I was watching a program about a daring rescue
conducted by a USA Air Force pilot during the Serbian Conflict when a US Fighter
jet was shot down. The pilot had ejected safely but landed in the enemy
territory. The young pilot was in a very dangerous and precarious situation.
A US Air Force Rescue team went out on a frantic rescue mission. The team made
a very daring rescue of this young fighter Pilot. There was a great
jubilation. The enemy camp was confounded and humiliated.
We read about a daring rescue mission conducted by the
Lord of the Church as it is recorded in Acts 12. The first time I heard about
this adventure story was from my Uncle, who was a great story teller. I was 4
years old. He told the story during our evening family worship time. When I
heard about it I got excited about Jesus. This provides an example of the
desperate situations that people often find themselves in and an example of what
the church usually does when faced with a desperate situation. Peter had been placed in a seemingly hopeless
situation. It was his midnight hour, the time when things are the darkest, and
he was in a truly humbling position, and he needed to experience God's
best. We know it is the time when we need to be rescued,
because we are virtually blinded by our situation. We know it is the time
when we need a miracle, because only a miracle can bring us the urgent relief we
so desperately need. While Peter was locked up, the church was praying
that God would take care of Peter. The church was praying that God would rescue
Peter.
The saints of God prayed
without ceasing for Peter.
We may be experiencing midnight, but we should
rest easy, as the difference between midnight and a new day is just 60 seconds.
In 60 seconds, we can go from past failures to present victory. In 60
seconds, We can go from past hurts to present cure. In 60 seconds, you can be
free, because God always shows up in our midnight hour! Peter was so fast
asleep that the angel had to poke him hard and say, "Wake up! Get up! You are
about to be rescued!" Sometimes our situations can drain us and push us to
sleep, but we need to get up! God is about to change our situation. The Angel
said to Peter, "Get up quickly!" Peter obeyed the Angel's
command although at first he was not sure at all about what was happening. At
first Peter thought that it was a dream or a vision. He thought he was
dreaming. Praise the Lord it was happening for real before his own
eyes. Miracles are
real.
The angel took Peter past the first guard and the second guard…The guards didn't so much as notice them. They were blinded by Peter's covering. However, there was still one more barrier to his freedom. The iron gate that led to the city was in front of them, but then suddenly, without pushing on it, the gate swung open! How many doors has God opened wide for us in the past, doors that we didn't have to push. We didn't have to turn a knob or pry. The door just flung open, and we walked right through it.
The angel took Peter past the first guard and the second guard…The guards didn't so much as notice them. They were blinded by Peter's covering. However, there was still one more barrier to his freedom. The iron gate that led to the city was in front of them, but then suddenly, without pushing on it, the gate swung open! How many doors has God opened wide for us in the past, doors that we didn't have to push. We didn't have to turn a knob or pry. The door just flung open, and we walked right through it.
The angel led Peter through the gate and went
the length of one street. Just as suddenly as he appeared, the angel left.
Verse 11 says, "And when Peter was come to himself, he said, 'Now I know of a
surety, that the Lord hath sent His angels, and hath delivered me.'" In other
words, when Peter looked back at what the Lord did for Him, at how the Lord
miraculously rescued him from the hands of the enemy, Peter began to worship
God. He began to give God the praise. Peter said, "Surely it was God who
delivered me."
In Christ,
Brown
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