Blessed Sunday to all on this beautiful and sunny day. It's about 65 degrees and sunny. Very pleasant for February. Waine is on the golf course enjoying his friends. I am going to the gym, hallelujah! We are on the count down to the Jenkins-Tamori family reunion in Houston over the Easter holiday. Can't wait to see my extended family. I am sure a good time will be had by all.
I am continuing my journey in Acts 12: verses 1 - 25 " It was about this time that King Herod arrested some who belonged to the church, intending to persecute them. He had James, the brother of John, put to death with the sword. When he saw that this met with approval among the Jews, he proceeded to seize Peter also. This happened during the Festival of Unleavened Bread. After arresting him, he put him in prison, handing him over to be guarded by four squads of four soldiers each. Herod intended to bring him out for public trial after the Passover. So Peter was kept in prison, but the church was earnestly praying to God for him. The night before Herod was to bring him to trial, Peter was sleeping between two soldiers, bound with two chains, and sentries stood guard 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. Then the angel said to him, “Put on your clothes and sandals.” And Peter did so. “Wrap your cloak around you and follow me,” the angel told him. Peter followed him out of the prison, but he had no idea that what the angel was doing was really happening; he thought he was seeing a vision. They passed the first and second guards and came to the iron gate leading to the city. It opened for them by itself, and they went through it. When they had walked the length of one street, suddenly the angel left him. Then Peter came to himself and said, “Now I know without a doubt that the Lord has sent his angel and rescued me from Herod’s clutches and from everything the Jewish people were hoping would happen.”
When this had dawned on him, he went to the house of Mary the mother of John, also called Mark, where many people had gathered and were praying. Peter knocked at the outer entrance, and a servant named Rhoda came to answer the door. When she recognized Peter’s voice, she was so overjoyed she ran back without opening it and exclaimed, “Peter is at the door!” “You’re out of your mind,” they told her. When she kept insisting that it was so, they said, “It must be his angel.” But Peter kept on knocking, and when they opened the door and saw him, they were astonished. Peter motioned with his hand for them to be quiet and described how the Lord had brought him out of prison. “Tell James and the other brothers and sisters about this,” he said, and then he left for another place. In the morning, there was no small commotion among the soldiers as to what had become of Peter. After Herod had a thorough search made for him and did not find him, he cross-examined the guards and ordered that they be executed.
Then Herod went from Judea to Caesarea and stayed there. He had been quarreling with the people of Tyre and Sidon; they now joined together and sought an audience with him. After securing the support of Blastus, a trusted personal servant of the king, they asked for peace, because they depended on the king’s country for their food supply. On the appointed day Herod, wearing his royal robes, sat on his throne and delivered a public address to the people. They shouted, “This is the voice of a god, not of a man.” Immediately, because Herod did not give praise to God, an angel of the Lord struck him down, and he was eaten by worms and died. But the Word of God continued to spread and flourish. When Barnabas and Saul had finished their mission, they returned from Jerusalem, taking with them John, also called Mark." Amen and may the Lord add a blessing to the reading and hearing of His Word.
This Jewish King Herod was really full of himself. He actually thought himself greater than the God of Moses and the God of Christ. He really thought he had power over death and life for God's anointed. I am sure many who read this passage think it is symbolic or a fairy tell. I am the kind of Christian who believes the Bible literally. When Christ talked in parables He told you He would be doing so. When the Bible gives you an account of things that happened, they really happened! Herod was trying to kill the early Christian church, one disciple at a time. Herod actually thought he could control the spread of the Good News by persecuting and killing the early Christian leaders. Not so. God had a purpose for Peter and it was not yet finished. Even though Peter was in jail, the jail couldn't hold him! The Lord sent an angel to free Peter and then escort him out of prison. God's Vision is never altered or hampered by men. The only person who can control God's vision for your life or my life is God and me. If I am doubting or lack faith the time table for my deliverance can be altered by my thinking and lack of faith. The timetable may be altered but the plan never is! God will smite your enemies for you and has for me. He will move folk out of the way so that YOUR WAY is cleared. This is accomplished all through your faithfulness and reliance on the Word of God and His will for your life.
If you have Herod's in your life, don't look to them for salvation or relief. Instead look within to the throne of grace so that your life can be fulfilled. Never fear those that can harm the body. Fear the God that can affect both your body and soul. Now may the Lord bless you and keep you. May the Lord make His face shine on you and be gracious to you. May the Lord turn His face toward you and give you peace.
Stephanie
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