Relaxing in his possession

Thursday, 22 October 2009 14:43

There are times when we despair because of situations or circumstances in our lives. This may involve different aspects, for example, may be the financial statement, it can be problems in the family may be health problems and whether they can cover a large area in the life of everyone. The serious problem is that a Once we begin to despair, then we stopped trusting the only solution, who is God, and begin to rely more on our own ability. This of course leads to more suffering. I say that leads to more suffering because most Sometimes, we tend to lock ourselves in our own thoughts, we tend to lock us in our suffering or pain, and once that happens the thought that God can help us move away from us. Today we will examine a small part of life one of the apostles, let us examine just a few hours in their walk with Christ, but in this small portion of scripture we will find a great lesson to help us in our daily lives. In this lesson we will find two very important aspects of Christian life; find the meaning of rest in God and the power of prayer.

Now, as I always say, to have a better understanding of the message that God has for us today will require a brief review of history. In other words, one must know a little better for the family of Herod. Herod the Great was one who ruled when Jesus was born, and as we all know trying to kill him. Without question, the king was responsible for the worst crime that can be found in history. This was the king commanded to execute all children under age barons two years in the area of Bethlehem (Matthew 2:16) After Herod the Great, the kingdom was taken by Herod Antipas, if you remember, this was the king responsible for the beheading of John the Baptist in exchange for a dance (Matthew 14 :6-9) This more or less brings us to this point in history, now we come to Herod Agrippa, the grandson of Herod the Great, who ruled at the time of Peter. This king was seconded by his immense hatred of Christians , his greatest desire was to remove them from the face of the earth. The hatred that he felt this clearly proven in the first two verses we are using in today. With this in mind we continue with today's message. By simply reading these verses, there is no doubt that Herod was going to run to Peter. We can also see that he had taken precautions very strong for Peter did not escape as it had in the past (Acts 5:17-20) We found that Herod had to Peter guarded by four squads of soldiers.

Imagine this, 16 soldiers to care for a single man, which means that Peter would be surrounded by four soldiers at all times, including two who were tied him with chains. The king had taken strong precautions to ensure that Peter could not escape, he wanted be sure that Peter would die this time executed by the sword, in other words beheaded. In this state who was Peter's where we begin our lesson. I say this because many often do not reach the solution to the difficulties or situations because as Peter , are locked in a prison. Not in a physical prison, but rather enclosed in walls of negative thoughts, thoughts of defeat, depressing thoughts, as if this were not enough, many can not escape from the prison, leaving between these strong and fortified walls, because they are chained and tied to the things of this world. Does God want His people to be in that position? Absolutely NOT, God wants the best for His people (Isaiah 54:8-9) That's why we must examine our lives and find the place where we can find. Our enemy tried prisons being closed in doubt, pain and suffering. Our enemy is trying to tie ourselves and chain ourselves to the temporary pleasures offered by this world, tried to chain ourselves with greed, lust, jealousy, idolatry, and spite. Unfortunately, many are locked into these prisons, chained and bound, thinking that there is no solution. But if at any exams find that this is the case then I wish we notice something here that is very important, I want you to notice the attitude of Peter before all this was happening.

Take heed what happened next, in these verses read: "And when Herod was going to take that same night Peter was sleeping between two soldiers, bound with two chains, and the keepers before the door kept the prison. 7 And behold an angel of the Lord, and a light shined in the prison: and he struck Peter on the side, he woke up, saying: Arise quickly. And his chains fell off his hands. 8 Le said the angel: Gird yourself and tie his shoes. And he did so. And he said: Put on your garment and follow me. 9 And out he went, but did not know it was true what he was doing the angel, but thought he saw a vision. 10 Having passed the first and the second guard, reached the iron gate leading into the city, which were opened by itself and come out, they passed a street, and then the angel left him. 11 Then Peter came to himself, said: Now I know for certain that the Lord has sent his angel and delivered me from the hand of Herod and from everything the Jewish people expected. "Peter here was chained to two soldiers and thrown into prison. Peter had been sentenced to death and in just a few hours would be executed. What was the attitude of Peter? "Was Peter praying the king to forgive him? Was Pedro worried and nervous? No! here we see that Peter was sleeping comfortably. Peter was not worried, he was not afraid of what would happen, he was not blaming God for what had happened, he was not doubting God, he was asleep, he was resting comfortably. Why was he so calm? Why was not agitated and nervous? The answer is easy, Peter knew that his life was in God's hands rather than those of men. This attitude is one that many believers have to develop, we must realize that our life is not what this world offers, our life depends on the grace and mercy of God (Matthew 6:8.)

Now ask yourself, "If anyone here would be sentenced to die, I could sleep the night before his execution? I think not, most of us to be crying out to God, we were worried and nervous. Indeed, some blaming God for we were to find in this situation. But this was not the case with Peter, he trusted God, and rest in His power. Brethren, if we are to be released, if we want to live victorious lives, then we must learn to rest in God and His power. Pedro rest so that he slept soundly, and an angel of the Lord had to give him a blow on the side to wake him up. Pedro really could not believe what was happening. He was confident in God, he had denied or questioned the God's will, but if he was surprised by what was happening. He could not believe what their eyes saw, the chains that tied him to the two soldiers fell on him, the cell door shut it was opened, the soldiers guarding the prison door never saw him, and the gates of the city, fortified gates and large opened by itself. This is the God we serve, this is the God in whom we trusted, a God almighty , a God willing to let go of any situation. Peter could not explain how all this had happened, he had no idea why, but he was about to find out. How so? This leads me to the second aspect of our lesson.

Maybe some are a little detail escaped, and Herod wanted to kill him, the Jewish people wanted to see him die, but here we read that "the church made strong prayer to God for him." Here we find the only weapon we can use to defend ourselves, the power of God is revealed through the prayer of the righteous (James 5:16, 1 Peter 3:12.) The world can be opposed, the devil may tempt us, but the truth is that prayer breaks chains of bondage, the Prayer opens doors, free prayer, prayer, sound, prayer gives us the rest in God's power. Take heed that Peter had everything to lose, Peter was only hours away from being decapitated in his eyes probably he did not saw the solution, he thought surely suffer the same fate of James, but the church prayed, and God answered prayer.

Take heed what happened. Acts 12:12-16 - And having seen this, came to visit Mary the mother of John, who was surnamed Mark, where many were gathered together praying. 13 When Peter called the patio door, went to hear a girl named Rhoda, 14 which, when he recognized the voice of Peter, of joy did not open the door, but running inside, gave the news that Peter was at the door. 15 And they said: You're crazy. But she claimed that she did. And they said! Is his angel! 16 But Peter persisted in calling, and when they opened and they saw him they were astonished.

Pedro I get home of Mary the mother of John where they had gathered in prayer many unanimous. Here Peter found the answer to that had been released. The church was gathered in a prayer unanimous. They were raising a cry to heaven, presenting the issue in which Peter was going to God. But what happened here very special, I say this because when we look at what happened that although they were praying for Peter to be released, although they were presenting the problem to God for a solution, they did not believe the girl when he said that Peter was at the door. They said I was crazy. Here there is a very big lesson that we must learn, I say this because obviously if they were praying, but were gathered up a cry to heaven, they doubted the power of God. This is something you see very often in the people of God. Unfortunately, in many cases the people of God prays, but he does with all faith, does not completely trusted in God, His power and His glory. As those who were gathered here we forget that when we pray we have to do all faith, we must do without doubt, we can not do in case (Matthew 21:21-22.)

They could not believe that God had released, they could not believe that their prayers were answered so quickly. They were amazed and surprised, but I ask, why were they so surprised? Was this not perhaps what they were asking ? This is something that happens to us today, we often wrap both the difficulties, both tormenting us with the things of this world, and we suffered from our own mistakes, we fail to recognize that we serve a God can free us. We recognize that for him there is nothing impossible (Luke 18:27.) We forget that the same God who freed Peter in this situation is the kingdom God, Queen and reign forever in the heaven (Revelation 1:8.) He is present to free us from our troubles, our fears, our problems (Matthew 28:20.) He is present to break the chains that bind us, to open the fortified gates that enclose us . As I have said many times, prayer is the perfect weapon, prayer is the only weapon we can use to defend ourselves, is the only weapon against the powers of darkness. They prayed with one voice, they raised a cry to heaven, and the Father will hear and glorified.

To conclude. We must learn to rest in God, and His power, and constant prayer is key to achieving this. Brothers, these verses are much more than a historical event. These verses represent the continuing confrontation between good and evil . The Herod symbolize Satan's relentless attack on the church. Herod the Great had tried to kill Jesus' command to kill his son John the Baptist, decapitated his grandson Jacob, and now he had imprisoned Peter to kill him after Easter. At the same time that Peter suffered the chains, the church suffered with him in prayer. Hour after hour they cried believers in prayer, and God answered them, showed his power and mercy so they did not expect, so they were surprised. The chains that bound Peter fell and the prison doors opened. Pedro trust and rest in the power of God and the sincere and persevering prayers were answered by God. God is present to break free, God is present to forgive, God is present and hears our prayers. No surprised us by His power and glory but declarémoslo at all times, and rest in Him (Jeremiah 33:3.)

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