GOD’S WORD FOR JANUARY 14

Our  book this month  is a continuation of “Chiseled by the Master’s Hand ~ Lessons From the Life of Peter,” by Erwin  Lutzer.  Dr. Lutzer is  Canadian-born and served as Senior Pastor of the Moody Church in Chicago for 36 years, until his retirement in 2016.   He now serves as Pastor Emeritus of Moody Church.  He’s written many books and has radio and internet teaching programs.

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KEPT IN THE MASTER’S HAND

(Read Acts 12:1-25)

PETER WAS RESCUED

There is a second link in the chain of Divine Providence.  We read in Acts 12:7-10:

“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.  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.”  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.   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.”

Here was a judicious use of divine power.  The Lord has POWER OVER PEOPLE, for the guards had to sleep through this ordeal.  Apparently they were given some cosmic sleeping pills so that they would be unaware of the miracle happening before their weary eyes.  They saw no light;  they heard no feet.  Not even the watchful eye of soldiers can thwart the purposes of God.

Then, also, the Lord has POWER OVER MATTER, for the chains fell off and the iron gate opened up just as it does for us when we leave a supermarket!  No obstacle – whether the human will of a soldier or inanimate nature — can stand in the way of the purposes of God.

The rest of the story is well-known:  Peter walked out into the cool night air and realized that he had not been dreaming.  He immediately went to the house of  Mary the mother of John Mark, where the church was praying.   We’re told in verses 13 and 14:

“And as Peter knocked at the door of the gate, a girl named Rhoda came to answer.  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.”

We might expect that these dear saints would believe her!  They were praying in the will of God, with a measure of faith that Peter would be  miraculously delivered from the death that awaited him.  But they had two alternative explanations for Rhoda’s excited remarks.

1.  They said, “You’re crazy!”  this servant girl, they feared, had buckled under the emotional stress that persecution was causing.   Should that explanation be inadequate, however, they had another:
2.  “It is his angel!”

Amazing, isn’t it?  That some of God’s seasoned saints have an explanation for everything!  Sometimes it is so difficult for us to believe that God answers prayer that when He does, we attribute His goodness to natural causes.  Ironically, PETER WAS ABLE TO GET OUT OF THE GATE OF THE PRISON BUT HE WAS NOT ABLE TO GET THROUGH THE GATE INTO THE PRAYER MEETING!

God waited until the faith of His people had almost expired and then did a miracle at the very moment it was needed.  Peter was not missed until the morning, so he must have escaped sometime between 3 a.m. when the fresh four-some of soldiers had come on duty, and 6 a.m., when they would have been relieved.  In a classic understatement, Luke reports, “Now when day came, there was no small disturbance among the soldiers as to what could have become of Peter.”  In anger Herod had these guards executed.

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1John 5:14

Now this is the confidence that we have in Him, that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us.

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Phil 4:6-7

Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God;  and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.

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Psalm 34:17

The righteous cry out, and the Lord hears, and delivers them out of all their troubles.

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Isaiah 65:24

“It shall come to pass that before they call, I will answer;

and while they are still speaking, I will hear.

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Romans 12:12

rejoicing in hope, patient in tribulation, continuing steadfastly in prayer;

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1 Peter 3:12

For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous, and His ears are open to their prayers;

But the face of the Lord is against those who do evil.”

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Hebrews4:16

Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need.

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