Word: Listen for the Knock (Acts 12 vs 12-13)

Acts 12:12-16 tells us a story about a young woman we know very little about. Nevertheless, this story was significant and relevant enough to be included amongst the great Biblical testimonials. Ladies, let us not despise small beginnings (Zechariah 4:10). She is described in scripture only as a damsel, a young woman, a servant girl, and a maid. No great introductions accompanied her name, no religious accolades, she was not a Bishop, an apostle, a pastor, or teacher.
Rhoda’s status as a ‘maid’ may be viewed by some people as offensive, an insult, demeaning, or an embarrassment. Within that culture and even today, the title of a ‘servant’ often depicts a person without rank, status, position, or prestige.
Yet, despite her portrayal, this anonymous young woman is about to be shifted from the position of obscurity and into the pages of the most read Book, the Holy Bible. Scripture calls her by her name: Rhoda. By mentioning her name, Scripture verifies and authenticates her identity. Scripture wants us to know that despite her humble status, though she may feel insignificant, and at times invisible, God knows who she is and where she is at. In the sight of others, she was just a ‘maid.’ However, God knew her name. The Lord was about to propel and promote her from the back of the queue, straight into front row position. Ladies, get yourself ready.
All it took was just one knock at the door, and suddenly her life was no longer the same. Rhoda heard something no one else heard, she was privy to an unusual miracle, it was Rhoda who was chosen to be the carrier of such an amazing phenomenon. They had spent all night praying, and now the answer to their prayers was ‘standing at the door.’ What a message! What a testimony to declare! What ‘Good News’ she was able to proclaim. Rhoda was so excited, she forgot to open the door. Today, I am here to declare, that the answer to your prayers is standing at the door. How many times have we allowed others to take our ‘birth-right’? How many times have we given up and allowed someone else to take our promotion, our jobs, our advancement, our increase, our vision, or testimony because we felt unqualified’? How long must ‘opportunity knock’ before we answer? People of God, the answer is at the door, your testimony is at the door, no more procrastination, no more excuses, you are ‘Qualified,’ so, ‘Unlock the Gate and Open the Door.’

Prophetic Prayer
– Father, I stand on Your Word in Psalms 139, which declares that ‘You have searched me out and You know where I am at… You are acquainted with all my ways.’
– Today, I cast aside all ‘man-made labels;’ I rebuff and reject all offensive name tags; I eliminate every demeaning identity; every debasing title spoken over me since childhood.
– Today, I declare that the Lord holds my reins (my life), and It was God who had me covered in my mother’s womb.
– Father, I will not despise my ‘small beginnings.’ I chose instead to praise You, because my ‘humble beginnings’ has become my testimony. Thus, I am able to say, ‘Look what the Lord has done.’ Hallelujah.
– Yes, I will praise Thee, oh Lord; For I am ‘fearfully and wonderfully made.’
– Yes, the Lord saw that I was imperfect, yet ‘in His book all my substance was documented.’
– Your continual Presence with me validates my existence. My existence assures me of my assignment. God is not finished with me yet. He is just getting started.
– The Lord is shifting me from the back to the front. The Lord is making me aware that there are doors for me to open and iron gates for me to break. Amen and Amen.