Peter had been imprisoned by Herod, the king of Judea… and was held under tight security.  Yet the Lord rescued him by sending an angel to lead him out of prison during the night.

  Peter believed he was having a vision or dream, it wasn’t real to him, until he realized he was freed from the guards and the prison, and walking the streets of Jerusalem at night. 
Acts 12:6-11

  What did Peter do next?  He went to the house where he knew believers in Jesus gathered on a regular basis… the house of John Mark’s mother.  It was there that many were praying for Peter at that very time.  (Acts 12:12)

  Peter knocked at the gate.  Rhoda, a servant girl, came and heard Peter’s voice.   Acts 12:13

  Rhoda knew Peter’s voice… but she didn’t open the gate… she turned around and ran back into the house.  She was so excited, in fact she had much joy… Peter was at the gate!

  She ran back into the room full of praying people and told them about Peter!  They responded with, “You are out of your mind!”  Rhoda didn’t back off, she insisted that Peter was standing outside at the gate!  They brushed away her news in unbelief with, “It is his angel.”  Acts 12:14-15

  Poor Peter, delivered from prison by an angel, but unable to get into the house.  What did he do?  He kept knocking… perhaps he knocked louder and louder… until the people inside finally opened the door!  They were amazed!  There stood Peter! Can you imagine all the talking above one another?  
Acts 12:16

  What did Peter do to get their attention and to listen to him?
(NASB) Acts 12:17 “But motioning to them with his hand to be silent, he described to them how the Lord had led him out of the prison.  And he said, ‘Report these things to James and the brethren.’  Then he left and went to another place.”

  Perhaps you react the same way today; the way those people did to answered prayer.  Incredulous, unbelieving that God would answer in that way!  Many times followers of Christ pray, hoping God will answer… and when He does we are unable to comprehend God’s power to intervene in those specific circumstances.

  I need reminding that the Lord God has no limitations on how He answers our prayers.  So many times we have preconceived notions and ideas how God should answer or will answer our prayers.  How foolish we are!  How foolish to tell God Almighty, the Creator, the coming King how to answer our prayers!

  When God’s people pray, we should expect God to answer ~ His way. 

~ Take it to heart ~

  Be alert to God’s creativity in answering our prayers… then when He does, He receives all the glory, we don’t!  Praise, honor, glory and thanksgiving belong to God alone. 

~ For there is no other God like the living God ~

Categories: The Acts of the Holy Spirit