"Building a Church Through Outreach"
Get Up & Get Out
ELCOG 3/30/08
Text: Acts 12:7
This morning I want to encourage you to get up and get out. In chapter 12:1 we find Herod the King has stretched forth his hands to oppress and torment the early Christians. He has already killed James the brother of John and now he has Peter in his position and is ready to kill him. Peter is taken to prison to wait to for his execution. He is put with four squads of soldiers to keep him until the Passover is over so that he could be killed. Peter is chained between soldiers and is asleep. He is waiting to be executed. One would think that this would be a very anxious time; a time of major depression or anxiety. But Peter still had the ability to sleep. Maybe he remembered the story of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. Maybe he remembered how God was with them and he was comforted that God would also be with him. Maybe he felt like Daniel in the lions den. He remembered how God took control of the lion’s mouth and caused them to loose their appetite. Peter must have had some kind of faith to be able to rest the night before his execution. He must have felt the peace that passeth understanding. He must have been able to testify like Timothy in…
2 Tim. 1:12
12For the which cause I also suffer these things: nevertheless I am not ashamed: for I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that he is able to keep that which I have committed unto him against that day.
I hope that you are able to say the same thing that you know that God is able to keep you even though you find your life in the middle of two soldiers bound by chains. You might be on death row, but you know God is able to keep you! You may feel the pressure of life’s chains as they press against your wrist and ankles, but God is faithful and He will keep that which you have committed to Him.
Are you really persuaded? Are you really convinced that God is going to keep you through the trails? HE WILL! He may take you up to the night before the death day or you may have to enter the lions den, but God will keep you in your time of trouble.
So, are you in a time of trouble? Is it the night before death? Are you hurting? Are you bound? I have good news for you.
Let me just say one thing from verse 5….there were people praying for Peter during his times of trouble. Isn’t that the real reason for prayer meeting? I pray that God will rise up intercessors. We need people who will enter the prayer closet and pray for the safety of your church and leaders. God is a God that hears and answers prayer. Just pray!
Now back to verse 7: the night is dark and Peter is asleep and suddenly an angel appeared in the cold cell and tapped Peter on the side, and said, "Get up". I want to bring a message of hope to you this morning. If you are depressed and discouraged, if you are lost or in bondage, God is going to send an angel to tell you to get up. You have been bound too long. You have been depressed to long. Get up. You have been living in your state of hopelessness for too long and it’s time for you to start a new life. It’s time for you to get up! There have been people praying for you. If you are affiliated with this church I have to tell you that your name has been called out and God is hearing our prayer. Get up. It’s time for you to see the hand of God in your life.
I know that up to this point maybe you have seen James killed with the sword and maybe you know that you are next, but you must rely of the word of God that says…
Psa. 46:1
1 God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.
Psa. 46:2
2 Therefore will not we fear, though the earth be removed, and though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea;
Psa. 46:3
3 Though the waters thereof roar and be troubled, though the mountains shake with the swelling thereof. Selah
Heb. 11:1
1Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.
We have a Now God for a Now Faith. You may be in prison now, but your faith is about to lead you out. Get up quickly and watch the chains fall off.
You may have come in this room bound, but you are going to leave free!
Let’s look at verse 8. The angel tells Peter to get up and then prepares him to get out. The angel didn’t just wake him up; he gave him instructions to run. Sometimes we hear the message and we feel the angel tapping on our shoulders and we wake up, but we never get out. You do not belong in this prison that you are living in. You deserve something better than that. So get up and get out.
The angle tells Peter, "Tighten your belt, bind your sandals, and Wrap your garment around you". What a great message. Tighten up your belt, tie your shoes, and get your moving cloths on because we are getting out of here. We don’t want any thing to hinder your escape.
Tighten your belt of truth. Ground yourself in the word of God. You have fished around too long. You have played church too long. It is time for you to tighten up in God’s word. Heaven and earth will pass away, but God’s word will remain forever. Let us tighten up and get out of this position we are in!
Tie Your Shoes: You feet should be covered with the gospel of peace. God doesn’t intend for you to have sleepless nights. He gives you peace. Take his peace and get out of your prison.
Phil. 4:7
7And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.
Col. 3:15
15And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to the which also ye are called in one body; and be ye thankful.
God calls you to peace. Tighten up your belt and tie your shoes. Its time to get out!
Put on your clothes: Its time to put on your breastplate of righteousness. Take on the righteousness and follow God.
Matt. 6:33
33But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.
Matt. 6:34
34Take therefore no thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself. Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof.
Tighten up in truth, tie your shoes or peace and put on your breastplate its time to get out!
I know that there are guards surrounding your life. I know that you have chains binding you, but today is your day.
2 Cor. 6:2
2(For he saith, I have heard thee in a time accepted, and in the day of salvation have I succoured thee: behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.)
Today is your day of salvation. You are walking out of your prison. You came bound, but you are leaving free. It is time to get up and get out! This message is not just for anyone, it is for you!
Get up and get out. God has something special for your life. He has a real plan for you. You have a destiny! It is not time for you to die. It’s time for you to live. Get up and get out! God is calling your name…..answer His call. Get Up and Get out!