Pastor Jerry Eze Streams of Joy Devotional 13 April 2024 Message
Streams of Joy Devotional 13 April 2024 (Saturday) TOPIC: Keep Knocking
MEMORY VERSE
“6. I have set watchmen upon thy walls, O Jerusalem, which shall never hold their peace day nor night: ye that make mention of the LORD, keep not silence, 7. And give him no rest, till he establish, and till he make Jerusalem a praise in the earth.” (Isaiah 62: 6-7)
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
“But Peter continued knocking: and when they had opened the door, and saw him, they were astonished.” (Acts 12: 16)
TODAY’S MESSAGE:
Our Focal Scripture speaks of how Peter continued knocking, until the gate was opened to him. Peter had knocked for a while but the gate was not immediately opened. He knocked for a while but didn’t immediately get the response he was seeking. He knocked for a while without getting the result that made him knock. Notice that when Peter persisted with his knocking, the gate was eventually opened to him.
Friend, when it seems that the gate is not being opened as speedily as you desire, keep knocking. Keep pushing for those results that are yet to manifest. Keep praying for those miracles that are yet to become your reality. Keep making those efforts that are yet to give you the result you seek. Keep building up yourself even if you are yet to gain any result from doing so. Keep digging deep into the depths of God that are yet to unfold to you.
Notice that Peter had considered the matter before he came to the house where prayers were being made to God on his behalf. He had discerned where he was going to, before going there, and he was not about to give up because the gate was yet to be opened. If you have discerned the right gate that you need to knock on, keep knocking there until the gate is opened. Don’t give up because the result you seek is yet to manifest.
Receive grace to keep pushing and pressing until you prevail. Receive grace to keep knocking on the doors of heaven until the doors open to you. Receive grace to keep pressing more into God. Receive grace to persist in the place of prayer. Receive grace to wait on God until He does that which He said He would do. Receive grace to continue on the right path even when it has not made a difference. Receive grace to keep knocking like Peter.
Peter kept knocking, and the gate was eventually opened to him. As you keep knocking, the gates will be opened to you. If you keep pushing and pressing, you will eventually prevail.
DECLARATION
I will keep knocking until my gates are open, in Jesus’ name!
FURTHER READING: Isaiah 62
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
