Finding Freedom

"So Peter was kept in prison, but the church was earnestly praying to God for him...
Peter was sleeping between two soldiers, bound with two chains, and sentries stood guard at the entrance. Suddenly an angel of the Lord appeared and a light shone in the cell... and the chains fell off Peter's wrists." Acts 12 5-7

A picture I got when reading this is that of an unbeliever imprisoned, and the importance of our intercession for them. It was not what Peter was praying, but the prayers of the ones who cared about him that God answered. Like an unbeliever sleeping, bound in chains, we must intercede for them to be free. They may be incapacitated and unaware of their captivity, but we must earnestly plead with God for their freedom so that He will deliver them.

Another important revelation that was shared with me by a friend is the power of a Godly person. Peter was a man of God. He was viewed as a convicted felon and was more dangerous than the worst of them. He was kept in a prison cell, bound in chains, two guards on either side of him and a guard at the door. This guy was dangerous!! And after all of that security he still managed to escape. This is a man who doesn't need weapons or physical strength to prevail, it's the spiritual forces that guard him that the world is powerless to defend against. And the same God who rescued Peter is the God who will deliver us.

Psalm 91
" If you say,' the Lord is my refuge'
and you make the Most High your dwelling,
no harm will overtake you,
no disaster will come near your tent.
For he will command his angels
concerning you to guard you in all your ways."

If we truly live this out, we will be unstoppable. We will no longer fear the dangerous places or situations that once kept us at bay; for those are often the places of greatest potential for advancing the kingdom of God. Imagine if we no longer feared death. We would become far more dangerous than any threat this world has to pose.