27th Mar 26 | 16:08
Studies by Book
02 Acts 12 20-25 THE WORD OF GOD GREW 14 Acts 12 24 The mandate of the church
📖 Acts 12:20-25
14 – Fri, 07 Feb 2025 – *The mandate of the church* - _Acts 12:20-25_ – THE WORD OF GOD GREW - _Ephesians 03:09-11_
_Acts 12:24 But the word of God grew and multiplied._
The powers and plans of the wicked one seek to oppose the work and spread of the word of God. _Ephesians 6:12 For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places._
Jesus came to wage war and defeat the forces of darkness. _John 1:4-5 In Him was life, and the life was the light of men. (5) And the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it._
As the church, we ought to be aware that in this battle, the Lord Jesus has given us victory. We can and we must go forward in the task of spreading the word of God with people.
The Lord Jesus has delivered us from the captivity of the evil one. This is the reason why He came in the flesh. _Hebrews 2:14-15 Inasmuch then as the children have partaken of flesh and blood, He Himself likewise shared in the same, *that through death He might destroy him who had the power of death, that is, the devil, (15) and release those who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage*._
Jesus defeated the devil on the cross, making him a public spectacle. _Colossians 2:14-15 having wiped out the handwriting of requirements that was against us, which was contrary to us. And He has taken it out of the way, having nailed it to the cross. (15) Having disarmed principalities and powers, He made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them in it._
The handwriting that was against us was the Law. The devil, as the prosecutor, is standing before God, the Righteous One and demanding that we, the accused, be punished along with him in the eternal fire. This handwriting has been taken out of the way by Jesus because, in His flesh, He has fulfilled the righteous requirement of the Law. _Romans 8:3 For what the law could not do in that it was weak through the flesh, *God did by sending His own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, on account of sin: He condemned sin in the flesh*,_
When we repent of our sins and receive by faith what Jesus has accomplished for us through His life, death, burial and resurrection, we are made righteous before God. _II Corinthians 5:21 For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, *that we might become the righteousness of God in Him*._
The devil’s accusation has been taken out of the way and nailed to the cross. The devil has then been made a public spectacle. He has been publicly defeated and put to shame. Jesus did this by His victory over the devil on the cross. *We, the church, must know and stand on this truth*.
The devil cannot do anything to us for he has been defeated and put to public shame.
This victory of Jesus over the devil has been given for the church to exercise. _Ephesians 3:9-11 and to make all see what is the fellowship of the mystery, which from the beginning of the ages has been hidden in God who created all things through Jesus Christ; (10) *to the intent that now the manifold wisdom of God might be made known by the church to the principalities and powers in the heavenly places*, (11) according to the eternal purpose which He accomplished in Christ Jesus our Lord,_
This is the eternal plan of God that has been hidden in God in Christ Jesus. This is the great victory, which, the church, to a large extent, is not aware of nor exercising in life.
The devil knows the mandate given to the church, and so the devil keeps the church frightened, confused and stuck in our squabbles. He is doing this effectively so that we do not fulfil God’s authority given to the church.
Peter made that great declaration. _Matthew 16:16 Simon Peter answered and said, *"You are the Christ, the Son of the living God."*_ This is an eternal declaration, which the Jews have not yet made. There will soon come a time when they will all declare that Jesus Christ is the Messiah.
This was the word of God that came to Peter at that time. _Matthew 16:17 Jesus answered and said to him, "Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jonah, for flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but My Father who is in heaven._
It is on this revelation of God and declaration through Peter that the church of Jesus is built, and the authority of Hades cannot overcome the church. _Matthew 16:18 And I also say to you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build My church, and *the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it*._
Gates represent authority.
The church is now expected to bring the kingdom rule of God here on earth. _Matthew 16:19 And I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven."_
This is the eternal plan of God, for the church will reign with Christ in eternity. ```Are we being the church that God has intended us to be?```