MESSAGES
God Takes Care of You! (Acts of the Apostles 2:1-11)
A few days ago, right after the service, while still at church, I was talking with some brothers and sisters about God's care in our lives. Then I remembered the passage where Peter was imprisoned and how God revealed Himself to him:
Acts of the Apostles 12:
1 About that time Herod the king laid violent hands on some who belonged to the church.
2 He killed James the brother of John with the sword,
3 and when he saw that it pleased the Jews, he proceeded to arrest Peter also. This was during the days of Unleavened Bread.
4 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.
5 So Peter was kept in prison, but earnest prayer for him was made to God by the church.
6 Now when Herod was about to bring him out, on that very night, Peter was sleeping between two soldiers, bound with two chains, and sentinels before the door were guarding the prison.
7 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.
8 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.”
9 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.
10 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.
11 When Peter came to himself, he said, “Now I am sure that the Lord has sent his angel and rescued me from the hand of Herod and from all that the Jewish people were expecting.”
In verse 5, we see something essential for God's providence to happen in Peter's life: THE EARNEST PRAYER OF THE CHURCH.
Acts 12:5 … but earnest prayer for him was made to God by the church.
God then revealed Himself to Peter in a wonderful and supernatural way, through an angel. Peter was so overwhelmed by what was happening — almost in a state of trance — that the angel had to instruct him in simple things: Get up quickly, dress yourself, put on your sandals, wrap your cloak around you, follow me.(Acts 12:7-8)
Peter didn't even know if it was real or not.
Acts 12:9 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.
But after being completely set free, Peter was able to declare:
Acts 12:11 Now I am sure that the Lord has sent his angel and rescued me from the hand of Herod and from all that the Jewish people were expecting.
How good it is to know that, when necessary, God guides us in the smallest details so we can reach His blessings — even when we don't understand what is happening.
Therefore, in moments of struggle, obey God, even if it seems strange or unlikely. You won't always understand the ways God uses to bless you.
Remember: God will always honor your faithful attitudes. And when the blessing arrives, you will realize that your steps of faith, as difficult as they might have been, were actually the LORD TAKING CARE OF YOU AND GUIDING YOU, EVEN WHEN YOU DID NOT UNDERSTAND.
