Streams of Joy Daily Devotional 17th October 2025 Message Written By Pastor Jerry Eze
Streams of Joy Friday October 17, 2025 Daily Devotional Message
TOPIC: No Delays.
MEMORY VERSE
“These are evil times, so make every minute count.” (Ephesians 5: 16 CEV)
SCRIPTURE READING: Acts 12: 1-23
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.
12 And when he had considered the thing, he came to the house of Mary the mother of John, whose surname was Mark; where many were gathered together praying.
13 And as Peter knocked at the door of the gate, a damsel came to hearken, named Rhoda.
14 And when she knew Peter’s voice, she opened not the gate for gladness, but ran in, and told how Peter stood before the gate.
15 And they said unto her, Thou art mad. But she constantly affirmed that it was even so. Then said they, It is his angel.
16 But Peter continued knocking: and when they had opened the door, and saw him, they were astonished.
17 But he, beckoning unto them with the hand to hold their peace, declared unto them how the Lord had brought him out of the prison. And he said, Go shew these things unto James, and to the brethren. And he departed, and went into another place.
18 Now as soon as it was day, there was no small stir among the soldiers, what was become of Peter.
19 And when Herod had sought for him, and found him not, he examined the keepers, and commanded that they should be put to death. And he went down from Judaea to Caesarea, and there abode.
20 And Herod was highly displeased with them of Tyre and Sidon: but they came with one accord to him, and, having made Blastus the king’s chamberlain their friend, desired peace; because their country was nourished by the king’s country.
21 And upon a set day Herod, arrayed in royal apparel, sat upon his throne, and made an oration unto them.
22 And the people gave a shout, saying, It is the voice of a god, and not of a man.
23 And immediately the angel of the Lord smote him, because he gave not God the glory: and he was eaten of worms, and gave up the ghost.
FOCUS VERSE:
“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.” (Acts 12: 7)
Streams of Joy Daily Devotional – 17th October 2025 MESSAGE
In our Focal Scripture, the angel of the Lord commanded Peter to arise up quickly. The angel did not only require that Peter must arise. He demanded that the rising must be done quickly. The angel demanded for speedy rising from Peter. Peter was not required to rise sluggishly. He was not to rise when it was convenient to rise. He was to rise quickly. He was to rise without wasting time. He was to rise fast. He was to rise without delays.
Friend, it’s not enough to desire to rise. God requires that you rise quickly. God requires that you rise without further delays. God requires that you hurry up with your rising. God requires that you rise like one who understands that there is no time to waste. God requires that you rise and move before the Herods of this world catch up with you. God requires that you rise like one who has an assignment to fulfill. He requires speedy rising.
Peter had already spent some time in prison. His assignment had already suffered, and he was not required to take all the time in the world while rising. He needed to rise, but it was important that he rose quickly. If you fail to rise quickly, you just might be causing more delays for yourself. If you fail to rise quickly, you just might be giving more room for the enemy to get at you. If you fail to rise quickly, you just might expose yourself to needless destiny pitfalls that will keep you out of relevance.
That voice that normally tells you to delay your rising is not of God. That voice that tells you to delay the fulfillment of your assignment is not of God. That voice that says you can rise later and not immediately, is not of God. That voice that says you should tolerate the prison for one more night, is not of God. Receive grace to rise quickly. Receive grace to move quickly. Receive grace to break forth quickly. Receive grace to rise above delay.
Welcome to that season where you must resist every urge to delay what must be done speedily. Welcome to that season where you must rise quickly.
DECLARATION
The Lord is my light; I will not dwell in darkness, in Jesus’ name!
FURTHER READING
Isaiah 60
Streams of Joy is the Home of the Global Online Prayer Platform; New Season Prophetic Prayers and Declarations (NSPPD). Through all our eyes have seen, our ears have have heard and our hands handled, We have a firm conviction that WHAT GOD CANNOT DO DOES NOT EXIST (Streams of Joy Daily Devotional)