January 17 2016

Redemption vs Running

Acts 12: 12 - 19

Acts 

 ActsActsActsACTSActsLukeActsActsActsAfter a little thought, he went to the home of Mary, the mother of John Mark, where many were gathered for prayer.  He knocked at the door in the gate, and a servant girl named Rhoda came to open it.  When she recognized Peter's voice, she was so overjoyed that, instead of opening the door, she ran back inside and told everyone, "Peter is standing at the door!"

"You're out of your mind," they said. When she insisted, they decided, "It must be his angel."

Meanwhile, Peeter continued knocking.  When they finally went out and opened the door, they were amazed.  He motioned for them to quiet down and told them what had happened and how the Lord had led him out of jail.  "Tell James and the other brothers what happened," he said.  And then he went to another place.

At dawn, there was a great commotion among the soldiers about what had happened to Peter.  Herod Agrippa ordered a thorough search for him.  When he couldn't be found, Herod interrogated the guards and sentenced them to death. Afterward Herod left Judea to stay in Caesarea for a while. 

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Thoughts....

In the last lesson we learned Peter was freed from prison through victorious prayer.  This week we’ll see God’s redemptive power at work and watch one of Satan’s assigns flee. 

Having been freed from prison, Peter wasn’t sure which direction to head. I get that. Coming out of a fog can be tremendously empowering, but with that event there is still usually a ‘Now what, God?’  that goes along with the freedom.

Interestingly, Peter reminds us that God gave us our brain/mind, and, there are times we don’t need to call upon him, but engage what he has instilled.   Peter gave his predicament “a little thought’.  Having done so, he went to the home of Mary, the Mother of John Mark, where many were gathered for prayer.  It seems Peter wanted to let them know their prayers for him had been victorious!

Verse 13-14:  ‘He knocked at the door in the gate and a servant girl named Rhoda came to open it.  When she recognized Peter’s voice, she was so overjoyed that, instead of opening the door, she ran back inside and told everyone, “Peter is standing at the door!”’

This made me laugh at first read and giggle again & again.  It reminds me of a Mary Tyler Moore Show, or an I Love Lucy Show, or a Gracie & Alan stint.  But at closer depth of viewing, we learn that she first listened for a voice before she opened the door.

Do you listen to God’s voice when a door is set before you?  Do you wait until he lets you know if you are to open it, or go through a door, or not?  Or do you open doors expecting all will close but the right one?  Just because a door opens, it does NOT mean one is to go through it.  Consider the person having an affair.  THAT is NOT God’s door of love-it is Satan’s door of lust.  One should never go through that door.

So, Rhoda had told everyone that Peter was at the door.  And they told her “You’re out of your mind.”  Here’s another pearl:  This body of believers were gathered for prayer.  We can only presume they were praying for Peter to be freed.  We do not learn if they believed what they were praying would come true-that their prayers had been victorious (presumed they were praying for Peter’s freedom), but why else pray unless you believe? 

DO you BELIEVE when you pray?  Do you fully expect your prayers will be answered?  If not, why not?  You can’t be victorious in prayer without belief that what you are praying for will occur. And yet at least one did (presumed), or God reigned supreme anyway to show the prayer warriors that praying without belief can still cause victory because of their request to God.  To show them he DOES hear them, just like he can hear you.  So whether you believer or not when you pray-at least pray.  But how much better for you, and God, if you are telling him of the strength of your belief in him, his love, his desire to give you the desires of your heart, if you obediently pray BELIEVING.

Verse 16:  Meanwhi le Peter kept knocking and the door was finally opened-and they were amazed.

Are you amazed when God answers your prayers?  I am sometimes.  I am in awe that I am worthy.   And ever so grateful for his love. 

Verse 17a:  Then he gave his testimony.

When the storm has quelled-tell the story of what happened.  Declare the victory as THE Lord’s!  Tell all.  This is the lesson:  share God’s redemption(s) as a result of victorious prayer.

In verse 17b, we learn he then gave the others a directive, a command. “Tell James and the other brothers what happened.”   

Often times we share the stories of our lives but we don’t emphasize the victory.  How often have you, or I, told others to go share our story with others?  ‘Chatting’ the story is gossip when retold.  Sharing the victory is redemptive, and, it allows others to see how God has worked in one’s life, plants seeds, waters, tills, and reaps (what is sown) into the Kingdom of God. 

In Verse 17c it says, ‘And then he went to another place.’  Written in the context of this paragraph it means that Peter went elsewhere to tell his story to others to share with them the victory of prayer and the redemptive power of it.   He did not flee, but immersed himself locally sharing the victory.    

‘At dawn’, according to verses 18-19, ‘there was a great commotion among the soldiers about what had happened to Peter.’  Can you imagine the ‘Keystone Comedy’ that must have been?  I can imagine soldiers bouncing off one another running around, maybe even the 2 who were chained to Peter, fainting or running scared. Surely they understood the consequences of their loss!  

Herod Agrippa ordered a thorough search for Peter.  When he couldn’t be found, Herod interrogated the guards and sentenced them to death.  Nice guy, this King Herod-really likeable fellow.  NOT.  And presumably not smart either.  He sends everyone on a chase and THEN asks the guards Peter was chained to what happened.  I guess we should expect that.  Satan IS the author of confusion-why wouldn’t his assigns be confused?  And evil-causing death for choices he created!

And then we learn Herod fled.  It says,  ‘Afterward Herod left Judea to stay in Cesarea for a while.’  Did he think the Cesareans or the Christians would come after him?  Or Peter,  presuming  ‘his  power’ would seek him out?  Was he not listening at ALL to understand Peter’s power wasn’t his own, but God’s power  through and surrounding him?  The message here is: one can NOT flee God. “Not no way, no how” as the Wizard of Oz  might have said.

So, next time you are in the midst of a dilemma, whether God is needing to test your wisdom, feel the strength of your convictions or Satan is tempting you-maybe beyond measure, what should you do?   

PRAY, believing victoriously!  If you can’t do that, at least pray.  God WILL know you are still one of his and WILL move mountains, if necessary,  to help you.  You may not have your prayers answered the way you WANT, but they WILL be answered the way you NEED.

Oh, and don’t flee….from God.   He always knows where you are and what you are doing. You can run, but you can NOT hide from god.  But if you ARE of God, he will shelter  you with his feathers and raise you on eagle’s wings.   So be ready!   There are blessings in redemptive and victorious prayer! 

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  Let Us Pray

Dear Heavenly Father God, Jesus, Holy Spirit, I praise you and thank you!  Let all those who pray, believe you are listening and answering their prayers!  I admit there are times when I pray because I know I should be, and I've known that you are there, but sometimes I've wondered if you have heard me.  CLEARLY, you do hear, and you do answer, because, even if I wonder, the mere act of praying shows I believe you are there, you will hear me, and you will answer my prayer.  I will pray victoriously believing fully from now on for redemptive victorious prayer.  You've told us, 'In everything pray giving praise and thanksgiving. ' So I will!  IN THE MIDST OF, not just for things. I thank you, I praise you, I love you, whether you answer the prayer the way I want, or I need.  And I am ever so grateful you ARE there, and love me....still.  Thank you!  I praise you!  I love you!  Amen.   

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This message was typed on a library computer because the church (also used as my personal) computer ceased to function.  It would mean the world to me, and to God, were you to make a donation today to enable me to purchase a computer, and hopefully be able to draw from the old computer all 'Thoughts' written for the Lord to complete the book he has slated for publishing.  Thank you in advance, and, may God bless you.   

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Let us hear from Paul as he prays:  

When I think of the wisdom and scope of God's plan, I fall to my knees and pray to the Father, the Creator of everything in heaven and on earth.  I pray that from his glorious, unlimited resources he will give you mighty inner strength through his Holy Spirit.  And I pray that Christ will be more and more at home in your hearts as you trust in him.  May your roots go down deep into the soil of God's marvelous love.  And may you have the power to understand, as all God's people should, how wide, how long, how high, and how deep his love really is.  May you experience the love of Christ, though it is so great you will never fully understand it.  Then you will be filled with the fullness of life and power that comes from God.

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Scroll down to read Jesus' Prayer of Thanksgiving...'The Unforced Rhythms of Grace'.

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    One last thing....

 Jesus' Prayer of Thanksgiving

'The Unforced Rhythms of Grace'

"Abruptly Jesus broke into prayer:  "Thank you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth.  You've concealed your ways from sophisticates and know-it-alls, but spelled them out clearly to ordinary people.  Yes, Father, that's the way you like to work."

Jesus resumed talking to the people, but now tenderly.  "The Father has given me all these things to do and say.  This is a unique Father - Son operation, coming out of Father and Son intimacies and knowledge.  No one knows the Son the way the Father does, nor the Father the way the Son does.  But I'm not keeping it to myself; I'm ready to go over it line by line with anyone willing to listen."

"Are you tired?  Worn out?  Burned out on religion?  Come to me.  Get away with me and you'll recover your life.  I'll show you how to take a real rest.  Walk with me and work with me - watch how I do it.  Learn the unforced rhythms of grace.  I won't lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you. Keep company with me and you'll learn how to live freely and lightly.

   Matthew 11:  25-30

  The Message

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"Amen."

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 I now write most prayers in the position of ' I ' (first person) because most people are sitting at their computer alone, not in groups, and it allows those reading and praying to personalize the prayer as coming from them going to God.  Variations may appear on holidays when families may wish to use the prayer provided.  I encourage you to pray your own prayers as well.

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  Unless otherwise indicated, all Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright 1996.  Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Wheaton, Illinois 60189.  All rights reserved.

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NOTE:  I said it long ago, but let me say it again.  If you are wanting to lead a group, start a church, or are confined in an institution, or live in a country where the Gospel is not preached, and you don't know what to say or how to say it, and yet feel led to share, teach, or preach, besides just reading straight out of the Bible and sharing what God puts on your heart, please feel free to share any or all of what I've written, if it will help you, as long as you include where it comes from, due to copyright laws.  Jesus gave God's love and healing freely, as well as his message.  Our responsibility is to get the Word out to those who need to hear it.  If what I've written....by the power and direction of the Holy Spirit....or what he has said through me....has helped you, it may help others that you know.  You are welcome to share it.  God calls all of us to share the Gospel of Jesus Christ with the world.  Please share it with the fullness of love that God, Jesus, Holy Spirit....and I....have given it.  Amen!

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