Prisoner to a Dying World but Free through Jesus Christ

Acts 12:6-11

• Peter is loosed from his chains by an angel of the Lord.
• Peter is clothed and led out of the jail by the angel of the Lord.

Peter is freed by an angel of the Lord.
“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. 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.” Acts 12:6-7

When the Holy Spirit speaks of chains falling off, the primary focus is on being freed from the bondage of sin. Sin is what weighs the spirit down, like clogged plumbing, rust in an automobile radiator, frozen water pipes, etc. When we live for Jesus Christ, our sin is put into remission, the spiritual plumbing begins to flow again, the spiritual radiator is cleansed, the water dethaws, and the chains of sin fall off to free us in the Spirit. With that being said, the chains handcuffed to Peter were literal and an angel of the Lord literally caused those chains to fall off.

The Holy Spirit uses Herod to symbolize governing authorities that want to keep the Gospel of Jesus Christ in chains. Today’s global government and its global culture want to keep the testimony of Jesus in chains so that the beast that gives them what to speak, do, think, and feel can rule. The governing authorities and the people of the community are the soldiers and guards keeping Christianity in chains. They are empowered with uncanny knowledge and authority [as Satan disguises himself as an angel of light, 2 Corinthians 11:14-15] to oppress those living for Jesus Christ.

Peter was sleeping while in chains, then a light shone in the prison as the angel of the Lord raised Peter up and said, “Arise quickly!” We live in a world where it is easy for our faith in Jesus Christ to fall asleep. That’s because no one cares about the word of God anymore and makes faithlessness acceptable, approved, and in worldly ways beneficial. Just before our Lord was to be crucified and suffer death on the Cross, He asked His Apostles to remain awake and pray with Him, but they couldn’t, “Then He came to the disciples and found them sleeping, and said to Peter, “What! Could you not watch with Me one hour?” Matthew 26:40

An angel of the Lord comes to us who hear the voice of the Good Shepherd, even while we are in chains to prevent us from sharing the Good News. The angel says, “Arise quickly!” This is to say that we are given a “second wind” so that we can be refreshed in the Holy Spirit. The light of fulfilled prophecy renews our soul as “…the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy.” Revelations 19:10 We see where the world is within prophecy because we see where Jesus is within the world.

Global warming is in the world today, which is exhilarating to know that the hand of God is seen working in this world just as He said He would be, global warming is the Fourth Plague of Revelations 16:8-9. Global warming has the world’s attention, but as the Lord says, they still curse Him and will not repent of their unbelief, “The fourth angel poured out his bowl on the sun, and the sun was allowed to scorch people with fire. They were seared by the intense heat, and they cursed the name of God, who had control over these plagues, but they refused to repent and glorify him.” Revelation 16:8-9

The more powerful the United Nations become as the undisputed one world government the hotter and more intense the effects of global warming becomes.

Something else that should wake us up and give us refreshing in the Spirit is that the one who sets in the temple of God [our body] as if it is God, is in the world today, just as the Lord said would happen. This is the one who gives people what to speak, do, think, and feel, “…who opposes and exalts himself above all that is called God or that is worshiped, so that he sits as God in the temple of God, showing himself that he is God.” 2 Thessalonians 2:3-4 The “he” in this verse is the “man of sin”. Click here for a post on the “man of sin”.

Now is the time to keep the oil of the Holy Spirit burning within us by our faith in Jesus Christ. Click here for the parable on keeping the “oil in our lamp” from Matthew 25:1-13.

Peter is clothed and led out of the jail by the angel of the Lord.
“Then the angel said to him, “Gird yourself and tie on your sandals”; and so he did. And he said to him, “Put on your garment and follow me.” Acts 12:8

When the Holy Spirit speaks of clothing, this refers to the clothing of the Spirit. Nakedness is considered to be living by the flesh, carnal desires, and worldly values, “…put on the new man which was created according to God, in true righteousness and holiness.” Ephesians 4:24 Holiness is to have ugly and nasty attitudes put aside to allow the Spirit of Christ to live in us. This is a day-by-day process called the work of sanctification. What happened to Peter was literal when the angel of the Lord had him to put on his shoes and put on his garment. The Holy Spirit is speaking to us to walk and be clothed in the Spirit.

“So he went out and followed him, and did not know that what was done by the angel was real, but thought he was seeing a vision.” Acts 12:9

The Holy Spirit is letting us know that even the Apostles, whom we consider to be the most Holy of all Christians, have to grow in the grace and knowledge of Jesus Christ. Peter healed many people who were crippled, sick, and demon-possessed, raised Tabitha from the dead, and brought multitudes to say “Yes!” to Jesus Christ. Even then, when the angel of the lord had caused the chains to fall from his hands and was about to lead him to his freedom, he couldn’t comprehend that what was happening to him was real.

There are many things happening in this world by the hands of the angels of the Lord, and as Christians we are amazed and wonder if it is really happening. An angel of the Lord has caused global warming which is mentioned in Revelation 16:8-9 as the Fourth Plague. “Then the fourth angel poured out his bowl on the sun, and power was given to him to scorch men with fire. And men were scorched with great heat, and they blasphemed the name of God who has power over these plagues; and they did not repent and give Him glory.” Revelations 16:8-9 Click here for a list of fulfilled prophecy since 1945. We witness what is happening in this world by the hand of God and we wonder, “Is this really happening?!”

Now is the time to follow the word of God and come to Jesus Christ who promises freedom from the chains of this life to give us eternal life. Put on the shoes of the Gospel of peace, maintain faith in God through Jesus Christ, be wrapped in the Truth of Christ, be shielded with righteousness, put on the Salvation hat, and carry the Bible within you. Ephesians 6:10-17

“When they were past the first and the second guard posts, they came to the iron gate that leads to the city, which opened to them of its own accord; and they went out and went down one street, and immediately the angel departed from him.” Acts 12:10

The Holy Spirit is letting us know that angels are not those we depend on because when their mission is complete, they depart from us. Angels ministers to us to lead us according to the will of God, as quoted, “Are they not all ministering spirits sent forth to minister for those who will inherit salvation?” Hebrews 1:14 However, Jesus Christ is the one we follow day-by-day and He will never leave us, “…having become so much better than the angels, as He has by inheritance obtained a more excellent name than they.” Hebrews 1:4

Angels of the Lord minister to us to lead us past the guards of this world. Those guards are the ones of today’s culture who live and govern by the beast that gives them what to speak, do, think, and feel. The beast that has the power to form thoughts and emotions intends to turn thoughts and feelings to iron when it comes to contemplating about Jesus Christ. The job of those of today’s culture is to keep the Gospel of Jesus Christ imprisoned. In contrast, the angels’ ministry is to lead us to the Door, who is Jesus Christ. This is the door of our soul that opens into the presence of the Spirit by faith in Jesus Christ.

Today’s atheistic culture are hardened to the Holy Spirit and has made of iron the door to the Spirit. They oppose belief in God the Creator and reject the need for Jesus Christ. The iron door cannot be opened by trying to be good, nor by being charitable, nor by any other human efforts. The door opens by simply believing in Jesus as the Christ and Son of God and accepting God’s grace and mercy. We are sinners saved by grace, nothing else, “For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast.” Ephesians 2:8-9

“So then it is not of him who wills, nor of him who runs, but of God who shows mercy.” Romans 9:16

“And when Peter had come to himself, he said, “Now I know for certain that the Lord has sent His angel, and has delivered me from the hand of Herod and from all the expectation of the Jewish people.” Acts 12:11

The expectation of the Jewish people was to see Herod kill Peter Acts 12:1-4. That is the expectation of today’s culture, to kill Christianity with the helping hand of the governing authorities. In the United States, the churches have abandoned the Gospel of Jesus Christ to partner with community values. Government lawmakers no longer integrate the values of the Bible in their laws, policies, and executive orders. The educational system prohibits the teaching of the bible in classrooms. And Christianity is not welcomed in any mainstream sector of society. In other places all around the world, the followers of Jesus Christ are literally persecuted, put in prison, and killed.

As followers of Jesus Christ, we are delivered from the expectations of today’s atheistic culture through the gift of eternal life, “And do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. But rather fear Him who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.” Matthew 10:28

The Holy Spirit in us is the guarantee of eternal life, and He leads us to say, “Now I know for certain that the Lord has sent His angel, and has delivered me from the hand of Herod and from all the expectation of the Jewish people.” “In Him you also trusted, after you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation; in whom also, having believed, you were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise, who is the guarantee of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, to the praise of His glory.” Ephesians 1:13-14 Our inheritance is eternal life in the New Jerusalem. We are the “purchased possession”, purchased for God by the blood shed by Jesus Christ on the Cross to atone for our sin. Our redemption is our eternal body.

“For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved.” John 3:16-17

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“….to you who do not hold to her teaching and have not learned Satan’s so-called deep secrets,“
‘I will not impose any other burden on you, except to hold on to what you have until I come.’”
“I am coming soon. Hold on to what you have, so that no one will take your crown.”
Revelation 2:24-25, 3:11