Acts 12: Will You Glorify God?
Verse of the Day: (V23) “And immediately the angel of the Lord smote him, because he gave not God the glory: and he was eaten of worms, and gave up the ghost.”
1. God (V1-5)
V1 “Now about that time Herod the king stretched forth his hands to vex certain of the church.”
Apostle Peter was arrested and waiting to be sentenced to death, during the time of Herod, the evil and wicked king, who had commanded his army to persecute the church and the Christians. When the church heard of Peter’s arrest, they immediately prayed to God for Peter’s deliverance. Prayer is our lifeline to God. Whatever crises and challenges we are facing, let us pray to God who hears and answers our prayers according to His will.
V5 “Peter therefore was kept in prison: but prayer was made without ceasing of the church unto God for him.”
2. Gate (V6-19)
V7 “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.
God heard the prayers of the church, and sent His angel to break Peter’s chains, and opened the iron gate for him to escape from the prison. Indeed God can do the impossible. God can miraculously break the chains, open the iron gate, and best of all, He can rescue us from fiery hell to pearly heaven, if we repent our sins, and trust and believe in Him.
V10 “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.”
3. Glory (V20-25)
V22 “And the people gave a shout, saying, Is it is the voice of a god, and not of a man.”
King Herod acknowledged the shout of his people that his voice was that of a god. He not only rejected God, and gave not God the glory, but he desired the people to worship him as god. Therefore, God immediately judged him, and sent worms to eat him to death.
V23 “And immediately the angel of the Lord smote him, because he gave not God the glory: and he was eaten of worms, and gave up the ghost.”’
Prayer of the Day:
Dearest God, please help me to glorify You as You are the true and living God.
