anglican devotional

The Daily Fountain Devotional of the Church Of Nigeria (Anglican Communion) 26 April 2021 – When God Intervenes

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TOPIC: When God Intervenes (Anglican Devotional 26 April 2021)

READ: Acts 12:6-17 (NKJV)

  1. 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.
  2. 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.
  3. 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.”
  4. 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.
  5. 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.
  6. 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.”
  7. So, when he had considered [this,] he came to the house of Mary, the mother of John whose surname was Mark, where many were gathered together praying.
  8. And as Peter knocked at the door of the gate, a girl named Rhoda came to answer.
  9. When she recognized Peter’s voice, because of [her] gladness she did not open the gate, but ran in and announced that Peter stood before the gate.
  10. But they said to her, “You are beside yourself!” Yet she kept insisting that it was so. So they said, “It is his angel.”
  11. Now Peter continued knocking; and when they opened [the door] and saw him, they were astonished.
  12. But motioning to them with his hand to keep silent, he declared to them how the Lord had brought him out of the prison. And he said, “Go, tell these things to James and to the brethren.” And he departed and went to another place.

THE MESSAGE:

The night before Peter was to be put on trial, God intervened. An angel went and released him from the prison supernaturally. The angel appeared, woke Peter up and as he got up, his chains fell off. Following the angel’s directives, Peter left the prison. When the angel walked with Peter along a street, he disappeared and Peter realised that the Lord had intervened for his deliverance. He went to Mary’s house and testified to those praying there and left for another place. Note that Mary is the mother of Saint Mark who is being celebrated today (Acts 12:12).

Prayer changes things. God had to intervene in Peter’s case because of the prayers of the saints. Christians must learn to intercede for other Christians passing through trials, persecutions temptations and other difficult situations. What do you think would have happened if the brethren did not assemble to pray for Peter? He would have been tried, condemned and killed by Herod. God’s intervention brought joy and freedom to Peter, strengthened the faith of the believers and brought shame and disgrace to the ruling authority, Herod and his agents. As you go out today, let God intervene in your life, work, school, business and situation. May He grant you freedom from any bondage and give you a testimony.

PRAYER: Father please intervene in my life and cause me to enter into my destiny in Jesus Name. Amen