Wake Up And Walk Out – Part 2
As we continue our devotion, we find Apostle Peter drifting off to sleep. Only he wasn’t in his own home lying on a comfortable warm bed. No, he was lying on the cold floor of a prison cell, chained between two soldiers. King Herod had just murdered the Apostle James and now had his sights set on Peter.
As mentioned in part one, Peter had many obstacles that stood in his way of deliverance.
The guards (sixteen of them)
The chains (no doubt iron)
The locked door (impenetrable)
Let me also mention one other thing, Time. Or rather the lack of it. You see, Peter’s trial and certain execution was scheduled for the very next morning. But as Peter settled down to sleep, something was happening across town. Acts 12:5 tells us, “Peter therefore was kept in prison: but prayer was made without ceasing of the church unto God for him.” Did you catch it? But prayer! What a phrase that transforms the impossible into possible! When godly men and women begin to pray, angels stand at attention, ready to carry out divine orders from above. As the prayer meeting got underway, these saints across town had no clue that their prayers were about to be answered. As the prayers were going up, an angel was being sent down! When this angel arrived at Peter’s cell, he had to take care of problem number one. Peter was asleep!
“And, behold, the angel of the Lord came upon him, and a light shined in the prison: and he smote Peter on the side, and raised him up, saying, Arise up quickly. And his chains fell off from his hands.” Acts 12:7
From this scripture, it appears that the angel raises Peter up to a sitting position. Then the angel demands something physically impossible. Arise?? Shouldn’t someone have told the angel that Peter couldn’t get up because he was chained to the floor? Friend, this a very important point. When God tells you to get up, He is also speaking to the hindrances that bind you! He is not asking you to break the chains, but to simply arise by the power of faith. As Peter struggles to his feet, the chains fall away like melted wax. As they clatter to the floor, Peter must have looked wide eyed at the guards around him. But not one moved or made a sound. They were as dead men.
I’ll never forget reading the book, God’s Smuggler. During the 1950s, Brother Andrew, as he was known, made numerous trips into the Soviet Union, delivering Bibles to those under persecution. Every time he approached the border checkpoint, he would pray, “Lord, I know in your Word that you opened the blinded eyes and made men to see. Now Lord I need you to blind these men’s eyes so they will NOT see.” With every border crossing that he made, Brother Andrew watched as the guards opened his trunk that was filled with Bibles, look around and examine each suitcase, then close the trunk and wave him on through.
Back across town, the saints may have been getting a little weary from their late night prayer meeting. One may have even said, “Well, you know that James was just killed. Do you really think that prayer will do any good for Peter?” Only believe church! Only believe. Intercessory prayer is not about opinions or figuring out the problem. You will know that you have truly interceded in prayer when all of your solutions and opinions have disappeared and God is the only hope that you have. It reminds me of 2 Chronicles 20:12. “…for we have no might against this great company that cometh against us; neither know we what to do: but our eyes are upon thee.”
Back at the prison, the angel gives Peter his prison break instructions: “…Gird thyself, and bind on thy sandals. And so he did. And he saith unto him, Cast thy garment about thee, and follow me.” This is another important point in our devotion. Peter followed the angel. He didn’t offer his own suggestions about how the chains should fall off or what route they should take out of the prison. Can you see a common theme between the prayer meeting across town and Peter? Whether in prayer or experiencing a miracle, we must remain helplessly dependent on God!
The angel begins walking past the first ward and then the second, with Peter behind him. As they approached the final obstacle, the iron gate, I can imagine the demons of hell as they tried to keep that massive gate closed. Then a saint across town broke through in intercessory prayer with the words, “In the name of Jesus.” As the prayers continued, the angel and Peter continued forward, and the gate began to creak. One by one, demons began to flee, as the gate swung open under the power of the Holy Ghost. My friend, when God opens doors for you, no man or devil can stop it.
“And when Peter was come to himself, he said, Now I know of a surety, that the Lord hath sent his angel, and hath delivered me out of the hand of Herod.” Acts 12:11
The angel departed and Peter was left standing in middle of the street. Notice here that God only uses miracles when miracles are required. Peter was not carried out of the prison on angel wings. No, he walked out on his own two feet. The angel did not escort him across town to the prayer meeting but he walked there alone.
Speaking of the prayer meeting, another discouraged saint may have spoken up. “I’m weary of praying. I think I’ll go back home. Poor ‘ol Peter. He’s really got it coming.” What they didn’t realize was that Peter was coming…up to the door! The saints were so shocked by the answered prayer that many did not believe that it was really Peter at door. Think of it! Peter is knocking on a door that won’t open because of unbelief! Thank God for little Ms. Rhoda who finally convinced the church that their prayers had been answered.
If you’re praying about an impossible situation, I hope you’ll remember what true intercessory prayer is all about. Helpless dependence on God. If you find yourself in a spiritual prison, I trust that you’ll remember the thing that’s required for a prison break. The same helpless dependence on God!
Dear Lord, thank you that we don’t have to know all the answers. Thank You for telling us in Your Word that in our most helpless, weakest moments, that’s when we are truly the strongest! With Your help and through Your strength, we will wake up and walk out of the prison that has kept us bound for so long. In Jesus’ name, Amen.