Prophetic Word: Acts 12vs12-13 Day 6
Acts 12:1 commences with the statement, ‘Now about that time Herod the King stretched out his hands to vex certain of the Church’. That word ‘vex’ means to: anger; trouble; upset; irritate; disturb; and interrupt the Church. People of God, let us consider more closely the intentions of King Herod, (because we are not ignorant of the devices of the devil). The enemy will always seek to operate through the structures of this present world system, (such as King Herod), so that he can ‘vex’ (distress, disturb, and interrupt), the Church from its assignment. Herod had previously succeeded in killing James, and now he was threatening Peter. These were not empty threats; Peter was at present in prison awaiting execution.
When life begins to ‘toss’ you around like a wave on the sea. When daily conditions get unreasonably bad: children are giving trouble, relationships not working, cost of living escalating, money depleting, anxiety levels rising, G.P. visits increasing: All these are truly, ‘vexations of spirit.’ These disturbances are often heightened when it moves beyond our own domain. I am talking about people who are being persecuted just because they are Christians. This is the enemy’s intent: to vex, buffet, distress and disrupt the ‘Body of Christ’. People of God, I’m talking about you and me.
In Acts 12:4, we see the enemy at work in ‘apprehending’ Peter. That word ‘apprehend’ means to arrest, detain, and capture. The enemy’s plan is to keep us in a state of ‘apprehension’, followed by ‘imprisonment’ and ‘bondage’. The enemy’s final goal is ‘execution’, (the death sentence). John 10:10 informs us that ‘The thief comes only but to steal, kill, and destroy’. People of God, please note the phrase, ‘And when Herod had apprehended Peter…he intended to bring him forth’ (Acts 12:4). It was the ‘intention’ (the plan and purpose) of Herod to kill Peter. However, Proverbs 19:21 makes us aware that there can be ‘many plans in a man’s heart, but it is the Lord’s purpose that will prevail’. Hallelujah. The enemy may have power to ‘apprehend’ you, but he does not have the authorization or qualification to terminate and execute your vision. Today, we declare that every ‘execution’ date set by the enemy will back-fire and miss-fire. You will prevail, in Jesus’ Name.
So, what is the Church to do? Acts 12:5 gives us clear instructions, ‘But prayer was made without ceasing of the Church for him’. Believers, whilst they were praying, God was preparing an earthquake to shatter every bondage. Ladies, stay at your watch, your breakthrough is about to come knocking. In Jesus’s Name. Amen.
