Today we are going to jump right into scripture. Acts 12: 5-18
5 Peter was therefore kept in prison, but constant prayer was offered to God for him by the church. 6 And when Herod was about to bring him out, that night Peter was sleeping, bound with two chains between two soldiers; and the guards before the door were keeping the prison. 7 Now behold, an angel of the Lord stood by him, and a light shone in the prison; and he struck Peter on the side and raised him up, saying, “Arise quickly!” And his chains fell off his hands. 8 Then the angel said to him, “Gird yourself and tie on your sandals”; and so he did. And he said to him, “Put on your garment and follow me.” 9 So he went out and followed him, and did not know that what was done by the angel was real, but thought he was seeing a vision. 10 When they were past the first and the second guard posts, they came to the iron gate that leads to the city, which opened to them of its own accord; and they went out and went down one street, and immediately the angel departed from him.
11 And when Peter had come to himself, he said, “Now I know for certain that the Lord has sent His angel, and has delivered me from the hand of Herod and from all the expectation of the Jewish people.”
12 So, when he had considered this, he came to the house of Mary, the mother of John whose surname was Mark, where many were gathered together praying. 13 And as Peter knocked at the door of the gate, a girl named Rhoda came to answer. 14 When she recognized Peter’s voice, because of her gladness she did not open the gate, but ran in and announced that Peter stood before the gate. 15 But they said to her, “You are beside yourself!” Yet she kept insisting that it was so. So they said, “It is his angel.”
16 Now Peter continued knocking; and when they opened the door and saw him, they were astonished. 17 But motioning to them with his hand to keep silent, he declared to them how the Lord had brought him out of the prison. And he said, “Go, tell these things to James and to the brethren.” And he departed and went to another place.
18 Then, as soon as it was day, there was no small stir among the soldiers about what had become of Peter.
Ok is this not an amazing and exciting passage!! First of all if God be for you who can be against you (Romans 8:31)! The supreme, almighty God of Heaven and Earth is for you, on your side. Shackles, chains, guards, iron gates, all the power of Herod or any government or entity or sickness or disease are nothing compared to the supreme power at work in and through you!
Take note of vs. 5, "but CONSTANT prayer was offered to God for him by the church." We need each other. We need to be in constant prayer FOR each other. We need constant prayer for us. In our social media driven society I think this is greatly lacking. We see each other on social media and get a sense of being up to date on each others lives but the reality is we are only seeing the outside image. We are totally missing the heart and depth of what is really going on. We should all have an inner circle of Spirit filled believers who are in the word and being led by the Spirit. And we should all be that person for someone else.
Today I pray that you will recognize the supreme power at work in and for you and that God will surround you with His church (believers). That this time will be a time of blessing, encouragement, growth and unity with one another. And that you may see the mighty hand of God at work in all areas of your life! In Jesus Name. -Amen
Be blessed today friends and may you prosper and be in good health even as your soul prospers! 3 John 1:2