The end of the quarter
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1 Now about that time Herod the king stretched out his hand to harass some from the church.
2 Then he killed James the brother of John with the sword.
3 And because he saw that it pleased the Jews, he proceeded further to seize Peter also. Now it was during the Days of Unleavened Bread.
4 So when he had arrested him, he put him in prison, and delivered him to four squads of soldiers to keep him, intending to bring him before the people after Passover.
5 Peter was therefore kept in prison, but constant prayer was offered to God for him by the church.
6 And when Herod was about to bring him out, that night Peter was sleeping, bound with two chains between two soldiers; and the guards before the door were keeping the prison.
7 Now behold, an angel of the Lord stood by him, and a light shone in the prison; and he struck Peter on the side and raised him up, saying, “Arise quickly!” And his chains fell off his hands.
6 In the days of Shamgar the son of Anath, In the days of Jael, the highways were unoccupied, And the travellers walked through byways.
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.
6 In the days of Shamgar the son of Anath, In the days of Jael, the highways were unoccupied, And the travellers walked through byways.
7 The inhabitants of the villages ceased, they ceased in Israel, Until that I Deborah arose, That I arose a mother in Israel.
8 They chose new gods; Then was war in the gates: Was there a shield or spear seen Among forty thousand in Israel?
7 And suddenly an angel of the Lord appeared [standing beside him], and a light shone in the place where he was. And the angel gently smote Peter on the side and awakened him, saying, Get up quickly! And the chains fell off his hands.
1 When the Day of Pentecost had fully come, they were all with one accord in one place.
2 And suddenly there came a sound from heaven, as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled the whole house where they were sitting.
3 Then there appeared to them divided tongues, as of fire, and one sat upon each of them.
4 And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.
Throughout the history of the NFL there have been many rule changes to update the game in an effort to protect the health of players and elevate the excitement for the fans. Hits and blocks that were celebrated 20 years ago will now get a player expelled from the game and fined more money than most of us will make in a year. Techniques and tactics practiced and employed not so long ago are now penalized and punished.
If you were here last Sunday, the culture that we find in the days of Shamgar sounds oddly familiar to the culture that we discussed last week.
Throughout the history of the NFL there have been many rule changes to update the game in an effort to protect the health of players and elevate the excitement for the fans. Hits and blocks that were celebrated 20 years ago will now get a player expelled from the game and fined more money than most of us will make in a year. Techniques and tactics practiced and employed not so long ago are now penalized and punished.
However, there are a list of rules that have stood the test of time and remain in place today. One such rule is the end of the quarter rule. this rule simply states that at the end of every 15-minutes of the game, the teams will change their direction. In some circumstances this rule has little impact on the game…but in situations where the weather is in-climate and the wind is forceful, the rule is an absolute game changer.
Last week, we talked about the deceitful plan of the Philistines that eventually led the Children of Israel to come to a place that there were only two swords in all of Israel. They created a culture of dependency…where instead of Israel sharpening their own farming equipment, they just went down and let the Philistines do the work for them. As they became dependent upon the Philistines, their own need for Smiths became non-existent…Over time, the Israelites had become so dependent upon the Philistines Smiths..that they didn’t have the ability to make their own weapons…and the bible says “So it came about, on the day of battle, that there was neither sword nor spear found in the hand of any of the people, save Saul and Jonathan”.
Teams, that for 15 minutes have been battered by the wind, watch the clock knowing that redemption is coming…and its all about to turn around! Efforts that have been rendered futile are soon to be fruitful…Strategies that have been nullified are soon to be edified. Limitations in this quarter will give way to liberation in the quarter that is coming...
And as the clock ticks down…30…29…28…the anticipation builds for they know that change is soon coming. And when the clock strikes zero, the head umpire simply announcing “that is the end of the quarter”. and just like that…it all turns around!
The moment of transformation from the weathers defiance to it’s compliance is announced at the end of a play by the head umpire simply announcing “that is the end of the quarter”.
Teams that for 15 minutes of football have been battling, not only the opposition, but also the elements…but suddenly…it all turns around. The moment of transformation from the weathers defiance to it’s compliance is announced at the end of a play by the head umpire simply announcing “that is the end of the quarter”.
I feel in the Holy Ghost today…that for someone here today…that is the end of the quarter!
God is preparing to turn things around in your life!
The very areas is your life that have been your greatest sorrow are soon to be your greatest joy! Where you have been struggled with being insecure and self-conscience, you will be endued with God-confidence!
that is the end of the quarter!
Don’t quit!
Don’t give up!
I know it feels like the very elements are opposing you…but stay in the game…its almost the end of the quarter!
I can only imagine that Simon Peter is feeling like he is punting into the wind in Acts chapter 12. He is doing what He has been commanded to do.
He is preaching the Name of Jesus. He takes the New Testament plan of Salvation to the Gentiles in Acts chapter 10, to the household of Cornelius and the Gentiles. Yet, it seems as if the more that he does what he has been called to do, the greater the opposition becomes. The more he preaches Jesus, the more opposition he faces. Acts chapter 7, Stephen is stoned to death for preaching Jesus…Now begins with Herod the King coming against other leaders of the church…He has James executed and then because he saw his persecution pleases the Jews, the arrests Peter also.
And here is Simon…facing opposition for doing what he has been called to do.
Placed under the guard of 16 soldiers…bound with chains…secured to soldiers on either side of him...
It looks to be an impossible situation…it feels as if the clock is ticking down. Like it almost the end…
But its just the end of the quarter....
Vs. 7 Suddenly...
and just like that…everything changes!
The chains that bound him are now cast off
he was led in by a military post, now he is being led out by a heavenly host.
In the present quarter he has been confined and detained by a quaternion of soldiers…His purpose has been frustrated and his ministry has been incapacitated by the means of men...but its the end of the quarter…
And what was apprehended by the earthly is now being assisted by the heavenly!
What was being frustrated by armed guards is now being freed by an angelic guide!
Its the end of quarter...
And God is turning it around!
What was frustrating me is now freeing me!
What was paralyzing me is now promoting me!
What had me bound Now has me blessed!
And Vs. 5 tells us that prayer was being made by the church without ceasing!!
In the last season…prayer was being made while the Apostle was still bound..l
In the last season their prayers had become so frustrated that we find, even when God answered their prayer…they didn’t believe it...
But that is the end of the quarter...
This quarter prayers will be answered that were prayed in the last quarter.
This quarter answers will come that were asked for in the last quarter...
That is the end of the quarter!!!
He was being held in prison in preparation for his execution…but now the angel says “Gird thyself, and bind on thy sandals...” —> The girding of a garment was a command to get ready to run, fight or engage in heavy labor”.
Just a few minutes ago, it looked like it was over…it looked like God was finished with him…but now the Angel says…that is the end of the quarter…
Get ready for action!
God isn’t finished with you…that was just the end of that quarter!
Someone here today its time to gird thyself, and bind on thy sandals!!
The transformation is so complete and so sudden that even Simon can’t comprehend it.
Vs. 9 He went out and followed the angel: and didn’t comprehend that it was true what was done by the angel; but thought he saw a vision!
What God is going to do in this quarter is going to be so sudden and so complete that you may even wonder…is this really happening?
You feel like God is finished with you…no…its just the end of the quarter!
The girding of a garment was
Don’t quit…Don’t give up!
Its just the end of the quarter!
It may look like its over…but he is turning my morning into dancing!
He is turning your sorrow into Joy
He’s turning your affliction into liberty!!!
Closing!
As in the football game, the transition from one quarter to the next is not the response to a feeling…the referee, the coach…the players…they can’t just walk out and say “i feel like that is the end of the quarter”
It is a timing thing!
When the time expires on the last quarter ends…the new quarter begins.
Our God is a God of timing!!!
1 When the Day of Pentecost had fully come, they were all with one accord in one place.
2 And suddenly there came a sound from heaven, as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled the whole house where they were sitting.
When the Day of Pentecost had FULLY COME! timing!
When the time came…their came a rushing mighty wind!!
In this quarter…we’ve got the wind with us!
Several years ago, the coach of the New England Patriots made a decision that at the moment looked to be a colossal mistake.
I’m not preaching on this necessarily today, but I believe there is a very important fundamental perspective that makes all the difference in our walk with God. This tremendous difference in perspective will make all the difference in the world concerning your preparation and your readiness in the day of battle.
In one such games several years ago, the coach of the New England Patriots made a decision that at the moment looked to be a colossal mistake.
He made the decision to allow the opponent to have the ball so that he could have the favor of the wind. if the opponent were able to score the game would be over and this decision would have forever mocked as a colossal failure…Later, even the players on the team would recall how they thought the coach was making a terrible decision for choosing the favor of the wind over the opportunity to get the ball.
In the end, the decision of the coach in question would prevail as they would kick a wind-aided field goal to win the game.
After words the coach simply stated…the Wind was our advantage!
1 When the Day of Pentecost had fully come, they were all with one accord in one place.
2 And suddenly there came a sound from heaven, as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled the whole house where they were sitting.
The wind is our advantage!
It may look like its over…but its just the end of the quarter!
Sometimes we feel like its better to have the ball than it is to have the wind!
To be in control of our own choices and our own decisions, than it is to have the wind in our favor!
How do you get the wind in your favor...
you need to declare the end of the quarter and change directions!
38 Then Peter said to them, “Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.
Repent…to change directions.
I believe that there are two dangers that we face in the church today:
the first are those that don’t see the relevance of the Smith in their lives.
If there is any climate that has been created that is a danger to your soul…it is the climate of affluence.
We don’t need Jehovah Jireh…we have PNC
We don’t need a protector…we’ve got the worlds best military.
etc..
The Bible tells us in Judges that the culture is such that there is neither a spear nor a shield in all of Israel...