FAITH CAPSULE: Prayer life is crucial and it is power to deliver from every jail of life.
Acts 12, 16:16-40
The Bible recorded that Herod the king ordered the arrest of Peter. Acts12:4, “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.” Peter was in a prison where there was no way out to escape, a sure avenue to death in the hand of King Herod. Just like Peter, Paul and Silas were in a similar situation in the hand of multitudes and magistrates when they were kept in a secured jail. It is written, “Then the multitude rose up together against them; and the magistrates tore off their clothes and commanded them to be beaten with rods. And when they had laid many stripes on them, they threw them into prison, commanding the jailer to keep them securely. Having received such a charge, he put them into the inner prison and fastened their feet in the stocks.”(Acts 16:22-24) Both Peter and Paul were kept in a secured jail. The intention of their jailer must have been to prevent them from escaping. The jailers were only in position of power forgetting that power belongs to the One and only God. The jailers also forgot that man proposes but God disposes. With prayer, heaven was provoked for the release of Peter, Paul and Silas.
In the case of Peter’s release, “…constantprayer was offered to God for him by the church.”(Acts 12:5) The constant prayer of the church prevailed and Peter’s escape was available. Paul and Silas were awake; they prayed and praised God for their breakthrough. It is written, “But at midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the prisoners were listening to them. 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.” Do you have a church to count on for constant prayer on your behalf; for your break through deliverance? Are you taking a pressing charge for your deliverance? The bottom line is that prayer life is crucial and it is power to deliver from every jail of life that is physical, spiritual, financial or emotional. God is still in the business of moving on behalf of His children that knows to wait in times of no way out to escape. The word testifies, “For since the beginning of the world Men have not heard nor perceived by the ear, nor has the eye seen any God besides You, who acts for the one who waits for Him.” (Isaiah 64:4) With the aid of prayer, man made secured jail could not trap Peter, Paul and Silas. The same God will answer to your deliverance.
Prayer for today: Ask God for the strength of prayer.