Message by Larry Thacker Jr from November 17, “Prayer, Praise, and Power”
We like to think that if we do everything right, our lives will be easier. There is some truth in that. In general, when we do life God’s way, it works better. But when we really set out to serve Him, there’s no guarantee of smooth sailing. Jesus warned us that we would face opposition. He also told us what to do about it, and some of those instructions are contrary to our natural inclinations.
He said in Matthew 5:11-12, “Blessed are you when people insult you and persecute you, and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of Me. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward in heaven is great; for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.”
The early apostles took this to heart. consider Paul and Silas (Acts 16.) They went where God told them to go, and immediately began to share the good news of Jesus with the people there, starting with some women they met at a place of prayer by the river. When a slave girl who was a fortune teller began to follow them, annoying Paul, he made the evil spirit leave her, thus depriving her masters of the profits from her profession. So, they stirred up the local officials, and Paul and Silas were beaten with rods and thrown in jail.
Wrongly imprisoned, wounded, chained to the wall in filthy conditions, their only company some number of criminals locked away with them, Paul and Silas began to pray and sing. If they felt any anger or discouragement at their circumstances, they put it aside, knowing that God would turn even this for their good and His glory. It didn’t take long! The earth shook. the doors flew open, and the chains fell away. Everyone’s chains! We don’t know what happened to the other prisoners that were there that night, but we know that they were listening as Paul and Silas prayed and sang. It must have affected them sufficiently that they did not run for the doors when given the chance, because when the jailer was about to kill himself, thinking his charges escaped and no doubt dreading what the Romans would do to him, Paul yells out, “Do not harm yourself, for we are all here!” (v. 28)
By the end of that night, the jailer and all of his family had become believers and had been baptized. A new family was added to the fledgling Philippian church. This account should encourage us all. Trouble will come. Sometimes we make it for ourselves, but even then God can turn it around. Sometimes it comes just because we live in a trouble world. Other times, it comes because we did exactly what we were supposed to do. If we will first turn to the Lord in prayer, and then continue to openly and unashamedly praise His holy name, we will see Him do great things. Not only will we be set free, but so will those who hear us.
