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Gird Up Thyself
(the answer to heaviness, self-pity, self-focus, and sluggishness)
Acts 12:1-11; 1 Pet 1:3-16, Heb Luke 17:6-10
By Dan Li
April 2, 2022
A Bleakness
There are times of bleakness, times of difficulty, times when Satan would seek to destroy us when we have been doing the will and work of God.
Peter was in prison for preaching the Gospel, and the church was praying. There had been loss of James to the sword (Acts 12:2), Peter had been arrested and was surrounded by and guarded by 4 squads of soldiers- a seemingly impossible situation, according to the natural mind. There was a feeling of bleakness, but the church prayed anyway:
Prayer
Acts 12
5 Peter therefore was kept in prison: but prayer was made without ceasing of the church unto God for him.
Peter Was Sleeping
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.
Sometimes during difficult times, times of trial, the heaviness of the situation and heaviness of our heart, we find ourselves sleepy. This happened with the disciples when Jesus took Peter, James, and John to the garden to pray before He was to be betrayed and crucified. Jesus told the disciples that He was going to be betrayed, arrested, mistreated/abused, crucified and killed. The disciples’ heart was heavy with this news.
Somethings are heavy, and we don’t know what else to do. Jesus told them to pray with Him one hour, so they would not enter into temptation. Even Jesus’ heart was heavy also. So Jesus prayed, asking His Father to take this cup if possible, “but nevertheless Your will be done.” The disciples slept. Jesus awoke them twice, and told them to pray, but they didn’t because their hearts were heavy.
As Peter was in this jail cell, knowing that Herod had killed James and was of a mind to kill others of the disciples, heavily guarded by 4 squads of guards, I wonder what Peter was going through. I wonder if Peter was at peace in his mind knowing no matter what happened, he had been washed by the blood of Jesus, forgiven, and Heaven was in his future. Perhaps he remembered Jesus’ Words to him, how that when he was old…, so he knew he would be old, so he could not be killed. Perhaps Peter’s heart was heavy because of the bleakness of the situation, not knowing how things would quite turn out. But even as Peter was being delivered, it was dream-like, surreal, maybe because he had been sleeping heavily and was not quite awake yet. Or maybe because his mind was having a hard time processing what was going on, it seemed so surreal. It doesn’t really matter because all this was eclipsed by God sending deliverance to him.
God Sent His Word, by the Hand of an angel. He smote Peter to Get His Attention
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.
The Instructions: Gird Thyself, Prepare for Action
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.
Peter Later Writes This for Us To Remember- Recall Your Salvation, and The Promised Final Deliverance
1 Peter 1
3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,
4 To an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you,
5 Who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.
We Rejoice In Our Salvation Though for a Little While, Difficulties…
6 In this you rejoice, though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been grieved by various trials, 7 That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ:
Believing and Loving Jesus Through It All
8 Whom having not seen, ye love; in whom, though now ye see him not, yet believing, ye rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory: 9 Receiving the end of your faith, even the salvation of your souls.
WHAT A GREAT SALVATION !!!! – Recall it !
10 Of which salvation the prophets have enquired and searched diligently, who prophesied of the grace that should come unto you: 11 Searching what, or what manner of time the Spirit of Christ which was in them did signify, when it testified beforehand the sufferings of Christ, and the glory that should follow.12 Unto whom it was revealed, that not unto themselves, but unto us they did minister the things, which are now reported unto you by them that have preached the gospel unto you with the Holy Ghost sent down from heaven; which things the angels desire to look into.
The Effect of the Recollection of Your Salvation and Knowing Your Hope in the Lord Jesus
13 Therefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and hope to the end for the grace that is to be brought unto you at the revelation of Jesus Christ; 14 As obedient children, not fashioning yourselves according to the former lusts in your ignorance: 15 But as he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of living; 16 Because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy. 1 Pet 1:13-16
ESV says in verse 13, “Therefore, preparing your minds for action…”
Peter Wrote By The Holy Ghost of the Importance of Recollection, to Stir-up, to Gird-up One’s Self When Forgetful, When Lost Sight:
2Pet 1:11 For so an entrance shall be ministered unto you abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. 2Pet 1:12 Therefore I will not be negligent to put you always in remembrance of these things, though ye know them, and be established in the present truth. 2Pet 1:13 Yea, I think it meet, as long as I am in this tabernacle, to stir you up by putting you in remembrance;
2Pet 3:1 This second epistle, beloved, I now write unto you; in both which I stir up your pure minds by way of remembrance: 2Pet 3:2 That ye may be mindful of the words which were spoken before by the holy prophets, and of the commandment of us the apostles of the Lord and Saviour:
The Writer of Hebrews Also Speaks of Girding-up One’s Self By Rememberance
12 Therefore lift up the hands which hang down, and the feeble knees; 13 And make straight paths for your feet, lest that which is lame be turned out of the way; but let it rather be healed. 14 Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord: Heb 12:12-14
Gird-up to Obey First, Then You Will Receive
Luke 17
6 And the Lord said, “If ye had faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye might say unto this sycamore tree, Be thou plucked up by the root, and be thou planted in the sea; and it should obey you.” 7 “But which of you, having a servant plowing or feeding cattle, will say unto him by and by, when he is come from the field, Go and sit down to meat?” 8 “And will not rather say unto him, Make ready wherewith I may sup, and gird thyself, and serve me, till I have eaten and drunken; and afterward thou shalt eat and drink?”
It Is Enough For Us That We Have Such A Great Salvation
Luke 17
9 “Doth he thank that servant because he did the things that were commanded him? I think not.” 10 “So likewise ye, when ye shall have done all those things which are commanded you, say, We are unprofitable servants: we have done that which was our duty to do.”
Glory to God !!!!
Review:
– Stir-up Yourself by Recollection
– Spend Time In Prayer
– Gird-up Yourself when Instructed by the Lord (Hoist Yourself Up from Heaviness/sleepiness)
– Obey First (faith in action, though you don’t feel it), Serve the Lord, Then You Will Receive
