Solid Rock Christian Church Boca Raton

Be careful when people try to put you on a pedestal. There is only One deserving of worship, but pride often tempts us to take some of the credit for ourselves. Herod thought he was all that and a bag of chips, and the Scripture says that he was struck with illness because he accepted the people’s worship instead of giving glory to God. We just read where Peter refused to accept worship from Cornelius, and there are several accounts of angels refusing worship from the people to whom they were sent to deliver a message. As Jesus reminded the devil in Luke 4:8:

“Jesus replied, “The Scriptures say, ‘You must worship the Lord your God and serve only him.’ ””

Ambition is a tricky thing. On the one hand, it is okay to be ambitious for good, yet we must be careful not to be ambitious for self. Some find their self-worth in ambitious pursuits. The problem with that is, what happens to our self-worth if our pursuits do not pan out? Our self-worth must be found in the Lord Himself. Our concern needs to be more with what He thinks than with what the world thinks.

True humility is not denying our gifts, abilities, or accomplishments; it is recognizing where they came from. Every good thing we have is a gift from God. When we understand that, it becomes much easier to give Him the glory He deserves. The applause of people is fleeting, but the approval of God is eternal. Rather than seeking recognition for ourselves, our goal should be to point others to Christ, knowing that apart from Him we can do nothing, but through Him all things are possible.

Pride seeks the spotlight, but humility points to the One who gave us the ability to shine. Whether God entrusts us with great influence or quiet service, our responsibility remains the same: give Him the glory. When our identity is rooted in Christ rather than in accomplishments, success will not inflate us, and failure will not destroy us.

As was mentioned yesterday, prayer opens the door for great things to happen. Here we have Peter chained between two soldiers—sleeping! Peter’s calmness, to the point where he could sleep so soundly, is a testament to his surrendered will to the purpose and plan of the Father. Everything was going to be okay, no matter how this situation unfolded.

So soundly was Peter sleeping that the angel who came to break him out had to strike him on the side to wake him up, and miraculously, his chains fell off.

Peter thought he was dreaming, but the angel gave him specific instructions about putting on his outer garment and sandals, and off they went, passing by two fully manned guard posts and through the iron gate leading to the city, which opened by itself—all completely undetected. Several miraculous things were taking place here.

Peter didn’t realize it was really happening until the angel suddenly departed, leaving him alone in the middle of the street.

If God needs to deliver us from our circumstances, He can and He will. Think of the Exodus, where God miraculously delivered His people from slavery in Egypt. Think of the account of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. They were facing certain death in the fiery furnace by order of King Nebuchadnezzar, yet who showed up in the middle of the fire? Think of Daniel, facing certain death in the lions’ den, only to be delivered by an angel who shut the lions’ mouths. Think of the Apostle John, whom the Roman Emperor Domitian tried to execute by throwing him into a vat of boiling oil, only for him to emerge unharmed.

Last but not least, think of Jesus, who had to endure the cross and die, yet was raised from the dead to deliver mankind from the clutches of the devil. God knows how to deliver His people.

I think Peter was fully prepared in his heart to die for the Lord, which would explain his ability to sleep so peacefully. But God had more for him to do. We each need to get to that place in our walks and in our hearts where, as Jesus said in the Garden, we can pray:

“He went on a little farther and bowed with his face to the ground, praying, “My Father! If it is possible, let this cup of suffering be taken away from me. Yet I want your will to be done, not mine.””
‭‭Matthew‬ ‭26‬:‭39‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Those are simple words to read, but they are often difficult words to live. Surrendering our will to God requires trust. It means believing that His wisdom is greater than our understanding, His timing is better than our timetable, and His purposes are higher than our personal desires.

That kind of confidence does not come from knowing what tomorrow holds; it comes from knowing Who holds tomorrow. Peter could sleep because he trusted God. If deliverance came, God would be glorified. If martyrdom came, God would still be glorified. Peter had already settled the issue of lordship in his heart.

How different our lives would be if we lived with that same confidence. How much anxiety, fear, and worry would disappear if we truly believed that God is in control and that nothing can touch our lives apart from His knowledge and permission. This does not mean we will never face difficulties, but it does mean we never face them alone.

The same God who delivered Israel from Egypt, protected Daniel in the lions’ den, walked with the Hebrew children through the fire, released Peter from prison, and raised Jesus from the dead is still at work today. He has not changed. He is still faithful, still powerful, and still able to deliver His people according to His perfect will.

It seems history records, over and over again, that what the enemy meant for evil, God turns to good. While it may have seemed to some that the message was being silenced, the opposite was actually true. Because of the persecution, the message of the Gospel was spreading even further.

We can still see that the Jews were somewhat exclusive with the message, even though it was meant for the whole world. Yet some were learning to break free from their religious traditions and prejudices.

Barnabas was such a man. His heart was truly filled with the Lord’s compassion, and he rejoiced that the Gentiles were receiving the Word of God. Barnabas became one of the key figures in spreading the Gospel to the Gentiles, working closely alongside Paul the Apostle.

Notice that Barnabas saw evidence of God’s blessing among the Gentiles. The Holy Spirit was indeed actively at work, touching the lives of both Jews and Gentiles, just as Jesus had said.

As we reflect on this, we are reminded that God’s purposes cannot be stopped by opposition, prejudice, or human limitation. He continues to work through willing hearts that are open to His leading and compassionate toward others.