A Second Easter Story

We are all familiar with the Easter story, but do you know there is a Second Easter Story in the bible?

What I mean is, it is a story that took place on Easter too!

On an easter night, later on, that is!

We read about it in Acts 12:4-23, but before you look it up, just read on, and I let me tell you all about it:

Peter was imprisoned by Herod.

And was to die right after Easter was over.

Yet prayer without ceasing was made FOR HIM.

The same night when Herod would have brought him forth the next day to be executed…in other words, EASTER night…this was Peter’s situation:

Peter was guarded by 16 soldiers.

Slept between two of them.

Was bound with chains.

With keepers also at the door keeping the prison secure.

THEN –

An angel came.

A light shined in the prison.

And Peter was raised up “by the angel” and SPOKEN TO:

Arise up quickly!

(and his chains fell off)

Gird thyself and Bind on thy sandals.

(so, he did)

Cast thy garment about thee.

(which he also did)

And FOLLOW ME!

(and he went out and followed him)

Peter thought this was “in his imagination”, while this was happening…

But even as he went out, and was following…

The iron gates to the city even opened of their own accord!

(and they …the angel and Peter…passed on through)

And Peter was accompanied, even further, through one street!

Then the angel departed.

AND PETER WAS FREE!

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 the expectation of the people of the Jews.”

(they who awaited his death the next day)

So then, Peter went to the address of the prayer meeting! In this house, people had gathered together to pray for him…and were still doing so!

Rhoda, the gal who heard Peter’s voice through the door did not even respond with opening the door…she being so excited! But when she told the others that Peter was there, they thought she was crazy! Actually worse, they thought her “mad”!

But Peter, kept knocking, until the door was opened to him.

When they finally “opened the door” and saw him…

They were Astonished!!

Peter, motioned with his hand for them to hold their peace…

While he told them what had happened.

He declared how.

THE LORD HAD BROUGHT HIM OUT OF THE PRISON.

—–The rest of the chapter tells what happened to “the keepers”

(They were put to death!)

And Herod – the real enemy who ordered all the bondage…and intended to destroy him with death.

(The Lord smote him. He was eaten of worms. And gave up the ghost! In other words, died!)

This is what I summarize now as “A Second Easter Story”:

If God can raise Jesus from the dead, He can raise us up out of the prisons the Devil puts us in,Intending to destroy us, in the end.

Worthy to note: Herod DID destroy James, before he took Peter. Acts 12:2 says, “And he killed James the brother of John with the sword.”

“Why was one disciple taken out, and the other spared?”, I inquired of the Lord.

Then He showed me Acts 12:5…that prayer was made without ceasing OF THE CHURCH UNTO GOD for Peter.

In other words, James’s death came before the church was “alerted” to the “danger”!

And just “how evil” the enemy of “the church” was… And Is!

Intercessory prayer held great power!!

The power to deliver from the enemy’s chains and guards, and over death!!

And not just figuratively! But in real life, tangible, circumstances!

Even in helpless, seemingly hopeless situations, such as Peter found himself in!

Friends, if on Easter the guards were “overpowered” and the “stone rolled away” and an angel declared, “He is not here, but He is risen.”…

THAT SAME “RESURRECTION POWER”…

Is available for us to access through prayer!! And trust!

And two other things worthy to note:

1. The faith of those praying was NOT great. They were “astonished”, i.e., more than just a little surprised, at Peter’s freedom and deliverance! They were praying from love and concern and did the asking and God honored THAT…them simply DOING IT. They prayed! Evidently their faith was the size of a mustard seed (teeny weeny), but it still resulted in God’s responding! IT IS HIS ABILITY ALL THE WAY!! He opened those gates without Peter helping at his end too! He simply followed after. So, on BOTH ends, the people praying “for him” and his end of “receiving the deliverance from bondage and death”, WAS ALL GOD!! What all God does IS GRACE!!

• The enemy “paid the price” for doing the evil against God’s own family member. In this case it was the “keepers of the prison” (a picture of demons who have people bound in chains and guarded from getting help from other people as given authority by Satan) and Herod (a picture of Satan) who Acts 11:22-23 tells us people said “of him”…it is the voice of a god, and not of a man…AND…he gave not God the glory.

The keepers of the prison were destroyed, and Herod was destroyed!

Just as Satan and his demons will one day be destroyed! Hallelujah!

This was ON EASTER too… the night of, early morning…

I believe – to reveal to us all—how resurrection power IS AVAILABLE to each of God’s children through prayer! And through TRUST, for Peter had to be woke up from sleeping so soundly, due to his trust in the Lord.

Trusting God – to release us and our loved ones from “hell on earth” (our prisons)

AND from Hell.

For Jesus overcame our enemies, at the cross, and when He Arose!

Let’s “rise up quickly” as the angel commanded Peter.

Let’s “put on our garments” as he did, which can be as the spiritual armor we are to clothe ourselves with as mentioned in Ephesians 6:11.

Let’s do as the Lord instructed Peter, “Follow Me” …and as Jesus instructed his disciples.

Let’s allow the Lord to “lead us out” from whatever it is that holds us captive!

Everyone’s “prison” may look different, but GOD IS ABLE to break the chains that bind us!

He will bring his “resurrection power” into your situation to DELIVER YOU!

He will take you past the “iron gates”, seemingly impenetrable.

They will open on their own accord!

He will even take you down the road until you realize you “ARE” Free!

You will come to your senses, and as Peter, realize you have BEEN Set Free!

THEN, be as Peter, and share it (your testimony) with others!

Especially with those you know have been praying FOR You!

Let them know you’ve BEEN set free when it happens! Okay?

THEY WILL REJOICE! …

Even if at first, they may be ASTONISHED!

And you may have to wait patiently for them to “open the door” to you,

They may be thinking you’re still held in bondage.

To close, this is my prayer, for THIS Easter:

Lord God, as you showed me this second Easter story, may the words I share today with others from Your Word have “resurrection power” and bring about deliverances everywhere of your people, just because they are yours and because others are praying for them. Let your power bring LIGHT as the angel brought it into the prison Peter was in! May your people’s chains fall off! Be they health-related, sin-related, relationship-related, demonic oppression, or any other sort of chain! And may the prison doors be opened, and them be led out a way, into safety and freedom, until they realize they ARE free! And yes Lord, destroy their “keepers”! The evil horde had no business to keep them bound in the first place! And take out Satan in the end Lord, as you did Herod! For he is indeed our enemy, and knows not his place before you, for he is no match for you! Our Savior and Lord, Jesus Christ, bought us back from darkness and the enemy’s camp! And his is the light that shines in our darkness. Send forth your light! Blind our enemies! And deliver us all from evil! Hallelujah! In Jesus name, I pray! Amen.

Now, go ahead and read Acts 12:4-23 within your own bible; And having read this devotional, it should make the chapter COME ALIVE to you. I pray so anyway (smile)!