Angels and Answered Prayers

 

Read Exodus 40:34-38; Psalms 15; and Acts 12

 

S.O.A.P.

 

S:  “And suddenly an angel of the Lord appeared [standing beside him], and a light shone in the place where he was. And the angel gently smote Peter on the side and awakened him, saying, Get up quickly! And the chains fell off his hands.” (Acts 12:7)

 

O:  A lot happens in this chapter of Acts; James the brother of John is killed, Peter was rescued from Herod, Herod is struck down and Paul and Barnabas return with John Mark from their first missionary journey, but what mostly caught my attention was the story of Peter. 

 

One of the first things I notice is Peter was sleeping.  This probably catches my eye because I do not always sleep well, but when I do I can really get into a DEEP sleep.  About fifteen years ago I was a volunteer firefighter and EMT.  I loved everything about that job and I did not even mind getting woken up in the night to go and help someone in need.  But one night I had my radio beside my bed and my husband tells me that it went off and I did not hear the radio and the alert.  He was down the hall in the office and came and apparently woke me up and told me about the call.  I said ok and apparently laid back down and went back to sleep.  The next morning when he conveyed all of this to me I did not remember a thing. 

 

Now that I’m older and have children I do not unfortunately sleep quite as deeply!  But back to Peter …   

 

Peter wasn’t up thinking about his problems or worrying about his court date that was about to take place in the morning.  He certainly could have been.  One of his best friends, James, had been killed and Peter was probably about to join him.  James and Peter and John had been apart of the inner-inner circle with Jesus.  They were the ones who got to go up and see the transfiguration.  They were the ones closest to him in the garden praying before the crucifixion.

 

But Peter was not worried, he was sleeping so soundly and so deeply (even with the bright light of the angel right beside Peter) that the angel had to “smack” him on the side (in his ribs) to get him up.  The verse in the KJV says after he smote him that the angel “raised him up”. 

 

Even after all of this Peter still thought he was just dreaming (vs 9).

 

Finally after passing all the guards and the city gates the angel leaves Peter and Peter for the first time realizes what has been done for him and he proceeds to John Mark’s mother’s house where a group was assembled in the night keeping vigil and praying for Peter.  So Peter knocks and the girl who comes to the door is so excited to hear Peter’s voice that she doesn’t even open the door, she runs back to the group and tells them that Peter is here on the porch, but they didn’t believe her.  I do not know if any of you have kids (or animals) that do this, but when the doorbell rings in our house my kids (and dogs) go crazy.  The kids start jumping up and down screaming names of people they think are at the door; they just get excited!  I imagine Rhoda did the same.  She heard the knock and got close enough to the door to hear Peter and began jumping up and down, “Peter’s here, Peter’s here!”

 

Why is it when we pray, even in full faith, that when the answer comes that we still doubt that it could be possible?  Acts says Rhoda kept persisting until they finally open the door and saw Peter with their own eyes and verse 16 says they were AMAZED.  That word in Greek is “existemi” which means they were caught off guard, thrown into wonderment, astounded, beside one’s self or literally “out of (ex) standing (histemi)”. 

 

Does the way God answer your prayers ever just “knock you off your feet”?  There are times I catch myself in the middle of something happening and I realize that this was something I prayed for and just am amazed!

 

A:  Think back over times when God has answered some of your very specific prayers and thank Him for that and be amazed at God all over again!  Then continue in prayer for the things you are still seeking Him for.

 

P:  Lord, the song, “I stand, I stand in awe of You, Holy God to whom all praise is due, I stand in awe of You!” comes to mind this morning as I think about Peter and Rhoda and John Mark’s mother and the others that you just blew away with the way You heard and answered their prayers that night while Peter was sleeping soundly in the prison.  God I pray we too would be knocked off our feet by the way You hear and answer our prayers.  I am also reminded again how important it is to keep those night watches and stand in the gap for others, others who may not have any idea you are praying for them, but then who knows what our prayers can do for another person.  Keep us as Psalms 15 says clean and walking rightly with You so that as we follow Your direction that we can be used as vessels in accordance with what You are doing and as we pray in accordance with Your will we can know that our prayers will be answered.  Thank you LORD for hearing and answering us.  In Your Mighty Name and through Christ we pray Amen & Amen.

The Spoken and Unspoken Message

 

Read Ps. 19 and Acts 11

S.O.A.P.

 

 

S:  Psalm 19 is so poetic!  I especially love verses 3 and 4 speaking of the stars and the sunrise and sunset: 

 

“Their words aren’t heard,
    their voices aren’t recorded,
But their silence fills the earth:
    unspoken truth is spoken everywhere.”

 

And then speaking of God’s Word the Psalmist pens these words in verses 7-9:

 

“The revelation of God is whole
    and pulls our lives together.
The signposts of God are clear
    and point out the right road.
The life-maps of God are right,
    showing the way to joy.
The directions of God are plain
    and easy on the eyes.”

The Message

 

I also like how plainly The Message reads verse 12, “Clean the slate, God, so we can start the day fresh!  Keep me from stupid sins, from thinking I can take over your work …”

 

Peter puts it this way in Acts 11:17, “who was I and what power or authority had I to interfere or hinder or forbid or withstand God?”  Words like these quieted people up in a hurry! (vs 18)

 

O:  As I read the accounts in Acts 11 I am reminded of my New Testament Survey Class I took this past semester.  Acts is like a history book of the early church.  What is cool about it is you can take each epistle that was written and sort of place it into the book of Acts.  Acts 11 takes place in about 43 AD at about the same time the Book of Matthew was written.  As we get into the next few chapters we will begin to see Paul’s missionary journeys.  The letters of Paul fit right into the book of Acts written by Luke from this point forward. 

 

Matthew	40-55 AD
James	45 AD
Galatians	48-49 AD

 

Much of Galatians ties into Acts 11.  The revelation mentioned (Gal 2:2) corresponds with the prophecy of Agabus in verse 27-28.  Paul exhortation to remember the poor (Gal. 2: 10) fits with the purpose of the Acts 11.  When studying this last semester I found this all to be very insightful and it helped me to get a better view of the Bible as a whole and the living history of the early church. 

 

A:  The application for me today is first to thank Him for his handiwork that we see day in and day out.  Take special notice of the skies and how their “unspoken truth” is everywhere.  Not to worship the creation, but the Creator who make all of those beautiful things and keeps it running day in and day out.  Secondly as we said yesterday to share with others the message of salvation and to encourage present day believers as well.

 

P:  LORD, I thank you Father for the many, many ways that You reveal Yourself to us in nature.  We often see some magnificent displays of Your creativity and beauty.  Help us to take special note of these things and to look to You with more and more adoration.  Now according to Acts 11 I pray that Your presence would be with us in such power,  that many would hear the message of Your WORD and believe and surrender their lives to You.  Help us to encourage those who already believe to remain faithful and devoted to You, Lord.  Control us by Your Holy Spirit and fill us to capacity with faith and Your power.  In the words of the Psalmist I pray, “These are the words in my mouth.  Accept them when I place them on the morning altar, O God, my Altar-Rock, God, Priest-of-My-Altar.”  Amen & Amen.

God Prepares Us

 

□ Read Acts 10

S.O.A.P.

S:  Acts 10:34 Opening his mouth, Peter said: “Most certainly I understand now that God is not one to show partiality [to people as though Gentiles were excluded from God’s blessing], 35 but in every nation the person who fears God and does what is right [by seeking Him] is acceptable and welcomed by Him.  43 All the prophets testify about Him, that through His name everyone who believes in Him [whoever trusts in and relies on Him, accepting Him as Savior and Messiah] receives forgiveness of sins.”

 

O:  Peter, as a Jew, had certain prejudices against the Gentiles that would have prevented his going to Cornelius, unless the Lord had not prepared him ahead of time.  He also was at risk for other Jewish believers to question or even attack his actions.  But God … God knows what lays before us, and how to prepare us.  We do not have to justify our actions to others, but we do have to answer to God.  Peter listened to God and followed what God wanted him to do. 

 

When God gives us a vision or a calling or a task to do, we should not begin to doubt what He has told us.  If there be any lack in knowledge or faith He will give it to us.  “…he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus …” (Philippians 1:6)  God goes with those He anoints; He will be with those to whom He has given His Spirit.  Whatever gift(s) we have, we are to honor God with them.

 

A:  To wait on God’s instructions and to be ready to get up and follow Him no matter what others might think or say. 

 

P:  Thank you Jesus that You prepare us for every task that You call us to.  Give each one reading this today, including myself, a vision for what You want us to do for You.  Show us the people that You want us to share Your WORD with and let the Holy Spirit come on all who hear Your message.  Come Holy Spirit, fill the hearts of your faithful and kindle in them the fire of your love and instruct our hearts.  Through Christ Our Lord I pray, Amen & Amen.

 

Even those who have received the Holy Ghost, must see their need of

daily learning more of the truth. ~ Matthew Henry

 

Bible Study Tip:  The past two decades have provided extraordinary progress in our understanding of the nature of learning.  Share with one person today something you learned from reading and studying.  The more times one repeats an action or recalls the information, the more efficient the brain becomes in its ability to retrieve that memory or repeat that action.  So recall and share God’s Word often and it will become more and more engrained and a part of you!

 

Extra, Extra, Read all about it!

 

Who was Cornelius? Cornelius (Greek: Κορνήλιος) was a Roman centurion (soldier).

 

How do you think Peter would have felt sharing the gospel with a Roman soldier? A patriotic Jew of that day would naturally dislike or even hate him because he was such a loyal servant of the oppressors of Israel. If you were a Jew talking of a Centurion, an image would immediately come to mind of an unclean enemy of God, one who is not only unredeemable, but one who is to be avoided at all costs.  Yet, Cornelius was said to be a devout man; a man who feared God, who prayed to God always and who gave alms generously to those who were in need. Is there anyone in your life that you see "unredeemable".

 

What does God's Word say on this matter?  “The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance.” (2 Peter 3:9) Share God's WORD today with everyone to whom you are given an opportunity!  The baptism of Cornelius is an important event in the history of the Early Church, what difference are you willing to make in God’s His-Story today?