Pastor Jerry Eze Streams of Joy Devotional 5 April 2024 (Friday) Message
Streams of Joy Devotional 5 April 2024 (Friday) TOPIC: Wear Your Identity
MEMORY VERSE: “Be thou prepared, and prepare for thyself, thou, and all thy company that are assembled unto thee, and be thou a guard unto them.” (Ezekiel 38: 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: “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.” (Acts 12: 8)
TODAY’S MESSAGE
In our Focal Scripture, the Angel of the Lord instructed Peter to wear his sandals. It may have been okay to not wear the sandals at the time when Peter was tied in chains; but when it was time to leave the prison, the Angel asked him to wear his sandals. Wearing of sandals was a preparation for movement. So, put differently, the Angel instructed Peter to get ready to move. Peter was to prepare for a season of movement.
Friend, it’s not enough for El Roi to see you. Also prepare to move. Prepare for the movement you have been desiring. Prepare for the doors and gates that are about to open. Prepare for the new season that is opening up for you. Prepare for the higher levels that you are about to rise to. Prepare for the movements that God would have you make. Prepare to leave the prison and move closer to your assignment. Prepare to move.
Peter was going to walk all the way out of prison; he was going to walk all the way to the iron gate that led to the city; he was going to walk all the way to where the church was praying, and he needed to wear his sandals. He needed to prepare to move because there was a long journey ahead of him. One major reason why you need to prepare, is that you have a great journey ahead of you. Your journey needs your preparation.
Start preparing for that journey that will take you to the top. Start building capacity quietly where eyes cannot see. Start building the capacity that will ensure your longevity when you eventually get to the top. Start cutting off whatever has the capacity to ruin your rising. Start imbibing whatever has the capacity to keep you on the move. Build capacity that will enable you to move. Build capacity that will ensure that you are not stagnated.
Peter prepared to move, and when the movement began, there was no stopping. Prepare to move, and there will be no stopping you.
DECLARATION
I receive grace to prepare for my forward movement; I will not be held back in old levels, in Jesus’ name!
FURTHER READING: Ezekiel 38
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
