After Pentecost: The Disciples DeployedSample

Trusting God

Although Stephen had already been martyred, James was the first of the apostles to be martyred, proving to the members of the early Church that no one was immune to or above paying the ultimate price for their faith.  While in prison, Peter, having been one of Jesus’ inner three along with James, had no reason to believe that he would escape the fate James had suffered. Nonetheless, he slept soundly. 

Peter was not afraid. Having witnessed or at least heard about the glorious spectacle of Stephen’s death and having experienced for himself the power of the Holy Spirit to accomplish the impossible, Peter trusted in God’s wisdom and ability to either deliver or sustain, whichever the situation called for. 

God delivered. 

Peter knew the Church was praying. He had probably taught them to pray. When the angel set him free, he hurried to let them know their prayers had been answered. When Peter showed up, those who had been praying for him were surprised. Some might argue that their surprise indicated a lack of faith, but that’s probably not true. We don’t know what they had been praying, only that they had been praying for Peter. If they had asked God for Peter’s release, then God answered them with a yes, a fact that suggests their prayers were offered in faith. However, it is more likely they had been praying as they had been taught, that God’s will would be done, and were just surprised that God’s will included Peter’s release so soon after including James’s death. Either way, their prayers, offered in faith, had proven effective. No doubt, this victory would encourage them in the darker days ahead.  

Understanding that what had been accomplished in and through the early Church was the work of the Holy Spirit in response to prayer, Peter urged believers to make prayer a priority. Knowing that effective prayer requires discipline and effort, he told believers to keep their heads clear and thoughts ordered so they could communicate with God effectively. 

What about you? Do you trust God to move on your behalf? Are you willing to submit to His wisdom when His plan doesn’t match yours? Do you pray to get God to do what you want or to bring your will in line with His? Are those who depend on your prayers wise to do so?