Daily Devotions

Posts tagged “Acts 12

Something Peter Never Heard Of

Peter’s friends were weeping and praying for his release from prison but it is most doubtful that they were visualizing an angel walking in and slapping him on the hip and commanding him to rise up (Acts 12:7) while his chains simply fell off. Which one of them actually pictured in their mind that an angel would simply usher Peter out of that prison like they were going for a Sunday stroll? How can we call this event anything but extraordinary? One of the amazing factors about Peter’s experience is that he was experiencing something that he had never even taught on! There was no popular teaching making the rounds at all the big conferences that taught about the existence of a special squad of jail-breaking angels. Something happened that Peter had never heard of.


Peter Had Never Heard of That Miracle

Peter’s friends were weeping and praying for his release from prison but it is most doubtful that they were visualizing an angel walking in and slapping him on the hip and commanding him to rise up (Acts 12:7) while his chains simply fell off. Which one of them actually pictured in their mind that an angel would simply usher Peter out of that prison like they were going for a Sunday stroll? How can we call this event anything but extraordinary? One of the amazing factors about Peter’s experience is that he was experiencing something that he had never even taught on! There was no popular teaching making the rounds at all the big conferences that taught about the existence of a special squad of jail-breaking angels. Something happened that Peter had never heard of.


Book-of-Acts-Norm

When Peter was in prison (Acts 12:7) he had been presented with a great opportunity to be introduced to the Book-of-Acts-norm. In reading that awesome book’s account of the early church, we cannot help but observe that God’s people had been ushered into a new era, an era in which they could fully expect to function in ways and means they had never seen the likes of. There are things, events and supply in Heaven that Father wants to get into the earth. But they are extraordinary by our standards and He is desiring cooperation from us “earthen vessels that the excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us.”


What of the New Year?–The Unexpected Positive

door knocker

 

What of the New Year?–The Unexpected Positive

It would seem that typically when “unexpected” is mentioned our minds tend to go toward the negative. BUT Jahweh is the God of the unexpected positive: grace when we don’t expect it, mercy when we don’t expect it, a Hand up and out when we don’t expect it. (Acts 12:5-16; “they were astonished”)

May the Lord give you unexpected surprises that delight your heart in 2013.

“Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, Nor have entered into the heart of man
The things which God has prepared for those who love Him.” (1Cor.2:9)