Pastor Jerry Eze Streams of Joy Devotional 17 March 2024 Message for Sunday
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SCRIPTURE READING:
Acts 12:1-23; King James Version
1 Now about that time Herod the king stretched forth his hands to vex certain of the church.
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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.
MEMORY VERSE:
“The time is coming! I will punish your oppressors; I will rescue all the lame and bring the exiles home. I will turn their shame to honor, and all the world will praise them.” (Zephaniah 3: 19 GNB)
FOCUS PASSAGE:
“Now about that time Herod the king stretched forth his hands to vex certain of the church.” (Acts 12: 1)
Streams of Joy Devotional 17 March 2024 MESSAGE
Our Focal Scripture speaks of how Herod stretched his hands to fight against certain members of the early church. Herod purposed to cause suffering to those who were part of the church. According to Bible History, the Herodian dynasty descended from Edom, but they ruled over Israel. Herod came from the dynasty of strangers who ruled Israel, albeit illegally. Herod came from a dynasty that sought to suppress the people.
Friend, hear me as I hear the Lord: every Herod that has arisen against you, illegally, to cause you suffering, let the hand of the Lord that does valiantly be stretched forth against him. Let the hand of the Lord be stretched forth against every king that has arisen to cause you suffering. Let the hand of the Lord be stretched against those who are using their thrones against you. Let the hand of the Lord come against every oppressor.
Herod was simply a usurper that sat on the throne of Israel. He was like an invader that had conquered the people and left them with no choice but to live under his oppression. Hear me as I hear the Lord: every satanic invader that wants to keep you in bondage and under subjection, the hand of the Lord is against them. The hand of the Lord is against the wickedness that sits on the thrones of nations.
Today, I break every siege of Herod over you. I break every power of average over you. I break every chain of affliction upon you. I break every cycle of rising and falling around you. I break every rulership of the ‘Herods’ of this world. I break every cycle of evil that hands over to more evil. I break the bondage of the ‘Herods’ of this world. I break the cycle of oppression that the ‘Herods’ of this world have put on you.
No longer shall it be said that you are under the oppression of the enemy. No longer shall it be said that the ‘Herods’ of this world bear rule over you.
Declaration
Every oppression of the ‘Herods’ of this world has come to an end, in Jesus’ name!
FURTHER READING
Isaiah 49, Zephaniah 3
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
