Beyond The Iron Gate

 

Acts 12:10 When they were past the first and the second ward, they came unto the iron gate that leadeth unto the city; which opened to them of his own accord: and they went out, and passed on through one street; and forthwith the angel departed from him.

 

The church was on a roll; It was going forward. In fact, where ever the power of God was, this is where it was taking place! Revival was everywhere! The church was at its height, it was at its apex, It’s zenith! Revival was now taking place, and It was the church who was on the high road in the preceding chapters!

 

God was mightily anointing them and blessing them! Nothing could stop this church! Even though they were being persecuted! Even though they were being tormented! Even though things didn’t look so good with all the beatings, imprisonments, and killings that were going on! Such as James and John’s brother.

 

Herod saw that he pleased all the Jews when he incarcerated and killed James; That’s how the enemy works! Always trying to kill a brother, or sister! Always trying to drag someone down and accusing him of something!

 

Peter had just arrived in Jerusalem, and there he dealt with issue of the Gentiles getting saved! I think this made the devil angry; somebody needs to make the devil mad today! The church was in revival! Blind eyes were being opened! The dead were being raised! Miracles were taking a hold of the church! God was doing some great things!

 

So the Spirit of hell out stretched forth its hand to vex it and destroy all God was trying to do for them! The demon powers of hell inspired Herod to persecute the church. Can I say this? Hell loves to vex the people of God! That’s why you always are fighting so hard. That’s why you feel like you’re doing something for God! Hell becomes furious with all the people in the church and he will try his very best to keep you drug and beaten down, and keep your state of mind locked up in prison!

 

Satan wants to reach into the very heart of the church and crush it until it bleeds! He wants to squeeze the very life out of it until it dies! Satan made up his mind! If I could just get to the leader of this thing! If I could just get to Peter!

If I could just apprehend him. It will all be finished! That’s why If you’re really trying to live for God; you will always be fighting him off! And he will always continue to try to keep you from the Passover feast. Because at Passover is where you get the resurrection power! It’s Passover feast that keeps you on track, and keep you fighting this fight of faith! Because when it’s the Passover season! That precisely when Jesus was crucified, that’s when Jesus was resurrected, that is when Jesus took the keys of death and hell! So every time the Devil tries to come against this Church; He gets his hands slapped! Every time he tries to reach for you or I, every time he tries to vex the church; Jesus stops him! He will never be able to stop this church!

 

Matthew 16:18 And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.

 

Upon this Rock I will build my church and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. So devil whatever you try to build up; remember Jesus will break it down! You will never be able to stop it! You can’t burn this church! You can’t drown it! You can’t stop a praying church!

 

Acts 12:5 Peter therefore was kept in prison: but prayer was made without ceasing of the church unto God for him.

 

You know it’s a good church if there is prayer going on! Prayer will make the difference! Prayer makes us strong! Prayer makes us alive! Prayer makes us unstoppable! Prayer helps our spiritual vision! Prayer helps your pastor! With prayer, the church will not be stopped!

 

The demon possessed Herod! Plans were, right after Passover, He would take Peter from the prison, and present him to the people for a trial to kill him! But the truth was that the Devil didn’t even know the right time to pick on the church! Because the bible said it was Passover! And oh what a time to try to pick upon the church! The devil made his first mistake; he should have moved a little earlier. At this time in Jerusalem it was a special time of celebration, it was a time when they remembered how God delivered them from the chains of Egypt! The devils timing was totally off! Devil you can’t play with Gods people. You can’t play with Gods church and think you can get away with it! Get your filthy hands off of these people!

Its Passover season! It’s time to have church! It’s time to jump, shout, and dance in the power of the Holy Ghost! Let’s remember what the lord has done! He saved my soul just right on time!

 

The devil wants us to be locked up in this prison. He wants us to be brain washed; he wants to kill our ministry. But our God wants to break those chains off. Some of us are ready to walk out of here changed, and delivered, and set free! He has one desire, and he is ragging in this final hour! He only has one thing on his mind! And that is to make an end to all you do for God!

 

In the center of the caverns of hell; I can see it right now! Satan is down there drilling and conversing with his demons!

 

Did you convince king Herod? O yes my lord, yes!

 

Did you vex the church? Did you attack it and make it suffer? Yes!

 

Oh yes they are suffering. Good! ha-ha.

 

Did you tease and reach for the church with persecutions and torments? Yes, master, that to has been done also!

 

Did you apprehend Peter? Yes, sir, he’s all chained up!

 

Did you stop Peter? Huh? Not really yet! Is he still alive? Huh? Yes!

 

Every demons reply was yes!

 

Even though the devil was picking on the church at the wrong time, being it was Passover! Did you stop Peter? No! Did you stop prayer? No! Did you stop the Passover? No!

 

The enemy knew if he could just get Peter imprisoned it would hindered Peter from doing his ministry for the Lord.

 

Tonight, let’s take this story and put ourselves into it as Peter, because if there is anyone here who is hindered from doing the will of the Lord, it is because you are spiritually imprisoned. We all have prisons!

 

You may not be physically in a prison cell, like Peter was, but you are imprisoned.

Whatever locked you up, figuratively speaking, is hindering you from doing your work for God and is therefore become your prison.

 

It could be something someone said. It could be a tragedy in your life. It could be plain old fleshliness you never yet overcame. But no matter what it is, it is your prison. And you have to be set free so you can get out on the street and do your work for God again!

 

There will always a spirit that will try to tell you that you are all alone, nobody cares, and there is no one going through all this I’m going through!

 

That there is no one else that is going through what I am going through! When you’re feeling all alone, and your groping in the darkness, on a cold damp dungeon floor, without a hope of deliverance; remember you’re not alone! When your wrists have had the shackles, and chains, of hopelessness slapped on them; remember you’re not alone! Young people when it feels there is no body to be there with you, and you feel isolated and it looks hopeless, and confused; remember you are not alone! When the devil reached out to destroy Peter; some body was praying! Come on I hear the chains breaking! It was during this time that a miracle occurred.

 

Acts 12:4 And when he had apprehended him, he put him in prison, and delivered him to four quaternions of soldiers to keep him; intending after Easter to bring him forth to the people.

 

This was the maximum of twenty-five soldiers each!

 

King Herod was so afraid of one man! That’s what the Holy Ghost will do to your life! The devil is a looser; Herod sent 100 soldiers to take Peter! 100 men to wrap him up! Grab a hold of him, put some chains upon him and hall him off to jail.

 

The demons are afraid of just one person that is full of the Holy Ghost! He’s always telling us that you will not make it. In fact, I can hear him right now! Behind our backs saying, “Get them now! Slay them now! Kill them! Get them out of the church now!”

 

All it takes is just one simple child of God completely filled with the Holy Ghost…

 

Somebody tell the devil, today, I’m going beyond my limitations, all my frustrations, and my problems; I’m going beyond the Iron gate, I’m coming out of this prison, I refuse to be bound by anything! I accept the Holy ghost and fire!Tell the enemy I’m coming out! We are coming out church! Let’s all tell the devil that there’s a jail break about to take place! Come on! I hear chains snapping right now! Some body is opening the Iron Gate!

 

Thank God for the supernatural light that shines down to rescue us!

 

2 Corinthians 4:6 For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.

 

Way in the back of the cell, in a cold damp dungeon, two soldiers were watching him on each side! These soldiers were assigned to keep him safe, until the feast of Passover was over. They were no doubt chained to him one on each wrist. There was no hope for escape and looked awful bad for Peter this was his last night before he would be executed.

Then in the middle of the darkness of the night, a light came walking in. Let me tell you something, there is no one coming out, unless the light first comes in!       That supernatural angel walked through the Iron Gate first, then He went through the second ward, right through the first ward and finally walked right into the prison doors. Thank God for his supernatural miracles!

 

Acts 12:7 And, behold, the angel of the Lord came upon him, and a light shined in the prison: and he smote Peter on the side, and raised him up, saying, Arise up quickly. And his chains fell off from his hands.

 

Can I say this? Some people will never come out of their prison, because they won’t allow God to smite them! God’s about to send someone through, and to smite an anointing on you that will make those chains fall off your wrists. When that supernatural angel smites your very soul, you will say good bye to some addictions, to some frustrations, to some chains that have been holding you back from your ministry!

 

Gods telling you right now, “Get up! Rise up and let those chains fall of your life! Come on! Peter you’re ready to come out of that prison!”

 

Peter had enough! I want to escape the prison! Good bye alcohol, Good bye drugs, Good bye rebellion, Good bye enemy, Good bye world, Good bye chains, Good bye depression, Good bye sorrows Good bye heartaches. Let the chains fall!

 

Because when we get locked up, something happens, and it surrounds and the spirit of your life. Come on! Make your own soul and flesh your own prison.

 

If you can get victory over the soul and body, you will never stop. You will press to go through the iron gate.

 

The greatest enemy in your own life is your own will. You want to do this or that, and not God’s will.

 

That will is affected when you are hit with something intended by the devil to mess you up.

 

Peter couldn’t believe it!

 

Matthew 27:19 When he was set down on the judgment seat, his wife sent unto him, saying, Have thou nothing to do with that just man: for I have suffered many things this day in a dream because of him.

 

That can’t be true! I’ve got to be dreaming!  I’ve been set free! This can’t be happening to me! I’m a no body, I’m nothing. Why me? My God can’t be doing this for me? But he is! Come on my God is waiting for someone to pinch themselves and rise up; walk out of the things that have been holding you back!  It’s happening from the state prison, to the city streets! God is setting you free!

The bible says That Peter followed that angel and marched right out of the prison and they came to the first ward. They pursued through toward the second ward, and continued to walk on out. And then the bible says the Iron Gate opened on its own accord! That last gate looked impossible. And the last Gate opened with no problem

 

Peter didn’t have to have a magic word, Peter didn’t need to make a phone call, Peter didn’t have to push it! Peter just walked through the Iron gate. When it looks impossible; God will open the door! God will bring us out!. And Give us a revival in the city!

Do not be ignorant of the devil’s devices.

Since this happened at the same time Jesus arose, we need to realize something.

Jesus went into the grave in death for us. He did it to set us free. We’re free from all our old sins. We are free from the power of the devil and made a child of God.

He made us good enough for God!

 

Sometimes misunderstanding that these things happened are enough to lock up a person forever. They never learn from the word of God, but my message tonight right now could be the light of revelation God sent to you to free you from your own prison house.

Jesus not only died and rose again to defeat the power of death, but since death is the greatest power the devil ever had, and the Lord conquered him and took the keys of death from the devil, then anything else the devil uses can be overcome by the same resurrection of Jesus.