A SEEMINGLY IMPOSSIBLE SITUATION
ACTS 12:4-7 NKJV
4 So when he had arrested him, he put him in prison, and delivered him to four squads of soldiers to keep him, intending to bring him before the people after Passover.
5 Peter was therefore kept in prison, but constant prayer was offered to God for him by the church. 6 And when Herod was about to bring him out, that night Peter was sleeping, bound with two chains between two soldiers; and the guards before the door were keeping the prison. 7 Now behold, an angel of the Lord stood by him, and a light shone in the prison; and he struck Peter on the side and raised him up, saying, "Arise quickly!" And his chains fell off his hands.
Peter was locked up and bound in a scenario that looked impossible. But God.
Herod was causing problems in the early church. He had killed James, who was one of the original 12 apostles. Politically, that appeared to be a good move for Herod, so he imprisoned Peter also and was planning to kill him.
Peter was put in prison, and 16 soldiers were sent to guard him. The night before he was set to be killed, he was sleeping between two guards with two chains locking him down. If any situation appeared to be impossible, it was Peter's.
But the church was praying. The scriptures indicate the church was praying constantly. One rendering states that the church was praying earnestly. Peter was locked down tight, but the church was praying.
It was interesting that Peter was sleeping so deep that the angel had to hit him to wake him up. Peter was obviously not worried about dying. He was literally not losing sleep over his impending death.
So, in the middle of this tightly guarded situation, God sent an angel into Peter's prison cell. And the chains fell off Peter's hands. Evidently, chains are no match for angelic power.
I don't know what happened to the guards, but Peter got up and got dressed unhindered. Then he and the angel walked past all the guards. I can't explain how that happened, but God's power and strength are not hampered by the best of man's plans.
God delivered Peter from an untimely and violent death. He is still able to deliver His people today.
APPLICATION:
God has not lost His power. We are the ones who face situations that appear impossible with no way out. But God is not limited.
There is a role that prayer played in this miracle. If prayer was not a factor, it would not have been mentioned. That tells us that praying for people who are locked up with fear, addictions, bitterness, sorrow, disease, and despair is a totally worthwhile endeavor.
Nothing is impossible with God.
PRAYER:
Heavenly Father, You are the God who is bigger than any situation I face.