INSIDE
THE STORMS: IS THE PATH TOWARD VICTORY
“THE NIGHT BEFORE HEROD WAS TO BRING HIM TO
“TRIAL”, PETER WAS SLEEPING
BETWEEN TWO SOLDIERS..[IN A DUNGEON OR ANCIENT PRISON], BOUND WITH TWO CHAINS,
AND SENTRIES STOOD GUARD AT THE ENTRANCE...” (ACTS 12:6 NIV).
“...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. 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. 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. 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. 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...” (Acts 12:6-11 NIV).
*
Peter is INSIDE the
STORM and in the coming morning he would go to trial, which typically would end
in his death by the sword. He was aware that other fellow disciples had already
been arrested, persecuted, and put to death for belonging to the church. “...It was about this
time that King Herod arrested some who
belonged to the church, intending to persecute them. He had
James, the brother of John, put to death
with the sword ...he proceeded to seize Peter
also ...Herod intended to bring him out for public trial after the Passover.
So Peter was kept in prison...” (Acts 12:1-5 NIV).
Peter was
INSIDE a STORM. Though Peter was redeemed and had a strong faith in Christ it
would not have been surprising if he was TERRIFIED about what he was about to
FACE at his trial the following morning. We see this TERROR in King
Jehoshaphat. “…After this, the armies of the Moabites, Ammonites, and some of the
Meunites declared war on Jehoshaphat.
Messengers came and told Jehoshaphat, “A vast army from Edom
is marching against you from beyond the Dead Sea. They are already at
Hazazon-tamar.” (This was another name for En-gedi.). Jehoshaphat was TERRIFIED by this news...”
(2 Chronicles 20:1-30 NLT).
When going through the STORMS of LIFE, God
will find a WAY to strengthen and encourage, his people, by empowering them to
continue to trust in and depend upon his sovereign love and care for them. “…Great is his love
toward us...”
(Psalms 117:2 KJV). “… “Never will I leave you; never
will I forsake you…”
(Hebrews 13:5 NIV). “…I am with you always, to the very end…"(Matthew 28:20 NIV). “…Behold, I
am with … [you] and will keep … [you]
whithersoever [you]… goest…I
will not leave [you] ..." (Genesis 28:15 ASV). “...He careth for you.” (1 Peter 5:7 KJV). “…God is LOVE…” (1
John 4:4-8 KJV). “… “I AM WHO I AM
…”
(Exodus 3:14-15 NASB). “…I
change NOT…”
(Malachi 3:6 KJV).
“… Jehoshaphat
was terrified by this news and BEGGED the Lord for guidance.” (2 Chronicles 20:1-30 NLT).
“...God is our refuge and strength, always ready to help
in times of trouble. So we
will not fear when earthquakes come and the mountains
crumble into the sea. Let the oceans roar and foam ...“Be still, and know that I am
God ... The Lord of Heaven’s Armies is here among us; the God of
Israel is our fortress...” (Psalms 46 NLT).
God will FIGHT for his
people and TAKE CARE of the things that concern them. “…He helps me…”
(Psalms 28:7 NLT). . “…If God is
for us, who is against us? ... …”
(Romans 8:31-39 NASB). “...No weapon that is formed
against thee shall prosper...” (Isaiah 54:17 KJV). “…The LORD will accomplish (take care of)…that
which concerns [you]…” (John 14:31 NASB). “… THE LORD … is Your rock and Your
fortress, your deliverer…” (Psalms 18:3 NASB).
The STORMS OF LIFE that concern God’s
people are ALL under God’s sovereign control and they are promised
“overwhelming victory.” “...despite all these things, overwhelming victory is ours through Christ, who loved
us...” (Romans 8:37 NLT).
“... Here
on earth you will have many trials and
sorrows. But take heart, because I have overcome the
world..." (John 16:44 NLT). “...Let
not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid...” (John 14:27
KJV). “...we must [go]...through much tribulation [to]...enter into the kingdom of God...” (Acts 14:22 KJV). “...overwhelming victory is ours through Christ...” (Romans 8:37 NLT).
Peter trusted in and
depended upon God, the Holy Spirit,
and CHOSE to entrust the STORM to HIM. Thus, “...THE NIGHT BEFORE HEROD WAS TO BRING HIM TO
“TRIAL”, PETER WAS SLEEPING... (ACTS 12:6 NIV).
Peter’s VICTORY from THE
STORM is a WITNESS of the FAVOR of God upon the lives of HIS PEOPLE. It also REVEALS
God’s LOVE and desire to show his GLORY (presence, goodness, and power) to
them! “…the Lord loves His
people …” (2
Chronicles 2:11 NASB). “...Be still, and know that I am God ... the God of
Israel is our fortress (defense, stronghold, place
of protection, etc.).” (Psalms 46 NLT). “…BLESSINGS
are on the head of the righteous…”
(Proverbs 10:6 NASB). “…You
surround [your people] ... WITH
FAVOR as with a shield…”
(Psalms 5:12 NASB). “...overwhelming
victory is ours (and Peter’s) through
Christ, who loved us (and him)...” (Romans
8:37 NLT).
“... PETER WAS SLEEPING...
(ACTS 12:6 NIV). While Peter SLEPT God took care of his concerns. “…I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. I know what it is to be
in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want…”
Philippians 4:11-12 NIV).
“...No weapon that is formed
against thee shall prosper...” (Isaiah 54:17 KJV). “…The LORD will accomplish (take care of)…that
which concerns [me]…” (John 14:31 NASB). Thus, “... PETER WAS SLEEPING... (ACTS
12:6 NIV). “…The LORD “will” BLESS his
people with peace…”
(Psalm 29:11 KJV).
“...my peace I give unto you...” (John 14:27
NIV).
“...my peace
...not as the world giveth, give I unto you. ...[Therefore,]... let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid...” (John
14:27 NIV).
“… [God] … will keep in
perfect peace all who trust in … [him] … all whose thoughts are fixed on … [him!]”
(Isaiah 26:3 NLT). “... PETER WAS SLEEPING... (ACTS 12:6 NIV).
“…We are HIS PEOPLE...” (Psalms
100:3 KJV). WHO? “…Those
who BELONG TO Christ Jesus …”
(Galatians 5 NLT).
Therefore, “...overwhelming victory ...[was
peter’s]... through Christ, who loved ... [him]...” (Romans 8:37 NLT).
“...God is ...a very present help in trouble...”
(Psalms 46:1 KJV). “…He helps me…”
(Psalms 28:7 NLT). Thus, “... PETER WAS SLEEPING... (ACTS 12:6 NIV).
“...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....” (Acts 12:6-11 NIV).
Suddenly,
right in the MIDST of Peter’s STORM, God sent a ministering angel. Peter was in
a DARK place, a dungeon, which commonly did not have ANY type of LIGHT. The
LIGHT, itself, represented the GLORY of God or his presence, goodness, and
POWER. “…Your rock and Your
fortress, your deliverer, Your GOD, Your rock,
in whom [you can] … take refuge; Your
shield and
the horn of Your salvation, YOUR
stronghold.…" (Psalms 18:3 NASB).
God’s showed himself as
Peter’s REFUGE and STRENGTH. “...God is
our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble”
(Psalms 46:1 KJV). “...O Lord, my strength. The Lord is my rock, and my fortress, ...my strength, in whom I will trust ... so shall I be saved
from mine enemies (my adversities inside the storms)…”
(Psalms 18:1-3 KJV).
“...He
that dwelleth in the secret place of the most High shall abide under the shadow
of the Almighty. I will say of the Lord, He is my refuge and my
fortress: my God; in him will I trust...” (Psalm 91 KJV).
“...Surely he
shall deliver thee from the snare of the fowler,
and from the noisome pestilence. He shall cover thee with his feathers, and
under his wings shalt thou trust: his truth shall
be thy shield
and buckler...” (Psalm 91 KJV).
“...Thou shalt not be afraid for the terror
by night; nor for the arrow that flieth by day; Nor for the pestilence that
walketh in darkness; nor for the destruction that wasteth at noonday. A
thousand shall fall at thy side, and ten thousand at thy right hand; but it
shall not come nigh thee. Only with thine eyes shalt thou behold and see the
reward of the wicked. Because thou hast
made the Lord,
which is my refuge,
even the most High, thy habitation...” (Psalm 91 KJV).
“...There
shall no evil befall thee, neither shall any plague come nigh thy dwelling. For he shall give
his angels charge over thee, to keep thee in all thy ways. They shall bear thee up in
their hands, lest thou dash thy foot against a stone. Thou shalt tread upon the
lion and adder: the young lion and the dragon shalt thou trample under feet...” (Psalm 91 KJV).
“...Because he (Peter) hath set his love upon
me, therefore will I deliver him:
I will set him on high,
because he hath known my name. He shall call upon me, and I
will answer him: I will be with him in trouble;
I will deliver him ...” (Psalm 91 KJV).
“…[GOD, THE HOLY SPIRIT, WAS peter’s]... rock and ...[peter’s]...
fortress, ...[peter’s]... deliverer ...[Peter’s]....GOD... in whom [he could] … take
refuge.…" (Psalms 18:3 NASB). “... PETER WAS SLEEPING... (ACTS
12:6 NIV).
The MINISTERING angel appeared as a
willing vessel for God’s glory by allowing God’s POWER to work “IN” and
“THROUGH” HIM in order to WORK a great DELIVERANCE.“…God …works in you TO WILL (to “want” to do his
works)
and TO ACT (to “actually” do the
works) in order to fulfill his good purpose…”
(Philippians 2:13 NIV). “…Now may … God … work [within you].... what
is pleasing to him, through Jesus Christ…”
(Hebrews 13:20-21 NIV). “…the Father that dwelleth in me, he doeth the works…”
(John 14:10 KJV).
“…The [indwelling] …
HOLY SPIRIT …does the work (of deliverance) IN and THROUGH [his people or
his willing vessels]… (1 Corinthians 12:4-11 NLT). “...The HOLY SPIRIT DISPLAYS God’s power (to
deliver) THROUGH each of us (through each willing vessel)…
(1 Corinthians 12:4-11 NLT).
The ministering angel
WOKE Peter up that he may see the GLORY of God (his presence, his goodness, and
his power) with his OWN eyes. Jesus
said: “… I am the light of the world..." (John
9:5, 8:12 KJV). "…I (Jesus came) as Light into the world...”
(John 12:46 NASB). "…Let your light shine before men in such a way that they may see your good works, and glorify your
Father who
is in heaven…” (Matthew 5:16 NASB). “...[peter]... saw His
glory...” (John 1:14 NASB). “…This...[made]... it clear that ...[the]...
great power ...[to deliver]...is from
God, not
from [man]…” (2 Corinthians 4:5-7 NLT).
Peter WOKE up, out of
his sleep, and followed the instructions of God’s ministering angel. In the
MIDST of his obedience, Peter’s CHAINS fell or dropped off his hands.
“...Then the angel said to him, “Put on your
clothes and sandals.” And Peter did so. “Wrap your cloak around you and follow
me”...” (Acts 12:6-11 NIV).
The ministering angel told Peter to get
dressed. Peter needed to be properly CLOTHED for his deliverance. Peter
ENTRUSTED himself to God, the Holy Spirit,
whom he recognized through the ministering angel. “…Jesus said to her, "Did I not say to you that if you believe (trust
in, depend upon & cooperate with God, the Holy Spirit), you will SEE THE GLORY (PRESENCE,
GOODNESS, & POWER) OF GOD?…”(John
10:40 NASB).
Peter trusted in, depended upon, and
cooperated with God, the Holy Spirit,
through the ministering angel, whom he knew was SENT to take CARE of him and
DELIVER him SAFELY from the DARK PLACE of the dungeon or prison. “…Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and
lean not unto thine own understanding…”
(Proverbs 3:5-6 KJV).
“...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....” (Acts 12:6-11
NIV).
INSIDE Peter’s STORM was a DARK dungeon or
prison where he had been CHAINED to two soldiers and GUARDED by several SQUADS
of soldiers. When the ministering
angel appeared, gave him instructions, and told him to follow him, Peter didn’t
know whether it was REAL or a DREAM. “…The things which are impossible
with men are possible with God…”
(Luke 18:27 KJV). “….I am the Lord, the God of all flesh: is there any thing
too hard for me?”
(Jeremiah 32:27 KJV).
God’s MIRACULOUS deliverance was so
AMAZING and SURREAL, Peter questioned reality by reducing his experience to a
mere vision, dream, or trance. “…NOW UNTO HIM THAT IS ABLE to do
exceeding abundantly above all that we
ask or THINK, according to the power that worketh in us…”
(Ephesians 3:20 KJV). “…all GLORY to God, who is able, through his mighty power … to
accomplish infinitely more than we might ask or think …”
(Ephesians 3:20-21 NLT).
“...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....” (Acts 12:6-11 NIV).
The
ministering angel LED Peter through the squads of guards and the iron gates.
NOT one guard said anything, they didn’t do anything, and they didn’t stop
them. It is not known whether they were sleep, or blinded, or what when Peter
walked passed them untouched and unhindered.“…The steps of a good man
(woman) are ordered (directed) by the Lord: …” (Psalms 37:23 KJV).
“ … In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy
paths…” (Proverbs 3:5-6 KJV). “…he shall direct thy
paths”
(Proverbs 3:5-6 KJV). “…I will instruct
thee and
teach thee in the way which thou shalt go…” (Psalms 32:8 KJV).
“… I
will guide thee with mine eye…”
(Psalms 32:8 KJV). “… Thou shalt guide me with
thy counsel…”
(Psalms 73:74 KJV). “… Teach me the way in which I should walk …” (Psalms 143:8 NASB).
“…come and follow me…”
(Matthew 19:21 KJV). “… Jesus saith unto him, I am the way …”
(John 15:5- 6 KJV).
Peter was
LED “through” the iron gates, which divinely OPENED for him on their own
accord. Peter was suddenly FREE to walk down the street and through the city of
Jerusalem. When he was out of danger and a SAFE distance from the DARK dungeon,
the ministering angel departed. “This poor man cried, and the LORD heard him, and saved him out of all his
troubles” (Psalms 34:6 KJV). God alone “…. delivered [you] ... out
of all [your] ... trouble…” (Psalms 54:7 KJV). “….all things work together for good to them that love God…” (ROMANS 8:28 KJV)
“...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...” (Acts 12:6-11 NIV).
Peter had been DELIVERED from INSIDE his
STORM and HE came to REALIZE his FREEDOM was REAL! “…the battle is not yours, but God’s. …you will not even need
to fight. Take your positions; then stand still and watch
the Lord’s
victory!” (2
Chronicles 20:1-30 NLT).
Peter KNEW with certainty that the GLORY
of God had been witnessed and had come through the ministering angel. Peter had experienced, first hand, the presence, goodness, and
power of God through the ministering angel. “…The
LORD has done great things for us …”
(Psalms 126:3 NIV). “…Rejoice and be
glad, For the LORD has done great things…”
(Joel 2:21 NASB).
It was truly MARVELLOUS in Peter’s eyes
what God had DONE for him, personally. God, the
Holy Spirit, himself, through the ministering angel, had DELIVERED Peter
out of Herod’s clutches. “…No weapon that is formed against [YOU]… shall prosper…” (Isaiah 54:17 KJV). “…WHOEVER BELIEVES IN HIM WILL NOT BE DISAPPOINTED…" (ROMANS 10:11
NASB). “…TRUST in the Lord with all thine
heart; and lean not unto
thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall
direct thy paths” (Proverbs 3:5-6 KJV). “…The LORD will accomplish (take care of)…that which
concerns [you]…” (John 14:31 NASB).
“... The Son of God came to destroy the works of the devil...” (1 John 3:8 NLT). Therefore, “...No
weapon that is formed against thee shall prosper…”
(Isaiah 54:17 KJV). “...overwhelming
victory is ours in christ ...” (Romans 8:37 NLT).
The Jews, who were in
Jerusalem, at the time celebrating the Passover, expected to see Peter
persecuted and put to death by the sword. The Jews and King Herod would be
disappointed.“...Fret not
thyself because of evildoers, neither
be thou envious against workers of iniquity. For they shall soon
be cut down like
the grass, and wither as the green herb. Trust
in the Lord, and [continue to]…do good, so shalt thou dwell in the lands,
and verily thou shall be fed. Delight thyself also in the Lord; and he shall give thee the
desires of thine heart. Commit thy ways unto the Lord; trust also in him; and
he shall bring it to pass. And he shall bring forth they
righteousness as the light, and thy judgement as the noonday. Rest in the Lord,
and wait patiently for him, FRET NOT thyself
because of him [or her]…who prospereth in his[or her]… way, because of the man
who bringeth wicked devices to pass.
Cease from anger, and forsake wrath; FRET
NOT thyself in any wise to do evil.
For evildoers shall
be CUT OFF; but those
that wait upon the Lord, they shall inherit the earth. For yet a little
while, and the wicked shall not be: yea, thou shalt diligently consider his
place, and it shall not be. But the meek shall
inherit the earth, and shall delight themselves in the
abundance of peace…" (Psalm 37:1-11 KJV).
“...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. 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. 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. 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. 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...” (Acts 12:6-11 NIV).
“...overwhelming
victory is ours in christ ...” (Romans 8:37 NLT).
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