Skip to main content

Relax and unbind!

So Peter was kept in prison, but fervent prayer for him was persistently made to God by the church (assembly). The very night before Herod was about to bring him forth, Peter was sleeping between two soldiers, fastened with two chains, and sentries before the door were guarding the prison. And suddenly an angel of the Lord appeared [standing beside him], and a light shone in the place where he was. And the angel gently smote Peter on the side and awakened him, saying, Get up quickly! And the chains fell off his hands. And the angel said to him, Tighten your belt and bind on your sandals. And he did so. And he said to him, Wrap your outer garment around you and follow me. And [Peter] went out [along] following him, and he was not conscious that what was apparently being done by the angel was real, but thought he was seeing a vision. When they had passed through the first guard and the second, they came to the iron gate which leads into the city. Of its own accord [the gate] swung open, and they went out and passed on through one street; and at once the angel left him.Then Peter came to himself and said, Now I really know and am sure that the Lord has sent His angel and delivered me from the hand of Herod and from all that the Jewish people were expecting [to do to me]. Acts 12: 5-11 AMP

In Hebrews 12 the chapter begins with King Herod oppressing those in the church of Christian faith. When he kills James, the brother of John with a sword, he marveled at how the people were pleased, so he pursued Peter. However, it was not God's intention for Peter to be killed just yet. Although Peter had no idea he would be delivered, when God sent the angels to free him, Peter thought he was dreaming. Why do you think God saved Peter and not James? 


Without any words being said, it proved to King Herod he is not powerful. God also knew Peter would go straight to his brothers and sisters in faith to tell them how God delivered him from prison. When he arrived at their home, they too were skeptical. By Peter showing up, unexpected to be alive, it proved to even the believers, God has no limits to free us from anything (terminal illness, debt, abusive relationships, homelessness, unemployment, etc) he deems so; so that the more who do not believe will become believers in Christ. It gives believers the confidence to go about preaching and teaching the Good News!

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

Can I "Love" You This Much?

Negative words tear people down and exposes them.  "Every prudent man deals with knowledge, but a [self-confident] fool exposes and flaunts his folly." (Proverbs 13:16 AMPC)  (Folly biblical definition: 2a. : criminally or tragically foolish actions or conduct. b. obsolete : evil, wickedness especially : lewd behavior.) Confronting someone is different than badgering someone! Badgering means to repeatedly pester.  "By pride and insolence comes only contention, but with well-advised is skillful and Godly Wisdom." (Proverbs 13:10 AMPC)  When we lovingly and patiently correct others the response will be peaceful, loving and accepting also; however, words spoken in anger and with the intention to hurt, comes from a malicious and wicked heart. Hurtful words repeatedly play over in a person's mind (like a broken record) of how they don't measure up to the World's standards; therefore putting that person in the forefront of a sure target for Sat...

God is in "Control"!

The students who marched boldly, stepped out and reached out to gain the attention of our leaders. It is a sad situation and the act of violence that truly needs to cease! As I briefly listened, the stories were not just with our schools, but in our communities, our homes, and our jobs. We are in harms way every where we go. It's not the guns, or is it poverty, wealth or the situation our lives have turned to; it's deeper than that! It comes back to the fear, the anger, and the hate that is warring in our spirit and soul to ignite the violence and use weapons that destroy and kill.  Picture Courtesy of my nephew Dere While listening to the protestors, I heard anger, fear, and exhaustion in their voices also; because they too want change that moves all of us to a state of "Peace" and "Love"!  Not so long ago, we heard, "Black lives matter"; and now it's back to addressing the numerous and continuous shootings in the schools.  The struggl...

Abiding in the Vine!

I am the vine you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing (John 15:5 NIV).   I do not own the rights to this photo  In the natural you are not able to change anyone who has an addiction. The worst thing we can do is to constantly talk about it to others. Satan I do not own the rights to this photo  has a stronghold on their thinking. Give it to God and let Him, in His power, restore your loved ones; and do not talk about it again. Once you pray, you are saying, God I am giving you permission to take care of my loved one~ and you are putting your Trust in God to do what only He can do anyway!  So get on your knees and pray and do not speak of what your loved one is going through anymore, but speak of what God is doing in their lives and how He is changing them from Glory to Glory!   And Don’t forget to “Thank Him”! In the morning, as they went along, they saw the fig tree ...