3-5-2016

        Good Morning All!!

      Acts 5:19; “But at night an angel from the Lord opened the doors to their cell and led them out of the prison.”

      Have you ever been on the wrong side of a locked door?  Maybe you were locked in but usually we are locked out.  Maybe you locked your keys in your car or slammed the door of your house or apartment shut just as you remembered the keys on the table.  For most of us, this is more embarrassing than anything else.  But have you ever been locked in or out on purpose?  Have you ever had someone keep you away from them by design?  Have you ever been locked in a jail cell?  Have you ever been locked in a jail cell unjustly?  This would be extremely difficult.  There was a story of a young man who was accused of stealing a backpack.  He was held for two years waiting for a trial; he was eventually released.  He missed his junior and senior year of high school and really never could recover and re-enter society.  He committed suicide at the age of 22.  He could never get out of prison.

    Our verse is the first of three times in the Book of Acts where God opened the jail to free the apostles.  This was done to protect the apostles, to embolden the apostles, and to be a witness to the world.  Nothing could stop the kingdom of God from expanding.  Nothing can stop God when it comes to his expression of love for his people.  This love strengthened the apostles in their bold proclamation of the Gospel of Jesus.  It strengthened their faith to face all the challenges of life that was in store for them.

    Earlier, I asked if you had ever been in a jail cell.  Most will answer no.  Yet we all have been in jail; we are held prisoner by our sins.  The devil will hold us there as long as he can.  He will torment us as long as he can and he can as long as we stay there.  But we do not have to stay; God comes and opens the doors to your cell to free you.  He opens the door that you can leave the depths of the darkness of the cell of our guilt and fear.  God opens the door so that you can be reconciled to him and be part of his family.

    There is nothing in your past that has to keep you in your prison.  God has freed you by the forgiveness of your sin.  The devil will tell you to stay in your cell but the door is of and God calls you out of the dark and dank into the refreshing and the light.  You do not have to stay there in that cell.  God has freed you from sin and freed you from the devil’s prison.  God opens doors so that you may freely and confidently approach his throne, seeking his mercy and grace.  God opens doors so that you may approach him as children approach their loving father.  The doors are open; don’t stay in prison!!

Father of all mercy, we give you thanks that you have freed us from the devil’s prison.  Give us the faith to walk out the open door to the freedom that you give us.  Guide us by your Spirit to know the comfort of being out of prison and living in the joy of your eternal kingdom.  In your grace, we are free indeed.  In the precious name of Jesus our risen Savior we pray, amen

God’s Peace,

Pastor Bret