SET FREE FROM THE GRIP OF YOUR CIRCUMSTANCES

SCRIPTURE:

“So Peter was kept in prison, but the church was earnestly praying to God for him.  6 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. 7 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.  8 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. 9 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.   10 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.” (Acts 12:5—10)

OBSERVATION:

            Peter was already deep into the grip of his circumstance.  Before the big day of his trial, Peter was in prison.  He slept between two soldiers, bound with chains, and sentries stood guard at the entrance.  Life issues and circumstances that we face make a person feels like they are in a prison that they can never come out of.  Peter no doubt faced fears and concerns.  For anyone who is about to be in court, it is a nerve-wracking experience of not knowing how one will end up.  Let alone the feeling of being trapped in the circumstances with no possibility of ever escaping them.

            SUDDENLY an angel of the Lord appeared, and a LIGHT SHONE in Peter’s cell.  The angel gave Peter instructions on how he could be free.   Quick, get up!… And the chains fell off Peter’s wrist.  Put on your clothes and sandals. Wrap your cloak around you and follow me.  The angel of the Lord oversaw an impossible situation in Peter’s life.  From Peter’s case, we can learn essential keys to freedom when we are in circumstances that seem impossible to get out of.

            The first key factor is PRAYER.  The church was praying for Peter while he was in prison.  Prayer is always the first order of business when facing an impossible situation.  The struggle Peter faced was more than a physical battle.  It was a battle that must be fought in the spiritual.  Prayer is my communication with God.  I must tell God all my troubles.  Not that God doesn’t know what is going on in my life, but it is to remind me that God is there with me and ready to step in. 

            The second key factor is to know that God ANSWERS PRAYERS.  There is always a light at the end of the tunnel.  Prayers strengthen our sense of hope to be the light in our darkest moments in life.  God is with us in every dark and depressing moment of life.  SUDDENLY an Angel of the Lord appeared, and a LIGHT SHONE in Peter’s cell. 

            The third key factor in Peter’s release from his dark cell, he learned to COOPERATE WITH THE ANGEL.  Peter could’ve complained, but instead, he cooperated with the angel.  See, many folks want to be free from all their issues in life but do not cooperate with God’s solution to solve their problems.  The angel’s instructions were straightforward.

            The angel WOKE HIM UP and said, QUICK GET UP!  And the chains fell off Peter’s wrist.  With that first instruction, Peter saw what God could do miraculously.  PUT ON YOUR CLOTHES AND SANDALS. WRAP YOUR CLOAK AROUND YOU AND FOLLOW ME.  And Peter FOLLOWED HIM OUT OF PRISON.  Peter followed him out of prison, but he had no idea that what the angel was doing was happening; he thought he saw 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.     

            Peter’s breakthrough because of SIMPLY listening and following the angels leading.  God wants to lead us out of our prisons in life.  It doesn’t matter how you got there and how your circumstances seem impossible.  It matters that when we commit our situations to God, we must learn to pray and to know that God hears and answers our prayers, and lastly, we must learn to cooperate with God as he leads us to freedom.   God, through his angel, walks and processes with Peters how he can walk into freedom.  It doesn’t matter again what prison you are in.  It matters that you know God can and can be with you all the way. 

APPLICATION:

            I will continue to see that God is in my trials.  I will commit to calling upon him in times of need.  I will continue to find his answers for all of my circumstances.  I will continue to learn to walk in simplicity of faith and trust as Jesus works in my life. 

PRAYER:

            Jesus, I know that there is no problem you cannot solve.  Thank you for today’s reminder that all things are possible to those who believe.  I choose to accept your word today.  I ask that you continue to teach me what it is to trust all my circumstances in your hands.  Please help me to follow and learn how to walk with you in tight and challenging places in my journey.  Walk with me, Amen!