Scripture Reading : Acts 12:1-25
Theme : The Unstoppable God
- The purpose of God cannot be thwarted. James was the first Apostle who was martyred (Stephen was the first Christian martyr). It is God’s will that James was martyred but He sent His angel to rescue Peter from prison. God wanted Peter to continue proclaiming the Gospel amongst the Jews. Whatever is in God’s will definitely come to pass.
- The glory of God cannot be robbed. When Herod was praised by the people as a god, he did not give the true God the glory that He alone deserves, and God judged Herod immediately and he was eaten by worms and died. God will eventually judge the whole world, because unbelievers are all guilty of the same sin as Herod.
- The Word of God cannot be stopped. Even though persecution of the church had begun (Stephen was killed by mob-action) and was getting more serious (James was killed by the king), the Gospel continued to spread. The people who were scattered due to the persecution preached the Gospel wherever they went (Acts 11:19). Now, the stage was changing from Peter to Paul, who would eventually bring the Gospel to the Gentiles.
Praying the Scripture
- God’s specific will is different for different people. Stephen and James (along with many others) were martyred, but Peter and Paul would continue to suffer on this earth while preaching the Word of God to unbelievers. Let us pray that we will submit to God’s will and accept the purposes that He has intended for us.
- Whatever achievements we might attain in the world are all granted by God. Pray that we will give glory to God in what we say and do, so that unbelievers around us will also see our good works and give glory to God (Matthew 5:16).
- The Word of God cannot be stopped. We will either move together with it, or be left behind by it. Thank God that because He is unstoppable, the Gospel eventually came to us. Pray that we too will preach the Gospel to people we meet.
经文：使徒行传12:1-25
主题：锐不可当的神
- 神的旨意不可受阻扰。雅各是第一位殉道的使徒(司提反是第一位殉道的基督徒)。雅各殉道是神的旨意；神则差派祂的使者把彼得从监牢里救出，要彼得继续向犹太人宣讲福音。凡神所定意的必要成就。
- 神的荣耀不可被抢夺。希侓王受到百姓神明般的崇拜，但他却没有把荣耀归于唯独配得起的真神，而神立即审判他，让他被虫所咬而死。神最终必会审判世间所有不信的人，因为世人都犯了与希侓王同样的罪。
- 神的道不可被捆绑。教会虽然开始受到攻击（司提反是被暴民杀害的），而且越发严重（雅各被希侓王所杀），但福音的道却要继续被扩展。信徒因为受到逼迫四散，却随行传福音（11:19）。从这个篇章开始，焦点将由彼得转向保罗，因为保罗将把福音传到外邦人中。
用经文祷告
- 神在各人身上有着不同的特定旨意——司提反和雅各（以及其他信徒）为主殉道，保罗和彼得则继续在世上为真理受苦，同时向非信徒宣讲神的道。祈求我们愿意顺服神的旨意，并接受祂对我们生命的规划。
- 我们世上所得的一切成就都是神赐予的。祈求我们的言行举止都能将荣耀归给神，好使我们周遭的非信徒能因着我们的好行为也归荣耀于神（太5:16）。
- 神的道是无可抵挡的。我们能选择乘舟前行，或被落下。感谢主，因为祂是锐不可当的，所以福音最终临到我们。祈求我们也向周遭的人传讲福音。
