Prison Break

In reading Acts, we notice two main themes. The first is that Jesus is alive. The second is that Jesus is in charge. In Acts 12:1-19 we see the second point with 20/20 vision.

The FUEL material does a good job of sculpting the background info on the story of Peter's prison break so I will not repeat all of that. What I want to point you to is the fact that Jesus is in control and he changes things.

Peter is in a seemingly hopeless situation. He is being imprisoned by a ruthless king. He is being guarded by four squads of soldiers (16 soldiers). And he is chained to two soldiers in a cell that is also guarded by two soldiers. Wow. He is doomed right? Is there any way out of this situation?

How often do we ask ourselves that? Is there any way out of this situation? Often we get in a rut and think that things will always be the same and things will never change. My parents will never change. My job will never change. My spouse will never change. My life will always be this way. That is just the way I am. I will never change. But as John Piper says, "We breath God ignoring air." There is a God working all things for your good and for His glory. How often do we enter into a tough situation and think God is in control and he is using this to make me more like Christ for his glory? Instead we ask, "God, why is this happening to me?" How quickly we forget that God is working to change us and that he can change situations in the blink of an eye. Peter is in a tough situation, but Christ easily changes it for Peter's good and God's glory.

Jesus is a game changer. He is always in control and is never surprised. He is always at work in our situations changing us to be more like Him. Trust Him.