The God of Miracles

There are times in a person’s life when they are in need of a miracle. Are you that person today?

In a world like we live in today we all need a little bit of the miraculous at times. Sometimes it’s a big miracle we need and other times just a small one. What ever your need is, God hears and He answers.

We are not to live a defeated life. Too often we spend time beating ourselves up when what God really wants from us is to just confess, repent and let go. Sounds easy right. Not always so.

If you are in need of a miracle today, I have a word for you from God. Let me share with you the miracle God did for the apostle Peter.

Acts 12:3-4- and because he saw that it pleased the Jews, he proceeded further to seize Peter also, Now it was during the Days of Unleavened Bread. 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.

The Church had already lost one leader, James the brother of John who had been executed. Since the Jews were so pleased with the death of James, King Herod decides to seize Peter and throws him in jail. This happens during the feast of Unleavened Bread. A feast done in memory of the miracles God performed bringing them out of captivity in Egypt. Passover began the feast with remembering the covering of blood that saved the first born from death. For seven days following Passover, they would observe the feast. Leaven (yeast) made bread rise and represented sin. During this feast was a time to kill the sin in your life.

Peter was taken by four squads of soldiers. I imagine he was to be watched round the clock until after Passover so he could then be brought before the King and executed as James was.

Recognize the small miracles here. First, its Passover, a time that Peter is observing the feast. Assuredly, he is contemplating any sin in his life and bringing it before God. Passover was a time of contemplation, repentance and drawing near to God for Peter. Secondly, since it was during Passover, Herod waited as not to create an uprising within the Jewish community, giving God the perfect opportunity to do a great miracle.

Acts 12:5 - Peter was therefore kept in prison, but constant prayer was offered to God for him by the church.

Constant prayer was going up to God by his brothers and sister in Christ. We must remember the power of our prayers for one another. We also must remember that without our transparency to share our burdens with one another our brothers and sisters can not intercede on our behalf.

Acts 12:6-8 - 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. Then the angels 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."

Herod was about to bring Peter out for execution. Notice that Peter was not in panic mode, he was not pacing the floor. What was he doing? Sleeping. Bound by two chains between two soldiers with guards outside the cell door. Peter is in an impossible position, with no where to turn. So what does he do? Rests his weary head and sleeps in the care of the great God he serves.

Out of nowhere an angel of the Lord appears and pokes Peter in the side. A light shines in the prison, and the angel tells Peter to arise quickly. The chains fall from his hands, he quickly dresses and follows the angel.

In the midst of God performing a big miracle, small ones are also occurring. The guards all stay asleep; there is a light that shines in the darkness to show the way and the chains that are around his hands come off with no key.

Acts 12:9-11 - 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. 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. 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."

Peter follows the angel not knowing if the whole things real, thinking it’s a vision. They pass the first and second guard posts, arriving at the iron gate only to have it open on its own. Once they are down the street the angel disappears. Peter realizes that the Lord has sent his angel and delivered him straight out of Herod's hands.

More small miracles! Two guard posts are gone through with no alert and the gate opens on its own. Presto! Peter is down the street and out of the clutches of Herod.

All through this experience, Peter thinks he is seeing a vision. Only to realize that instead, he has been completely delivered. This is often us, thinking we are not going anywhere only to get down the road, look back and see God's deliverance was there.

God is full of miracles. If we look we will see them in our own lives everyday. Peter had one great miracle made up of many small miracles. That is what God wants for us to have, one big miracle of transformation made up of many small miracles.

Sometimes when we cry out to God he delivers in a big way. Other times big miracles come wrapped up in many small ones. What ever your need is, you can rest assured he hears your prayers. Look around, maybe your miracle is right before you.