Satan tries to stop god's people from serving Him by by finding a way to confine us in prisons - using our physical state to affect our mental and spiritual demeanor.

God on the other hand sets us free through Jesus to serve Him without fear whatever the circumstances.

I'm told that there are three ways that Satan tries to confine us and that we can see him attempting to do all three of these in the life of the Apostle Peter.

One classic case that was shown to me occurs in Acts, Chapter 12, verses 6-9 where Peter is imprisoned with an implied death sentence over him.

Acts 12:6 Peter was sleeping between two soldiers, bound with two chains, and sentries before the door were guarding the prison. 7 And behold, an angel of the Lord stood next to him, and a light shone in the cell. He struck Peter on the side and woke him, saying, “Get up quickly.” And the chains fell off his hands. 8 And the angel said to him, “Dress yourself and put on your sandals.” And he did so. And he said to him, “Wrap your cloak around you and follow me.” 9 And he went out and followed him.

Now notice what physical things the devil used to try to negate Peter's faith.

1. Satan binds Peter in chains and will attempt to do the same to us. He tries to put the fear in our minds that we will not be able to fulfill God'd plans for us, so that we will give up hope.

Peter though is a new creation and so are we! Peter was told he was going to die, but unlike the occasion when Jesus was on trial, this time Peter is not afraid. In fact he is so relaxed about it he goes to sleep! He knew Jesus had called him to preach the word (as he has us), and he had accepted the calling. Thus, knowing whom he worshipped, he knew he could not die until God had fulfilled that calling in him. Might as well get some sleep!

2. Satan had taken away his sandals signifying an attempt to take away Peter's ability to complete his walk following Jesus and preaching the gospel. But, even if satan is able to impede us temporarily, we know that when Jesus opens a door it cannot be shut by any other! Jesus shows Peter here that because He is with us always, if we look to Jesus, He will free us to continue our walk after the Spirit.

3. Peter had his cloak taken away from him. Satan was attempting to make Peter think that His protection had been removed. But this will never be the case for a believer. Jesus said that He would never leave us or forsake us. Our High Priest can always help us to overcome! Our cloak of protection, which is Jesus Himself since we are cloaked by Jesus' righteousness, is always in place. We have to keep being aware of it and let Jesus live his life through us.

1 Corinthians 15:57 But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.

Never give up. No prison can hold you. Jesus always gives us the victory.