Acts 12:15: "..... And they said
unto her, Thou art mad. But she constantly affirmed that it was even so. Then
said they, It is his angel."
Narration
Acts 12 narrates one
of the martyr stories of the early Christian church. It was a period that Roman
King Herod decided to create havoc and persecute the church. Peter and James,
two prominent elders of the early Christian church were arrested on the orders
of Herod and kept in prison.
Unfortunately,
James, the son of Zebedee and the brother of John was killed (in fulfillment of
Mark 10:39) and Peter was kept in prison to be killed after Easter (a pagan
celebration). In fulfilling His promise to the disciples that HE will be with
them always, God sent His angels to release Peter miraculously from prison
whiles at the same time the disciples had gathered and were praying earnestly
for him. The disciples might have feared that since James had been killed,
Peter will definitely not be spared. The release was so miraculous that Peter thought it was a
vision.
At the door
After Peter’s miraculous
release, he went to the house where the disciples had gathered and interceding
for him. A young lady called Rhoda who responded to Peter’s knock at the house
of prayer, is so overcome with joy at the sound of Peter's voice that she
leaves him standing there while she rushes in to announce his arrival. While
the church members argue over the truthfulness of her report, Peter is left
knocking and calling at the door. The very answer to their prayers is knocking,
and they did not believe it! They declare Rhoda mad. When she sticks to her
story, they conclude that Peter's guardian angel--who according to their Jewish
tradition would take on his attributes--has arrived either to bring good news
or to announce Peter's death. Going to investigate, they are "beside
themselves in astonishment" when they open the door and see Peter standing
there at the door. Peter then briefly recounts his experience to the disciples
and departed to another place. Herod later died but the word of God still
continued to be preached till today.
Prayer
God can answer your prayer
while you are still praying. We should not receive God's surprises with
disbelief but with joy born of expectation. Confirmation of our prayer can happen any time and not
by our time. The disciples remembered there is a God who answered prayers but
their faith wavered looking at the circumstances of their response to Peter’s
miraculous release. We need to believe what we decide to ask God in prayer
(James 1:5-7) and not reflect on the circumstances. God really hears when his
children speak to Him in prayer. We need to pray earnestly and in certainty.
Conclusion
Our God is a saving
God, a God of deliverance no matter the situation of your problem. What does
persecution do to you? How big is your problem? Do you trust God to deliver
you? No matter your problem, a miracle can happen if you believe. God glorifies
Himself at His own time.
But do you
believe God for what you pray for?
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