Episode 108: Lessons from Herod's fall

In the name of the glorious Trinity, Father and Son and Holy

Spirit, forever Amen. Glory be to the everlasting

mercies which sent you to us, O Christ, the light of the world

and the life of all. Give us wisdom by your law and

enlighten our impulses by Your knowledge.

Sanctify our souls by Your truth and grant that we may be

obedient to Your words and may fulfil Your commandments at

every hour. O You who enlightens the

rational with the knowledge of Your greatness, do enlight, O my

Lord, our thoughts, that we may meditate upon Your holy and

divine Scriptures at all times. O Lord of all, Father and Son

and Holy Spirit, forever. Amen.

Received the peace of our Lord beloved we are reading and

studying and examining the book of Acts Acts of the Apostles

chapter 12. We left that verse 19 a little

background. We were last episode we we read

that Simon Peter Simon the rock who was imprisoned by Herod was

released, not escaped, but he was released by an Angel and he

goes home and tell shows himself to the family and instructs them

to tell James and the brothers because the apostles had to be

all in line with the the information knowing of each

other's whereabouts and what's happening what the Lord is doing

just like today. You know, we have the different

diocese and the diocese communicate.

We received congratulatory letters and, you know,

condolences when, when we are in trouble or something happens, we

receive those encouraging words, the prayers and what have you.

So we're connected to one another through Christ, praise

and glory be to his name. And then we read that Herod

feels that he's being mocked in some way and orders the

execution of the of the soldiers.

And we we ascertained that just as his grandfather who felt that

he was mocked by the Wiseman in Matthew 216 when he wanted to

seek Jesus to kill him, but he said to the wise men, go and

find him. I want to come and worship him.

But they knew the Angel told them that no, no, this man is

deceiving you. He doesn't want to worship.

He wants war. He wants to kill the king of

kings. He wants to kick against the

thistles. So he orders the the execution

of the the the soldiers. Let's continue verse 20 and we

read and we'll take it verse by verse and and see what we've

learned from these verses, but most importantly, how we can

effect and apply it in our lives.

We're going to learn a lesson today about vain glory when you

busk in people's glorification of you, when you box busk in

people's glorification on you of you and you don't then direct

that glory to God. So let's read keeping in mind

that this church these people were in, there was a famine,

there was a a drought and there was a famine.

OK, so they're probably, you know, suffering because of the

famine. Verse 20 Herod was angry with

the people of Tyre and Sidon. That's where the famine was.

But they assembled together and came to him and they appealed to

Blasters, the King's Chamberlain, and asked him that

they might have peace because their country was depend

dependent upon the Kingdom of Herod for food supplies.

So there's a there's a famine and they're starving.

You know, it's like, let's go and make peace with this person

because we'll die otherwise. You know, sometimes isn't

imagine it's amazing that sometimes peace comes along

after severity of circumstances. Sometimes it takes severity to

make peace, you know, during death.

So two brothers are not on talking talking terms and there

is a death in the family. God forbid there is a death in

the family and after the death has occurred, the two brothers

make peace. Why wait until that period?

Why wait until that point? Or a sister and a brother or,

you know, family members are not on talking terms.

They, they totally ignore one another and you know, they don't

want to see each other. But when they hear there is a

beloved family member that is hospitalized and it's critical,

it's terminal. And then they pretend the, you

know, they, they visit the, the patient in the hospital and they

start weeping. Why did it take this severity to

make peace? Why don't we live peacefully on

earth? You know, we the children of God

are called to peace, beloved. And which peace?

The peace that Jesus brought, the genuine peace.

John 1427 Peace, I give you my peace.

I give you not as the world gives, but the way, My peace I'm

giving you, the peace that I made, the reconciliation between

you and my Father, eternal peace, the peace that is not

flattering. No, I give you peace, but

there's times through my commandments you'll think to

yourself, well, this is not so peaceful, this is suffering.

But hey, we still take peace and comfort even in our suffering

because we know that Christ did not fool us.

Christ told us that suffering will always be there for the

taking, available for the Christians, those who believe in

Him. In Romans chapter 12, verses 17

Romans 12:17–18

to 18, Saint Paul writes to the Christians, to the believers, to

those who believed in the Lord Jesus Christ, accepted Him as

their Lord, were baptized in the name of the Father and of the

Son and of the Holy Spirit, and were adopted as children by God.

This is what Saint Paul writes in Romans chapter 12, verses 17

Romans 12:17–18

to 18. Recompense to no man evil.

Don't pay anyone evil for evil, but be diligent to do good

things before the presence of all men if it be possible.

As much as lies on you, as much as is from your behalf on your

end. Live peacefully with all men.

Be at peace with everyone. So these people made wanted to

make peace with Herod because times were tough.

The severity of the famine caused them to make peace.

Well, you know, let's let's give them the benefit of them and

say, well, at least they're trying to make peace, right?

But I wonder what's going to happen to this flattering peace.

You know, there was an intent behind this and look at what it

does to Herod. Verse 21, upon the set day,

Herod arrayed in royal apparel, set upon the throne and

addressed the assembly. So he's how he say he's in his

royal clothes, he sits on the throne and he starts speaking to

these people. Well, that's a good thing for

him. But they say all good things

must come to an end, right? Well, no, actually, no, I don't.

I don't subscribe to that because good extends to

eternity, which is God, our good and merciful God.

Again, let's take a face value. All things must come to an end.

If all good things must come to an end, how much more evil

things will come to an end, beloved?

Hence, in Psalms 37 verse one, we read Fret not because of evil

doers, neither be envious of the workers of inequity.

Those people who strive and succeed in evil through evil

don't don't envy them. Don't envy a person, a family

member, a relative, a friend, a BFF, whoever it is.

Don't envy a person who succeeds in life through evil.

Because if all good things come to an end, the evil will

definitely come to an end. Beloved verse 22 upon the upon

the set, sorry. And all the people shouted.

Now he's sitting on his throne. Look at what the people are

shouting. This sounds like the voice.

These people are hypocrites. They're flattering.

They're Mahaya Mishra in Assyrian right?

This we talking, they're kissing his hand, right?

And all the people shouted saying this sounds like the

voice of God speaking and not that of a man.

You know, when we need something, something sometimes

when we are in desperate need dire straits, we too start

flattering to a point where we begin to call evil good.

This is what these people are doing.

But the Scriptures teachers totally contrary to that beloved

Proverbs chapter 29, verse 5, a man that is duplicitous, that is

Proverbs 29:5

flattering, deceitful with his neighbour, spreads a net for his

steps. There's a danger someone who

flatters you, someone who calls your evil good, is spreading a

net before your feet, and you will fall into that and you will

be captured and you'll be ensnared.

Proverbs chapter 28 verse 23. He that rebukes a man finds more

Proverbs 28:23

favor than he that is duplicitous with his tongue.

When someone who rebukes, corrects, admonishes another

person's evil, that person will find more favor eventually.

Because when that person then repents from the evil, when that

person turns away from his ways that are taking him to the

perdition of sin, then that person will have more favor than

one who allows his brother, his friend, his best friend to

continue in evil and then to die in that evil.

Beloved. And this is what these people

did to Herod, but he didn't see this.

Now let's read what happens to Herod beloved, verse 23.

And because he did not give the glory to God, you know, when

people say, oh, you know, you did a great job, you say, oh,

glory to God, glory be to God. That is absolutely right.

But not only lift service, we're going to see how we can really

genuinely glorify God. So he didn't give glory to God.

In that very hour, an Angel of the Lord smote him and he was

eaten by diseases and died. Wow, that's pretty severe.

Alarming, right? But Saint John Chrysostom's

writes something quite interesting and encouraging.

Herod's death, he writes, is a confirmation of Christ's

divinity. Side note, he writes, if this

man, because he heard himself called the voice of a God and

not of man, he only heard suffered such a fate, Even

though he said nothing, even though he said nothing, the

Angel smote him. How much more would Christ have

suffered where? Where he was always saying

things like the words of mine are not mine, but my father's,

the angels will minister to me. John 1410 John 1836.

He says My Kingdom is not of this world, my Kingdom is not of

this world. My Kingdom is in heaven Kingdom.

Where there is a Kingdom there is a king.

Kingdom means the domain of a king, the dominion of a king.

And in sub chapter 10 verse 16 we read the Lord God is king to

the eternity of eternities. God of the Old Testament has

been said to be only the king to the eternity of eternities.

So if Christ, then truly God, you know, cleanse me, oh Lord,

if God, if Christ was not divine and was not God would not have

the would not the Angel have then done exactly the same as he

did to Herod? So he is God, praise and glory

to his name. He had every right to claim that

he is the King and that he's Kingdom is not of this world.

So Herod was told, we are told that hair was struck down

because he did not give glory to God.

Again, that's alarming, beloved. So the question is, how do we

give glory to God? How do we glorify God?

Well, Jesus gives us an example. He gives us the hint.

Matthew 516 Thus your light will shine before men.

Thus your light will mesmerize, amaze, blow their minds of men,

that they may see your good works isn't amazing.

Jesus doesn't say. Thus your light will shine

before the man, that they may see your faith alone.

No, no, no, that they may see your good works and may glorify

your Father in heaven. So just faith, according to this

Scripture, will not give that glory to God in heaven.

So now we're getting a picture of all right.

So if I want to glorify God, I don't just simply accept Him as

my Lord and Savior in my heart, and then I have eternal life and

there is nothing else I need to do.

No, then I need to continue in that faith and produce good

deeds in order for people to glorify God, My Father who is in

heaven. Question, why was Herod only

struck down? Well, the Angel punishes the one

who had most to answer. He was the one being glorified

and he became an example and others believed.

Let's continue reading. But the Gospel of God continued

to be preached and it reached many.

Wow, one man's gain loss is another man's gain, right?

One man's punishment is another man's salvation.

One man's punishment is another man's delivery or deliverance.

So sometimes when God uses us as examples, truly they become

examples for those who are like us but don't see the danger that

we are in. So God will use you to show the

rest of the world just as He used Herod.

Today we are reading this 2024 years give and take.

We're reading that God punished him, but others then believed

and the gospel continued to be spread.

So let's go back again. What does it mean to glorify

God? Beloved, first and foremost, we

must know and understand, please.

No human being on the face of the earth has, is, nor can

hinder God's glory in any way, shape or form.

We cannot increase nor decrease His glory, period.

So what does it mean that we glorify God in our lives, in our

hearts, in our minds? When I glorify God, when I

proclaim glory be to God, that does God's glory increase?

Is there a, a thermometer, there is a gauge where God's glory is

increasing? No, no, beloved, glorifying God

entails giving praise, honor, and admiration to Him.

When we do, we must do it by our words, deeds, and actions.

That's how we glorify our God. A few steps, beloved, at all

times, remember that God is not in need of the service of His

creation. Act 172425.

You know, sometimes we when we do something, it's like, yeah,

God owes me because I did this. God doesn't need you to do it.

You need to do it, beloved. It is for your own benefit, for

your spiritual growth, for your continued relationship with God,

for your best interest to share in God's life.

Acts 172425 For the God who made the world and everything

whatsoever is in it, and is the Lord of the heavens and of the

earth, does not dwell in temples made with hands, and he is not

served by the hands of man, and he has no need of anything,

because He gives every person life and a soul.

There it is. God doesn't need us to glorify

Him, but we glorify Him so that we share in His glory as well.

Someone asked me once, how do we bless the Lord?

What do I stand before the altar and say God bless you?

Who's going to bless God? You know in in some faiths it is

said that God prayed on someone. Who does God pray to?

Is there another God? No, there is only one God, one

God the Father Almighty, right? So if God prays, God prays, who

does he pray to? Well, off the bat, there's a

flaw in that that statement. So on us, how do we bless the

Lord or how do we hallow his name?

See it is not so much that we bless the Lord or hallow His

name beloved, but more so we surrender to the truth that He

is the source of our blessings and His name is so hallowed and

sanctified in our souls, hearts, minds and strengths.

Now you may say, how do I prove that?

And that should be beloved at all times, and at all times we

should be obeying and surrendering to His will.

And if called, we are to at all times be prepared to leave.

All and follow him if we are called.

You may be asking again, but how does that then portray or

confirm my glory to God? Well, before you answer that,

remember beloved, to be a Christian is to be a Christ,

just as the Christ Jesus Christ praise between his name.

This entails avoiding vain glory and ascribing to God alone all

that we do and say. Ascribing glory to God alone in

all that we do and say. Christmas is approaching.

How can we celebrate the birth of the Savior of the world who

redeemed us from death and sin, when we are willingly and

joyfully living in sin? How how can we attend the church

services when we are joyfully, willingly, no conviction

whatsoever, living in immorality and sin?

How can we come and celebrate the birth of the Saviour?

What did he save you from? From sin, from death.

But we're in sin. You know, it's best not to come

because that hypocrisy. You want to be glorified by a

man that you're a church, but then God's not being glorified.

Actually, how can we give glory to God for his Christ when our

light is so darkened, causing our deeds to be evil, yet

expecting people to glorify God? So we want people to call our

evil good so that God is glorified.

That's blasphemy. We are being a tool for the

blasphemy of God's name. Let it not be hasti Amaria

Allah. So how do we beloved?

How do we glorify God in our words, deeds and actions?

When God is sanctified in my heart, in my soul, in my mind, I

will live according to God. I will live.

I will walk the path of God. I will live the commandments of

God. I will not call evil, not

justify my evil because there's legislations.

No, no, no, I will not justify my evil.

No, I will repent from evil if I want to glorify God.

I will not call my friends evil good.

No, I will actually admonish, because a man who admonishes his

brother finds favor. Let's not be flattered by the

Vainglory people ascribed to us by calling our evil good.

Beloved, the Angel of the Lord may be sent to give us a severe

awakening. Let us always ascribe glory to

the Lord of glory, and offer Thanksgiving for gracing us with

the blessing of being vessels of glory to His name.

Let us at all times sing aloud confessing that God is holy,

holy, holy is our Father in heaven.

Heaven and earth are full of the greatness of His glory.

Angels and men cry to him, holy, holy, holy.

And how do we then portray that? How do we genuinely show that we

are glorifying our God? We live God's holiness in our

lives because we have been called to holiness.

Beloved, it's a sacrament. It's a sacrament.

You believe in God, you glorify God, You want to glorify God.

OK, so how is it seen? Where's the practicality of the

glory of God that you are ascribing is when you act upon

it? Hence, let your light shine so

that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in

heaven. You work good deeds, Don't

expect and receive and wait for wait Vainglory.

That way you are glorifying God. Then the people will who see you

will surely say glory be to God because this man is a man of

God. That's what they said when the

soldier said when there was a Thunder and there was darkness,

when Jesus was crucified. This man truly was the man of

God. Or does he say the Son of God

actually? So beloved, let us not be hear

it every time we received and and 9.9 out of 10 times.

When men glorify you, doesn't take so much long to feel the

the knife stab in your back. It's vain glory.

When men glorify you, you return that glory to God and say we are

truly unworthy servants. This is what Herod should have

done. Herod should have said, no, I am

not God. I'm a servant of God.

But back then, let's give him the benefit of the doubt.

He didn't know all this. There was no podcast messages

and preaching about the glory of God.

But we have that. And at all times we should give

thanks. At all times we should praise

the name of the Father and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit

forever. We hope you.

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