OzThoughts – Tuesday, 23rd June, 2009

OzThoughts – Tuesday, 23rd June, 2009

I remember hearing the story in Sunday school of how an angel had let Peter out of Prison, but when I heard a preacher dramatically tell the next bit of the story, I thought he had taken a little bit of imagination and added it to the story. [Mind you
I was a little distracted because a friend who I invited to the meeting was giggling that the preacher, the Divisional Commander, looked like Sergeant Ernie Bilko (Phil Silvers) of the popular television show.]

The bit of the story that I had not heard was that when Peter went to join his friends they were holding a prayer meeting for him. Then when he was released from prison they did not believe it.

Rhoda, a young woman answered the door and got so excited to hear Peter she forgot to open the door and invite him in, and rushed to tell the others. Then as we read, they just did not believe her. Then we read:

All this time poor Peter was standing out in the street, knocking away. Finally they opened up and saw him—and went wild! Peter put his hands up and calmed them down. He described how the Master had gotten him out of jail, then said, "Tell James and the brothers what's happened." He left them and went off to another place. (Acts 12:16-17 The Message).

How often do we pray, only half believing God will answer our prayer?

[Listen: Songsters: http://www.salvoaudio.com/audio/music/mus_2520.mp3
or
Band and Band Chorus (New Tune) : http://www.salvoaudio.com/audio/music/mus_1599.mp3 ]

Simply trusting every day.
Trusting through a stormy way,
Even when my faith is small,
Trusting Jesus, that is all.

Chorus
Trusting as the moments fly,
Trusting as the days go by,
Trusting him whate'er befall,
Trusting Jesus, that is all.

Brightly doth his Spirit shine
Into this poor heart of mine;
While he leads I need not fall,
Trusting Jesus, that is all.

Singing, if my way be clear,
Praying, if the path be drear,
If in danger, for him call;
Trusting Jesus, that is all.

Trusting him while life shall last,
Trusting him till earth be past,
Till within the jasper wall;
Trusting Jesus, that is all.
Author: Edgar Page Stites (1836-1921)
The Salvation Army Song Book: Song Number: 754

Acts 12:12-19 (The Message)
12-14Still shaking his head, amazed, he went to Mary's house, the Mary who was John Mark's mother. The house was packed with praying friends. When he knocked on the door to the courtyard, a young woman named Rhoda came to see who it was. But when she recognized his voice—Peter's voice!—she was so excited and eager to tell everyone Peter was there that she forgot to open the door and left him standing in the street.
15-16But they wouldn't believe her, dismissing her, dismissing her report. "You're crazy," they said. She stuck by her story, insisting. They still wouldn't believe her and said, "It must be his angel." All this time poor Peter was standing out in the street, knocking away.
16-17Finally they opened up and saw him—and went wild! Peter put his hands up and calmed them down. He described how the Master had gotten him out of jail, then said, "Tell James and the brothers what's happened." He left them and went off to another place.
18-19At daybreak the jail was in an uproar. "Where is Peter? What's happened to Peter?" When Herod sent for him and they could neither produce him nor explain why not, he ordered their execution: "Off with their heads!" Fed up with Judea and Jews, he went for a vacation to Caesarea.



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