Tag Archives: Religion

His Only Christmas Present

Luke 2:25-35 “25 And, behold, there was a man in Jerusalem, whose name was Simeon; and the same man was just and devout, waiting for the consolation of Israel: and the Holy Ghost was upon him. 26 And it was revealed unto him by the Holy Ghost, that he should not see death, before he had seen the Lord’s Christ. 27 And he came by the Spirit into the temple: and when the parents brought in the child Jesus, to do for him after the custom of the law, 28 Then took he him up in his arms, and blessed God, and said, 29 Lord, now lettest thou thy servant depart in peace, according to thy word: 30 For mine eyes have seen thy salvation, 31 Which thou hast prepared before the face of all people; 32 A light to lighten the Gentiles, and the glory of thy people Israel. 33 And Joseph and his mother marvelled at those things which were spoken of him. 34 And Simeon blessed them, and said unto Mary his mother, Behold, this child is set for the fall and rising again of many in Israel; and for a sign which shall be spoken against; 35 (Yea, a sword shall pierce through thy own soul also,) that the thoughts of many hearts may be revealed” (KJV).

Every year since salvation I have made a habit of reading through Luke 2 during the Christmas month. I also read this chapter Christmas morning. I believe this is a great way to be reminded of why we celebrate Christmas. While reading the chapter today, I was focused on the word “just” and how it is used to describe Simeon. I embarked on a quick word study; looking for other uses of the word “just”. Here are a few verses:

  1. Jesus spoke the same word in Matthew 13:49 “So shall it be at the end of the world: the angels shall come forth, and sever the wicked from among the just” (KJV).
  2. Pilate used this word to describe Christ in Matthew 27:24 “When Pilate saw that he could prevail nothing, but that rather a tumult was made, he took water, and washed his hands before the multitude, saying, I am innocent of the blood of this just person: see ye to it” (KJV).
  3. Herod used this word to describe John the Baptist in Mark 6:20 “For Herod feared John, knowing that he was a just man and an holy, and observed him; and when he heard him, he did many things, and heard him gladly” (KJV).

Simeon was a man who lived by faith. A religious man, but he was different from the other religious Jews. Simeon was a prophetic man who was awaiting the coming Messiah. There was obviously something special about Simeon’s faith. I can only speculate, but I believe he was a religious leader who dug deep into the Old Testament writings. He dug so deep that he realized the true meaning of Christmas. Isaiah 9:6 “For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The Mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace” (KJV).

I can remember how exciting it was counting down until Christmas morning. The excitement would begin a few weeks prior to the big day of opening new toys. But Simeon spent years waiting for this very day; a day he only knew by faith. We know that Christmas will come each year on December 25th and we have time to prepare for the festivities.

Notice in verse 26 “And it was revealed unto him by the Holy Ghost, that he should not see death, before he had seen the Lord’s Christ”. As Simeon held the Lord in his arms, he blessed Him and then asked to depart in peace. All Simeon wanted for his one and only Christmas was to see the Lord. We can learn so much from this man’s faith; may we all be reminded to walk the same just and devout life as Simeon and stay focused on the true meaning of Christmas…

In Christ,

The Silent Preacher

Numbering Our Days

 Psalm 90:12-17 “12 So teach us to number our days, that we may apply our hearts unto wisdom. 13 Return, O LORD, how long? and let it repent thee concerning thy servants. 14 O satisfy us early with thy mercy; that we may rejoice and be glad all our days. 15 Make us glad according to the days wherein thou hast afflicted us, and the years wherein we have seen evil. 16 Let thy work appear unto thy servants, and thy glory unto their children. 17 And let the beauty of the LORD our God be upon us: and establish thou the work of our hands upon us; yea, the work of our hands establish thou it (KJV).

Moses is the author of this remarkable Psalm. It is also recorded as the oldest of all the Psalms written. I covered the first 4 verses in a previous post titled “Dwelling in History”. Moses begins his petitions to God in verse 12. He is not praying for himself but for God’s people. He prays that God will allow his people to learn from their past mistakes; not only to learn from past mistakes but to take them to heart.

When we take a look at our past mistakes, we have a few options:

  1. We can learn from them and never make the same mistakes.
  2. We may forget about them and continue making the same mistakes.
  3. Or we may dwell on them, allowing them to be a constant reminder of our failures.

I believe Moses’ prayer gives us some wisdom and instructions about handling past mistakes. Numbering our days is a great illustration of the Lords forgiveness, grace, and mercy. When we number our days, we have the power, ability, and authority to change. We are wise to remember our past mistakes, but foolish to think that the Lord replays them over and over. Those past mistakes are gone, they are numbered and that number can’t be replayed, unless we forget to number them (Repent).

In verse 13 we are reminded of the need to repent from our mistakes. After we repent we can rejoice and be happy. The day of salvation is such a wonderful day for new believers, so wonderful that angels in heaven rejoice. Jesus said “Likewise, I say unto you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner that repenteth” Luke. 15:10, KJV).

Numbering our days allows us to reflect on how important it is to repent our mistakes and learn from them. Think of it as a negative and positive. Those past mistakes are negative moments is life. When we repent we turn a negative into positive, and a positive points us to the cross +. Dwelling on your past mistakes will only hinder you from being all that you can be for Christ. We do not know how many days we will be able to number. Live for Christ today and be all that He desires for you to be.

2 Chronicles 7:14 – If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land (KJV).

In Christ,

The Silent Preacher

Finding Balance

 1 Timothy 6:1-11 “1 Let as many servants as are under the yoke count their own masters worthy of all honour, that the name of God and his doctrine be not blasphemed. 2 And they that have believing masters, let them not despise them, because they are brethren; but rather do them service, because they are faithful and beloved, partakers of the benefit. These things teach and exhort. 3 If any man teach otherwise, and consent not to wholesome words, even the words of our Lord Jesus Christ, and to the doctrine which is according to godliness; 4 He is proud, knowing nothing, but doting about questions and strifes of words, whereof cometh envy, strife, railings, evil surmisings, 5 Perverse disputings of men of corrupt minds, and destitute of the truth, supposing that gain is godliness: from such withdraw thyself” (KJV).

Paul is speaking to the young Timothy, reminding him of the importance of maintaining a proper Christian perspective. As a Christian, living in a world with those who are opposed to our beliefs, it may become difficult to find the right balance. We are to live according to His word, follow His instructions, and defend His truth. Paul also reminds Timothy that it is important to remain respectful to others. The picture given is that of a slave working for his master.

In today’s workplace environment, there are Christians who struggle with maintaining a balanced life of faith. The boss or supervisor may not be a Christian; in fact they may dislike everything Christianity stands for. This may cause a great deal of stress in the life of a Christian. Paul reminds us that we need to be respectful toward those we work for and with, regardless of their faith or lack thereof.

How do we balance our faith? The word “Balance” may be a poor word choice for this application. A Christian does not have to balance their faith in the workplace. It may seem impossible to live your faith in an office filled with people who want nothing to do with Christ. Everything you are trying to live for and by seems foolish to others. How we live our faith at home or at church seems impossible to do at work. But this is exactly what Paul is addressing. We may not be able to openly bring the gospel message into the workplace, but we are told to continue living the gospel through our actions, deeds, and words.

Paul explains in the latter of verse 1, “…worthy of all honour, that the name of God and his doctrine be not blasphemed”. We should not be focused on “how we are being treated as a Christian in the workplace”. The question should be, “how am I treating others, including my supervisor or boss”. Paul gives us a great reminder to “Lift Up” and not to “Put Down” others. That includes putting ourselves down because of the way we are treated.

Paul continues in the remaining verses, describing what happens when we focus on our own self-pity. We become filled with pride, envy, and strife. The “woe is me” syndrome is the opposite of how we should be as Christians. Self-pity is defined as the “psychological state of mind of an individual in perceived adverse situations who has not accepted the situation and does not have the confidence nor competence to cope with it”. 1

Our Lord was not treated kindly, but yet he walked this earth teaching us to love others, through our actions, words, and deeds. Paul reminds us to continue in our faith, walking, talking, acting, and living with a greater goal in mind. We are to respect our supervisors and co-workers; we do it because He did it for us on the Cross. When we respect others, work hard, and do the best we can do, we are putting the Lord first in our lives. Showing others what and who Christ is. There are many ways to share Christ, how we act is the outward display of what the Lord has done for us on the inside.

 Maybe the word “balance” is the right application here. The Christian balances what the Lord has placed on the heart (inside), in order to be able to share with others (outside). If the Christian has too much weight on the inside (heart), then it becomes difficult to shift the weight to the outside (others) and vice versa.

Think of it like this…A man who walks a tightrope has to shift his weight back and forth; otherwise he ends up leaning too far to one side and falls off. His balance must remain centered on the rope. He may use his arms or a long pole to help keep his balance, but no matter what, his focus must remain on the center of the rope.

Walking the rope is how a Christian should walk, straight and centered on truth. If we lean too far in either direction we fall off the path of righteousness. The longer we walk the rope, the more people will see our accomplishments, but if we don’t walk the rope, then nobody will be able to see how wonderful it is to live for Christ. In the workplace, we don’t have to stand around saying “look at me, I’m walking a tightrope”. All we need to do is stay focused and centered on the rope. The further we get, the bigger the crowd. It won’t take long until people will be curious or inspired and want to try walking the tightrope. The applications are endless.

Proverbs 12:28 “In the way of righteousness is life; and in the pathway thereof there is not death” (KJV).

Matthew 7:13-14 “13 Enter ye in the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat: 14 Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it” (KJV).

In Christ,

The Silent Preacher

Reference

1 Self-pity Wikipedia definition. Retrieved 12/16/2014 from: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Self-pity

Character Traits

Psalm 1:1 “1 Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful” (KJV).

The psalmist begins with a powerful announcement and calls for our immediate attention. The verse describes the walk and character of a godly man. Character is defined as our moral, ethical, and mental qualities. Character is unique and specific to every individual. As we walk through life, we are taught different character traits, some good and some bad. We have the ability to choose which character traits to accept, reject, or influence our own personal character.

Be careful when given advice. Be careful of the people you hang out with. Be on guard about the character traits of others. The negative thoughts and actions of others can be infectious. You may not know that you “caught” the trait.

Here is an illustration I used in my Sunday school class. Take a church and divide it into two sections. Each section or side of the church has 50 people. They are seated in the pews, evenly filling the rows from front to back. On one side you quietly whisper the good news that a friend of yours at work got saved. On the other side, you quietly whisper that you saw a deacon’s wife with another man walking into a hotel together. Do you think the positive news of salvation or the negative juicy gossip will travel throughout the church?

The negative character trait of one person will quickly infect others. Before you know it, good people will allow that negative trait to become part of their own.

In Christ,

The Silent Preacher

Dwelling in History

 Psalm 90: 1-4 “1 A Prayer of Moses the man of God. Lord, thou hast been our dwelling place in all generations. 2 Before the mountains were brought forth, or ever thou hadst formed the earth and the world, even from everlasting to everlasting, thou art God. 3 Thou turnest man to destruction; and sayest, Return, ye children of men. 4 For a thousand years in thy sight are but as yesterday when it is past, and as a watch in the night” (KJV).

This Psalm is recorded as the oldest Psalm written. Moses the author and man of God, provides us with a reminder of God’s eternal power and presence. He begins this prayer by addressing God as LORD, “Adonay” God of Power, Creation, and Ruler.

To the ancient people of Moses’ day, mountains symbolized something lasting and dependable. To the Jews, mountains spoke of the everlasting God of Israel. There were six generations between Abraham and Moses, each generation was guided by the Omnipotent God who is All-Powerful (omni = all; potent = powerful).

“Thou turnest man to destruction; and sayest, Return, ye children of men”. It is amazing to see how advanced modern medicine has become. How life has been preserved and technology has made these advancements possible. But one thing will always remain the same; we will one day return to the dust of the earth. “In the sweat of thy face shalt thou eat bread, till thou return unto the ground; for out of it wast thou taken: for dust thou art, and unto dust shalt thou return” (Gen. 3:19, KJV).

 The older we get, the more we comprehend how short life is. Days, months, and years seem to pass by faster and faster. I can remember my teen years, anticipating and eagerly awaiting tomorrow. We do not have the ability to “undo or redo” our past, but we do have control over what we do today. “But, beloved, be not ignorant of this one thing, that one day is with the Lord as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day” (2 Pet. 3:8, KJV). God does not look at our past mistakes. “I, even I, am he that blotteth out thy transgressions for mine own sake, and will not remember thy sins” (Isa. 43:25, KJV). “As far as the east is from the west, so far hath he removed our transgressions from us” (Psa. 103:12, KJV).

“Time”, something many struggle to find more of, squeeze more into our busy days. It may be something we regret, wishing that we could go back in time and do things differently. We may worry about tomorrow; looking into the future may cause anxiety, stress, or depressed emotions. I am reminded that “Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever” (Heb. 13:8, KJV). He teaches us that we can learn from our mistakes and not dwell on them.

Proverbs 24:16 “For a just [man] falleth seven times, and riseth up again: but the wicked shall fall into mischief” (KJV).

Isaiah 41:10 “Fear thou not; for I [am] with thee: be not dismayed; for I [am] thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness” (KJV).

History is a record of times past; some of history is filled with great discoveries and some of man’s greatest accomplishments. It also contains some of man’s worst moments. But we have today, this very moment. Today … let go and let God; write his-story of your life. If we attempt to write the story of our lives, it will be nothing more than an old dirty, dusty, and soon forgotten book. But, if we surrender ourselves to the One that is in control, we become the clay and He the Potter. He will mold, carve, and create exactly what He desires us to be.

“But now, O LORD, thou art our father; we are the clay, and thou our potter; and we all are the work of thy hand” (Isa. 64:8, KJV).

In Christ,

The Silent Preacher

Shelter in the Storm

 Psalm 91:1 “He that dwelleth in the secret place of the most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty” (KJV).

“He that dwelleth, in the secret place of the most High”. The first part of this verse paints a beautiful picture for the Christian. To dwell in the secret place of the most High means that we have to be close to the Lord in order to benefit from this blessings and protection. When the Lord promises a blessing, He requires something from us. This is where faith comes into play. It is through our faith that keeps us close to the Father. The Lord promises us, that if we stay close to Him, we will be safe. But if we wander off, we open ourselves up to the dangers outside of His protection. What happens when a child wanders off from the protection of parents? The child becomes vulnerable to the dangers that lurk beyond.

When Christians wander off, they end up running back to the safety of the Lord. We all stumble and fall in our walk, but it is so wonderful to know that the Lord awaits our return with open arms, ready to receive us back under His protection. If we would only learn to stay put, stay in His will and live according to His commands. Wandering away from the secret place is not what the Lord wants for us, but we do learn lessons when we wander, we learn and grow closer to Him.

“Shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty.” When we sit still under the protective shadow of the Lord Almighty, we are safe with him, nothing can happen to us, and no evil can attack us. The protection is a constant 24 hour around the clock protection. Nothing in this world can provide this type of protection. When the storms come, when the fiery darts are thrown, the Lord stretches out His wings and shields us. The closer we dwell with the Father, the more confident we will become.

Matthew 11:19 “Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest” (KJV).

In Christ,

The Silent Preacher

Quote

Practice Makes Perfect

 Philippians 3:12-16 “12 Not as though I had already attained, either were already perfect: but I follow after, if that I may apprehend that for which also I am apprehended of Christ Jesus. 13 Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, 14 I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus. 15 Let us therefore, as many as be perfect, be thus minded: and if in any thing ye be otherwise minded, God shall reveal even this unto you. 16 Nevertheless, whereto we have already attained, let us walk by the same rule, let us mind the same thing” (KJV).

A professional archer or marksmen will spend hours practicing in order to reach the goal of “hitting the mark”. Like any athlete, the road to success is paved by dedication and commitment. What separates an excellent athlete from a great one? A great athlete recognizes the never-ending need to improve his or her skills.

Paul reminds the Philippians that he is not perfect in his Christian walk. He displays a level of humility that we should all take note of. Paul, inspired by God, wrote 13 books of the New Testament (14 if you believe he wrote Hebrews). He is considered one of the greatest missionaries of all times. Yet, he makes sure to point out his consistent need to fine tune his Christian walk.

As Christians, I believe we all desire to grow closer to the Lord. I doubt anyone would be so bold to think or admit they have reached their peak in Christian living. The verses above teach us many things about our walk with the Lord. Here are just a few that the Lord placed on my heart today:

  1. Humility as defined by the dictionary, states that humility is “a modest or low view of one’s own importance” 1. The Bible defines humility as the “lowliness of mind”. Humility for the Christian is defined by the removal of self, which is done through the heart. Like the great athlete, humility is the ability to recognize the need to improve. Our sin nature will always leave us room to grow closer to the Lord. The first step is to examine ourselves with a humble heart.
  2. The second step is to let the past go. Paul stated it as “forgetting those things which are behind”. In order for an athlete to improve a certain skill(s), they must forget the old way of doing them. A golfer may be the best example for this. If you recognize the need to improve your golf swing, you must begin by removing the part of your swing that is causing you trouble. If you hold on to your bad habits, your swing will never improve. The Christian walk is the same way.
  3. Focus on the Lord. Your best efforts to change bad habits into Godly ones will fail if you do not focus on the Lord. If you are attempting to grow closer to the Lord because someone advised you too, it will not work. Remember, it begins in the heart; your heart must be willing to make the sacrifices to change. Your golf instructor can tell you what to do in order to improve your swing, but unless you really want to change, the advice will be useless. A preacher delivers instructions through a sermon, but if we don’t apply the message, change will not happen.
  4. Press toward the Mark. Once you recognize the need to improve your walk and you desire change, then you must commit to that change. Paul used the word “Press” as a verb and “toward” as the preposition. Here is an example: I recognize the need to improve my prayer time. I have to forget my old methods and commit to a new way. In order to put the new way into action, I have to actively “Press” and consistently practice the new way. Making sure that my old habits do not come back. I do this by keeping my mind focused “toward” the goal and not on the task. If I focus on the task “making time for prayer”, I will lose sight of the goal. My prayer time will be nothing more than a block of time set aside during the day.
  5. The goal is to bring honor and glory to the Lord. I do this by fine tuning my Christian walk, improve my skills, and devote time for practice in order to hit the mark continuously.

“I know the Bible is inspired because it inspires me” 2

In Christ,

The Silent Preacher

References

1 Dictionary. Retrieved 12/5/14 from http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/humility

2 D.L. Moody. Retrieved 12/5/14 from http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/authors/d/dwight_l_moody.html#jAfIfoUGClmlVA6r.99

When in Doubt

 Acts 12:18-24 “18 Now as soon as it was day, there was no small stir among the soldiers, what was become of Peter. 19 And when Herod had sought for him, and found him not, he examined the keepers, and commanded that they should be put to death. And he went down from Judaea to Caesarea, and there abode. 20 And Herod was highly displeased with them of Tyre and Sidon: but they came with one accord to him, and, having made Blastus the king’s chamberlain their friend, desired peace; because their country was nourished by the king’s country. 21 And upon a set day Herod, arrayed in royal apparel, sat upon his throne, and made an oration unto them. 22 And the people gave a shout, saying, It is the voice of a god, and not of a man. 23 And immediately the angel of the Lord smote him, because he gave not God the glory: and he was eaten of worms, and gave up the ghost. 24 But the word of God grew and multiplied” (KJV).

When we face difficult times in life, whether alone or as a church, we often struggle to find answers. We may try different things in order to break out of our troubling times. As I stated in yesterday’s post “If Only…” prayer should be the first place we go and should remain our highest priority. The church prayed fervently for Peter’s deliverance. The Lord answered those prayers by sending an angel to free Peter. The text today provides an answer to why prayer is important.

Have you ever been faced with a trial because you stood up for what you believed in? Have you ever been judged for being a Christian; called a “Bible Thumper”, “Holy Roller”, etc. Some Christians will fight back, but there efforts will only make things worse. How we handle ourselves during difficult times is important. We are being watched by the world and those around us. If we take matters into our own hands, we may be robbing ourselves and the Lord, an opportunity to witness to others.

The Lord allowed Herod to take the life of James and throw Peter into prison, but prayer was the only answer for his persecution. Herod was dealt with, and ended up dying a horrible death (eaten by worms).

Without valleys, there could be no mountain tops. You can’t jump from one mountain top to another without traveling through a valley. When the church prayed for Peter, the Lord set him free and made sure Herod would not bother them again.

Reflection

Sometimes the best way to witness and share the gospel to others is when we are struggling in the valleys of life. It is a blessing to know that God can use anyone; at any moment in life, to be a witness for Christ. I was reminded of the Welsh Revival of 1904 when, “A young girl named Florrie Evans, who had been a believer a few days, rose and with a trembling voice said simply, “I love Jesus with all my heart.” The other young people’s hearts were melted. A powerful spiritual awakening that brought 100,000 people to Christ was under way” (Roberts, E. 1905).

In Christ,

The Silent Preacher

Reference

Evan Roberts, in W. T. Stead, ed., The Story of the Welsh Revival (London: Fleming H. Revell, 1905)

Walking Tall

 Ephesians 4:1-3 “1 I therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you that ye walk worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called, 2 With all lowliness and meekness, with longsuffering, forbearing one another in love; 3 Endeavouring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace” (KJV).

Today we see a progressive movement towards the acceptance of a watered down version of Christianity. The Gospel message has been altered and diluted to fit whatever requirements the “ways of the world” demand. Families decide what church to attend because it offers the most amount of fun activities or programs for their children. If there is ever a day and hour that we need to focus on our high calling it is today.

The day has come when we need to allow His word to provide our wisdom. We need to look back at the courage, humility, and enduring commitment our forefathers have taught us. Today is the day that we focus not on our superficial motivations, but rather we emulate the same grace that our precious Lord has bestowed upon us. Our focus and motivations need to rest on the absolute truth found in God’s word. The church we choose should rest on the unity of Spirit, truth, and love.

I’m afraid many churches have filled their services with a modern version of music that does not bring honor and glory to the Lord. When our youth spend more time playing basketball or playing games during the preaching and teaching of God’s word, we leave the door wide open for Satan to throw his fiery darts at our children. We wonder why our youth are facing more problems than ever before, yet parents spend little time praying, teaching, and sharing the Word with them.

Does the Bible not teach us how to raise children? Does the Bible not say “Train a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it” (Pro. 22:6, KJV). “Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger, but bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord” (Eph. 6:4, ESV). If we do not run the race of righteousness, how in the world will we ever be able to pass the torch onto the next generation? Our forefathers not only passed on His torch, they provided us with detailed instructions and illustrations that were applicable then and still apply today.

Is there any wonder why the unsaved call Christians hypocrites? Of course no Christian or church is perfect, if you ever find the perfect church; don’t join it because you will ruin it.

“I firmly believe that the moment our hearts are emptied of selfishness and ambition and self-seeking and everything that is contrary to God’s law, the Holy Spirit will come and fill every corner of our hearts; but if we are full of pride and conceit, ambition and self-seeking, pleasure and the world, there is no room for the Spirit of God. I also believe that many a man is praying to God to fill him, when he is full already with something else. Before we pray that God would fill us, I believe we ought to pray that He would empty us. There must be a n emptying before there can be a filling; and when the heart is turned upside down, and everything that is contrary to God is turned out, then the Spirit will come…” (D.L. Moody)

In Christ,

The Silent Preacher

Reference

Moody, D.L. Quotes, retrieved from http://www.goodreads.com/author/quotes/5083573.D_L_Moody

If Only…

 Acts 12:1-7 “1 Now about that time Herod the king stretched forth his hands to vex certain of the church. 2 And he killed James the brother of John with the sword. 3 And because he saw it pleased the Jews, he proceeded further to take Peter also. (Then were the days of unleavened bread.) 4 And when he had apprehended him, he put him in prison, and delivered him to four quaternions of soldiers to keep him; intending after Easter to bring him forth to the people. 5 Peter therefore was kept in prison: but prayer was made without ceasing of the church unto God for him. 6 And when Herod would have brought him forth, the same night Peter was sleeping between two soldiers, bound with two chains: and the keepers before the door kept the prison. 7 And, behold, the angel of the Lord came upon him, and a light shined in the prison: and he smote Peter on the side, and raised him up, saying, Arise up quickly. And his chains fell off from his hands.” (KJV).

King Herod mentioned in the first verse is the grandson of Herod the Great, he is known as Herod Agrippa I. Herod, in an effort to please the religious high priests, begins to attack the believers that remained in Jerusalem. Here we see a clear picture of what the prophet Jeremiah preached “The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?” (Jer. 17:9, KJV). Herod was seeking popularity in order to achieve favoritism in Jerusalem and he was willing to do anything to gain it. What began as pride in the heart quickly turned into hate, and finally became an outward display of wickedness.

“Vex certain the church”, to afflict against the church, specifically anyone who claims the name of Christ. The affliction would have begun as physical beatings, imprisonments, high taxes, or fines. But this did not satisfy the king’s hunger for fame and quickly turned into a death penalty for James brother of John. Once the king saw how pleased the Jews were about the death of James, he ordered Peter to be placed into prison.

Sixteen guards were assigned to watch over Peter in prison. Herod probably heard about Peter’s prison escape from Acts 5:19, which would explain the amount of guards placed. It was also Roman custom to have two guards on the outside with two guards on the inside, the inside guards would be chained to the prisoner. Each set of four guards would stand watch in six-hour shifts.

As Peter sat in prison, we see the church praying continuously and with a purpose for Peter. The church was in trouble, with the death of James and now Peter held in prison, awaiting his death sentence, there was a need for such prayer. Through their prayers, the Lord sent an angel to set Peter free.

Reflection

If only Christians would seek prayer like the early church. Prayer is something we could all do more of, as individuals and as a church. What fascinated me with this text is how the angel smote or knocked Peter to wake him up. This leads me to one application for this text: it was through faith and believing that allowed the prayers of the church to be answered. Remember that despite the hardship and conditions that Peter was facing, his faith was so strong that he slept while being in prison, chained to two guards, and knowing he was facing a death sentence. Do we pray with the same faith? Or do we pray in desperate times only seeking quick relief? Do we pray with the same faith as Peter? As a church are we praying with this type of faith? Are we gathered together in one accord, praying fervently? Something to consider and reflect on…

Matthew 21:22 “And all things, whatsoever ye shall ask in prayer, believing, ye shall receive” (KJV).

Mark 11:24 “Therefore I say unto you, What things soever ye desire, when ye pray, believe that ye receive them, and ye shall have them” (KJV).

Acts 1:14 “These all continue with one accord in prayer and supplication, with the women, and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with his brethren” (KJV).

In Christ,

The Silent Preacher