SHUT DOWN?
John 20:19-29

Right after the resurrection of Jesus, fear shut the disciples up where they had assembled. John 20:19-20, “Then, the same day at evening, being the first day of the week, when the doors were shut where the disciples were assembled, for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood in the midst, and said to them, “Peace be with you.” 20 When He had said this, He showed them His hands and His side. Then the disciples were glad when they saw the Lord.”” Despite all that Jesus had impacted on the disciples, and the power of resurrection that had just taken place, fear was able to lock the disciples up, by having them shut up doors on themselves. Fear, when allowed in our space, will take the whole ground with an attempt to build up where it should be knocked down. Fear is not of God, and it is the opposite of faith. The disciples were the ones that were used by the enemy to shut doors. Many times we have allowed ourselves to be used in shutting ourselves down because of fear, and not faith. The apostle Paul and Silas were once locked up in a prison when they became a threat to the kingdom of the wicked. The apostle Paul and Silas refused to be victims, or subjects, of pity in the hand of enemy. The apostle Paul and Silas did not see Jesus in the physical, but by virtue of what had impacted their life, through the word of God, they took a step of self-deliverance by praying, and singing, to God. Acts 16:25-26, “But at midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the prisoners were listening to them. 26 Suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison were shaken; and immediately all the doors were opened and everyone’s chains were loosed.” Now it is clear that the power in self-deliverance can be as powerful as being delivered under a messenger of the word of God. In the case of the disciples their deliverance was not manifested until Jesus came to speak the word of deliverance, “Peace be with you”. Your deliverance might be self-deliverance like that of Paul and Silas. Praying and singing hymns to God will bring you out of any situation where you are locked up or shut down.
Prayer for today: Lord have mercy on me according to you multitude of mercy. Let your word of deliverance sound in my direction.