I want to speak to you about deliverance and how to walk in the liberty wherein you have been set free. The first step in deliverance is to get the chains to drop off you; before you walk out of the situation.

[Acts 12:1-19 KJV]
“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.”

There are many people who keep hopping from one place to the other and jumping from one man to the other because they are in a rush to get out of a bad situation but not necessarily out of bad bondage.

In the story above we see how God had the chains fall off Peter before leading him out of the gates. The truth is if the chains had not fallen off first, Peter would continue to be bound there in the prison. Many people walk out of bad situations into good places and still mess up because they still have the chains of bondage wrapped around their minds. Peter would have gotten to the mother of John Mark’s house but would have been walking around in chains and still bound.

We must first strive to get out of the chains before the place. Getting out of a place of bondage means nothing if you are not out of the chains of bondage. Hallelujah!

Israel spent 40 years in the wilderness because they came out of Egypt with Egypt still in them. They were only out of the land of Egypt but they still loved Egypt, the worship of Egypt, the food and delicacy of Egypt, and even the thinking of Egypt. So, Israel failed many times because they came out of Egypt still in the chains of Egypt. You will fail if you come out but still in the chains.

When Lazarus came out of the dead, the Lord instructed the people to lose him, that he may go. Don’t rush out whilst still bound; be liberated and you will do better when you step out.

Remember!

Herod arrested Peter because He saw that it pleased the Jews when he killed James.
The church, however, offered prayer without ceasing for him.
Peter was arrested in the situation
God sent an angel to deliver Him; the angel came with light, touched Peter, spoken to him, and led him out.

Let us read about Paul and Silas in prison. The Bible says they sang and prayed at midnight; then the whole place was shaken; the gates swang open and their chains fell off. God will always strip the chains off before leading you out.

[Acts 16:22-31 KJV] “And the multitude rose up together against them: and the magistrates rent off their clothes, and commanded to beat them. [23] And when they had laid many stripes upon them, they cast them into prison, charging the jailor to keep them safely: [24] Who, having received such a charge, thrust them into the inner prison, and made their feet fast in the stocks”.

[25] “And at midnight Paul and Silas prayed, and sang praises unto God: and the prisoners heard them. [26] And suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison were shaken: and immediately all the doors were opened, and every one’s bands were loosed. [27] And the keeper of the prison awaking out of his sleep, and seeing the prison doors open, he drew out his sword, and would have killed himself, supposing that the prisoners had been fled”.

[28] “But Paul cried with a loud voice, saying, Do thyself no harm: for we are all here. [29] Then he called for a light, and sprang in, and came trembling, and fell down before Paul and Silas, [30] And brought them out, and said, Sirs, what must I do to be saved? [31] And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house”

Many people get entangled again in their captivity because they are not first loosed from their chains. As long as the chains are still wrapped around their mind, changing locations will mean nothing; you will leave Egypt bound and enter Canaan still bound.

Transformation only come by the renewing of the mind and not by a change in status (See Romans 12:1-3). The real deliverance begins from the renewing of the mind.

Stay blessed, I love you

Pastor Noah Simpe