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Posts tagged “Peter in prison

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.”


Processed to Stand in the Next Level

It could be, perhaps, that if you are (1) in a wilderness (Moses), (2) a prison (Peter), (3) a boat filling up with water (disciples on lake) or (4) the middle of a group of people on their way to throw you off a cliff (Jesus—He went from being little known to becoming widely known Lk.4:28-30) that you are not forsaken or forgotten about or being punished. Look what Jesus got to experience going to the next level: v.30-“Then passing through the midst of them, He went His way.”-What did that look like? Just exactly how did that happen? Not many people in history (if any) have experienced something on that level. V.32 speaks of a new level of authority after that; casting out demons effortlessly, diseases healed. It may be that you are being processed to be able to stand in the next level.