”Freed By Christ,” Acts 12:6-25

Recorded 10/15/2023.

Pastor Larry G. Stephens brings a sermon of the providence of God. 

"This is a narrative of God intervening and protecting His people. Until the work be done, God protects and provides."

"The church was praying hard for Peter. They had a prayer meeting for their brother in Christ. The Lord had certainly intervened again and free Peter from what would be certain death. This is a remarkable contrast. Herod proposes trail and death, but God disposes and arranges freedom; One could say, God sovereignly arranges liberation and true freedom. Another contrast, James was suddenly apprehended and taken off, but God provided a time for the church to pray for Peter. Where the enemy has come against to condemn, the Bible says in Romans 8:1 “There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.” Even though this historical event happened in real time and brought to pass by God’s intervention, there is another true to consider. That while we were imprisoned by the stain of sin and death, Christ came to set the captive free. While we were dead in our trespasses, forever on the path of destruction and the consuming judgment of God almighty, He came to set the captive free. While we were on the way to the second death, the eternal judgment of God, He came to set the captive free. While we were chained to sin and despair, Jesus came to set the captive free by His vicarious death on the cross, His burial in the tomb of a rich man, and His glorious resurrection. By this glorious gospel, Jesus set the captive free and brings dead men and women to life. He has set the captive free and the chains of sin have fallen off, the gate of separation because of sin has been flung open by the risen Jesus, and we now can approach the Father boldly in the name of Jesus and by the power of the Holy Spirit."