And the iron gates opened on their own accord by Pastor Gbenga Aluko

                                                                                 

Text: Acts 12:1-10

Topic: And the iron gates opened on their own accord

The study will be done with the following headings:

·       Foreword

·       James was killed

·       The church prayed

Foreword

The persecution of the church or her leaders is not a new phenomenon and did not start in the referenced text, however this tranche is peculiar and worthy of note. 

The devil, his agents and representatives in various forms and shapes has been against God, His: plan, purpose, people. The good news is God has always triumphed. Hallelluyah.

The devil is a known and an unrepentant looser, loosing consistently to God and all that are His. Rom. 8:31, 1 John 4:4,1 John 3:8, Rev.12:11.

James was killed

James was one of Jesus’ disciples, an Apostle, it also worthy of note that he was the first apostle to be martyred. Some scholars believe his death fulfils the consequences of his mother’s hot desire for juicy position/title. Matt. 20:22 , let’s all be led by God and be thoroughly mindful of our mad desires for positions. Rom.8:14

His proximity to Jesus didn’t prevent him from being killed by the sword of king Herod. We are not immune from the perils of the world, but He will always be with us and make a way of escape.1 Cor. 10:13, Is. 43:2.

King Herod was bent on doing anything to please the Jews and he found a way with killing James. There is the dire need for prayers and vigilance and prayerfulness for anyone who wants to fulfil destiny, there are still Herod’s around Matt.26:41.

Herod’s who doesn’t value human lives, who are not interested nor concerned about people’s hopes, career, children, dreams but are ready to do anything to please or perhaps oppress a faction/sect. Matt. 2:16. Little wonder the scripture says woe to a people whose leader are children/kid. Ecss.10:16. Be sober and vigilant we are not in heaven yet.1 pt 5:8

The church prayed

As painful as the death of one of the recent graduate of Jesus’s discipleship school was, there was no record of the church or anyone praying for him, (who are your friends,  what do you do together?). it is a dangerous plight not to have anyone praying for you and it becomes extremely dangerous not to be able to pray personally, we didn’t learn prayerlessness from Christ or our forebears.wake up from the slumber of prayerlessness in Jesus mighty name.

Immediately Peter was picked the church sprung into prayers, not just a session of prayers but ceaseless prayers Acts 12:6. And God answered:

·       He intervened just before the enemy hits again vs. 6

·       Sent an Angel who came to bring to the incarcerated a lot of divine and immediate changes vs. 7  :

-light from heaven

- rising

-chains fell off

-Gates opened on their own accord.

Prayers

 Every restriction against me or anything that is mine give way in the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth.

 Shalom.