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February 17, 2020

Acts 12:13-16

Peter knocked at the outer entrance, and a servant named Rhoda came to answer the door. When she recognized Peter’s voice, she was so overjoyed she ran back without opening it and exclaimed, “Peter is at the door!”
“You’re out of your mind,” they told her. When she kept insisting that it was so, they said, “It must be his angel.”
But Peter kept on knocking, and when they opened the door and saw him, they were astonished.
New International Version (NIV)

At a prayer meeting in Mississippi, the people gathered to pray for rain. The farmers dutifully came because their crops depended on rain. As the people prepared to pray, the pastor asked, “Do you believe it will rain if we pray?” The people offered a hearty, “Amen.” Then he asked, “So how many of you brought umbrellas with you?” If we are going to pray, we should anticipate that God will answer.

When Peter was imprisoned by King Herod, the church prayed for him (Acts 12:5). What did they pray? His protection? His deliverance? God answered and sent an angel to set Peter free. At first he wasn’t even sure that it wasn’t a dream. But when he realized he was free he went to the house where they were praying. Imagine the surprise of Rhoda the servant who heard Peter’s voice outside the door. She forgot to open the door and let him in. Instead she told everyone he was there. The people who were praying didn’t believe it; then they were astonished.

A friend of ours told one of our sons at a Spark weekend retreat that he once saw God answer prayer miraculously while on a mission trip. They had poured a new sidewalk and could not afford for it to rain. The clouds built up, but they prayed and it rained all around the sidewalk but not on it. Our friend was amazed and said so. The leader of the mission trip took him aside and said, “God can do anything. We asked him to help us. He did. Why are you amazed?”

Great question! The church knocked at the door of heaven – they asked, they sought and they knocked. Then God answered their prayer. But Peter becomes the parable. He continues to knock at the door of the people who had been knocking at the gate of heaven in prayer. They don’t believe he is there. Herod had killed James the brother of John. Maybe this was Peter’s ghost, they surmised. Maybe. Or maybe God answered the fervent prayer of his people. Why were they surprised when he answered? Why are we?

Pray with me:

Father, you know before we ask what we need. Still we ask. God, awaken your church to fervent and faith-filled prayer. Help us to ask, seek and knock as we anticipate your response. Forgive us for being surprised when you do what we ask you to do. Teach us to trust. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Join us in memorizing the Word. Scripture for this week:

Matthew 5:15-16

Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.

Our 2020 Every Day with Jesus readings will follow the Foundations New Testament reading plan. Copies of the reading plan are available at Tallowood Baptist Church, or download your copy at REPLICATE.ORG

We would love for you to join us as we read the New Testament through this year, five chapters a week. In addition I will continue my long-standing practice of reading one Psalm a day through the year. Use Robby Gallaty’s H. E. A. R. plan to study each chapter (also found at REPLICATE.ORG). Highlight verses which speak to you, explain what they mean in your own words in a journal, apply them to your own life, then respond by doing what God tells you to do.

Joyfully,
Duane

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Houston, TX | 77024 US

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