October 4, 2019

October 4

Running with Jesus  

Acts 12:11 “And when 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.

     This all took place the night before Herod was going to bring Peter out and have him killed.  Can we imagine what was going on in his mind?  James had just been killed and Peter was on death row.  He was sleeping when the angel came to bring him out. I feel he had made peace with God and was ready to go home with the Lord because he was asleep.  We may wonder why James was not delivered but Peter was.  All I can say Peter’s purpose in life was not over. He has a greater work to do before his life will end in a cruel death.

     Peter was so stunned He thought he was in a vision.  I would have thought that too, how about you?  What an experience Peter had, deliverance from the hand of an ungodly ruler and expectation of the people.

     As we dig into the church’s power in prayer we will see how we often react.  I want to tell you that we may not be in a physical prison but many of you are in emotional prisons and spiritual prisons.  Prayer is where I found the keys to release me from many of my chains. By praying, seeking God reading His word and asking for guidance I would find freedom.  I was lead to read self-help books and Godly counseling.  I was so confused for so long and had no idea a person could be bound up by fear to the point of paralysis.

     One of the greatest needs in my life was forgiveness.  I needed to forgive myself of sins of my past and forgive others that had injured me. 

     Prayer and obedience are the tools to deliver you out of the hand of the ruler of this world who cannot get your soul but can bind your soul to keep you from living the victorious life.  Victory comes through prayer and believing what God’s Word says over what the enemy and his world forces tell us.

Father, I know there is one out there in chains.  I pray in the name of Jesus You will send Michael the arch angel to fight that prince of darkness who is holding them captive.  I pray they will lay down all that past and walk into the light of Your presence today.  Help them lay down anything they are holding on to.  In the name of Jesus release them. 

     Walk away from all those feelings and walk out into faith.  Fear is gone, dread is gone, and you are new inside.  No matter what is going on outside you are okay inside.

Don’t miss tomorrow Peter is knocking on a door. (Read this whole chapter so you won’t miss out on any of this understanding, the Church has power.)

Judy Hollaway

Originally penned 2015