
Which you know kind of doesn't make sense with your stupid theory, but anyway?
He was tempted in the waters, and then angels came and ministered unto him afterward
He hadn't eaten for 40 days and 40 nights. He was hungry the devil's tempting him to make a loaf of bread
But I guess that wasn't tempting them I
Don't know some people think that Jesus was not tempted to sin, and that's just a ridiculous
bunch of garbage
so anyway
Matthew 18 10 says take heed that you despise not one of these little ones for I say unto you that in heaven their
Angels do always behold the face of my father
Which is in heaven whose angels the children the children that have their angels that behold the face of the father?
What do you think that they're saying to them?
Let me go kill that guy Lord. You know there's a lot of wicked people that hurt children
There's a lot of wicked people that try to steer children away from faith in Christ
Because they're wicked you know who would try to encourage someone to not believe in Jesus a wicked person
But anyway, that was just like a quick timeout
I just want to say I personally believe that people do have guardian angels right you know and sometimes
There's been things that happen in my life. I can't explain how did that happen? How did I get out of that one?
you know and I
Think Dylan wanted me to tell a story about when I got shot at one time. I did get shot at one time
I don't I wasn't saved at the time
But I felt bullets whizzing past me I could feel them shit
I mean I could see the muzzle flash going like that and it was two guys
There was I don't know it was a car full a truck full of people and they had like the tinted windows
And they were bumping and whatever I was riding a scooter. Yeah a scooter, okay
This is why I didn't want to tell the whole story, but I'm gonna tell it anyway, so I was riding a scooter
I was 16 years old and this truck pulls right in front of me the back opens up
And they just start shooting for no reason
So they missed me every time. I don't know if they're holding a gun like this or what was going on
But they missed me every time I could see the muzzle flashes, and they probably it was a night
It was probably a nine millimeter or something. I don't know
But they still tried to chase me like I I had a like a really loud muffler on my scooter
I was like going you know it was like super loud like a lawnmower
And I was at if you know where Laurel Laurel Hearst Park is it's on 39th right off of a Gleason or
Burnside I cut through Laurel Hearst Park riding this thing and I saw him hit the block and go around
So they were still trying to get me and I had a guy on the back, and he jumped off as like see you later
And I just like you know I just feel like you know
How is it possible that they could miss me point-blank with all those shots and not hit me one time?
To me. I mean, I don't know maybe my guardian angel is with me before I was saved
I don't know how that works, but I'm not sure when the guardian angel is with you because you're you know
predestined or whatever
I'm not talking about Calvinism now
Well, but Christ was slain from the foundation of the earth
You know and he knew who would be saved and all that so I'm not saying that it was a Calvin
I'm not a Calvinist okay. Don't get me wrong, but anyway. They didn't get me so but to me. It was an impossible thing
I mean they're in a faster vehicle
They have guns they have more people than me and somehow I didn't get killed so and that's just one
One thing I can think of I was telling I can't tell this story, so I'm gonna move on anyway
Verse 16 you want to see me after the service. I'll tell some people this story
But anyway verse 16, but Peter continued knocking and when he'd opened the door and saw him they were astonished
You know and why were they astonished because I guess they didn't think the prayers were gonna get answered or something. I don't know
But he beckoning unto them with the hand
To with the hand to hold their peace declared unto them
How the Lord had brought him out of the prison and said go show these things unto James and to the brethren and he departed
And went into another place, so I thought James got killed with the sword who's this James as it's talking about well
This James is the Lord's brother see Jesus did have brothers and sisters, and it says very clearly
I don't have time to go
To that but James was the Lord's brother
In Galatians 1 turn to Galatians 1 we'll look at that really quickly
On Galatians 1 excuse me
Verse 18 says after the after three years I went up to Jerusalem to see Peter and abode with him 15 days
But other of the Apostles saw I none saved James the Lord's brother
So Jesus had a brother named James and the other brother James the son the brother of John was killed by Herod
okay, so this is James the Lord's brother and
I believe he was the pastor, but maybe the head pastor of the church in Jerusalem
And I have reasons why I believe that but we'll save that for some other time
Look down at verse 18 says now as soon as it was day
There was no small stir among the soldiers
What was become of Peter and when Herod had sought for him and found him not he examined the keepers and
Commanded they should be put to death. What a nice guy. He became. He's just trying to kill everybody kills all the soldiers
He says he examined the keepers and commanded
They should be put to death and he went down to Judea to Caesarea and their abode so
Verse 20 says and Herod was highly displeased with them of Tyre and Sidon
But they came with one accord to him and having made blastest the king's chamber when their friend
Desired peace because their country was nourished by the king's country now
We're talking about Herod here and upon a set day Herod a raid and royal apparel set upon his throne and made an oration
unto them and the people gave a shout saying it is the voice of a god and
Not of a man and immediately
the angel of the Lord smote him because he gave not God the glory and he was eaten of worms and
Gave up the ghost so the end of Herod the end of a reprobate
God's going to kill you God's going to destroy you and even if he doesn't kill you in a supernatural way like this
He's gonna make sure that you roast in hell for all eternity
So the progression of the downward spiral of Herod as a reprobate he hedged look he had chances to be saved didn't he
Didn't he have a chance to be saved look God gives everybody chances to be saved everybody
But some people just push God too far
Some people just push him so far and then they become reprobates, and then they're not able to be saved
Because Jesus would have got him look Jesus had one-on-one time with Herod
You know that time when you get when you're in your work truck with it with someone you want to try to get him saved
Jesus had that time he was sitting right there with him. He could have said anything he wanted
But he didn't even say a word to him because he was already done. What's the point?
What's the it's like when we go and some queer opens up the door?
And they have orange hair, and you know you just know they're a queer, okay?
I'm talking about you know for sure like you're a hundred percent sure they're queers, right?
Why would you give the gospel to someone that you know God has already given over to a reprobate mind
You might as well just turn around say hey have a nice day whatever or don't even say that just say
So long quit so long sucka no so long queer no
I'd rather you not do that but
Depends on if they're yelling at you or not or whatever you know that there's different situations that come up
So sometimes it's it's it's valid to say something, but most of the time just let those people die and go to hell
You know I mean, they're already going to hell anyway
So what's the point and Jesus was the same way so we could look at Jesus example and say hey?
Harry was a reprobate. He didn't give him the gospel so when you know someone is James white
the guy grew up as a fundamentalist and
Now his mission is to destroy the King James Bible and anybody that believes in it
So what are we supposed to give him and keep giving that clown the gospel?
Maybe give him a different shirt to wear
You know his shirts are just weird
You know or James Durban or Jeff Durban Jeff Durban dude's got a queer you know thumb ring on
The guy was a queer in the military got kicked out tries to deny it
It's weird you know why are we gonna give the gospel these kind of people would you give the gospel to Benny Hinn?
No
Look there's certain people you just know
Virginia Mallin caught or whatever she's the one one of the main lesbians that helped translate the NIV and you know what she's
She's secretly trying to destroy Christianity from the inside out. What's the number one selling Bible the NIV?
Her finger her fat sausage fingerprints are all over that Bible
And when she wrote that I'm not gonna. I wouldn't try to give that bulldog the gospel. Are you kidding me?
She already corrupted God's Word. She's going straight to hell. There's no point in even giving the gospel
She's twice dead plucked up by the roots. She's done
So you know to the people that say the reprobate doctrine isn't true. Here's what I have to say
Why don't you open up your Bible and actually read it if you can't understand it? Maybe you just need to get saved
Yeah
So let's see I'm almost done here. Where are we at? Or did I finish off here?
Let's see
So Herod dies he's eaten by worms
That's the end of that reprobate. So you know look God wants to kill
Reprobates did you know that there's instances in the Bible when it says God wanted to kill them
He wouldn't allow them to be killed in one reason in one way
Because he wanted to kill him his own way turn this first Samuel chapter 2 verse 22
Now I don't have time to get into the whole story, but Eli's sons the Bible says were men of Belial
They were doing wicked things
They were actually priests they were serving in the priest's office and actually receiving the offerings of the Lord and they were
fornicating with women they were taking the best hunks to meet for themselves and
They were wicked people and Eli did not restrain them when he had the chance to but when he was old
It says in verse 22 now Eli was very old and heard all that his sons did
Unto all Israel and how they lay with the women that assembled at the door of the tabernacle of the congregation
Wicked as hell doing that at church
And he said unto them why do you such things for I hear of your evil dealings with all this people?
Nay, my sons for it is no good report that I hear you make the Lord's people to transgress if one man
Sin against another the judge shall judge him, but if a man sin against the Lord who shall entreat for him
Notwithstanding they harken not unto the voice of their father why?
Because the Lord would slay them see God wanted to kill them
God wanted to make sure that he killed them the way that they were supposed to be killed and
What happened they got smoked when they tried to take the?
The Ark of the Covenant out against the Philistines, and they all got killed in one day
And it probably wasn't in a good way so when they got they got killed by the Philistine army and
Then Eli fell and broke his neck
But you know these reprobates are not going to get away with what they've done
God's gonna make sure they're punished either in this life or the life to come
Look at look at James look at Jeff Durbin has this demoniac attack against them
It's funny all these people are like saying old pastor Anderson's so bad, but who's who's who's in trouble health-wise?
You know the people that are going against them Sam Gibbs probably still in his hospital bed right now
Barely alive after he tried to tangle with them
You know you better be careful what you say against the man of God because I hear a lot of people on the internet and a
Lot of people on Facebook saying he's wicked. He's a wolf. He's a devil
Well, I'll tell you what you better be careful because what he's doing is the things that God wants him to do okay?
People of like faith we're trying to get people saved and do good things for God's kingdom
And when you're sitting there saying that we're wolves
So what are you saying the Holy Spirit's a wolf?
The Holy Spirit that's the person that the the Spirit of God is getting people saved is going into their hearts
And you're gonna sit there and say that we're the gospel. We're preaching is not right
Hey, you better be careful
You better be careful that you're not blasting in the Holy Ghost you simpletons
I'm not talking about anybody in here saying that but I'm just saying that people should be careful what they say
Because there's some things that you just can't take back
Like beheading John the Baptist and giving his head on a charger to your wife. You can't take that back
God held that against him and
Jesus wouldn't talk to him because of it. You know he killed his cousin. He killed the greatest man born among women
And God's not gonna take it lightly when you start slandering the prophets of God when he starts slandering the man of God
When you start slandering the Holy Ghost the one that gets people saved through the Lord Jesus Christ
You call upon the name of Lord Jesus. What are we preaching this? So that's that's a wolfie
Hey, you believe and you're saved. Well, it's so wolfie. You're just a wolf
That's ridiculous
We're just preaching what the Bible says to preach
We're baptizing the way God said to baptize we're teaching the Bible the way God you know look
Joel Osteen doesn't preach hard at all
You know why because he's not
one of God's preachers because God's preachers get up and say it how it is and they get up and they rip face and they
Preach on sin, and they say hey look there are reprobates you clowns
You know these people that teeth that don't teeth that say that the reprobate doctrines wrong. You're you're calling God wrong
You're
Saying you're more compassionate than God is you're more compassionate than Jesus is
Because Jesus wouldn't even talk to him. So tell me would you have talked to him James White? You're such a good guy
Would you have talked to him Joel Osteen or who's some other false prophets? I can't even think of any right now
I'm on the Jeff Durbin kick right now
But that look the tattoo shot. Can you believe that who saw that the tattoo parlor thing?
That is so evil and wicked I can't even believe it
Tattoos are wicked as hell. I'm off of my sermon right now. I'm sorry, but that just
This it just eats me up when I when I hear people say stuff about my friends
And I'm just supposed to just like be nice to him and get along with them. I don't think so
I'm not gonna get along with them. I'm gonna sit there and let people talk smack about my friends
so
Anyway, so Herod was wicked man. He stole his brother's wife. He killed John. He mocked Jesus
He killed James tried to kill Peter and God was done with him. You're out of here your history, buddy
And the Lord wouldn't even try to get him saved. You know he heard John's preaching. He sinned away his time of grace
He sinned away his salvation
Because he didn't have the the manhood that it took to just put away your stupid friends put away your entertainment
And put your trust in Christ. He was too proud and he ended up getting eaten by worms
It's a fitting end for him
So but it says in verse 24, but the Word of God grew and multiplied
And Barnabas and Saul returned from Jerusalem, and they had fulfilled their ministry and took with them John whose surname was Mark now
We'll hear more about John Mark later
He was mentioned earlier in the chapter, and I didn't get into that
But John Mark is you know Barnabas and Saul have a big fight over him later on in the book of Acts
But we're not gonna go through that tonight
But it says the Word of God grew and multiplied see every time there's a great persecution
There was a great growing of God's Word and it being multiplied so this is the pattern we see in the book of Acts
So let's have a word of prayer Heavenly Father
We thank you Lord for this great chapter in the Bible and pray that you'd just bless the people let them apply
Your words to their hearts Lord and Lord anything that is controversial that's preached from here
I pray that they would just be like Bereans and search the scriptures and see what are those things that are said from this pulpit
Or so in Jesus name we pray amen