Suddenly an angel of the Lord appeared and a light shone in the cell. He struck Peter on the side and woke him up. “Quick, get up!” he said, and the chains fell off Peter’s wrists.— Acts 12:7
Hey, friends! It’s week five of the Verse Mapping: Acts Online Bible Study. Last week we talked about how God can take us from brokenness to restoration. This week we’re dipping a little further in… for those who really need rescue like you and me.
Jesus chases, finds, and saves us even when we don’t want to be found. ~ Kristy
Have you ever wondered where God is? Have you ever been so deep in a mess or so stuck in the muck and mire of sin and pain that you wonder if God has maybe forgotten your name? Like maybe He’s turned His back on you or that you’ve slipped through the cracks fallen into the misfits pile? Sometimes when we drift it seems like He did the moving but that’s not the truth. It was me. It was you.
What if God is only as far away as we are willing to turn to Him? ~ Kristy
How far will God go to pursue us?.. to the depths of our most impossible circumstances. ~ Kristy
These questions are so close to my heart because I have loved ones who have turned away from Him. I would imagine that’s true for you as well.
The snapshot of Peter asleep in jail between the guards (Acts 12:6) before the angel appeared is #christiangoals. Don’t you want that kind of faith-peace? I do!
Before we can see what God is doing, He is actively working on our behalf behind the scenes and Peter fully rests in this in radical faith.
Deliverance is ours for the taking when we let God and trust God with whatever end He has in mind.
Prayer is our weapon, but so is faith! When we believe that God can do what He has promised, we have a mighty weapon in our hands! God can deliver us from anything, especially impossible circumstances (His specialty). Be faithful and prayerful!
I’m up for it! How about you?
This week in your study:
- Then, watch the video for session four of the Verse Mapping Acts on our study home page and take notes in your study guide on pages 92-102 and stick around to go through the questions afterward!
- Grab your Bible and enjoy your personal study this week on pages 103-111.
- Join the conversations about this week’s teaching and get to know our community in our private Facebook group.
Scriptures this Week
Acts 8-11
Acts 12:5-7
Acts 12:16
Acts 12:8-18
Acts 12:11
Acts 17-20
Prayer for the Week
Jesus, we love You! Thank You that You seek us out even when we don’t want to be found. Thank You that You are going after our loved ones who have wandered and don’t know that they need You. Go get ‘em, Jesus! Thank You that You are at work in circumstances when we do not see and can’t imagine a possible rescue. We trust You and we will keep waiting for redemption because You are good! Amen.