November 29 & 30, 2012
Herod began to mistreat the followers of Christ. This King Herod was the grandson of the King Herod who ordered all the boys killed when Jesus was born. The sins of the father being taught and passed down through the generations. Herod had James killed. Because he saw some of the people liked this he decided to arrest Peter as well. So, Peter was arrested and put into jail where he was guarded by sixteen soldiers. Sixteen! Seems like a little overkill. He was bound by two chains, in a cell, behind an iron gate, and then guarded by sixteen soldiers? Seems to me Herod took this extreme measure because he knew Peter's God was all-powerful and needed to be guarded against. No mere man would need that much restraint. But, the God of the universe couldn't be contained by a few men, chains, and iron gates. It was a futile attempt.
Peter was going to be put on trial after the holy period. Funny how the "holy" periods kept getting in the way of the desires of evil people and the reverse of that as well. Funny that those who were planning evil even bothered to care whether it was Passover or the Feast of Unleavened Bread.
It was the night before the trial. Peter was not pacing back and forth. He was sleeping between two soldiers. Other soldiers were guarding the door. An angel appeared; struck him to get his attention; told him "Hurry! Get up!"; and the chains fell off. Then the angel said, "Get dressed and put on your sandals." So, Peter did. Then he said, "Put on your coat and follow me." Peter obeyed the clear instructions. He didn't know if he was dreaming or if this was reality, but whether it was in his mind or real, he was going to obey. They went past the first guards. They went past the second guards. Then they came to the iron gates that separated them from the city and freedom. The gate opened by itself and they walked through it. After they walked down one street the angel left him as suddenly as he came.
You can try to imprison God's people, but nothing can prevent God's protection and God's plan. Nothing!! God can rescue His followers from the most complex of situations. Nothing is too difficult for him. No power of hell, no scheme of man, can EVER separate us from God's hand. Can I hear an AMEN!?! Time to start standing up in church and waving a white hankie! 🙂 After the angel left him THEN Peter understood. Acts 12:11 - "Now I know that the Lord really sent his angel to me. He rescued me from Herod and from all the things the people thought would happen." The NIV says from everything the people were anticipating.
We absolutely without-a-doubt believe the promise of God's protection we received for Jane's lips in July of 2007. We are at total peace while we wait on HIS timing and watch HIS hand working in our lives. For my sister and brother-in-law it has to be the opposite. They are "anticipating" our destruction; they are waiting for their plans of deceit to work; they are anxiously waiting for us to get what (in their mind's eye) they think we deserve; and they are eagerly awaiting for what they hope to be the end result—the reward of money. Eager anticipation which causes anxiety and time to drag by—verses—restful peace. We see this time of waiting (for the judge to rule on what can continue) as God's day of grace for my sister and brother-in-law and God's meticulous timing as He continues to change, grow, and prepare us for the future HE desires. You've got to believe that my sister and brother-in-law see these three plus years of waiting as anxious anticipation. As I've said before, until my last breath or until their last breath, I will continue to have hope for them to recognize and accept God's grace for their lives.
Peter went to the house where the other followers were fervently praying for him. They were amazed even though they had been praying. Peter explained to them what happened. He said, "Tell James and the other believers what happened." (Acts 12:17) You cannot keep what God has done to yourself. If you are the recipient of a Blessed Event, you cannot squander it!!
Herod thought he had all the possibilities covered, but Peter was gone. They looked for him but could not find him. So, Herod ordered the guards to be killed. He had just witnessed first hand the power of God but he did not change. Life was still all about him. He loved his royal robes, the throne, and the appearance of power and prestige. People gave him praise. When he accepted that praise for himself instead of giving the glory to the only One who deserves it, an angel of the Lord immediately caused him to be sick, and he died.
Accountability. He had every opportunity. But he never surrendered and acknowledged God as Lord and Savior. He kept pursuing his own selfish desires until the time came when God said enough is enough. But, as sad and disappointing as that is—God's message was not stopped. Acts 12:24- "God's message continued to spread and reach people." Sometimes it is not "in spite of" it is "because of." God's will—WILL be done. Nothing can stop it or prevent it. Praise the Lord!
Jane's notes for Acts 12 in her KJV:
Satan could not prevent the effectiveness of
1) A believer's prayer
2) Inner peace of believer (Peter sleeping in prison) Psalm 127:2
3) Appearance of angels to minister to
4) Frustration of his own purposes (verse 19)
5) His own confusion
6) The purposes of God from being fulfilled
Very grateful! Friday night (11/30/12) my husband left the house to fuel up the pickup in preparation for our trip to Chicago with our grandson the next day. He closed the gate and was waiting for traffic to clear when another pickup pulled in our drive. He could tell the person was confused because he kept braking and trying to decide whether to drive up by the side drive or straight up the drive. The pickup turned around at the gate. My husband got out and asked if he could help him. The guy became very agitated and went absolutely ballistic. He was obviously impaired in some way (most likely high) so my husband called 911 as he walked back to his truck. As my husband was sitting in his truck and talking to the 911 operator, the man came up behind him and held a gun to the back of my husband's head. Somehow—only by the grace of God and HIS protecting hand—my husband was able to quickly drive away and God prevented the gun from firing.
God is good ALL the time. My husband was in our own driveway, minding his own business. Never would you have expected to be in any kind of danger. Especially in our quiet little town! But God knew and God protected. Blessed be the Name of the LORD!
Next Entry: Acts 13:1–52
Herod began to mistreat the followers of Christ. This King Herod was the grandson of the King Herod who ordered all the boys killed when Jesus was born. The sins of the father being taught and passed down through the generations. Herod had James killed. Because he saw some of the people liked this he decided to arrest Peter as well. So, Peter was arrested and put into jail where he was guarded by sixteen soldiers. Sixteen! Seems like a little overkill. He was bound by two chains, in a cell, behind an iron gate, and then guarded by sixteen soldiers? Seems to me Herod took this extreme measure because he knew Peter's God was all-powerful and needed to be guarded against. No mere man would need that much restraint. But, the God of the universe couldn't be contained by a few men, chains, and iron gates. It was a futile attempt.
Peter was going to be put on trial after the holy period. Funny how the "holy" periods kept getting in the way of the desires of evil people and the reverse of that as well. Funny that those who were planning evil even bothered to care whether it was Passover or the Feast of Unleavened Bread.
It was the night before the trial. Peter was not pacing back and forth. He was sleeping between two soldiers. Other soldiers were guarding the door. An angel appeared; struck him to get his attention; told him "Hurry! Get up!"; and the chains fell off. Then the angel said, "Get dressed and put on your sandals." So, Peter did. Then he said, "Put on your coat and follow me." Peter obeyed the clear instructions. He didn't know if he was dreaming or if this was reality, but whether it was in his mind or real, he was going to obey. They went past the first guards. They went past the second guards. Then they came to the iron gates that separated them from the city and freedom. The gate opened by itself and they walked through it. After they walked down one street the angel left him as suddenly as he came.
You can try to imprison God's people, but nothing can prevent God's protection and God's plan. Nothing!! God can rescue His followers from the most complex of situations. Nothing is too difficult for him. No power of hell, no scheme of man, can EVER separate us from God's hand. Can I hear an AMEN!?! Time to start standing up in church and waving a white hankie! 🙂 After the angel left him THEN Peter understood. Acts 12:11 - "Now I know that the Lord really sent his angel to me. He rescued me from Herod and from all the things the people thought would happen." The NIV says from everything the people were anticipating.
We absolutely without-a-doubt believe the promise of God's protection we received for Jane's lips in July of 2007. We are at total peace while we wait on HIS timing and watch HIS hand working in our lives. For my sister and brother-in-law it has to be the opposite. They are "anticipating" our destruction; they are waiting for their plans of deceit to work; they are anxiously waiting for us to get what (in their mind's eye) they think we deserve; and they are eagerly awaiting for what they hope to be the end result—the reward of money. Eager anticipation which causes anxiety and time to drag by—verses—restful peace. We see this time of waiting (for the judge to rule on what can continue) as God's day of grace for my sister and brother-in-law and God's meticulous timing as He continues to change, grow, and prepare us for the future HE desires. You've got to believe that my sister and brother-in-law see these three plus years of waiting as anxious anticipation. As I've said before, until my last breath or until their last breath, I will continue to have hope for them to recognize and accept God's grace for their lives.
Peter went to the house where the other followers were fervently praying for him. They were amazed even though they had been praying. Peter explained to them what happened. He said, "Tell James and the other believers what happened." (Acts 12:17) You cannot keep what God has done to yourself. If you are the recipient of a Blessed Event, you cannot squander it!!
Herod thought he had all the possibilities covered, but Peter was gone. They looked for him but could not find him. So, Herod ordered the guards to be killed. He had just witnessed first hand the power of God but he did not change. Life was still all about him. He loved his royal robes, the throne, and the appearance of power and prestige. People gave him praise. When he accepted that praise for himself instead of giving the glory to the only One who deserves it, an angel of the Lord immediately caused him to be sick, and he died.
Accountability. He had every opportunity. But he never surrendered and acknowledged God as Lord and Savior. He kept pursuing his own selfish desires until the time came when God said enough is enough. But, as sad and disappointing as that is—God's message was not stopped. Acts 12:24- "God's message continued to spread and reach people." Sometimes it is not "in spite of" it is "because of." God's will—WILL be done. Nothing can stop it or prevent it. Praise the Lord!
"God sees our lives from beginning to end. He may lead us through a storm at age thirty so we can endure a hurricane at age sixty." ~ From On the Anvil by Max LucadoWe can attest to that. We have been able to look back and see how God prepared us "for such a time as this."
Jane's notes for Acts 12 in her KJV:
Satan could not prevent the effectiveness of
1) A believer's prayer
2) Inner peace of believer (Peter sleeping in prison) Psalm 127:2
3) Appearance of angels to minister to
4) Frustration of his own purposes (verse 19)
5) His own confusion
6) The purposes of God from being fulfilled
*****
Very grateful! Friday night (11/30/12) my husband left the house to fuel up the pickup in preparation for our trip to Chicago with our grandson the next day. He closed the gate and was waiting for traffic to clear when another pickup pulled in our drive. He could tell the person was confused because he kept braking and trying to decide whether to drive up by the side drive or straight up the drive. The pickup turned around at the gate. My husband got out and asked if he could help him. The guy became very agitated and went absolutely ballistic. He was obviously impaired in some way (most likely high) so my husband called 911 as he walked back to his truck. As my husband was sitting in his truck and talking to the 911 operator, the man came up behind him and held a gun to the back of my husband's head. Somehow—only by the grace of God and HIS protecting hand—my husband was able to quickly drive away and God prevented the gun from firing.
God is good ALL the time. My husband was in our own driveway, minding his own business. Never would you have expected to be in any kind of danger. Especially in our quiet little town! But God knew and God protected. Blessed be the Name of the LORD!
Next Entry: Acts 13:1–52
No comments:
Post a Comment