When Does God Move Act 12: 2-11

click to Read the passage: Acts 12  (a new browser window will open)

V 2 1.   God allows certain offenses against God’s people to occur.

And he killed James the brother of John with the sword. 

We simply cannot understand this part of Gods wisdom.

V 3 2.   God has the power to overrule man at the beginning of a believer’s trial. 

And because he saw it pleased the Jews, he proceeded further to take Peter also. (Then were the days of unleavened bread.)

V4 3. The enemy cannot rule against God’s servant without God’s permitting it.   

And when he had apprehended him, he put him in prison, and delivered him to

four quaternions of soldiers to keep him; intending after Easter to bring him forth to the people.

V 5 4.   The trials of God’s people are for a reason.

Peter therefore was kept in prison: but prayer was made without ceasing of the church unto God for him.

V 5 5.   There are more people enabled through one person’s trial.

V 6 6.   Men of the world do not understand nor agree with the commitment of God’s servant and are willing to bring harm to God’s servant.

And when Herod would have brought him forth, the same night Peter was sleeping between two soldiers, bound with two chains: and the keepers before the door kept the prison.

V 6 7.   The servant of God is locked into his difficulty unless and until God moves.

V 7 8.   There is no match known against God and His angels.

And, behold, the angel of the Lord came upon him, and a light shined in the prison: and he smote Peter on the side, and raised him up, saying, Arise up quickly. And his chains fell off from his hands.

V 7 9.   Only God’s people benefit from and are preserved by God.

v 8 10.  When God’s purpose is to be revealed and God’s presence is irresistable God’s servant benefits greatly.

And the angel said unto him, Gird thyself, and bind on thy sandals. And so he did. And he saith unto him, Cast thy garment about thee, and follow me.

V 9 11.  Only God may deliver His servant from his difficulty.

And he went out, and followed him; and wist not that it was true which was done by the angel; but thought he saw a vision.

V 9 12.  Obviously deliverance is none too soon for God’s servant.

V 10 13.  The power of God is very evident when God moves.

When they were past the first and the second ward, they came unto the iron gate that leadeth unto the city; which opened to them of his own accord: and they went out, and passed on through one street; and forthwith the angel departed from him.

V 11 14.  God does a sure work, irrefutable by any man’s standard, be he an enemy of God or a child of God.  

And when Peter was come to himself, he said, Now I know of a surety, that the Lord hath sent his angel, and hath delivered me out of the hand of Herod, and from all the expectation of the people of the Jews.

God wants His servant convinced of God’s power

God wants His people convinced of His Power.

God wants the unbeliever convinced of His power.