Handling trials in the Church
S - Acts 12:4-7 (NASB)
When he had seized him, he put him in prison, delivering him to four squads of soldiers to guard him, intending after the Passover to bring him out before the people.
5So Peter was kept in the prison, but prayer for him was being made fervently by the church to God.
6On the very night when Herod was about to bring him forward, Peter was sleeping between two soldiers, bound with two chains, and guards in front of the door were watching over the prison.
7And behold, an angel of the Lord suddenly appeared and a light shone in the cell; and he struck Peter's side and woke him up, saying, "Get up quickly " And his chains fell off his hands.
O - Thank God for His perfect timing. We see here, that Peter, who was arrested by Herod, after he saw how it pleased the Jews when he executed James, John's brother. So here Peter is in Prison, the day before his planned execution, and what do we observe: The church fervently praying for him, and him sleeping in peace, and the Lord moving to his aide. What a great model for all of us to view and experience, and hopefully walk in ourselves.
A - The application for me is to recognize the various phases of trials I may experience and respond how the early church did by doing the following:
1. Praying fervently during times of trials: I must recognize the power of corporate and individual prayer, not just for me , but for others who may be facing trials in the church. We are called to be people of prayer; trials will come, and our response needs to be to run to Him.
2. Waiting patiently, in peace: The next phase is my personal challenge. To be able to wait patiently, and in peace and faith of the Lord's covering. We see Peter sleeping between two of his captors the night before his planned execution. This is the peace that goes beyond all understanding, that Paul talks about that comes from "being anxious about nothing, but in everything through, prayer, petition, and supplication, present your request to God, and the peace of God, which transcends all understanding will guard you heart and mind in Christ Jesus.
3. The last move is the Lords. Recognize that the Lord's promises are real, but often he takes the last and decisive move. We must be careful not to take control out of fear, before the Lord makes his move. Just like with salvation the move the Lord's to send Christ as our savior, and in the end, we cannot influence when the Kingdom of Heaven will be restored on Earth, it is all in God's timing not ours.
P - Dear heavenly Father, thank you for today's lesson, may it be sealed to my heart. I pray Lord, that you would help me to follow these three basic principles during trials in my own life. I especially need to learn to pray fervently for others, and wait patiently for your move. I pray all this in Jesus name, Amen.
S - Acts 12:4-7 (NASB)
When he had seized him, he put him in prison, delivering him to four squads of soldiers to guard him, intending after the Passover to bring him out before the people.
5So Peter was kept in the prison, but prayer for him was being made fervently by the church to God.
6On the very night when Herod was about to bring him forward, Peter was sleeping between two soldiers, bound with two chains, and guards in front of the door were watching over the prison.
7And behold, an angel of the Lord suddenly appeared and a light shone in the cell; and he struck Peter's side and woke him up, saying, "Get up quickly " And his chains fell off his hands.
O - Thank God for His perfect timing. We see here, that Peter, who was arrested by Herod, after he saw how it pleased the Jews when he executed James, John's brother. So here Peter is in Prison, the day before his planned execution, and what do we observe: The church fervently praying for him, and him sleeping in peace, and the Lord moving to his aide. What a great model for all of us to view and experience, and hopefully walk in ourselves.
A - The application for me is to recognize the various phases of trials I may experience and respond how the early church did by doing the following:
1. Praying fervently during times of trials: I must recognize the power of corporate and individual prayer, not just for me , but for others who may be facing trials in the church. We are called to be people of prayer; trials will come, and our response needs to be to run to Him.
2. Waiting patiently, in peace: The next phase is my personal challenge. To be able to wait patiently, and in peace and faith of the Lord's covering. We see Peter sleeping between two of his captors the night before his planned execution. This is the peace that goes beyond all understanding, that Paul talks about that comes from "being anxious about nothing, but in everything through, prayer, petition, and supplication, present your request to God, and the peace of God, which transcends all understanding will guard you heart and mind in Christ Jesus.
3. The last move is the Lords. Recognize that the Lord's promises are real, but often he takes the last and decisive move. We must be careful not to take control out of fear, before the Lord makes his move. Just like with salvation the move the Lord's to send Christ as our savior, and in the end, we cannot influence when the Kingdom of Heaven will be restored on Earth, it is all in God's timing not ours.
P - Dear heavenly Father, thank you for today's lesson, may it be sealed to my heart. I pray Lord, that you would help me to follow these three basic principles during trials in my own life. I especially need to learn to pray fervently for others, and wait patiently for your move. I pray all this in Jesus name, Amen.
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