24^th & 25^th June

^{Weekend Edition}

““Quick! Get up!” And the chains fell off his wrists. The angel told him, “Get dressed and put on your sandals.”And he did. “Now put on your coat and follow me,” the angel ordered… Peter finally came to his senses. “It’s really true!” he said. “The Lord has sent his angel and saved me from Herod and from what the Jewish leaders has planned to do to me!””

Acts 12:7b-8, 11

As Peter was awaiting trial for disobeying the Jewish leaders and continuing to preach the Gospel, an angel woke him, ordered him to put on his clothes and led Peter out of jail to freedom. The remarkable thing, is that not only was Peter chained between two soldiers, his prison cell was also guarded by two sets of guards, plus the prison, was closed in by a huge Iron gate. There was no way Peter could have escaped, bar a supernatural miracle. Even the disciples couldn’t believe he had been led out by an angel, after Peter had revealed himself to them whilst praying for his release. “Rhoda….ran back inside and told everyone, “Peter is standing at the door!” “You’re out of your mind!” they said…(v13-15).

Herod and the Jewish leaders had plans to stop or even silence Peter’s voice once and for all, but God had other plans. Jesus commissioned Peter to share the Gospel of Salvation to all. He empowered him with the Holy Spirit, equipping him with boldness and courage. There was no prison cell, or no plan of man that was going to stop the message of Christ, spreading across the world.

The same is true today. The message of Christ lives on. It is like a train with no breaks, moving at full speed momentum. There is no stopping the Gospel. Yes we might be persecuted, sadly physically in some countries. Yes there are many ‘closed’ countries in the world, but the Gospel lives on. God always makes a way for people to hear about the Good News of Jesus Christ. Be encouraged. The Gospel can’t be chained. Just ask Peter.