Divine Deliverance

 What do you need to be delivered from today?

• Critical spirit
• Impatience
• Angry outbursts
• Impure thoughts
• Addictive behavior 

Here is a passage about Peter that can give you the most incredible hope for divine deliverance, even in the face of utter hopelessness. 

About that time Herod the king laid violent hands on some who belonged to the church.  He killed James the brother of John with the sword, and when he saw that it pleased the Jews, he proceeded to arrest Peter also.  This was during the days of Unleavened Bread.  And when he had seized him, he put him in prison, delivering him over to four squads of soldiers to guard him, intending after the Passover to bring him out to the people.  So Peter was kept in prison, but earnest prayer for him was made to God by the church.  Now when Herod was about to bring him out, on that very night, Peter was sleeping between two soldiers, bound with two chains, and sentries before the door were guarding the prison.  (Acts 12:1-6)

Notice with me the hopelessness of Peter’s situation.  Herod delivered him over to four squads of soldiers, working 6-hour shifts over a 24-hour day.  That means there were always four soldiers guarding one Peter at any given time throughout the day and night.  We find Peter sleeping between two soldiers, bound with two chains, and more sentries posted outside the door.

Two soldiers, two chains, two or more sentries . . . but not too much for God.  All of this was written to make it abundantly clear to us just how desperate Peter’s situation was.  What happened next is recorded for our instruction and comfort when we too, face trials that appear to be insurmountable. Peter was only one man, yes; but he was God’s man.

And behold, an angel of the Lord stood next to him, and a light shone in the cell.  He struck Peter on the side and woke him, saying, “Get up quickly.”  And the chains fell off his hands.  And the angel said to him, “Dress yourself and put on your sandals.”  And he did so.  And he said to him, “Wrap your cloak around you and follow me.”  And he went out and followed him.  And he went out and followed him.  He did not know that what was being done by the angel was real, but thought he was seeing a vision.  When they had passed the first and the second guard, they came to the iron gate leading into the city.  It opened for them of its own accord, and they went out and went along one street, and immediately the angel left him. (Acts 12:7-10)

In one of the most hopeless situations recorded in all of sacred Scripture, Hope shows up.  God sent an angel, who led Peter out of his prison, not on wings like eagles, but walking, with calm confidence, on sandaled feet.  As they stood before the iron gate leading into the city, it opened of its own accord.  What an incredible divine deliverance!

Oh, make sure you don’t miss this!  The angel had to wake Peter by striking him on his side.  I don’t know about you, but if I was facing such a hopeless situation, I cannot imagine myself in a state of deep sleep.  Remember, Peter knew what had happened to James, the brother of John, who was killed with the sword; Peter surely expected that the same fate awaited him in the morning.  And yet we find Peter in a sound sleep.  To be sure, this is the peace that passes all understanding! 

Peter—the same Peter who had once been driven into ignominious retreat by a servant girl—now trusted so completely in his Lord that he was able to remain calm in the eye of the storm.  He knew that divine deliverance was ultimately on the way, whether it was his departure from prison or his passing from this life into the next.  So gospel-saturated was Peter that he was ready, willing, and able to receive whatever divine deliverance God sent his way.

Can the same be said about you?  Are you trusting in Jesus to deliver you from whatever you are facing today—in His time and in His way?  Divine deliverance is our ultimate destiny. 

This is the gospel.  This is grace for your race.  NEVER FORGET THAT . . . AMEN!