Chains Broken

Chains Broken

Subject – Being Set Free from the Enemy

by Rick Welborne

Acts 12:5‑11 (NKJV) 

5 Peter was therefore kept in prison, but constant prayer was offered to God for him by the church. 

6 And when Herod was about to bring him out, that night Peter was sleeping, bound with two chains between two soldiers; and the guards before the door were keeping the prison. 

7 Now behold, an angel of the Lord stood by him, and a light shone in the prison; and he struck Peter on the side and raised him up, saying, "Arise quickly!" And his chains fell off his hands. 

8 Then the angel said to him, "Gird yourself and tie on your sandals"; and so he did. And he said to him, "Put on your garment and follow me." 

9 So he went out and followed him, and did not know that what was done by the angel was real, but thought he was seeing a vision. 

10 When they were past the first and the second guard posts, they came to the iron gate that leads to the city, which opened to them of its own accord; and they went out and went down one street, and immediately the angel departed from him. 

11 And when Peter had come to himself, he said, "Now I know for certain that the Lord has sent His angel, and has delivered me from the hand of Herod and from all the expectation of the Jewish people." 

–Some of you have shared with me that there seems to be opposition to your passionate seeking after God...no great surprise to that! There are many adversaries...and they want to kill, steal, and destroy!!!

1. We can expect there to be opposition to our desire to seek after God.

Acts 12:1 (NKJV)  1 Now about that time Herod the king stretched out his hand to harass some from the church. 

–I believe the enemy is sending out harassing spirits to fight against the church and it comes in different forms ...comes thru thoughts, thru people, thru attacks on our family, thru all kinds of means:

Ephesians 6:10‑13 (NKJV) 

10 Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might. 

11 Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. 

12 For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places. 

13 Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. 

2. Paul was a strong believer...He had an amazing heart for God and people, and yet he was arrested.

4 So when he had arrested him, he put him in prison, and delivered him to four squads of soldiers to keep him, intending to bring him before the people after Passover. 

–Well if he had been living right he would not have had all that opposition...let me say it in a different way ...because he was living right he had opposition! Paul was doing the will of God so therefore he had adversaries.   

3. The key to Paul’s deliverance was prayer:

5 Peter was therefore kept in prison, but constant prayer was offered to God for him by the church. 

6 And when Herod was about to bring him out, that night Peter was sleeping, bound with two chains between two soldiers; and the guards before the door were keeping the prison. 

–How many of you know Paul was in deep...trouble?  No way...no way he is coming out of this one...two chains ...between two soldiers...more soldiers outside the door.

–The enemy wants us to look at our situation and just say there is no way...no way this time! I encourage you not to forget the God factor...it is not the size of your giant but the size of your God.

4. The chains have to fall off...they have to be broken!

7 Now behold, an angel of the Lord stood by him, and a light shone in the prison; and he struck Peter on the side and raised him up, saying, "Arise quickly!" And his chains fell off his hands. 

–It is time that we understand that God wants the chains to fall off and for them to be broken off of our lives and bodies.

–The angel struck Peter...maybe the Holy Spirit or the Word of God has been striking you and telling you to “Arise quickly” God is about to set you free!!!

5. When Peter’s chains fell off see what happened. 

8 Then the angel said to him, "Gird yourself and tie on your sandals"; and so he did. And he said to him, "Put on your garment and follow me." 

9 So he went out and followed him, and did not know that what was done by the angel was real, but thought he was seeing a vision. 

10 When they were past the first and the second guard posts, they came to the iron gate that leads to the city, which opened to them of its own accord; and they went out and went down one street, and immediately the angel departed from him. 

–Remember the guards were standing to keep the prisoner (Paul) in...but when God gets ready to bring them out, when the saints are fasting and praying...the door has to open.

–The chains fell off and Peter was led by the angel thru every door...thru every gate...the gate opened of its own accord...we thought this was a modern invention.

–God wants your chains to fall off tonight so that you can walk thru every door that God has set before you! All God has to do is speak the Word, to send His angel, and you will be set free!

–Question...do you want to be free and do you want it to be tonight?

Psalm 107:8‑14 (NKJV)  

8 Oh, that men would give thanks to the LORD for His goodness, And for His wonderful works to the children of men! 

9 For He satisfies the longing soul, And fills the hungry soul with goodness. 

10 Those who sat in darkness and in the shadow of death, Bound in affliction and irons‑‑ 

11 Because they rebelled against the words of God, And despised the counsel of the Most High, 

12 Therefore He brought down their heart with labor; They fell down, and there was none to help. 

13 Then they cried out to the LORD in their trouble, And He saved them out of their distresses. 

14 He brought them out of darkness and the shadow of death, And broke their chains in pieces.