THURSDAY 26th
Acts 16:25 – 34
Our theme for power today is praise & worship. The power of praise. We are all familiar with this story in Acts when Paul and Silas have been arrested quite simply because the power of God had been demonstrated through their lives and ministry. They had delivered a slave girl who had a spirit of divination from the demonic powers that had held her in bondage. Those who owned her and who were making a living through her got angry – the result being that Paul and Silas were arrested and thrown into prison. ‘Oh well’ you can Imagine them thinking, ‘water and porridge for breakfast again.’ They were thrown into the inner prison and fastened in stocks and then spent the night moaning and sulking.
No, the Scripture says that at midnight they were praying and singing hymns to God AND they had an audience, the prisoners were listening to them. There is a lesson we can learn here. Imagine if Paul and Silas had been moaning and groaning, calling the authorities everything under the sun, criticizing the magistrates and maybe even making fun of the guards or the other prisoners. It wouldn’t have been a very good witness seeing that they were servants of God. The prisoners listening wouldn’t have heard or seen a very good Christian example. Instead Paul and Silas used the circumstances to bring glory to God. How are we when we are placed into difficult circumstances, maybe in the work place or even in the community where we live? What kind of signals do we give to those around us as representatives of the Lord Jesus Christ, as sons and daughters of the living God? For although we may not realise it, once they know we are Christians they will be watching us!
As it was, Paul and Silas prayed and sang praises to God. I like the way the Scripture continues ‘. . . AND SUDDENLY there was a great earthquake, . . .’
The day before they had released a slave girl from bondage, now at midnight God was delivering them from a different kind of bondage and as a result we find that the jailor comes to accept Jesus as his Saviour.
At this present time, we may begin to feel like prisoners in our own homes, not being able to go anywhere, how are we going to respond as God’s people. We could moan and groan and whinge or we can accept the circumstances and turn it into opportunity. Among other things we can learn to pray and sing praise like Paul and Silas because there is power in praise. And who knows, the more the people of God sing, praise and pray during this time we may have a ‘suddenly’ moment, God will hear the cry of his children and the praise from their lips and the Coronavirus will be dealt with!
In 1 Thessalonians 5 Paul says, ‘Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, giving thanks IN ALL circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.’ (verses 16-18) Paul could say this because he had practised it, knowing that God will always come through as he did in the prison experience.
With a clean heart I’ll praise You
With a pure heart I’ll honour You
With a right spirit within me
I will magnify Your name
I will magnify Your name
I will magnify Your name
With a heart full of love for you I will magnify your name.
© Chris Bowater CCLI 788682