I was reading from the book of Acts recently and a story that I have read many times before came alive in my spirit when I read it again this time. It is so full of encouragement that I felt it would be a good message to share with you today. We need to be reminded of God’s faithfulness towards His children so that when the tough times come our way we won’t become worrisome, lose heart or question our faith in the Lord. It is stories like the one I am going to share with you that should reinforce our faithfulness in the Lord knowing that He will never leave us nor forsake us, but as a Loving Father God will show up in the midst of the storm to calm our hearts and let us know that all is well. No matter what may be weighing on your heart today I want you to know that with God all things are possible and just because it is storming right now does not take away from the fact that the brightest and most beautiful sunshine will be shown after the storm. (Hebrews 13:5-6) (Isaiah 44:8)

The Apostle Peter whom Jesus called “The rock that His church would be built upon” had been imprisoned by King Herod with the forethought that he would kill Peter just as Herod had James killed not long before. Herod had 16 prison guards guarding Peter to ensure that he could not escape. Peter was not worried about his fate, he wasn’t nervous about what the outcome would be because he was a man at peace. The Bible says that he was chained between two guards and still he was sleeping when the Angel came to deliver him. We read in Acts 12:5-10 “So Peter was kept in prison, but the church was earnestly praying to God for him. The night before Herod was to bring him to trial, Peter was sleeping between two soldiers, bound with two chains and sentries stood guard at the entrance. 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.” (Matthew 16:18-19) (Isaiah 26:3-4)

Peter was sleeping so soundly that the light that shined through the prison cell did not wake him up. The Angel had to strike Peter on his side to wake him up. That shows perfect peace. The two chains that were binding Peter’s wrists simply fell off when the Angel appeared. That shows deliverance. The drama of what was taking place before Peter’s eyes was unbelievable to him and that’s why he thought he was still asleep and dreaming. That shows God’s supernatural ability. The Iron Gate leading to the city opened by itself and they walked through it. That shows God’s faithfulness. Once Peter was safe enough to be alone the Angel left him. That shows God’s security. (Isaiah 45:2-3) (Mark 9:23)

The lessons from this story should encourage our hearts to know that God is able to deliver us even when we are surrounded by an army, locked in chains and secured behind Iron Gates. It is nothing for God to meet our needs and deliver us from the trials and tribulations that come our way. What is required is our faithfulness to the Lord. Peter knowing that death was only a few days away was sleeping soundly in prison chained between two guards. How much more should we be at peace knowing that we are not in those dire straits that Peter was in? How much quicker should we be in giving praise and thanks to the Lord for the many times that He was with us, strengthened us and delivered us when all hope seemed lost? God’s faithfulness should always be at the forefront of our thoughts when trials and tribulations come our way. If God has not failed in the past, then why would we think that He would fail us now? (2 Kings 6:16-17) (Psalm 62:8)

For me it has always been easy to choose faith over fear, to choose peace over worry and to choose praise and thanks over murmuring and complaining. What I don’t understand I give to God and I allow His peace that surpasses all understanding to calm my heart and mind and remind me that just as it has happened before, it will happen again and all will be well in the end. (Psalm 138:1-8) (Philippians 4:6-9)

Let us remember that God’s faithfulness is shown throughout His Word, throughout history and throughout our own lives and that should make it easy for us to trust Him in every circumstance, in every trial and in every challenge. God loves to show Himself strong on behalf of those who are weak. May we always confess our weakness so that His strength may never leave our life. (2 Corinthians 12:9-10) (2 Chronicles 16:9)


Read and meditate on these scriptures:

Hebrews 11:6 “But without faith it is impossible to please Him: for he that cometh to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of them that diligently seek Him.”

Psalm 37:23-27 “The steps of a good man are ordered by the LORD: and He delighteth in his way. Though he fall, he shall not be utterly cast down: for the LORD upholdeth him with His hand. I have been young, and now am old; yet have I not seen the righteous forsaken, nor his seed begging bread. He is ever merciful, and lendeth; and his seed is blessed. Depart from evil, and do good; and dwell for evermore.”

Proverbs 2:1-6 “My son, if thou wilt receive My words, and hide My commandments with thee; So that thou incline thine ear unto wisdom, and apply thine heart to understanding; Yea, if thou criest after knowledge, and liftest up thy voice for understanding; If thou seekest her as silver, and searchest for her as for hid treasures; Then shalt thou understand the fear of the LORD, and find the knowledge of God. For the LORD giveth wisdom: out of His mouth cometh knowledge and understanding.”

Deuteronomy 30:19-20 “I call heaven and earth to record this day against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing: therefore choose life, that both thou and thy seed may live: That thou mayest love the LORD thy God, and that thou mayest obey His voice, and that thou mayest cleave unto Him: for He is thy life, and the length of thy days: that thou mayest dwell in the land which the LORD sware unto thy fathers, to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob, to give them.”

Romans 10:9-11 “That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised Him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. For the scripture saith, Whosoever believeth on Him shall not be ashamed.”

All of these scriptures can be found in the King James Version Bible.


Today’s Selected Poem: HE'S THE REASON WHY
Click here to read --- http://www.Godswork.org/inpoem15.htm

Today’s Selected Testimony: IT JUST CLICKED
Click here to read --- http://www.Godswork.org/testimony77.htm


In Christ’s Service,

Dwayne Savaya
God’s Work Ministry