Acts Twelve: A great story, great lessons

The Acts of the Apostles, chapter 12, is great reading! The miracle of Peter’s deliverance from prison “will preach” in pastors’ parlance. We all delight when the good guys win and the bad guy gets “his.” But, not so fast here, there is more to the story (a tip of my hat to Paul Harvey).

Consider a few of the details concerning the ranking politician.

• Herod had already had James killed.
• Pleasing people was one of Herod’s weaknesses, and the religious establishment didn’t like Peter. Hence, Peter was in prison to the delight of the religious, and Herod’s designs were not encouraging.
• People do things out of frustration. When Peter got away, Herod turned on his own staff, ordering them killed. Remember that! Angry people are not very discriminating!
• Herod was an egotist. After making a speech, the people in attendance shouted, “This is the voice of a god,” Herod tacitly said, “You got that right!” Egotists that get angry are a force to be reckoned with.

Meanwhile, the church was authentically being the church!
• “The church was earnestly praying to God for him (Peter).” Yes, there is another evidence of the truth, “When I work, I work. When I pray, God works.” Angels were dispatched because the church was being the church.
• The congregation was multi-cultural, multi-generational. The youth were in the prayer meeting. Rhoda, a servant girl, got so excited that she failed the decorum test and left Peter standing at the door!
• In the middle of a prayer meeting interrupted by a youthful servant, the church showed its humanity, accusing Rhoda with, “You’re out of your mind.”

Here are a few take away lessons.
• When under pressure, pray. Call for special prayer for those under threat and experiencing pressure.
• Don’t expect too much of church people, even when they are praying. After all, Christian people are people, and act just like us.
• Expect to be astonished! Surprise and wonder link us in faith with every generation of the faithful.
• Tell your story of deliverance. Peter did, and yours is a unique and worthy of telling as Peter’s. Faith moves forward on the wings of a story.
• Be inclusive! There are “Rhodas” who are qualified to open doors, even if they do it imperfectly. Opened doors reveal miracle results to prayers.
• God deals with angry egotists. Those who abuse power will stand before Him! In Herod’s case, God had a bigger than usual batch of worms readied. We need not bring the abusive and vicious to trial or discredited with our slander. Pray for those in authority. Celebrate deliverances.
• Violence against the faith will continue. James died at the edge of the sword. Later, Peter also died a violent death for the faith. In other words, sometimes things don’t work out the way we plan. But, God is still God.