30th Mar 26 | 13:54
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02 Acts 12 20-25 THE WORD OF GOD GREW 13 Acts 12 24 Press on
📖 Acts 12:20-25
13 – Thu, 06 Feb 2025 – *Press on* - _Acts 12:20-25_ – THE WORD OF GOD GREW - _II Peter 03:09-11_
_Acts 12:24 But the word of God grew and multiplied._
Evildoers may seem to flourish for a while, but they will not last for too long. Their end will come swiftly. Herod thought that he would continue, but his end came abruptly. _Psalms 37:35-36 I have seen the wicked in great power, And spreading himself like a native green tree. (36) Yet he passed away, and behold, he was no more; Indeed I sought him, but he could not be found._
Friends, we see wicked persons reigning in our nations. Their agenda is to destroy God’s people and the work of God’s kingdom. We fret over them and we are anxious. This is God’s word for us. _Psalms 37:34 Wait on the LORD, And keep His way, And He shall exalt you to inherit the land; When the wicked are cut off, you shall see it._
Our task as the church is to press on with the work that the Lord has given to us. The Lord will bring a quick end to the wicked.
The Lord does not want the wicked to perish but that they should repent and return to God. _Ezekiel 18:23 Do I have any pleasure at all that the wicked should die?" says the Lord GOD, "and not that he should turn from his ways and live?_
Knowing God's ways, we, as the church, must pray for those who hurt us and seek to harm us in different ways. We, too, as is the heart of God, must not want the wicked to perish but that they repent and return to God.
_Matthew 5:44-48 But I say to you, *love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you*, (45) that you may be sons of your Father in heaven; for He makes His sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust. (46) For if you love those who love you, what reward have you? Do not even the tax collectors do the same? (47) And if you greet your brethren only, what do you do more than others? Do not even the tax collectors do so? (48) Therefore you shall be perfect, just as your Father in heaven is perfect._
The end for those who persist in their evil ways will be terrible. They know the ways of God but are determined to go against God and are determined to cause harm to God’s people.
_II Thessalonians 1:8-10 in flaming fire *taking vengeance on those who do not know God, and on those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ*. (9) These shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of His power, (10) when He comes, in that Day, to be glorified in His saints and to be admired among all those who believe, because our testimony among you was believed._
_Revelation 21:8 But the cowardly, *unbelieving*, abominable, murderers, sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and *all liars* shall have their part in the lake which burns with fire and brimstone, which is the second death."_
Knowing that the time for the wicked is short and their end is terrible and miserable, we do not want them to perish. _Job 20:4-5 "Do you not know this of old, Since man was placed on earth, (5) That *the triumphing of the wicked is short, And the joy of the hypocrite is but for a moment*?_ / _Proverbs 24:19-20 Do not fret because of evildoers, Nor be envious of the wicked; (20) For there will be no prospect for the evil man; *The lamp of the wicked will be put out*._
Our task is to demonstrate love to those who hurt us. _Romans 12:19-21 Beloved, do not avenge yourselves, but rather give place to wrath; for it is written, "VENGEANCE IS MINE, I WILL REPAY," says the Lord. (20) *Therefore "IF YOUR ENEMY IS HUNGRY, FEED HIM; IF HE IS THIRSTY, GIVE HIM A DRINK*; FOR IN SO DOING YOU WILL HEAP COALS OF FIRE ON HIS HEAD."(21) Do not be overcome by evil, but *overcome evil with good*._
Hell was prepared for the devil and his angels. _Matthew 25:41 "Then He will also say to those on the left hand, 'Depart from Me, you cursed, into the everlasting fire prepared for the devil and his angels:_ God does not want anyone to perish there. _John 3:16 For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him *should not perish* but have everlasting life._
God longs for all people to come to repentance. _II Peter 3:9 The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, *but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance*.
The end is soon going to come and the wicked must know what is in store for them. _II Peter 3:10-11 But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night, in which the heavens will pass away with a great noise, and the elements will melt with fervent heat; both the earth and the works that are in it will be burned up. (11) Therefore, since all these things will be dissolved, *what manner of persons ought you to be in holy conduct and godliness*,_