God Is In Control!

  “The night before Herod was to bring him to trial, Peter was sleeping between two soldiers, bound with two chains, and guards stood at the entrance.  Suddenly an angel of the Lord appeared and a light shone in the cell. He struck Peter on the side and woke him up. “Quick, get up!” he said, and the chains fell off Peter’s wrists.” – Acts 12:6-7
  Sometimes things get WORSE before they get BETTER
  Three strikes and you are out right?  No so fast.  Peter’s has three strikes against him, but God is revealing to Peter and the church, He’s in control.

Strike ONE – 

Peter was sleeping between two soldiers.  What two things have you hemmed in?  What are the two soldiers you are facing that are there to make sure you are not allowed freedom to walk in your destiny?

Strike TWO – 

bound with two chains.  He is not only hemmed in by two soldiers, Peter is bound by two chains.  What two chains are keeping you bound from walking in all God has for you?

Strike THREE –

 guard stood at the entrance. Peter is facing a wall of defense that is impenetrable.  What wall or guard are you facing making God’s plan for your life seem impenetrable and impossible?   “The only way God can show us He’s in control is to put us in situations we can’t control.” – Steven Furtick

  What at first seems very negative and painful actually becomes the CATALYST for BREAKTHROUGH

“Quick, get up!” he said, and the chains fell off Peter’s wrists.”
  First, Let’s not skip by the fact that the two soldiers on either side of Peter are rendered useless. 

Second, Let’s not miss the angel’s instructions to Peter that are the same to us.  The chains did not fall of Peter’s wrists until he did what? 

He got up.  

Peter’s act of obedience and faith was the catalyst to the breakthrough from the chains. What is God calling you to 

“Quick, get up!” from?
  “The angel said, “Put on your clothes and sandals.” And Peter did so. “Wrap your cloak around you and follow me.”  Peter followed him out of the prison passing the first and second guards coming to the iron gate leading to the city. It opened for them by itself, and they went through it.”
  We “clothe ourselves with Christ”(Gal. 3:27) and the sandals represent“walking in the way of love”(Eph. 5:2).  The cloak is our mantel or calling and we are to “live worthy of our calling”(Eph. 4:1).   They were able to walk right pass the guards meaning we will walk through the enemy’s roadblocks.  This iron gate opened by itself,“because a great door for effective work has opened to me”(I Cor. 16:9).  
“Jesus was in the stern, sleeping when the disciples woke him and said, “Teacher, don’t you care if we drown?” – Mark 4:38

“The night before Herod was to bring him to trial, Peter was sleeping between two soldiers, bound with two chains. . .”Acts 12:6
  I would be remiss to miss the obvious object lesson.  There is a good chance that Peter was the vocal one asking how Jesus could sleep while they were in danger.  Fast forward and one has to wonder how Peter could sleep the night before his upcoming execution.  I think Peter learned a thing or two from Jesus, don’t you?   When in the Midst of DANGER, we can R.I.P.(Rest in Peace)

Attribution: Barnabas Investments, Brian Fleming