Divine Intervention from what? BY Reverend Olusegun Martins “So Peter was kept in prison, but the church was earnestly praying to God for him”. Introduction: Divine intervention is when a power that is greater than you, does for you what you are not capable of doing for yourself. A power put Peter behind the bars. It requires a higher power to release him. A power has put you where you are and it is going to take another power to get you out of it. If Peter could find his way out, then there was no need for prayer of intervention. The same way, if you can get yourself out of the prison of life, then there is no need for divine intervention. Before intervention, there must be assessment and diagnosis. Intervention has been defined medically as the act of intervening, interfering or interceding with the intent of modifying the outcome. In medicine, an intervention is usually undertaken to help treat or cure a condition. It is an act performed to prevent a medical condition or to improve the mental, emotional, or physical function of a patient. It could also refer to a change in the course of events for a person, i.e; surgery, medication, a test, a treatment, counseling, etc. Intervention is an influencing force or act that occurs in order to modify a given state of affairs. Our verse, Acts 12:5, tells us about the problem at hand, the nature of the problem, and the steps taking toward intervention. But here is our concern - From what did Peter need divine intervention? He needed divine intervention for his imprisonment. Why did he need divine intervention from the prison? He needed divine intervention from the shackles of imprisonment and confinement. What then is prison? It is a state of confinement or captivity. It is a place of torment, interrogation and suffering. Prison is not only a physical facility, it can also be a social, marital, financial, emotional, psychological and spiritual state. You can be free on the street but be in the prison of life. What does prison or confinement do to people? The followings are what prison or imprisonment does for people and which require divine intervention based on the experience of Peter. (1) FRUSTRATION It is a deep chronic sense or state of insecurity and dissatisfaction arising from unresolved problems or unfulfilled needs. Frustration is a common emotional response to opposition. It always arises from the perceived resistance to the fulfillment of individual will. It is a feeling of anger and annoyance as a result of unmet needs and desires. Prison is a place where needs and desires are not always met. Peter was in great frustration because he could not do what the Lord has called him to do. The church was going through frustration because they could not help Peter legally and politically. But they relied on God’s intervention. If you are going through any frustration, you need divine intervention. (2) LIMITATION Limitation is putting a limit to where a person can be. It also refers to controlling what a person want, can do, as well as the extent he/she can go. The movement of Peter was limited in the prison! He was under control! He could not do much! His ministration was limited! His ministry was limited! His accomplishment was limited! His success was limited!All because he was put in prison. The unseen prison of life has limited the destiny of many people. They have been limited by what they can do and what they can become in life. If this is your experience, you need divine intervention. (3) RESTRICTION This means to confine or keep within limits, as relating to space, action, choice, intensity, or quantity. It has to do with confining and restraining. Restriction is taking away of someone’s freedom. It is to regulate what someone can do, can go and can become. Peter was now a prisoner. There was a restriction to where he could be and what he could do. In fact, there was a restriction to the time he could sleep, eat, recreate, and the number of people who could visit him as well as when they could visit him. Unfortunately, this is how many of us are living today. We are restricted and confined in our own prison and thus, there is restriction to what we could become in life and what we could do in life. You need divine intervention to set you free. (4) DISCRIMINATION It is the treatment or consideration of, or making a distinction in favor of, or against a person or thing based on the group, class, or category to which that person or thing belongs rather than on its/their individual merit. Discrimination is the treatment of an individual or group based on their actual or perceived membership in a certain group or social category, in a way that is worse than the way people are usually treated . Prison makes people to be discriminated against. Peter was giving worst treatment in the prison because of who and what he was. He was a Jew, an apostle, a believer, a preacher and a Christian in the prison of Herod. Do you know how many people that have been put into the prison of hatred, animosity, jealousy, malice, and character assassination because of who and what they are? You need divine intervention to get out of such spiritual, social, psychological, racial, tribal, and religious discrimination. (5) DEMORALIZATION The most demoralizing place is the prison. Demoralization is to deprive a person or persons of their spirit and courage. To destroy someones morale. It is a military tactic used as a psychological warfare to destroy or kill the morale among enemy combatants and/or non-combatants, so as to encourage them to retreat, surrender or defect, rather than defeating them in combat. The prison was meant to demoralize Peter, to kill his morale so that he would give up his dream, purpose, and mission in life. (6) HUMILIATION Prison brings about a life of humiliation. It refers to being reduced to a lower position. It is to cause a person a painful loss of pride, self-respect, or dignity. Prison reduced Peter the Apostle, to Peter the prisoner. He was stripped of his dignity, respect, honor, and importance. Situations of life have made some people to lose their self-respect, self-glory, self-worth, and self-esteem. You need divine intervention to turn your humiliation to promotion. (7) STIGMATIZATION This is the marking of, or to describe something or someone in a negative manner. It is also a mark of disgrace or a stain or reproach on someone’s reputation. In life, prison is a stigma. Prisoners are looked down at with disgrace and disdain. Ex-prisoners are labelled as ‘ex-convicts’ because of their time in prison. They continue to live a life of disgrace and reproach. Some people are living with stigma in their lives. It is the “but” in their lives. Peter was delivered from the prison of stigma. You need divine intervention to deliver you from stigmatization by turning your stigma to stamina (Gal. 6:17). (8) INTIMIDATION Intimidation is to discourage, restrain, or silence a person by means of threats or blackmail. To cause or make a person to be fearful so as to be placed under domination. The prison was meant to harass or threaten Peter and the church. It was made to make them submissive to the dictate of Herod. Sometimes, many people are been threatened by certain situations and conditions of life. They cannot tell anybody. They are afraid. They have given in to their problems. They are in the prison of verbal, spiritual, physical, financial, and emotional intimidation. They are being bullied by these conditions. You need divine intervention to deliver you from the prison of intimidation. (1 Samuel 17, David and Goliath). (9) VICTIMIZATION The word ‘victimization’ means an unwarranted singling out of an individual or group for subjection to crime, exploitation, tort, unfair treatment, or other wrong. In other words, it is making or causing someone to be treated unfairly or made to feel as if he is in a bad position. Another popular word for this is ‘abuse’. Prison makes people to be victims of abuse or victimization. Peter was victimized and abused. He was bound with two(2) chains (Acts 12:6) and stripped of his clothes and sandals (Acts 12:8), and was made to sleep on the floor between two soldiers (Acts 12:6). Prison is a place of hurt and hatred. It is a place where people vent their anger, hatred and frustration on other people. How is life treating you? Many people are going through constant abuse, victimization, and unfair treatment in life. You need divine intervention to be delivered from the prison of victimization. (10) DEPRESSION Prison is a place of agony, distress, discouragement, worry, uncertainty, disappointment, and hopelessness. All these always lead to depression. Depression has been defined as a mood disorder that causes a persistent feeling of sadness and loss of interest. Prison always brings depression: sadness and loss of interest. Peter was depressed. He was sad. He was discouraged. Depression will make you feel sad, anxious, empty, hopeless, helpless, worthless, guilty, irritable or restless and sometimes suicidal. Many people are in this prison of depression. They have lost their joy, happiness, goodness, sense of humor, and sense of belonging. They are lonely, gloomy, moody, and inactive. You need divine intervention to get out of this cubicle of depression.
Posted on: Tue, 09 Dec 2014 10:55:28 +0000
Trending Topics
Recently Viewed Topics
© 2015