*WISDOM FOR TODAY.*
*THE ENEMY IS CLOSE! (2)*
*Scripture Treasure.*
Acts 12:11 *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.*
*Insight and Highlight.*
Though the enemy may be close, God is closer to us than the clothes we wear. We must never forget to always acknowledge God in deliverance.
*Scripture Commentaries.*
The difference between the arrest of James and Peter by Herod was that the arrest and eventual killing of the former did not move the church to pray while the arrest of the latter moved the church to pray.
Acts 12:3 says when the arrest and killing of James were seen by Herod to please *....the Jews, he proceeded further to take Peter also.."*
We can see here that our lack of prayer or lack of doing the spiritually needful will please the enemy to wreck further damage on the church.
The enemy watches us, and he notices our weaknesses. He is very close, and he intensifies efforts to destroy us.
In Acts 12, Peter identifies that the church had two categories of enemy.
First was Herod, and the second group was the Jews. The Church was Herod's enemy, and she played into her hands when she refused to pray.
Acts 12:11 Peter said that God had *...delivered me out of the hand of Herod and from all the expectations of the people of the Jews.*
The Jews were God's people but showed no remorse that Peter, a fellow Jew, was seized by Herod.
If we care less about the predicaments of enemy assault on fellow believers, we should expect the same might befall us anytime.
We are our own protectors, and we must remain one to wage war against our common enemy Satan.
The enemy is close, and they could get closer than we are close to each other when they see that, though we look close to each other, but are far from protecting ourselves.
How faithfully close are you to your fellow believer, to prevent the enemy from getting closer?
*Remorse corner.*
Our enemy is close. Watch out.
*Call to Word action.*
Acts 20: 29, 31 *For I know this, that after my departing shall grievous wolves enter in among you, not sparing the flock.*
*Therefore, watch, and remember, that by the space of three years, I ceased not to warn every one night and day with tears.*
*The Christian clarion duty.*
Matthew 26:41 *Watch and pray that ye enter not into temptation: the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.*
*Prayer.*
Lord, help me to both watch and pray. Let me not watch while l am supposed to be praying also. Let me not be praying but refuse to watch also in Jesus name.
Good morning all, and have a blessed day today.
God bless you