"Herzpunkt" June 9, 2019

Overview

Finding the Herzpunkt of Acts 12

Luther had a habit, when he opened the Scriptures, of searching for the Herzpunkt—the heart point, the central matter toward which a passage drives. It is one thing to comment on verses; it is another to ask where the text is going and why the Holy Spirit included it. That question presses on us as we come to the closing scene of Acts 12, where Herod meets a sudden and gruesome end.

A King Who Took the Glory

The chapter has already shown us Herod on the rampage—James killed by the sword, Peter chained between guards awaiting execution, and the church under serious threat. Then comes the scene change. Herod, angry with Tyre and Sidon, receives their delegation after they win over Blastus, his chamberlain. On the appointed day he dons his royal robes—Josephus tells us they were woven of silver and gleamed in the morning sun—takes his throne, and delivers his oration. The crowd cries out, "The voice of a god, and not of a man!" Herod does not refuse the worship. "Immediately, because he had not given God the glory, an angel of the Lord struck him down, and he was eaten by worms and died" Acts 12:20-23.

The scene echoes Nebuchadnezzar surveying his kingdom: "Is not this great Babylon, which I have built…for the glory of my majesty?" While the words were still in his mouth, judgment fell Daniel 4:30-32. The lesson is sobering, and it indicts us as well. Every breath, every talent, every provision comes from the hand of God, yet we daily credit our own might, ingenuity, and hard work. We rob God of the glory due His name and gather it to ourselves. That this sin—too—has been borne by Christ on the cross, and answered by an empty tomb, is the gospel comfort offered to robbers of God's glory like us.

The Real Heart Point: God Reigns Over His Church

But the warning against pride, true as it is, is not where Acts 12 finally drives. Trace the arc of persecution through Acts: the apostles are commanded not to speak Acts 4:18; then they are flogged Acts 5:40; then Stephen is stoned Acts 7:58; then a severe persecution scatters the church Acts 8:1; Saul breathes threats and murder Acts 9:1; and at last Herod kills James and seizes Peter Acts 12:1-3. The pressure intensifies, chapter by chapter, until it looks as if the church will be crushed.

Then comes the verse that holds the Herzpunkt: "But the word of God increased and multiplied" Acts 12:24. Peter is freed. Herod is dead. The Word advances. The chapter that began with a tyrant on the warpath ends with the church still standing and the gospel still spreading.

Pastoral Application

We live among predictions of the church's decline—rising numbers of the religiously unaffiliated, shrinking congregations, the warning that Christianity in the West is fading. Real challenges, yes, not unlike those Christ named to the seven churches in Revelation. But Acts 12 reminds us that God has not fallen asleep on His throne. He is not a victim of the circumstances of our day. Tyrants come and go; the Word continues to advance and gain adherents wherever and whenever it pleases Him. However large or small the visible church appears when Christ returns, it will stand under His sovereign hand. We have read the end of the book—God wins. In that confidence we labor, we worship, and we give Him the glory He alone deserves.

Transcript

Hearspunked. 2s

Hearspunked. 4s

It's a German word. 5s

And it means the heart point, the central point. 7s

With Luther would preach, Luther would always look for the hearspunked. 14s

As he would study a portion of scripture, he would say, 21s

Where's the heart point? Where's the central point? 24s

Luther was an expository preacher. 27s

It's the same method that Pastor Meloneck and I use as we preach. 29s

Verses by verse explaining and applying the text. 34s

Luther would start the beginning of a book and he'd just preach through a book 38s

and when he got done with a book he'd say, well, let's start in this one. 41s

And he'd just do the same thing. 45s

It's expository preaching, explaining the text. 46s

It's not just a commentary of the verses. 52s

Because Luther would say, what's that heart point? 57s

What's that central point that is being made? 61s

Where is it that these verses in the text are driving? 65s

We come today in the 12th chapter of the book of Acts to the death of Herod. 73s

The question to ask is, why is the death of Herod included in Holy Scripture? 81s

What's the herespunked? What's the heart matter of that text? 92s

Just to review, chapter 12 has been a fascinating chapter. 103s

He never Peter wasn't prison. He was chained to two guards while he was in the cell. 106s

And not only were there two guards and which he was chained to, there were two guards outside of the cell. 113s

But miraculously, by God's action, Peter is freed. 120s

He goes to the home of Mary, which is the mother of Mark. 124s

He knocks on the gate, the maid answers. 131s

The maid is so surprised to see Peter released here from jail. 135s

As I remember, he was facing his execution as soon as the festival was over. 139s

She was so surprised to see Peter that she leaves Peter standing there and goes back to the rest of the people 145s

and tells them, and Peter's just to the gate knocking. 151s

Well, eventually Peter gets entrance. 154s

And what a greeting. 156s

Meanwhile, back with herid and the soldiers, there is quite a commotion. 158s

Now, as we move into the last verses of chapter 12, there's a scene change, 168s

and it's incredibly intriguing. 176s

What is the heart-stoot? 181s

Look with me, please. 186s

At verse 20. 189s

Now, Herid was angry with the people of Tyra and Simon. 191s

So, they came to him in a body and after winning over Blastus, the King's Chamberlain. 197s

They asked for a reconciliation because their country depended on the King's country for food. 205s

So, there's our background here to the scene change. 213s

Tyra and Simon were actually under the rule of Syria, so they weren't in the jurisdiction of Herid. 219s

But because of the mountain range, the people of Tyra and Simon, they got their food through Herid. 226s

We don't know what it was that made Herid angry, but what Herid did is he cut off 236s

the crops, he cut off the cattle from Tyra and Simon. 243s

He was angry with them, and so he was going to let them simply go hungry. 249s

So, a delegation comes. 256s

They meet with Blastus. 257s

He's a high-ranking official. 258s

Because of the culture of the day, we can assume with a really good understanding of certainty here, 260s

that there was most likely a big bribe that occurred of Blastus. 268s

Because Blastus comes on board then. 274s

The negotiation happens and now Herid comes out to make the announcement of how things have been sold. 276s

Look when they please, adverse 21. 286s

On an appointed day, Herid put on his royal robes. 290s

Took his seat on the platform and delivered a public address to them. 296s

Interestingly, Josephus, who was a Jewish historian, he recorded the events this way. 306s

Josephus, the Jewish historian wrote, 313s

Herid put on a garment made holy of silver and of a contextual, truly wonderful, 316s

and came into the theater early in the morning at which time the silver of his garment, 323s

being illuminated by the fresh reflection of the sun's rays upon it, 332s

shown out after a surprising manner. 338s

You see that picture in your mind's eye? 346s

He is decked out, isn't he? 350s

The sun is gleaming off of him as he makes his pronouncement. 353s

Verse 21 again, on an appointed day Herid put on his royal robes. 362s

Took his seat on the platform and delivered a public address to them. 369s

So I studied, I was reminded of King Nebuchadnezzar, 379s

in Daniel 4th chapter. 382s

There are children's Nebuchadnezzar. 385s

And Nebuchadnezzar would have been looking out at the huge gardens, 387s

which were considered one of the wonders of the world in the day. 393s

He would have seen the huge wall. 396s

And Scripture says, in verse 30 of Daniel 4, 400s

this is, and the King said, 404s

is this not magnificent Babylon, 407s

which I have built as a royal capital by my mighty power 411s

and for my glorious majesty. 418s

Herid's decked out in his robes, the sun gleaming off of him. 425s

Nebuchadnezzar looking out and saying, 430s

look what I have built. 433s

But then with Nebuchadnezzar, there's the response. 439s

Verse 31 says, while the words were still in the King's mouth, 444s

the voice came from heaven, 447s

O King Nebuchadnezzar, to you it is declared. 449s

The kingdom has departed from you. 453s

You shall be driven away from human society. 456s

Your dwelling shall be with the animals of the field. 460s

You shall be made to eat grass like oxen, 464s

and seven times or seven days shall pass over you 468s

until you have learned that the most high has sovereignty 473s

over the kingdom of mortals and gives it to whom he will. 477s

Nebuchadnezzar took the glory unto himself 484s

and the judgment of God. 488s

Raind down on Nebuchadnezzar. 494s

Back to our text. Verse 22. 501s

The people kept shouting, 509s

the voice of a God and not of a mortal. 513s

And notice, 522s

Herod doesn't review them. 527s

Herod doesn't say, 531s

no, no, don't call me a God. 533s

Herod embraces their worship of Him. 538s

Herod was not a Jew by blood, 543s

but he was a Jew by confession. 546s

And the judgment of God 555s

Raind down upon him. 562s

The next verse verse 23, 567s

and immediately because he had not given the glory to God 571s

an angel of the Lord struck him down and he was eaten 575s

by worms and died. 580s

I will spare you the meaning and the image of the Greek words there. 585s

It is not pleasant. 593s

The judgment of God 597s

raining down upon him. 599s

And why? 606s

Because he took the glory. 610s

He took the glory unto Himself. 613s

Herod was executed because he didn't give God the glory. 620s

And he was executed because he didn't give God the glory to God. 629s

As we reflect on our own lives, 633s

we are guilty of that unedily basis. 636s

Are we not? 640s

We are guilty of not giving God 642s

glory continually. 644s

What is it that we have that does not come from the hand of God? 647s

Every blink, every breath that we have, 654s

the very next second of our life is all a blessing of God, 658s

almighty, every talent, 665s

every blessing, every provision, 669s

the very ability to earn a living. 673s

It is all from the hand of God. 677s

And yet we are tempted. 681s

Are we not? 684s

To join the endless parade that see life as simply, 686s

that which is for me, for my good, 693s

born by what I have accomplished. 700s

As we say by my might, 705s

by my strength, by my ingenuity, 707s

by my talent, by my hard work, 711s

I have what I have. 714s

And who of us here is not guilty of bringing the glory 718s

that should be long to God to ourselves, 726s

where we but give a guilty nod on Thanksgiving services 735s

that we shouldn't really do that. 741s

And we do it every day. 747s

We do it every day. 749s

We give ourselves the credit for all the good, 752s

which is from God. 756s

God says, if it is good, 758s

it comes from Him. 760s

How gracious of word it is then that we hear that Jesus Christ 769s

has borne our sin on the cross, 773s

including the sin of bringing glory unto ourselves, 776s

including the sin of wanting to rob God of His worship, 783s

and bringing it to ourselves. 788s

Jesus Christ has borne that upon the cross. 790s

He has paid the sin that the tomb is empty. 795s

He is reigning and the word of forgiveness 799s

and grace comes to the likes of us, 802s

that those who have the penchant for robbing the glory of God 806s

have been redeemed by the gracious action of God, 811s

and His blood covers all of us with regard to our sin. 815s

The hair's pumped. 825s

Is it so? May we not rob the glory of God? 830s

No. 839s

It's an important point. 842s

But it's not where the text drives. 846s

It's not the heart point. 850s

It's not the central point. 854s

What's the hair's pumped of His text? 858s

Let's do some more work. 865s

Turn with me back to chapter 4 of the book of Acts. 868s

Chapter 4 verse 18. 876s

What I'd like to examine with you here. 879s

Like you to see this progression of persecution 883s

and the intensifying of it that we see in the book of Acts. 887s

Chapter 4 verse 18. 892s

So they called them and ordered them not to speak 894s

or teach at all in the name of Jesus. 898s

So first thing they did that. 902s

So they appear before the council. 905s

Council makes the ruling. 907s

They evaluate things and they say, 909s

don't talk about it. 911s

Don't talk about this. 912s

Jesus. 914s

Watch what happens. 915s

Go now, please, to chapter 5, verse 40, 917s

chapter 5, verse 40. 920s

And when they had called in the apostles, 926s

they had them flogged. 928s

Then they ordered them not to speak in the name of Jesus 930s

and let them go. 934s

So there's the same order not to speak, 937s

but now what did they do to them? 939s

They flog them, right? 941s

Go on into chapter 7, please. 944s

Verse 58. 946s

Chapter 7, verse 58. 948s

Then they dragged him out of the city that was Stephen 954s

and began to stone him and the witnesses laid their coats 958s

at the feet of a young man named Saul. 963s

So you've gone from. 969s

You don't want you to speak. 970s

We don't want you to speak. 974s

Flogging. 975s

Now what are they doing? 977s

Now they're killing. 979s

For the proclamation of Jesus Christ. 981s

Go to chapter 8, please. 983s

Second part of verse 1. 985s

That day a severe persecution began 988s

against the church in Jerusalem. 992s

A severe persecution. 996s

Now to chapter 9, verse 1. 998s

Meanwhile, Saul still breathing threats 1002s

and murder against the disciples of the Lord 1005s

went to the high priest and asked him for letters 1008s

to the synagogue at Damascus. 1011s

So that if he found any who belonged to the way men or women, 1013s

he might bring them bound to Jerusalem. 1019s

Lastly chapter 12, verse 1. 1023s

Chapter 12, verse 1. 1026s

About that time King Herod laid violent hands 1032s

upon some who belonged to the church. 1035s

He had james the brother of John killed with the sword. 1038s

After he saw that it pleased the Jews, he proceeded 1041s

to arrest Peter also. 1045s

So you start out here in Acts with don't talk about Jesus. 1050s

And now you have Christians being executed. 1054s

You start the chapter in chapter 12 1057s

with james having been killed by the sword. 1060s

Peter is in prison, 1064s

chained to guards. 1066s

His execution is simply waiting 1068s

for the festival to be over. 1070s

You have Herod on the absolute rampage. 1075s

Doing that now, which is going to please the Jews, 1079s

which is the eradication of the Christians. 1084s

You have murder now, execution, 1088s

Herod on the rampage. 1091s

That's the beginning of chapter 12 1092s

and now look at the end of chapter 12. 1094s

Verse 24. 1098s

But the word of God continued to advance 1102s

and gain adherence. 1107s

Then after completing their mission, 1112s

Barnabas and Saul returned to Jerusalem 1115s

and brought with them John whose other name was Mark. 1117s

If you're getting a chapter, you've got James killed. 1126s

Peter and prison waiting for execution. 1129s

Herod on the rampage. 1132s

You get to the end of chapter 12. 1133s

Peter's been released. 1136s

Herod's dead. 1138s

And the word. 1140s

It's advancing. 1143s

And God is building His church. 1145s

Beloved, there are books after books 1155s

and articles after articles that are being written these days 1158s

about the dire prediction of the future of the church. 1164s

Are there challenges with the Lord Jesus Christ church 1173s

throughout the world? 1176s

In fact, it's similar challenges 1179s

to what the Lord Jesus revealed about the churches recorded in Revelation. 1182s

Same challenges. 1188s

The books in the article say that nuns are on the rise, 1192s

not NUNS, N-O-N-E-S. 1195s

The nuns are on the rise. 1198s

Those that don't affiliate with any kind of Christian denomination. 1200s

They say that Christianity is becoming quickly the minority 1205s

that the fastest growing religion in the world is Islam. 1208s

They're saying that the future of the church around the world 1214s

in the United States is dire. 1217s

It is gloom and doom. 1221s

And what we are seeing is but the beginning of the death of the church. 1225s

Beloved, 1236s

what the text for today reminds us, 1238s

what it reminds us of 1242s

is that God is still on His throne. 1246s

He hasn't fallen asleep. 1251s

He's not fallen on the floor. 1255s

And God continues to use His word 1260s

to bring people to faith, 1265s

where and when it pleases Him. 1268s

What the text reminds us of today 1274s

is that when the Lord comes again, 1280s

however large or small the church is around the world, 1283s

it will be under the sovereign control 1289s

of God Almighty. 1293s

What the text reminds us of today 1299s

is that the word still goes forth. 1304s

And God is not a victim to the circumstances of today. 1313s

Because we know how the story ends. 1321s

We've read the end of the book 1330s

and God wins. 1335s

God wins. 1343s

The hair is poked of this sermon. 1351s

God is still in control and sovereign over His church. 1361s

And in that we rejoice. 1373s

But the word of God continue to advance 1379s

and gain adherence. 1387s

God is still in control and sovereign over His church. 1408s