act 12:8

"Then the angel said to him, 'Put on your clothes and sandals.' And Peter did so. 'Wrap your cloak around you and follow me,' the angel told him."

-act 12:8

"Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil's schemes. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground..." (Ephesians 6:10-13).

When chains fall off, my first thought is, "Get me out of here, i don't care what i'm wearing." But I see that God wants me to be equipped with the right attire, so that when the day of evil comes, I will stand not in my own strength, but in the His Spirit. "The way of a fool seems right to him, but a wise man listens to advice." (proverbs 12:15). I will continue to equip myself in the Spirit before I go out into the world. 

Act 12:7

"Suddenly an angel of the Lord appeared and a light shone in the cell. He stuck Peter on the side and woke him up. "Quick, get up!" he said, and the chains fell off Peters wrists."

-act 12:7

"The angel of the Lord encamps around those who fear him, and he delivers them" (psalm 34:7). Lord when you show up to deliver me from my oppressor, I will be ready to go. I want my faith to be so strong, that i will metaphorically be standing up in my sleep, so that there will be no "quick, get up!" but only a "well done my faithful servant." Maranatha, come quickly Lord Jesus. 

act 8:30

"The Philip ran up to the chariot and heard the man reading Isaiah the prophet. "Do you understand what you are reading? Philip Asked."

-act 8:30

Being a naive kid, i started listening to secular music. Not knowing any of the meanings of the words they used, I began using those words. My mom caught me saying a few of them and she asked if i knew what they meant. I answered no, after she explained some of them i realized those weren't the type of words i wanted in my vernacular. Now the opposite is the case for the Ethiopian eunuch.  He was repressing something he had no idea what it meant, but i'm sure that once Philip was able to share with him the Good News that Scripture brought he was only more inquisitive about Jesus Christ. 

I want to understand anything i say, if i don't i might stumble another follower of Christ. 

act 8:35

"The Philip began with that very passage of Scripture and told him the good news about Jesus." 

-act 8:35

Philip was referring to the Scripture of the prophet Isaiah 53:7-8. It talks about how the sheep was led to be slaughtered and he was quite before them. Which it doesn't say the name Jesus, but we know that the Old Testament was made in preparation for the New testament. The Good News is throughout the Bible in prophecies and stories. The cool thing about the Bible is, an evangelist like Philip can start with the Old Testament or anywhere else and bring it full circle back to Jesus Christ. I have a friend at church who came because another friend at church asked him if he knew where his name came from. Being that it came from the Bible he was able to take it back to the Good News of Jesus Christ and today, he is at my church. Not only does everything in the Bible point to Jesus Christ, so does all of creation. I want to bring everything full circle and share the Good News with the my world. 

act 12:6

"The night before Herod was to bring him to trial, Peter was sleeping between two soldiers, bound with two chains, and sentries stood guard at the entrance."

-act 12:6

Herod was a man, he believed that he was bigger than God, he put Peter between two soldiers, bound with two chains, and soldier at the entrance. God is wherever we are, God has divine immanence. It was outside of Herod to get those two guards closer to Peter than God was. God is closer to us than our very souls. Peter once asked Jesus, "What then will there be for us?" This is what He had for you Peter. He had you spending the night sleeping between guards, bound in chains. He also had for you the salvation that comes in the morning. The life that he offers is beyond us, we don't deserve it, but he is there ready and willing to give us freedom from our sins. Form what ever our personal "soldiers and chains" might be. "He reveals the deep things of darkness and brings deep shadows into the light." (job 12:22). We might think we are the one spending the night in jail between guards and in chains, but He is there with us. 

I want to see the shadows and know He is bringing me out of them, soon to deliver me. I want to be patient while man thinks he has me locked down. Than I want my God to show man that He is the God who turns the impossible into reality. "Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go."

act 12:5

"So Peter was kept in prison, but the church was earnestly praying to God for him."

-act 12:5

King Herod arrested a few men from the early church, having Peter he decided to keep him in prison. When we are alone, when there is something between us and the body of Christ, God will unite the two, through prayer. Here we have the church earnestly praying to God for Peter. In Revelations we are told that, "He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain…" (21:4a). God was with Peter here and we see that the church was with Peter as well, they held him high in prayer. God always hears the prayers of the righteous. Matthew 21:22 says that "if you believe, you will receive whatever you ask for in prayer." The church believed that Peter would be fine because he was in God's hands. They didn't know what God would do. 

I will "Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer." (Romans 12:12). So that when i am sitting in jail for spreading the Good News, waiting on the Lord, i will be faithful in prayer. I want to be a prayer warrior, its more powerful than any thing man can create, its from God. "The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective." (james 5:16b).

Act 8:29

"The Spirit told Philip, "Go to that chariot and stay near it."

acts 8:29

Philip was walking in and with the Spirit, so when he heard his orders to go he did not hesitate. If he would have hesitated he would have missed the opportunity. He would not have been able to catch the eunuch, since they were traveling on a major road between Gaza and Jerusalem. With the Romans in charge of the known world we can count on that road being highly capable of fast travel. We have all seen another car on the road with a headlight out,  or their truck open. We know how hard it is to communicate to someone, when that person is trying to go somewhere and thinks your weird for trying to help them. Not only that but have you ever tried to speak while running… its not easy. Being that the Holy Spirit prompted Philip, and Philip went when he heard "Go" the Holy Spirit was able to use Philip. Paul said in Romans 15:5-6 "May the God who gives endurance and encouragement give you a spirit of unity amount yourselves as you follow Christ Jesus, so that with one heart and mouth you may glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ." We see the endurance and encouragement given to Philip here  literally. May God give that to all of us, so that we can run the race set before us. 

I seek to have the courage and endurance given by the Father, to chase after the lost who have questions, that i might be able to "stay near" them in their time of need. As a member of the Royal Priesthood i'm called to point man to God, and share God with man.