A Divine Breakout

Timothy Brown

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Acts 12:1-11

Introduction

● Everyone who’s listening at this very moment, may not have been in a prison or in a jail cell. But most of us, if not all of us, have been in a situation(s) or even a circumstance(s) where it seemed like there was NO WAY OUT! We felt trapped! We felt locked in! We felt locked out! We felt all alone. We felt like we had been deserted. It was a very low place in our life.

● Luke is currently leading us along the journey of the early church. The church is now under extreme persecution. And, one of the church’s leaders, namely Peter, is now in prison due to his failure to obey man, and instead, he obeyed his conviction to PREACH JESUS!!! (CIT)

● The purpose of the lesson/sermon is to encourage the present-day church members to always remember that God is always in involved in every situation of our lives – good or bad! (MOS)

I. Arrest by the King (1-4)

• (2) King Herod already had James, the brother of John, killed (murder)

• (3) King Herod was a People-pleaser– “It was a discouraging time for the church in Jerusalem. King Herod had discovered how to gain popularity and support from the Jews by persecuting the Christians.” (Lloyd J. Ogilvie)

• (4a) Arrest - put in Prison

• (4b) Guarded by a “quaternion” - 4 squads of 4 soldiers - every 3 hours (total 16 soldiers) for only 1 man...

II. Intercession by the Saints (5)

• Their praying was earnest for Peter. Prayer was made assiduously, continuously, constantly, intensely, intensively, painstakingly, seriously, unceasingly, and zealously...

• Prayer was an intricate fiber in the fabric of the early church. “These all continued with one accord in prayer and supplication, with the women, and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with his brethren.” (Acts 1:14)

• “And they continued steadfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, in breaking of bread, and in prayers.” (Acts 2:42)

• “Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints...” (Ephesians 6:18)

The Holy Bible: King James Version. electronic ed. of the 1769 edition of the 1611 Authorized Version. Bellingham WA: Logos Research Systems, Inc., 1995. Print.

III. Intervention by the Supernatural (6-10)

• (6a) it was at NIGHT...between 2 soldiers, bound with 2 chains, 2 strong guards at the entrance of the jail cell - trouble on every side… but PETER WAS SLEEP...

• “(6b) “Roman prisoners had a chain fastened at one end to the wrist of their right hand, and at the other to the wrist of a soldier’s left hand, leaving the right arm of the keeper free in case of any attempt to escape. For greater security the prisoner was sometimes, as here, chained to two soldiers, one on each side.”

Jamieson, Robert, A. R. Fausset, and David Brown. Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible. Vol. 2. Oak Harbor, WA: Logos Research Systems, Inc., 1997. Print.

• (6b) Peter was sleep...

• Peter’s state was that of sleep...

• Don’t allow your SITUATION to determine your STATE...

• Peter’s situation was DARK, but his state was REST; Peter’s situation was SAD, but his state was REST; Peter’s situation was SCARY, but his state was REST…Peter’s situation was STORMY, but his state was REST...

• Isaiah 23:3-6 - Isaiah transition in verse 3 from TALKING TO GOD, to TALKING ABOUT GOD!

• “3Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee. 4 Trust ye in the LORD forever: for in the LORD JEHOVAH is everlasting strength: 5 For he bringeth down them that dwell on high; the lofty city, he layeth it low; he layeth it low, even to the ground; he bringeth it even to the dust. 6 The foot shall tread it down, even the feet of the poor, and the steps of the needy.” (Isaiah 23:3-6)

• (7) God will show up in your situation!

• God’s messenger said, “Quick, get up! - and the CHAINS FELL OFF Peter’s wrists...” God will not EXPECT us to do anything that God will not ENABLE or EQUIP us to do!

• (8) “Put on your clothes and sandals.” In other words — GET DRESSED, IT’S TIME TO GO!!!

● (9-10) “What happened [to Peter] was a three-part miracle. The 1st part was TO GET HIM OUT of the chains fettered to the arms of the guards; the 2nd part was TO GET HIM PAST the guard posts; and the 3rd part was TO GET HIM THROUGH the iron gate of the wall surrounding the whole prison.” (Lloyd Ogilvie)

The Holy Bible: King James Version. electronic ed. of the 1769 edition of the 1611 Authorized Version. Bellingham WA: Logos Research Systems, Inc., 1995. Print.

Conclusion (11)

• “That’s when Peter realized it was no dream. “I can’t believe it—this really happened! The Master sent his angel and rescued me from Herod’s vicious little production and the spectacle the Jewish mob was looking forward to.”

● In conclusion, “What happened [to Peter] was a three-part miracle of DELIVERANCE. The 1st part was TO GET him OUT of the chains fettered to the arms of the guards; the 2nd part was TO GET him PAST the guard posts; and the 3rd part was TO GET him THROUGH the iron gate of the wall surrounding the whole prison.” (Lloyd Ogilvie)...let me add one more - GET ON..with your life!!

Peterson, Eugene H. The Message: The Bible in Contemporary Language. Colorado Springs, CO: NavPress, 2005. Print.

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