The Daily Fountain Daily Devotional of the Church Of Nigeria (Anglican Communion) 29 June 2019 – St. Peter The Apostle
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TOPIC: St. Peter The Apostle
READ: Acts 12:1-11 King James Version (KJV)
- 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.”
THE MESSAGE:
Peter, one of the twelve apostles, was originally called Simon, but had his name changed to Peter by Jesus. At the bidding of Christ, he forsook his fishing profession to follow Him. He was a close confidant of Christ with James and John who were usually called to higher assignments. It was Peter, who by the leading of the Spirit, confessed Jesus as the living God, the foundation upon which the Church was built.
He was given the keys to the kingdom of God and with this, he opened the Gate of the Kingdom to thousands of Jews, with many gentiles following. In the course of preaching the gospel, Peter was arrested by Herod Agrippa (Acts 12:1-4). Herod kept him in maximum security prison intending to kill him as he did James, to the pleasure of the Jews. But God intervened. Peter was released, not to the sword of Herod but, to the arms of the mildly surprised apostles.
But earnest prayers was offered to God for him by the Church (Acts 12:5b). James 5:17b says the effective and earnest prayer of the righteous avails much. God’s power is greater than any other power. For God’s sovereign plan to prevail speedily, He needs the earnest prayer of His Church. Are you up against any difficult situation? May be what you need do now is an earnest prayer to God.
PRAYER POINT: Use Psalm 50:15 as your prayer guide.
