TOPIC: FEAR GOD ALONE
MEMORIZE
For rulers are not a terror to good works, but to the evil. Wilt thou then not be afraid of the power? do that which is good, and thou shalt have praise of the same: Romans 13:3
READ: Acts 12:1-11
1 Now about that time Herod the king stretched forth his hands to vex certain of the church.
2 And he killed James the brother of John with the sword.
3 And because he saw it pleased the Jews, he proceeded further to take Peter also. (Then were the days of unleavened bread.)
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.
5 Peter therefore was kept in prison: but prayer was made without ceasing of the church unto God for him.
6 And when Herod would have brought him forth, the same night Peter was sleeping between two soldiers, bound with two chains: and the keepers before the door kept the prison.
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.
8 And the angel said unto him, Gird thyself, and bind on thy sandals. And so he did. And he saith unto him, Cast thy garment about thee, and follow me.
9 And he went out and followed him; and wist not that it was true which was done by the angel; but thought he saw a vision.
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.
11 And when Peter was come to himself, he said, Now I know of a surety, that the Lord hath sent his angel, and hath delivered me out of the hand of Herod, and from all the expectation of the people of the Jews.
MESSAGE
The Bible says clearly in today's memory verse that if you do the right things, you should not be afraid of the government or their agencies. For instance, when a driver becomes afraid on seeing a traffic official, it is most likely that he or she has done something critical or committed a traffic offence. If you fidget when you learn that tax officials are coming to meet you, it probably means that you have been robbing the government, and Jesus said in Matthew 22 :21 that you should give to Caesar (the government) what belongs to Caesar. Rather than being afraid, why not just do the right thing? Stay in the right and do good so that you will never be afraid of government officials.
In certain regions, some people are afraid of government officials, not because they are guilty of any wrongdoing, but because of racism or oppression. If a government official decides to use his or her authority to terrorize you, don't be afraid of such a person. Rather, take the matter to God, and He will fight for you. You must, however, have built a culture of depending on God before trouble comes.
Many years ago, I heard that the military government that was ruling my country at the time was planning to arrest me because the head of the government was told by his spiritualists that my prayers were hindering their self- centered agenda for the country. At first, I was afraid, but that night, I handed the matter over to God, and in less than one week, the government official who wanted to kill me was dead. If you fear God and always do the right things, He will fight for you.
In Daniel 3:16, the three Hebrew boys defied the evil order of the king, and God protected them from his wrath. God protected them because they chose to fear Him and not man. When Herod began to terrorize the church, killing James and imprisoning Peter, the Christians began to pray without ceasing. Their prayers worked great wonders; Peter was freed miraculously on the eve of the day he was to be executed, and Herod was later eaten by worms (Acts 12:1-23).
Beloved, please stay away from anything that will put you In a position of being afraid of the government. However, if you have not done anything wrong and a government official decides to terrorize you for whatever reason, simply hand him or her over to God, and He will surely protect you.
KEY POINT
As long as you fear God and keep doing the right things, you don't have to fear any other person, organization, or government.
BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: Psalms 107-111
AUTHOR: PASTOR E. A ADEBOYE
HYMN 19: ROCK OF AGES CLEFT FOR ME
1 Rock of Ages, cleft for me,
Let me hide myself in Thee;
Let the water and the blood,
From Thy riven side which flowed,
Be of sin the double cure,
Save me from its guilt and power.
2 Not the labor of my hands
Can fulfill Thy law’s demands;
Could my zeal no respite know,
Could my tears forever flow,
All could never sin erase,
Thou must save, and save by grace.
3 Nothing in my hands I bring,
Simply to Thy cross I cling;
Naked, come to Thee for dress,
Helpless, look to Thee for grace:
Foul, I to the fountain fly,
Wash me, Savior, or I die.
4 While I draw this fleeting breath,
When mine eyes shall close in death,
When I soar to worlds unknown,
See Thee on Thy judgment throne,
Rock of Ages, cleft for me,
Let me hide myself in Thee.
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