Nothing limits the power of God

"Whatever you ask in my name, I will do so that the Father may be glorified in the Son." John 14:13

Persecution began to fall on the young church in Jerusalem. King Herod Agrippa I, grandson of Herod the Great, killed by James the sword James, brother of John and disciple of Jesus (Acts 12: 1). Seeing that it pleases Jewish religious, he then arrests and imprisons Peter. He knows that Peter and the other apostles were miraculously delivered from the public jail where the high priest had thrown them (Acts 5: 17-21). Herod takes special precautions: he keeps Pierre by four groups of four soldiers in a high security prison.

The assembly is in a state of excitement and prayers to God for him "(Acts 12: 5). God answers these prayers and sends an angel who delivers Peter : his chains fall, the doors of the prison open, the apostle finds himself outside. He went immediately to Marie, mother of Jean-Marc, where several were gathered together and prayed (Acts 12: 12).

Pierre knocks at the door, a servant approaches, recognizes his voice ; Without even opening it, she runs the news to her masters. They said to him : "You are mad. But she asserted that it was so. And they said, It is her angel ! [Probable implication: he comes to tell us that Peter was executed]. But Peter continued to strike ; When they had opened, they saw him and were astonished "(Acts 12: 15-16).

These are Christians who pray for the deliverance of Peter but who are stupefied by the response of God ! Like the authorities, they remembered that the angel of the Lord had already opened the doors of the public prison where the twelve apostles had been locked up. But from there to expect a quick deliverance! It was necessary that Peter should be freed from his two chains, which bound him to two soldiers, pass the first and second guard, and then the iron gate which opened upon the city. And all this neither saw nor knew the sentinels who stood guard !

Let us draw from the experience of these early Christians a stimulating lesson in our own difficulties : God often answers our prayers despite our little faith ! Chains, doors and sentries can not limit its power. It has been said : the more precautions human prudence takes against the designs of God, the more it serves to explode its power.

Source (To pleasing the Lord)