AMONG DEVICES
Acts 12:1-6

 
Harassment, embarrassment, mockery, ridicule, lying, manipulation, deception are all representatives of the devil. Any agent that represents the devil only has the goal and agenda to steal, kill and destroy. Any of these representatives will always show up because they are in the business of looking for some one; moving like a roaring lion to seek whom to devour. Any of the agents have no limitation of whom they can approach; but they are limited in operation if God disallows them. Once, harassment was accessible to James, the brother of John and Peter, the disciples of Jesus. This is an indication that we all need to be on guard by the grace of God. Acts 12:1-2, “Now about that time Herod the king stretched out his hand to harass some from the church. 2 Then he killed James the brother of John with the sword.” The hand of the devil struck in the church, not outside of the church, and it was against one of the disciples of Jesus. Inside or outside of the church, there will always be harassment and if you will embrace yourself in prayer and the Word of God continually and constantly, you will with no doubt become an over-comer. The mission of the enemy is indirect opposition to the ministry of the kingdom of God. The enemy job is to kill, steal, and destroy and he was successful in carrying out this plan by killing James, the brother of John. Whenever the enemy gains a step over anyone, he will take further steps, without permission, by taking seven more steps to do more damage. Are you aware of his devices? Having been successful in killing James, he next moved forward in the direction of Peter. Acts 12:3, “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. 4 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.” It could be that the news of James being killed got to the brethren and it provoked a prayer action that never should have been stopped. Acts 12:5, “Peter was therefore kept in prison, but constant prayer was offered to God for him by the church.” Prayer was rendered on behalf of Peter and the hand of the enemy that was in direction to kill Peter, just like James, was permanently terminated. In the race of life, there are some battles that you will have to fight by yourself and there are some that will need the fellowship of brethren. Do you have any group or fellowship like that of Peter that can always and be willing to take a stand on your behalf? Peter is the reason why it is important to take the Word very serious as stated in Hebrews 10:25, “Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching.” Embrace prayer and giving yourself to the Word of God.