ON THE VANGUARD

PRISON BREAKS
“That night before Herod was to bring him to trial, Peter was sleeping between two soldiers, bound with two chains, and sentries stood guard at the entrance.”
Acts 12:6

“After [Paul and Silas] had been severely flogged, they were thrown into prison, and the jailer was commanded to guard the carefully.”
Acts 16:23

As I have been praying recently, I have been in awe thinking about what God is capable of. I know that He knows no boundaries and is able to do anything, but as I read the Bible and recall what He did do, I am amazed. Two days back I shared with you a few of the things that happened within only seven days, but today I want to narrow in on two events that happened overnight. I believe that as we walk through the 2012 year we will see more overnight and suddenly moments than we have ever experienced before. Perhaps these two accounts will work to increase our faith.
In Acts 12 we read that King Herod had gained the popular vote from the people when he put James, the brother of John, to death. To keep this zeal for him going, he worked to capture Peter. On the Feast of Unleavened Bread this chore was completed and Peter was caught. On the day after Passover, it was intended for Peter to stand trial and eventually be killed because of his beliefs. But look at what it says in Acts 12:5. “…but the church was earnestly praying to God for [Peter].” Let us keep that in mind. Because there was fear of Peter trying to escape or others trying to bust him out, Herod had Peter well guarded. That night even, Peter found himself sleeping between two guards that he was also chained to, as well as a few guards watching the prison door. Yet the next word we read in this account in verse 7 is ‘Suddenly’. “Suddenly an angel of the Lord appeared and a light shone in the cell. He struck Peter on the side and woke him up. ‘Quick, get up!’ he said, and the chains fell off Peter’s wrists.” And then as they got to the guards standing post, they walked right by. Gates opened on their own for him. Peter had just busted out of prison with no physical effort of his own.
Now let us jump ahead a few chapters to Acts 16 where we see two other men of God in prison, Paul and Silas. Again the situation looked bleak. But these men of God weren’t giving up so easy. Instead, they began to pray and sing hymns to God around midnight, despite what the other prisoners were doing or saying. But here comes that word again in verse 26. “Suddenly, there was such a violent earthquake that the foundations of the prison were shaken. At once all the prison doors flew open, and everybody’s chains came loose.” Orchestrated by God once more was another prison break, complete with the release of chains and gates being swung wide open for release.
So how is your faith? Is it growing? Are you beginning to see the awesomeness of what God can do? Perhaps you see yourself now as a prisoner. You are bound to an addiction, bound to financial hardships, bound to health issues, or bound to constant attacks from the enemy. This is your year; this is your season! The chains and bars that have been holding you back are about to fall off and swing open wide. No force in hell can hold God back when suddenly begins to happen. So like the saints who prayed for Peter, pray. Like the songs sang by Paul and Silas, sing. And in the faith that God urges us to have, believe. This is the season for your prison break. The angel is coming, the earthquake is coming, your freedom is coming. You’re busting out of prison and hell cannot stop you!