24 Nov No Way Out

In my relatively short time as a pastor (five years at age 63), I have ministered to more than my share of imprisoned people. Some were in prison, or county jail. Others were imprisoned by alcoholism, drug addiction, or mental illness. Some were imprisoned by all three: incarceration, addiction and mental heal issues.. Whether brick and mortar prison cell or a cell of their own making, they all had one thing in common: they felt as if there was no way out of their cell. I have been blessed that God has used me to show several of them that He is the way out, no matter how hopeless the situation might appear.

We see such a situation with the Apostle Peter in Acts 12. Herod, the last King of Judea, had James, brother of John, put to death with the sword. Seeing that James’ execution pleased Jewish leaders, he had Peter arrested and planned to put him on trial after Passover. Then something amazing happened:

6 The night before Herod was to bring him to trial, Peter was sleeping between two soldiers, bound with two chains, and sentries stood guard at the entrance. 7 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.  8 Then the angel said to him, “Put on your clothes and sandals.” And Peter did so. “Wrap your cloak around you and follow me,” the angel told him. 9 Peter followed him out of the prison, but he had no idea that what the angel was doing was really happening; he thought he was seeing a vision. 10 They passed the first and second guards and came to the iron gate leading to the city. It opened for them by itself, and they went through it. When they had walked the length of one street, suddenly the angel left him. Acts 12:6-10 (NIV)

What happened was so amazing, not even Peter could believe at first that it was real. I’ve read this passage many times, but something struck me this time: “Peter was sleeping between two soldiers, bound with two chains, and sentries stood guard at the entrance. Wait, sleeping between two soldiers? And he was possibly manacled to them! Think of all the obstacles God cleared to free Peter from his cell:

• He was sleeping between two guards! Poof, the chains fall off his wrists.
• Two sentries stood guard at the entrance. Apparently, they didn’t notice a thing!
• The iron gate leading to the city opened by itself!
• The angel guided him until he was to a place of relative safety.

A hopeless situation with no way out suddenly became an evening stroll for Peter. When he arrived at a safe house, even those there couldn’t believe it. I have seen God move in my life and in the lives of others in equally stunning ways.

After accepting Christ, I’ve seen people facing long prison terms get out much sooner than expected or having charges dismissed. Then I’ve seen them get the addiction treatment they needed. Then I’ve seen them become loved members of our church family. I’ve seen Him break the chains of homelessness and helplessness. I use those experiences to show those currently imprisoned, regardless of the nature of their cell, that God can free us from anything, if we allow Him to by accepting Christ into our lives.

What about you? Are you in a cell of some kind? Are you convinced there is no way out? I hope this post has encouraged you. God has the key to every cell ever created, real or virtual. Believe that and he will make your chains fall and the cell door open. He can and He will! If you seek liberation from a cell, I pray you seek Him today!

Pastor Jerry Bader