Scripture
14When she recognized Peter’s voice, she was so overjoyed that, instead of opening the door, she ran back inside and told everyone, “Peter is standing at the door!” 15“You’re out of your mind!” they said. When she insisted, they decided, “It must be his angel.” 16Meanwhile, Peter continued knocking. When they finally opened the door and saw him, they were amazed. Acts 12:14-16
Observation
This is one of my favorite chapters in scripture because it’s outright comical. It’s such a reminder that God works His purposes both through us and in spite of us! Peter was in such a state of REM sleep in prison that the angel had to kick him to get him to wake up. Even when the prison gate opened up automatically he thought it was just a dream. Then, when Peter realized this was real he went to the local prayer meeting where there were gathered praying for Peter’s release. The answer to their prayers was on their porch and yet they didn’t believe Rhoda when she told them who it was! They had an easier time believing it was Peter’s guardian angel than Peter himself. I don’t know about you, but I would have run to the door even it had been an angel. We don’t know how long Peter stood knocking at the door, but it’s clear from the narrative that this Peter/Guardian Angel argument went on for a bit. Notice, that God opened the prison gate, but it had to be the believers who opened the door to their home. When they finally opened the door they were face to face with the answer to the prayers they had just been praying! They were so ecstatic that Peter had to “motion for them to quiet down”. The man that had been locked in prison and sentenced to die like James was now standing in their living room as living proof that God answers prayers.
Application
How much time have we wasted arguing about the theological impossibilities of a miracle in our finances, friendships, churches, schools and country while God has already set angels in motion at the very first prayer request? While the early church saints were on their knees in prayer the angel was kicking Peter awake, dropping shackles, opening heavy metal gates, but he didn’t open the door. It’s that he couldn’t, he just didn’t. Why? This real life moment reminds me of how God moves in real life. God opens some doors and yet is also waiting for us to open others. Prayer is a partnership with the God of the universe where He does most of the work. Elijah used the example of helping me move a couch when he was a kid. He was definitely holding a corner and doing his part, but I was doing the heavy lifting. What an amazing thing to realize that we are a small part of how God will answer our prayers. How many times have we prayed and just assumed nothing is really going to change? How many times have we prayed and assumed it’s going to be hand delivered to our door like so many Amazon packages? When, quite often, we are the delivery system for the very miracle we are praying for? Faith isn’t passive observance, but active participation in the divine plan unfolding in real time. Could it be that God has already started the healing and He’s just waiting on us to lay hands on the sick? Could it be that God has already softened the heart of a co-worker or family member and He’s just waiting for us to lead them in a salvation prayer? How many answered prayers have we left standing on the porch knocking at our door? God wants to give us a front row seat on a miracle, but often we’re too jaded, cynical or soul weary to get off the couch and open up the door to the possibility that God is very much on the move and wants to move through us! He wants to move us from indifference and inaction to participation! Don’t stop praying for God to move. Don’t stop believing God will move through you!
Prayer
These same hands folded in prayer are the same hands You want to use to open the door to those around me. These same legs kneeling in prayer are the same legs you’ve designed to get up and go to the very person or situation I’m praying for. When the healing comes, when the breakthrough break through, when the heaviness is lifted, when the demon flees I will stand in amazement that You would use someone like me. “17When the seventy-two disciples returned, they joyfully reported to him, “Lord, even the demons obey us when we use your name!”18 “Yes,” he told them, “I saw Satan fall from heaven like lightning! 19Look, I have given you authority over all the power of the enemy, and you can walk among snakes and scorpions and crush them. Nothing will injure you. 20But don’t rejoice because evil spirits obey you; rejoice because your names are registered in heaven.” Lk. 10:17-20
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