October 20, 2021: SOAP #4339:  Job 6-8; Acts 12

SCRIPTURE:  Acts (NIV) 12:12 When this had dawned on him, he went to the house of Mary the mother of John, also called Mark, where many people had gathered and were praying. 13 Peter knocked at the outer entrance, and a servant girl named Rhoda came to answer the door. 14 When she recognized Peter’s voice, she was so overjoyed she ran back without opening it and exclaimed, “Peter is at the door!” 15 “You’re out of your mind,” they told her. When she kept insisting that it was so, they said, “It must be his angel.” 16 But Peter kept on knocking, and when they opened the door and saw him, they were astonished.

OBSERVATION: While Peter was in prison, the church was praying.  Peter must have had some inclination that people would be praying for him, because after his miraculous release, he went to Mary’s home.  They had gathered for the purpose of praying for Peter and they were earnestly praying. 

Peter learned that it was easier to get into prison than into that prayer meeting!  

The believers learned that the answer to their prayer was standing at their door!  All they had to do was open the door! 

They had prayed; God had answered; now all they had to do was open the door!

Peter was in the house; the answered prayer was complete; and there was great rejoicing!

APPLICATION:  By faith I pray, and by faith I receive my answer.  I cannot bring the answer, but I can receive the answer.  The answer is not complete until it is in my life.  (Peter was as separated from the church standing in the street outside the door of Mary’s house as he was in the prison!) 

I open the door by saying, “Thank you!”  I open the door by giving praise and thanksgiving.  I open the door by my words and attitude. 

PRAYER: Holy Spirit, thank you for having me consider this passage again!  You are building my faith to pray, and my faith to receive.  Amen.

Pastor Leon                       Making friends for time and eternity!