NO PRISON DOOR CAN HOLD ME DOWN
ACTS 12:1-19 1 It was about this time that King Herod arrested some who belonged to the church, intending to persecute them. 2 He had James, the brother of John, put to death with the sword. 3 When he saw that this met with approval among the Jews, he proceeded to seize Peter also. This happened during the Festival of Unleavened Bread. 4 After arresting him, he put him in prison, handing him over to be guarded by four squads of four soldiers each. Herod intended to bring him out for public trial after the Passover. 5 So Peter was kept in prison, but the church was earnestly praying to God for him. 6 The night before Herod was to bring him to trial, Peter was sleeping between two soldiers, bound with two chains, and sentries stood guard at the entrance. 7 Suddenly an angel of the Lord appeared and a light shone in the cell. He struck Peter on the side and woke him up. “Quick, get up!” he said, and the chains fell off Peter’s wrists. 8 Then the angel said to him, “Put on your clothes and sandals.” And Peter did so. “Wrap your cloak around you and follow me,” the angel told him. 9 Peter followed him out of the prison, but he had no idea that what the angel was doing was really happening; he thought he was seeing a vision. 10 They passed the first and second guards and came to the iron gate leading to the city. It opened for them by itself, and they went through it. When they had walked the length of one street, suddenly the angel left him. 11 Then Peter came to himself and said, “Now I know without a doubt that the Lord has sent his angel and rescued me from Herod’s clutches and from everything the Jewish people were hoping would happen.” 12 When this had dawned on him, he went to the house of Mary the mother of John, also called Mark, where many people had gathered and were praying. 13 Peter knocked at the outer entrance, and a servant named Rhoda came to answer the door. 14 When she recognized Peter’s voice, she was so overjoyed she ran back without opening it and exclaimed, “Peter is at the door!”
15 “You’re out of your mind,” they told her. When she kept insisting that it was so, they said, “It must be his angel.” 16 But Peter kept on knocking, and when they opened the door and saw him, they were astonished. 17 Peter motioned with his hand for them to be quiet and described how the Lord had brought him out of prison. “Tell James and the other brothers and sisters about this,” he said, and then he left for another place. 18 In the morning, there was no small commotion among the soldiers as to what had become of Peter. 19 After Herod had a thorough search made for him and did not find him, he cross-examined the guards and ordered that they be executed.
INTRODUCTION
There Are Many Iron Gates, Chains, Darkness, Prisons, death threats, fears, that hinder and imprison believers. Self-righteousness, Pride, Worldly pleasure, The approval of the world, Doubt, Weariness in our labor for Christ, Discouragement: “And Israel journeyed from mount Hor by the way of the Red Sea, to compass the land of Edom: and the soul of the people was much discouraged because of the way.” Numbers 21:4.
THE BACKGROUND: JAMES & PETER
Look At Peter’s Situation And Be Encouraged:
1. James Had Been Killed.
2. Peter Was Arrested.
3. Peter Was To Be Killed.
4. The Pause Was For The Passover To Pass.
5. He Was Kept Between 16 Soldiers.
6. Chained To Soldiers
7. Prisons Gates And City Gates Barred Him From Escaping.
8. He Was Chained.
WHY DID PETER HAVE PEACE OF MIND AND SLEPT?
1. There Were Some Prayers Sent Up. V. 5 & 12
I wonder how many pray. For you Pastor, for the leaders, for each other. For leadership of the country, military, family members. Wives for husbands, husbands for wives. Mom, Dad do pray for you children, children for mom and dad. I want to notice this was no normal meeting. No, it was not just dinnertime and they said A prayer. They didn’t come together to just do their duty. They met together to pray, without ceasing. They prayed until something happened. (P.U.S.H).
Their prayers were heard (James 5:16) The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much. It’s good to know you got some people that can get a prayer through. It’s even better to know that you can get one through.
2. He Knew He Was In God’s Will V. 1-3
He was in prison but he hadn’t stolen anything, killed anyone. He had not broken the law or done wrong. He was serving God. He was growing the church, and God was blessing it. When you are in God’s will, you can rest knowing He has got your back.
3. He Trusted God, So He Slept V. 6-11
Possibly the night before he was going to be killed, and he slept. Not just napping, (The angel had to hit him on the side). Physically and mentally uncomfortable but, he slept. In what seemed to be hopeless, He slept. In prison, Chained to two guards hand and foot, but he slept. Sentenced to die, no escape in sight, but he slept. He had done all he could, so he gave it to God and God gave him rest.
HOW TO GET PAST THE “IRON GATES” IN YOUR LIFE:
1. Keep In Mind That No Problem In Your Life Is So Small That You Don’t Need The Lord’s Help In Overcoming It. “For without Me, you can do nothing.” John 15:5 “Wherefore let him who thinks he stands take heed lest he fall.” I Corinthians 10:12.
2. Keep In Mind That No Problem In Your Life Is So Great That You Cannot Overcome It With God’s Help. “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.” Philippians 4:13.
3. God Will Open “Iron Gates” But We Must Walk Through Them. “And the angel said to Peter...’follow me’. And Peter went out, and followed him.” Acts 12:8b-9a.
GOD RESCUED PETER. WHAT DOES IT MEAN?
1. Rescue Means To Be Delivered. Peter was completely delivered of his situation & the danger involved in it. Deliverance means to be "set free from". This means whatever’s holding you down or in bondage can’t do it anymore. If you’ve been set free, than you are "free indeed!" To be delivered means you don’t have to deal with the bondage of that issue anymore!
2. Rescue Means To Be "Loosed From"... - In the text, Peter was loosed from his chains and his shackles, in a way that could only be done by God. When God rescues you, he looses you from whatever chains are binding you, he not only frees you, but he looses you completely! Peter didn’t take any part of his shackles or chains with him, he left them behind! When God looses you, you need to leave the baggage behind! Don’t carry it with you!!
3. Rescue Means To "Escape From Harm Or Danger"... Peter escaped from prison, and the reason why he escaped was because there was no other way out! When God rescues you, it’s an escape because there’s no way out! Sometimes God will put you in situations like that, just so that he & he alone can recue you, and so that you know that it was nobody but the Lord that rescued you!
FOUR CHAINS THAT HOLD US BACK
1. Chains Of Tradition: When you always do what you always done you will get you always got I think we need to remind ourselves God is not Limited to this box, that we limit Him to. In Worship, Service, and Attendance; Why do we come? Because we have to, it’s the right thing. Are these the primary focus of our heart ? We must come to be with Jesus.
2. The Chains Of Reluctance (Half-Hearted Service). It is all or none Luke 9:62 / Luke14:26 No fence straddling. It is time He is Made King of King and Lord of Lords In our life.
3. The Chains Of Self Will. Luke 9:23 His will over mine. Most decisions are made on my desire, not His will.
4. The Chains Of No Expectancy. Acts 12 / Matt 7:7 / Luke 11:9: Do we expect God to work. Do we plan for Him to work. Do we believe He can work. Do we believe He wants to work
CONCLUSION
The Chain Breaker Is Prayer
1. Constant: Acts 12:5 / Church praying- Matt.18:19-20
2. Persistent: 1 Thess. 5:17 always in mind of prayer
3. Fervent: James 5:16
4. Results: Peter released
PRAYER TO BREAK YOKES AS WE ANOINT
