Would it be irreverent to laugh when you are reading your Bible? There’s one story in particular that elicits the emotional response of laughter from the reader – at least some readers.
The Apostle Peter was in a maximum security prison cell in Jerusalem. James had been martyred and it appeared Peter would be next. Even if his head would roll the next day, Peter was sleeping soundly – likely for the last time.
Security was tight. Peter’s right wrist was chained to one guard. Should he roll over, his other hand was shackled to the guard on the left side. It’s unlikely that any of the guards in that prison were spindly beanpoles or skinny wimps. The slightest muscle movement of Peter would rattle the chains, and the guards would jump to duty. Escape was an utter impossibility.
Stationed at the cell door were two more guards – standing tall and fully equipped to brutally crush and foil any attempted escape. Planning an escape under such intrusive monitoring would be futile. Even if Peter could slip out of the shackles and get past the two other guards at the cell door, he wouldn’t be home free.
There was another level of security even more imposing and more impossible – the massive iron gates that secured the prison compound! But Peter wasn’t even thinking about trying to escape. He was sleeping. No one could escape such a secure lockdown.
Peter may have been sleeping soundly, but his Christian friends in another part of the city sure were not. They pulled an ‘all-nighter’ – one of those unscheduled, non-stop prayer meetings.
So Peter was kept in prison, but earnest prayer for him was made to God by the church. Acts 12:5
Suddenly, in the middle of the night, a powerful flashlight illuminated the prison cell. This was no battery-powered locally crafted handheld flashlight. Next, Peter was jabbed in his side. “Get up, fast,” was the command, and Peter responded. Instantly, those wrist-binding chains dropped from his arms. Then another order: “Get your feet into those sandals.” Done! Next command: “Grab your coat and follow me – we’re out of here.”
Was Peter sleepwalking? Could this just be one of those intense dreams? Did any of the guards blink in disbelief? Were their limbs and reflexes frozen? Or were they grabbing a cat nap?
Positive things were happening in rapid succession and things were going great for Peter – until those impregnable iron gates loomed ahead of them.
Impossible! Impossible! Really?
Remote control doors existed long before the patented invention of 1931. The Lord pressed the remote control button in Heaven, and without even a momentary transmission lag, those impossible gates swung open as if they had just been lubed a day earlier.
The angel walked with Peter down one street and then disappeared. Peter walks to Mrs. Mark’s house. The candles were still burning brightly. Inside, the Christians were praying earnestly. Can’t you almost hear them?
“O Lord, protect Peter. Deliver him. We need him.”
Rhoda jumps up, runs to the door, hears Peter’s voice, and is so excited that she fails to open the door. She interrupts the prayer meeting with her exciting announcement:
“Peter is here!” Maybe she said: “Our prayers have been answered!”
The prayer warriors told Rhoda she was crazy! Meanwhile, Peter continues to knock. Finally, they go to the door and sure enough – Peter was standing on the doorstep and his head was still on his shoulders.
Lessons for us:
1. How could Peter sleep? Maybe he knew it wasn’t his time to die because the Lord had told him he would die by crucifixion (John 21:18-19) not by an executioner’s sword. Or perhaps he had just committed his life and his times into the Lord’s Hand – saying: “Your will be done and now I will go to sleep committing the entire matter into Your hands. Either way, Lord, it’s fine with me. Perhaps Peter quoted this verse before he fell asleep:
“In peace, I will both lie down and sleep; for you alone, O LORD, make me dwell in safety.” Psalms 4:8
2. All-night prayer meetings work! Prayer works. Period.
3. Chains, muscled guards and heavy iron doors are not obstacles to the Lord. He has His remote control buttons to press and when He presses the buttons, things happen.
4. Prayer warriors have their issues too. But, the Lord hears our prayers despite a less-than-robust faith on our part. They told dear Rhoda she was psychologically compromised when she excitedly told them Peter was truly at the door.
5. When the Lord’s ‘answer’ is standing at our door knocking, don’t run back into the house. First, swing open the door and see it for your own eyes! And praise the Lord!
Walk carefully and closely with the Lord today.
Warmly in Christ,
Peter Ramsay
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