Sermon Central
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Where To From Here
Contributed by Steve Boyd on Feb 18, 2004 (message contributor)
Summary: Often the Lord leads us, but there are points in our lives that we have to move forward by faith...
Where To From Here
4 And when he had apprehended him, he put him in prison, and delivered him to four quaternions of soldiers to keep him(this was 4 teams of four, or 16 soldiers altogether); intending after Easter to bring him forth to the people.
5 Peter therefore was kept in prison: but prayer was made without ceasing of the church unto God for him.
6 And when Herod would have brought him forth, the same night Peter was sleeping between two soldiers, bound with two chains: and the keepers before the door kept the prison.
7 And, behold, the angel of the Lord came upon him, and a light shined in the prison: and he smote Peter on the side, and raised him up, saying, Arise up quickly. And his chains fell off from his hands.
8 And the angel said unto him, Gird thyself, and bind on thy sandals. And so he did. And he saith unto him, Cast thy garment about thee, and follow me.
9 And he went out, and followed him; and wist not that it was true which was done by the angel; but thought he saw a vision.
10 When they were past the first and the second ward, they came unto the iron gate that leadeth unto the city; which opened to them of his own accord: and they went out, and passed on through one street; and forthwith the angel departed from him.
KJV
There are many different facets in our walk with the Lord. I think a real quick over-view of our lives would reveal a lot of different peaks and valleys along the way.
Although we all have a “race” to run, and each “race” has its own circumstances.
Yet, I think that we all face similar things in our lives. One thing is for sure, and that is the fact that there is “no temptation taken us, but such as is common to man.”
By this, we know that we all face things that are common to “someone…somewhere.” We all have mountains to climb that may have there own unique rocks and terrain, but we all are “mountain-climbers” nonetheless.
With that established, we can look throughout the word of God and find circumstances that seemingly mirror where we are, or where we have been at some point in our lives.
As we consider this particular passage, I want us to look at the similarities between this and the places that we have been with the Lord.
Our passage mentions the fact that Simon Peter was in prison and awaiting his execution, but there is probably not anyone here tonight that fits that particular profile.
Yet despite the differences, I believe there are enough familiarities that we can all sense a real message of hope that will serve us all.
One very interesting point of this passage of scripture is the fact that Peter did not have to make any decisions for himself because the angel of the Lord was making them for him.
There are seasons of our lives that are spent much the same way.
It just looks as though God is opening all the right doors and going before us and just completely taking care of everything.
We see just that in the opening passage here that we read as a text:
7 And, behold, the angel of the Lord came upon him, and a light shined in the prison: and he smote Peter on the side, and raised him up, saying, Arise up quickly. And his chains fell off from his hands.
8 And the angel said unto him, Gird thyself, and bind on thy sandals. And so he did. And he saith unto him, Cast thy garment about thee, and follow me.
9 And he went out, and followed him; and wist not that it was true which was done by the angel; but thought he saw a vision.
10 When they were past the first and the second ward, they came unto the iron gate that leadeth unto the city; which opened to them of his own accord: and they went out, and passed on through one street; and forthwith the angel departed from him.
NOTE – The angel brought unassailable direction:
1. He brought light first
2. Told him to arise quickly
3. He removed the chains
4. Gird thyself
5. Bind on your sandals
6. Put on your garments
7. “Follow me” = direction
8. Opened the right doors
All of this opens to us as a situation where Simon was not having to make any decisions at all…he was just along for the ride!
He was just minding his own business whenever the angel of the Lord tapped him on the shoulder and lead him every step of the way…to a certain point!
