Acts 12:1-5
New International Version 1984 (NIV1984)
12 It was about this time
that King Herod arrested
some who belonged to the church, intending to persecute them. 2 He had James, the brother
of John, put to death with the sword. 3 When he saw that this pleased the Jews, he
proceeded to seize Peter also. This happened during the Feast of Unleavened
Bread. 4 After
arresting him, he put him in prison, handing him over to be guarded by four
squads of four soldiers each. Herod intended to bring him out for public trial
after the Passover.
Acts 12:12
12 When this had
dawned on him, he went to the house of Mary the mother of John, also called
Mark, where many people had gathered and were praying.
Prison ministry today is a wonderful way to
minister to those who have not come to the Lord. It is a time in the lives of men and women
who are at their lowest point and through their trials many have been
introduced to the Lord. In our scripture
reading today, however, we look at a different kind of prison ministry. This one the prisoner had no outside visitors
because it they came, they too may be thrown in prison. The early Christian rather put their trust
and faith in the higher power and they did it through prayer.
On Sunday nights we are studying Judges at church
and I have once again been reminded of the importance of putting our trust in
the Lord Jesus Christ not only in good times but also in our trials. This has
been something that we as humans have found to be very difficult for some
reason or another. When the good times
come we think that we are in control and we tend to stray away from the one who
really has the power. When bad times
come, we tend to cry out to Him and blame Him for all the terrible things that
are coming our way. I don’t believe this
is what the early church looked like though.
They had been persecuted from the time of their belief in Christ yet
they remained faithful to Him and called upon Him. I don’t think they were grumbling, whining,
or even asking for peace, joy, and rest but I think that they were praying for strength
through difficult times. This early
church did not gather just of a couple of hours on Sunday, they were gathered
together in the night hours and they were earnestly praying together. I have to wonder what the difference between
earnestly praying and praying is. I tend
envision people on their knees maybe even lying prostrate, crying out to the
Lord, with tears of both pain and joy. They
were not just having a “get together” they were gathered for a purpose and they
were focused on the Lord not on the time, what to eat, or what game to
play. They gathered outside of the
normal worship hours to earnestly pray for their brother and the church that
they may be a witness for the Lord.
What do you think would happen if the Church
today took on the same look as the early church? Today our churches seem to be more concerned
about numbers and how to impress others and we forget about our entire purpose
for being here. We tend to look at the
clock rather than at the Lord when we gather to worship. We seem to be more focused on what the Lord
can do for us rather than what we can do for the Lord. I hate to say it but we look so much like the
Jews of old, when they cried out to the Lord and grumbled and complained during
the rough times but forgot all about Him during the good times. We tend to think more of ourselves and what
pleases the world than focusing on Him and seeking to please Him above anything
else. This is a world of me, me, me and
give it to me now, now now. That doesn’t
look much different than the times in Judges when the people came to the Lord and
strayed away from Him time after time.
The early church did not grow in numbers by
attracting others into a life that promised great things on this earth. They attracted them through the power of the
Holy Spirit through strength that came through a faith in the Lord Jesus Christ
and a life that consisted of much prayer both corporately and I am sure
individually as well.
As you seek Him in prayer don’t grumble and
complain but rather seek His will for your life and pray for the power of the
Holy Spirit to give you the words to say to witness to others.
Seeking Him with all my heart,
Sheial
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