Getting Some Much Needed Rest

Acts 12:1-11-Now about that time Herod the king stretched out his hand to harass some from the church.

Then he killed James the brother of John with the sword.

And because he saw that it pleased the Jews, he proceeded further to seize Peter also. Now it was during the Days of Unleavened Bread.

So when he had arrested him, he put him in prison, and delivered him to four squads of soldiers to keep him, intending to bring him before the people after Passover.

Peter was therefore kept in prison, but constant prayer was offered to God for him by the church.

And when Herod was about to bring him out, that night Peter was sleeping, bound with two chains between two soldiers; and the guards before the door were keeping the prison.

Now behold, an angel of the Lord stood by him, and a light shone in the prison; and he struck Peter on the side and raised him up, saying, “Arise quickly!” And his chains fell off his hands.

Then the angel said to him, “Gird yourself and tie on your sandals”; and so he did. And he said to him, “Put on your garment and follow me.”

So he went out and followed him, and did not know that what was done by the angel was real, but thought he was seeing a vision.

When they were past the first and the second guard posts, they came to the iron gate that leads to the city, which opened to them of its own accord; and they went out and went down one street, and immediately the angel departed from him.

And when Peter had come to himself, he said, “Now I know for certain that the Lord has sent His angel, and has delivered me from the hand of Herod and from all the expectation of the Jewish people.”

Verse 5-Constant prayer-It didn't say anything about the church praying when James was arrested and killed, but now that had happen and now Peter had been arrested.

Verse 6-Peter Was Sleeping

Maybe he rested in the assurance that people was praying for him.

It helps to know that people are praying for you!

He didn't try to pick the chains or tunnel out of the prison, he just slept!

He could sleep because he was resting in Him who neither slumbers nor sleeps!

Psalm. 121:3-4-He will not allow your foot to be moved; He who keeps you will not slumber. Behold, He who keeps Israel Shall neither slumber nor sleep.

He’s on the job! 24 hours a day-7 days a week!

Peter rested in the fact that he hadn’t done anything wrong, he didn’t kill nobody, he didn't steal nothing, he didn’t rob nobody, he was just preaching the gospel!

If you know you’ve been serving God faithfully, and your going thru some rough times…you can take you ease, you can rest because God has your back! Your front! Your side! All around you!

He was facing death the next day, and was still able to sleep!!!

We lose sleep over a lot of minor things, we lose sleep over a bill getting paid, or what spouse said to us, or where are children are, what they

are doing, or a situation at the work place, or troubles within our family.

(Have you prayed about it as much as you have talked about?)

We seem to tell things to everybody except Jesus!

Tell it to Jesus! Tell it to Jesus! He is a friend that’s well known! You’ve no other such a friend or brother. Tell it to Jesus alone.

Verse 7-And His Chains Fell Off His Hands-Whatever is binding you, whatever is hindering you, whatever is keeping you down, whatever has got you conquered, God can deliver you from it!

God put this in His word so that you would know…If you are down, you don’t have to stay down! If you are conquered you don’t have to stay conquered! If your defeated, you don’t have to stay defeated!

Verse 10-The Iron Gate That Leads To The City, Which Opened To Them Of Its Own Accord

God can open doors that no one else can!

God can do things that no one else can!

Angel Departed From Him-God will do His part but He expects us to do our part!

God’s part was to get him out of prison, Peter’s part was to tell the church what happened!

God does so much for us but we don’t tell nobody!

Verse ll-When Peter Had Come To Himself. . .Don’t that sound just like us!

If you’ll tell someone about what Gods has done for you in the past, it will encourage them and you for what He will do in the future!