Tuesday, January 22 2008

AND THE PRISONERS WERE LISTENING

But about midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns of praise to God, and the prisoners were listening to them - Acts 16:25

Paul and Silas were smack dab in the middle of the will of God. They were in exactly the right city (Philippi), doing exactly what God called them to d preach the good news of Jesus Christ and confront the deeds (and demons) of darkness. And you know what happened to them? Trouble with a capital T!!!!!

They ended up before the authorities, charged with leading the Philippians into unlawful customs. As a result, Paul and Silas were beaten over and over again with rods and thrown into the inner dungeon of the prison, undoubtedly a dark, rat infested, and rancid place. To keep them secure, the jailer put their feet in the stocks and locked their hands in chains. What to do?

What do you do when you are smack dab in the will of God and all hell breaks loose? What do you do when your situation is just awful and everything is going wrong?

Paul and Silas began to pray and sing hymns of praise. In the midst of the worst of circumstances, they CHOSE to praise God and sing to Him anyway. "And the prisoners were listening to them," the Bible tells us. That is so profound. The prisoners were listening not because they were great singers... but because they had a song even through the midnight suffering.

WOW!!Without question, God begins to work when we begin to praise. He is greatly honored when we CHOOSE to rejoice in the Lord and sing His praises in the midnight hour. When we honor God, He honors us (1 Sam. 2:30)... and miracles begin.

God sent an earthquake... unfastened the chains... opened the prison doors.. transformed the prisoners)... and saved the hardened jailer and his entire family. All because of two guys who prayed and praised when life was caving in.

Make a choice today to sing His praises and thank Him regardless of the situation. He will respond to your song... and the light of the love and power of Jesus will shine through you to those "prisoners" who secretly watch your life to see if this Christianity thing really makes a difference.