Accepted



Act 12:12  Still shaking his head, amazed, he went to Mary's house, the Mary who 

	was John Mark's mother. The house was packed with praying friends. 

Act 12:13  When he knocked on the door to the courtyard, a young woman named 

	Rhoda came to see who it was. 

Act 12:14  But when she recognized his voice--Peter's voice!--she was so excited 

	and eager to tell everyone Peter was there that she forgot to open the 

	door and left him standing in the street. 

Act 12:15  But they wouldn't believe her, dismissing her, dismissing her report. 

	"You're crazy," they said. She stuck by her story, insisting. They still 

	wouldn't believe her and said, "It must be his angel." 


	Walking down the street after His supernatural escape, Peter must have 

been totally blown away by what had just happened to him, and he probably 

couldn't wait to join his friends and tell them about it. As he approached the 

house, he might have been able to hear their voices, fervently praying for his 

release. Here he was, the manifestation of their prayers, just about to be 

presented in his free state. Surely the first mention of his deliverance would 

turn the prayer meeting into a celebration. What an honor and privilege to have 

friends like these, ready to believe the best report right away. Totally 

believing their prayers would be answered, they had surely envisioned his 

release while praying and would readily accept the first mention of it. 

     This was not to take place, though. It doesn't say how long he knocked, but 

if the house was really full with people praying, it might have taken a little 

while before someone motioned for Rhoda to go see whom it was. They obviously 

weren't expecting their order to arrive just yet. Probably if they had ordered 

pizza, they would have all started salivating right when they heard the knock at 

the door. Especially if it had been 30 minutes already, they might have just 

taken a break for a while to let everyone satisfy their hunger. But, there was 

probably not a whole lot of expecting going on, at least not for any kind of 

manifestation that might come before they had a chance to really pray through. 

In fact, there might have been a more dominant vision of Peter's ultimate demise 

for most of the prayer warriors. Their reaction to the mention of Peter's actual 

presence was that it might be his ghost visiting them after his death. They 

seemed ready to believe anything other than what had taken place because of 

their prayers. 

	For Peter, this might have been a source of discouragement, as he was 

forced to stand outside the house, waiting to be accepted. Though he had the 

most incredible story to tell about God's deliverance, though he was inspired to 

renew his ministry, he had to stand out in the street, vulnerable to being 

spotted by an unfriendly. After several minutes, he could have just given up and 

decided to go somewhere else. If these people who professed to be his supporters 

wouldn't even accept him right away, maybe this wasn't all that great of an 

organization. Maybe he should try to hook up with someone who really knew how to 

be "in faith". Peter didn't give up, though, and the prayer meeting did 

eventually turn into a celebration. Just because there was a delay in the 

acceptance of the manifestation, it came non-the less, and its slowness in 

coming didn't disqualify or dismiss the celebration. 

	There is a walk for us after the incredible change that overtakes us in 

His presence. As He takes us to a new place in Him, it might be beyond the 

expectations of our supporters. Though they have been praying fervently for the 

will of God in our lives, when the answer comes in a way that might not be what 

they envisioned in their prayer times, it can be met with disbelief. The human 

side of their composition might naturally delay accepting the wonderful thing 

that is taking place in our lives. This may be a time when we can just wait 

patiently in the street, knowing that acceptance will eventually come and it 

will be accompanied with celebration. Their lack of reception at the moment, 

though, should not be a source of frustration or discouragement. God has still 

done the work, He is still performing His perfect will, and there is no doubt 

that His favor has been shown in a great way. As our confidence and assurance 

remains steadfast in Him, we will enjoy their fellowship once again and be taken 

further into His productive will for our lives. His acceptance is never delayed 

and there is always immediate gratification in Him. He will provide grace and 

peace during our time in the street and we'll be able to make it through to the 

celebration. 

	
Eph 1:6  To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved. 

	
5/4/04