05/03/2021
Praying down the heavenly force to break through the impossibles in life
Acts 12
This story was about the time King Herod waged war on the disciples, killing many for their faith.
He was known as Herod the Great and was a Roman client king of Judea. He was described as "a madman who murdered his own family and a great many rabbis; and even babies for the birth of Jesus. He was prepared to commit any crime in order to gratify his unbounded ambition. He is known for his colossal building projects throughout Judea, including his expansion of the Second Temple .
Herod was born around 74 BCE in south of Judea. He practised Judaism himself. However, because he was a Nabataea, who were located between the Sinai Peninsula and the Arabian Peninsula, its northern neighbour was the kingdom of Judea.
However, because of his parental background he was not considered Jewish by the dominant Pharisaic tradition, so even though Herod may have considered himself of the Jewish faith, he was not considered Jewish by the observant and nationalist Jews of Judea. He enjoyed the backing of Rome but his brutality was condemned by the Sanhedrin { an appointed rabbi leaders sit for Judgement in community}
His record proved the depth of his brutality and the amount of pressure the devil used him as his agent to destroy people’s faith in God.
So, when he was at his old destructive best, again he arranged the killing of James, son of Zebedee one of the twelve Apostles of Jesus, and the brother of John the Apostle. When James was arrested and imprisoned the Jerusalem church which comprised the disciples, were complacent and didn’t pray or not much for his release, and therefore ended up being killed.
Now, the killing of James pleased the Pharisees, who saw the gospel of Jesus being preached by the disciples as a threat to their Old Testament faith. This reaction motivated Herod to plan and wipe out all the disciples, and went for Peter too.
But this time, the disciples realized the hidden danger of not being spiritually mobilized to counter the threat of the evil Herod; and they went into the upper room to unleash the most portent spiritual force ever through constant unrelenting amount of prayer.
And something happened in the course of Peter’s arrest, it coincided with the anniversary of the Passover, which the Jewish nation was celebrating about the protection of the first born children of the Jewish people, from the plague that killed all the first born children of Egypt at the time Pharaoh was refusing to let them go back to Israel; and this celebration took seven days according to the law of God.
So, this period was a saving grace for Peter not being killed immediately when arrested because it was a period of atonement, and recognised as holy for repentance of sin; and therefore not appropriate for capital punishment against those deemed ‘criminals’
What’s important is that there is always a holding-up period in our lives where the devil would be restricted from carrying out his hideous action for our destruction. Though we might not be coming out of the problem as we wish yet, but God is using such intervening period to prepare for our rescue; and there is always going to be a Passover period for our advantage. Something extraordinary will happen to favour our cause.
Then, when the prayers of the disciples started there was reaction from open heavens. Amplified version says fervent {passionate with intensity} prayer was persistently {continue firmly or obstinately in spite of opposition} made to God for his release. I don’t think we have prayed such prayer in our church yet.
Then, Heavens dispatched an angel into the corridors of the prison and caused the doors opened ‘hypnotizing’ all the guards and soldiers there, because the King of glory was attending to the request of his people.
One thing to understand is that there is a perfect positive correlation between angels and Christians and our prayer. Hebrews 1:14 Are they not all ministering spirits, sent forth to minister for them who shall be heirs of salvation?
Psalm 91:11 For he shall give his angels charge over thee, to keep thee in all thy ways.
Acts 5:19 But the angel of the Lord by night opened the prison doors, and brought them forth
Psalms 34:7 - The angel of the LORD encampeth round about them that fear him, and delivereth them.
The authorities saw to it that Peter wouldn’t have any way out for his freedom, so, he was put in chains as done to the criminals of those days. This showed an impenetrable element of defeat exerted on him, but God had another idea, verse 7, indicated that heavenly light was thrown through the prison doors, to break the impenetrable enclave of the devil.
Look at this scenario, the angel and the light represented the glory of the lord, which implies God appearing in his glory at the side of his beloved child Peter rescuing him from disaster; what a glorious picture, when we cry unto him in time of trouble, though we might not see him visibly, he appears beside us to comfort and rescues us.
The power of prayer has brought God’s presence to deliver Peter from the state of impossibility; is there anything impossible for God?
Verse 8, shows that the response from God surprised Peter and even the disciples, they thought he might be killed same as James.
Our situation would change if we come to the presence of God in prayer with fervent and persistent attitude in faith, he would surprise us.
Verse 10 of acts says when the angel got into the prison premises the doors opened and chains broke in their own accord, no one forced them to open, these doors and chains were supposed to be opened by the guards; but when God is in charge who needs guards.
When God descends on our problems with keys to our needs, doors of opportunities /blessings would be opened uncontrollably.
God bless you, as you wait for some supernatural influence to change your situation.
