WHEN LIGHT INVADES LIFE’S PRISONS

“And, behold, the angel of the Lord came upon him, and A LIGHT SHINED IN THE PRISON…” – Acts 12:7a

WHEN we walk with God, He’ll command His LIGHT to INVADE LIFE’S PRISONS: “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” (Acts 12:7). James had just been killed. Now Peter was beaten and thrown into prison for witnessing about Jesus (vv.1-4). Chained to two soldiers and guarded by fourteen others, Peter needed a rescuer. Remarkably, he slept on the eve of his execution, trusting God to glorify Himself either by his death or deliverance.

Assumedly in response to prayers (v.5), God sent an angel bearing His heavenly Light to release and rescue Peter from a hostile court and imminent death, although he seemed to have been surprised by this supernatural deliverance. The angel took no cognisance of the guards whatsoever – whether bemused or asleep, but simply struck the chains from Peter’s arms, instructed him, and escorted him past the guards, walking out of prison unscathed. Peter was not sure what was happening, but when he got outside and saw the Iron Gate open of its own accord, he knew that God was at work. And the realisation suddenly struck him that God had indeed set him free from prison.

PRAYER was the catalyst of this invasion of the Light of Liberation: “Peter was therefore kept in prison, but CONSTANT PRAYER was offered to God for him by the church” (v.5). Luke, the writer of Acts, being a doctor used a medical term for “constant prayer,” which in the Greek describes stretching a muscle to its limit. The phrase translates: “but prayer stretched-out to its limit was being made by the church to God for him.” The purpose of earnest prayer is not to persuade a reluctant God, but to demonstrate hearts that care passionately about the things that He cares about. Jesus assures: “If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, you will ask what you desire, and it shall be done for you” (Jh.15:7). God responded to the interceding church and invaded the prison to release Peter. The lesson is: always Pray Until Something Happens (P.U.S.H.).

In the mystery of prayer, something happens that makes the Holy Spirit to work in unusual ways that otherwise would never happen. God still commands His Light to shine into the dreary prisons of life; and the darkness cannot overcome it (Jh.1:5). In trying and difficult times, our prayers will cause light to shine in the darkness. When prayer ascends, power descends, such that no prison wall can stand impenetrable to God’s Light. Chains fall off and walls give way. Moreover, Light enables performance. Without the intrusion of Light in the dark dungeon, Peter would have been hampered from carrying out the divine instructions to arise quickly, gird himself, bind on his sandals, put on his garment, and follow (v.8). There are such times that demand rising up quickly, without the luxury of being slow or sluggish.

Peter’s escape was miraculous, but no more miraculous than God’s work among His people today. Daily, He offers people deliverance and freedom, through prayer with fellow believers, the strength and support of study groups, and the daily practice of listening to Jesus and doing what He says (Jam.4:2, 5:16; Gal.6:1-2; Phil.2:12-13). Part of the Messiah’s assignments is “to bring out the prisoners from the prison, and then that sit in darkness out of the prison house” (Isa.42:7). The Light of God’s Word and Spirit invades prisons of addiction, depression, loneliness, financial bondage, rejection, and worthlessness with the Unstoppable Gospel, to set captives free.

Are you prayerfully longing for God to rescue you? The same Light that broke through prison walls to deliver Peter and propel him to greater heights of ministry is answering to you. Now, you can “Arise, shine, for your light is come” (Isa.60:1). God is nudging you: it’s time to wake up, get up and follow His Light out of prison! Every escape starts with a step. Take it!