Recently I was reading in Acts 12 about Peter being put in prison by Herod and kept there by four quaternions of soldiers; intending after Easter to bring him forth to the people. v4, Peter was therefore kept in prison: but prayer was made without ceasing of the church unto God for him.
v6 And when Herod would have brought him forth, the same night Peter was sleeping between two soldiers, bound with two chains: and the keepers before the door kept the prison.
v7 And behold, the angel of the Lord came upon him, and a light shined in the prison: and he smote Peter on the side, and raised him up, saying, Arise up quickly. And his chains fell off from his hands.
v8 And the angel said unto him, Gird thself, and bind on thy sandals. And so he did. And he saith unto him, Cast thy garments about thee, and follow me.
v9 And he went out, and followed him; and wist not that it was true which was done by the angel; but thought he saw a vision.
v10 When they were past the first and the second ward, they came unto the iron gate that leadeth unto the city; which opened unto them of his own accord; and they went out, and passed on through one street; and forthwith the angel departed from him.
v11 And Peter was come to himself, he said, Now I know of a surety, that the Lord hath sent his angel, and hath delivered me out of the hand of Herod, and from all the expectation of the people of the Jews.
v12 And when he had considered the thing, he came to the house of Mary the mother of John, whose surname was Mark; where many were gathered together praying.
v13 And as Peter knocked at the door of the gate, a damsel came to hearken, named Rhoda.
v14 And when she knew Peter's voice, she opened not the gate for gladness, but ran in, and told how Peter stood before the gate.
v15 And they said unto her, Thou art mad. But she constantly affirmed that it was even so. Then they said, It is his angel.
v16 But Peter continued knocking: and when they had opened the door, and saw him, they were astonished.
v17 But he, beckoning unto them with the hand to hold their peace, declared unto them how the Lord had brought him out of prison.
I am reminded of a message Doyle wrote about Lisa is in prison, but she will be delivered. In Acts 12:5, the church prayed without ceasing unto God, for Peter. Do you think it is possible that is what all of us who say we believe, should be doing? I can only speak for myself, but I haven't been doing this. Oh yes, I pray for Lisa's deliverance, occasionally, but that's not what this says, is it? Jesus said, "this is love, that you keep my words." If we say we love God, if we say we love Doyle, if we say we love the children of God (of whom Lisa is) then how can we not be a doer of this word, lest we deceive ourselves.
Doyle recently shared about a conversation he had with someone and this person said, "this situation with Lisa is for the whole body of Christ." I know that's been in my heart also, but if I believed that, I would be praying with all that's in me that Lisa would be delivered out of the hand of the devil. This is what Doyle does, prays day and night that his wife is delivered and she IS being delivered, because it's the will of God. He not only prays for her, but for all those God has given him. That's the love of God demonstrated.
I thank God for His mercy; that He would show me my unbelief and expose the deceitfulness of my heart. We are a generation of people, called to worship God in Spirit and in truth and my prayer for us all is we would obey Micah 6:8...to do justly, and to love mercy and to walk humbly with thy God."
Bless you,
Kathy
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