Pastor Barry's  "Chapter & Verse"  Day 50

February 19;   Acts 16:25;   105/260(VI);   ‘Midnight Praise’

Acts 16:25 But at midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the prisoners were listening to them.

Paul and Silas were in Philippi.  A young girl possessed by a spirit of divination kept following them.  The men who she ‘worked for,’ prospered greatly by her fortune telling.  She distracted Paul and Silas several days and finally Paul, cast that spirit out of her, using the Name of Jesus.  The men she worked for were greatly angered and dragged Paul and Silas to the authorities.  They made up lies about Paul and Silas and had them beaten and arrested.  They were put into the inner prison and their feet were fastened with stocks.  Think of this.  Being beaten for doing the Lord’s work and setting that young woman free.  What was their attitude in prison?  The Bible says that they were praying and singing hymns to God.  They had to be praying and singing pretty loudly because the other prisoners heard them.  God sent an earthquake and the prison doors were opened and the prisoners’ chains fell off.  No one escaped, Paul and Silas led the jailer and his family to Jesus. Then they were released.  Praise is faith in action.  I heard someone say, “Your maturity in the things of God is based on how much it takes to discourage you.” Their attitude in these circumstances, especially when they were doing the work of the Lord, shows their undauntable faith and character.  Actions like this blesses God, and then He blesses us, changing the circumstances we find ourselves in.  His ways work.  You have to mature in Christ to do these things.  Once you live in a similar manner that Paul and Silas did, praising the Lord regardless of the circumstances clearly tells everyone one thing, you are free.