The man in chains……

Paul was one of the greatest apostles that ever lived. He was

a man who obeyed God 110%, no make that 150%, actually make

that 200%……I think you get the picture!  🙂  When I read the

life of Paul I am challenged by his obedience. Let’s look at the

things he accomplished because he was obedient.

 

He got to share the gospel with Felix who was Governor at

the time. He was a man who had lots of influence. 

Read Acts 24:10-26

 

Paul shared the gospel with King Agrippa and his wife

Bernice. God brought Paul before powerful men

and women to share the gospel.

Acts 25 and chapter 26

 

By the way he carried himself and his faith in God,

Paul was able to minister to the Roman soldiers

Read Acts 27:42, 43

 

Because of his obedience Paul ministered to a whole

tribe on the island of Malta.

Read Acts 28.

 

During imprisonment in Rome, Paul wrote a lot of

the books in the new testament. It is said he wrote,

Ephesians Philippians, Colossians, and Philemon.

After imprisonment it is said he wrote Hebrews,

Titus, 1 Timothy and 2 Timothy.

 

Now for the crux of the matter. I will share a scripture that I

believe is the key that opened the door to all the ministry he did:

 

After several days of visiting, a prophet from Judea by the name

of Agabus came down to see us. He went right up to Paul, took

his belt, and, in dramatic gesture, tied himself up, hands and feet.

He said, “This is what the Holy Spirit says: The Jews in Jerusalem

are going to tie up the man who owns this belt just like this and

hand him over to godless unbelievers.”

When everyone heard that, we and everyone there that day

begged Paul not to be stubborn and persist in going to

Jerusalem. But Paul wouldn’t budge:

Why all this hysteria? Why do you insist on making a scene

and making it even harder for me?

You’re looking at this backward. The issue is Jerusalem is not

what they do to me, whether arrest or murder, but what the

Master Jesus does through my obedience. Can’t you see that?

Acts 21:10-13

 

Wow right…..Paul had an understanding of obedience. He knew

being obedient allowed Jesus to work through him. And because

Paul was obedient, Jesus did a mighty work in him and through

him!

 

Let’s bring this principle home. God has a plan for each and

everyone of us but we can only walk in that plan when we are

obedient! That revelation hit me hard! I am in a situation where

I have a decision to make. I can either be obedient even though

it’s difficult and uncomfortable or disobey! But the word is very

clear, Jesus works through our obedience!

He has this amazing, uncomprehendible (if there is such a word)

plan for us. It’s just to big to fathom. I don’t think Paul knew all

that God had in store for Him but he simply obeyed, and

trusted! We need to do the same……

I want to live a life of obedience to God and I ask Him to

help me. I rebel a lot and I fight and push back but He wants

me to obey. He wants us to obey!

Will you learn a lesson from the man who lived a life of obedience?

Rolain

 

 

Pray for someone……

“And when he saw that it was pleasing to the Jews, he proceeded further and arrested Peter also. This was during the days of Unleavened Bread [the Passover week].

And when he had seized [Peter], he put him in prison and delivered him to four squads of soldiers of four each to guard him, purposing after the Passover to bring him forth to the people. 

So Peter was kept in prison, but fervent prayer for him  was persistently made to God by the church (assembly). Acts 12:3-19

This year I made a decision to change the way I pray! I can’t pray the same way I prayed in 2014. There must be a change! So I started praying for others more frequently. I decided to take it seriously. I always knew it was the right thing to do but this year I got more serious about it. And then I came across the scripture above! Let me show you how it challenged me:

Peter was in deep trouble. Herod had arrested him and was planning to kill him to please the Jews! But the bible tells us,

So Peter was kept in prison, but the church was earnestly praying to God for him. Acts 12:5

When I read this I realized something, our prayers have power, whether we are praying into situations we are facing in our own lives or whether we pray for people, our prayers have power.

The church prayed and Peter was delivered out of prison! He was rescued out of Herod’s hands! But get this, the church didn’t understand the power of prayer because when Peter came to their door they didn’t believe Rhoda! It can’t be so with us. We must pray with the understanding that our prayers are powerful and God answers prayer. I want to encourage you to pray for someone. Your prayer is important. It will make a difference in that person’s life.

The enemy doesn’t want us praying for each other.

Think about that! He too knows the power of prayer and he will do all he can to keep us from praying for each other. I will not stand for it, will you? Your prayer has the power to change someone else’s life!

Declare with me,

When I pray things happen.

My prayers have power.

When I pray chains are broken.

When I pray angels respond.

 

One last thing I want to share with you is this:

 

 

Peter was in the most hopeless of situations.

He was guarded by four squads of soldiers of four soldiers each.

He had two soldiers in his cell!

He was bound with two chains in his cell!

There were soldiers outside his cell!

 

If that is not a hopeless situation I don’t know what is. But it is through prayer Peter was set free! No matter how hopeless it seemed he was set free because of prayer! And that for me shows me the power of prayer. Don’t despise the power of prayer! When you pray for yourself or are praying for someone else, know your prayer has power!  God is so good……Amen!

Rolain

 

 

When all seems lost…….

What challenges are you facing? Do feel like you up against a wall? Does your situation seem hopeless?? There was a man who was in the same boat. He was in a seemingly hopeless situation. There seemed like there was no way out. His name was Peter.

This is what the word says,

– When Herod saw that this pleased the Jewish people, he had Peter arrested during the Festival of Thin Bread.

He put Peter in jail and ordered four squads of soldiers to guard him.

Acts 12:3, 4

– The night before Peter was to be put on trial, he was asleep and bound by two chains. A soldier was guarding him on each side, and the two other soldiers were guarding the entrance to the jail.

Acts 12:6

So let me paint this picture for you. Peter is put into jail and is guarded by 16 soldiers according to other bible versions. He is bound by chains in the jail cell and is being watched over by two guards on either side of him!!! If that isn’t enough there are two more guards guarding the entrance to the jail. It seems like Peter has no chance. It seems like there is no hope for him.

But we know the story. Peter is delivered out of Herod’s hand. But how?

While Peter was being kept in jail, the church never stopped praying to God for him.

Acts 12:5

There are things I have been praying to God for. Some could call them extravagant and unrealistic. Someone might even call it impossible and to be honest doubts filled my mind as I prayed for those things. But the fact is, there is power in prayer. This story portrays this fact perfectly. Peter was in serious trouble with no escape, no way out but because of prayer he was saved!!! Prayer is powerful people. Things will happen when you pray. The enemy is powerless against prayer! My hope was renewed as I got this revelation. I will keep on praying and not let up. God will come through for me.

You may be in a seemingly hopeless situation but you need to know you have a chance. Prayer is that chance!! Don’t underestimate the power of prayer in your life. I am speaking to me as much as I am speaking to you. I needed this…..The enemy wants you to believe there is no way out. He wants you to believe he has won. He wants you to believe your situation is hopeless but it’s not true! There is hope, you have a chance! God has given you prayer for a reason! Don’t give up. Pray to God, He is the God who answers prayer. Deliverance is on it’s way for you! Trust Him!

Rolain.

In trouble, he slept like a baby……..!

Everyone faces trouble. Everyone faces storms and trials  and testing in their lives. That is one thing we cannot escape. I had a really bad day today. One of those days where you want to just throw in the towel. It really has been a crazy day. This is the thing though, troubles and problems are a part of life and my job is to learn to cope, learn to trust God in the midst of confusion and hopelessness……So in the midst of all that I read a pretty amazing story. The story was about Peter when he was arrested by Herod. The word says,

All the time that Peter was under heavy guard in the jail house, the church prayed for him most strenuously.

Then the time came for Herod to bring him out for the kill. That night, even though shackled to two soldiers, one on either side, Peter slept like a baby. And there were guards at the door keeping their eyes on the place. Herod was taking no chances!    Acts 12: 5, 6

I could not believe what I read. Peter was surrounded by guards and was even shackled to the guards. He was in very real trouble. He was going to die the next day but the word says he slept like a baby! He never complained or worried. He was not fearful, instead he slept like a baby. I would of being freaking out if I was in his shoes. Herod had doubled the guards. He was not taking any chances.

I want to have that same kind of attitude. Peter was in perfect peace. James had just being killed but that never phased Peter. His trust was in the Lord. His faith in God was deep, and unshakable. He was in a storm but he knew who was watching over him. When the storms of life come how do you respond? When trouble comes what thoughts come to mind? Let us  learn from Peter. I want to walk in the kind of peace he walked in. The fact that he wasn’t in fear showed where his faith was at. Your response to situations determine where your faith is at.

The lesson for me is, rely on God. In the midst of pain and confusion trust Him. Let the peace of God reign. Remember Peter……….

Rolain