Post by Woody Williams on Apr 24, 2007 7:34:17 GMT -5
Text for the Day -- Acts 12:1-11
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About that time King Herod laid violent hands upon some who belonged
to the church. He had James, the brother of John, killed with the
sword. After he saw that it pleased the Jews, he proceeded to arrest
Peter also. (This was during the festival of Unleavened Bread.) When
he had seized him, he put him in prison and handed him over to four
squads of soldiers to guard him, intending to bring him out to the
people after the Passover. While Peter was kept in prison, the church
prayed fervently to God for him.
The very night before Herod was going to bring him out, Peter, bound
with two chains, was sleeping between two soldiers, while guards in
front of the door were keeping watch over the prison. Suddenly an
angel of the Lord appeared and a light shone in the cell. He tapped
Peter on the side and woke him, saying, "Get up quickly." And the
chains fell off his wrists. The angel said to him, "Fasten your belt
and put on your sandals." He did so. Then he said to him, "Wrap your
cloak around you and follow me." Peter went out and followed him; he
did not realize that what was happening with the angel's help was
real; he thought he was seeing a vision. After they had passed the
first and the second guard, they came before the iron gate leading
into the city. It opened for them of its own accord, and they went
outside and walked along a lane, when suddenly the angel left him.
Then Peter came to himself and said, "Now I am sure that the Lord has
sent his angel and rescued me from the hands of Herod and from all
that the Jewish people were expecting."
Devotional
----------
God displayed quite openly, during this Apostolic period, the power
of the kingdom. Whether it was healing, powerful preaching or
delivering Apostles from prison, God the Holy Spirit was openly
active in this early Christian community. The powerful experience of
being with Jesus and the Holy Spirit enabled the Apostles to boldly
witness to the kingdom of God. How do we build that expectation of
the Holy Spirit working among us today?
Prayer
---------------
Thy kingdom come among us, gracious Lord. Amen
----------
About that time King Herod laid violent hands upon some who belonged
to the church. He had James, the brother of John, killed with the
sword. After he saw that it pleased the Jews, he proceeded to arrest
Peter also. (This was during the festival of Unleavened Bread.) When
he had seized him, he put him in prison and handed him over to four
squads of soldiers to guard him, intending to bring him out to the
people after the Passover. While Peter was kept in prison, the church
prayed fervently to God for him.
The very night before Herod was going to bring him out, Peter, bound
with two chains, was sleeping between two soldiers, while guards in
front of the door were keeping watch over the prison. Suddenly an
angel of the Lord appeared and a light shone in the cell. He tapped
Peter on the side and woke him, saying, "Get up quickly." And the
chains fell off his wrists. The angel said to him, "Fasten your belt
and put on your sandals." He did so. Then he said to him, "Wrap your
cloak around you and follow me." Peter went out and followed him; he
did not realize that what was happening with the angel's help was
real; he thought he was seeing a vision. After they had passed the
first and the second guard, they came before the iron gate leading
into the city. It opened for them of its own accord, and they went
outside and walked along a lane, when suddenly the angel left him.
Then Peter came to himself and said, "Now I am sure that the Lord has
sent his angel and rescued me from the hands of Herod and from all
that the Jewish people were expecting."
Devotional
----------
God displayed quite openly, during this Apostolic period, the power
of the kingdom. Whether it was healing, powerful preaching or
delivering Apostles from prison, God the Holy Spirit was openly
active in this early Christian community. The powerful experience of
being with Jesus and the Holy Spirit enabled the Apostles to boldly
witness to the kingdom of God. How do we build that expectation of
the Holy Spirit working among us today?
Prayer
---------------
Thy kingdom come among us, gracious Lord. Amen