PAUL AND SILAS EXPERIENCE A MIRACLE IN ANSWER TO THEIR PRAISE
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Perhaps it takes a purer faith to praise God for unrealized blessings than for those we once enjoyed or those we enjoy now. – A.W. Tozer –
When do we praise God? Is it on the mountaintop? In times of abundance and blessings from heaven, our praise comes naturally. We recognize the Lord’s presence with us. Our hearts are full and we sing His praises. We honor Him for His love and favor toward us.
What about in the valley? Do we remember to praise Him there? In times when God seems distant… when troubles and worries abound… we often forget the only One who can help. We feel weary and distressed, focusing upon our adversities.
Yet praise can be our spiritual weapon, as Paul and Silas well knew. In Acts 16, we encounter these disciples traveling on the second missionary journey. When they meet upon a servant girl possessed by an evil spirit, Paul miraculously delivers her in the name of Jesus. The disciples have no chance to revel in this miracle, as events quickly devolve.
The servant girl’s owners are furious, for her demonic gift of divination brought them much wealth. Paul and Silas are seized and brought before the magistrates. They are wrongly accused and severely beaten. The jailer throws them in prison, deep in an inner cell, and fastens their feet in stocks. Praising God may not have seemed like a first reaction to such a dark predicament.
About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the other prisoners were listening to them. – Acts 16:25
Scripture says that God is enthroned in the praises of His people (Psalm 22:3). Paul and Silas know that praise is their only weapon. They believe that the One who has rescued them in the past will rescue them again.
The Lord acts powerfully on behalf of those who believe. Paul and Silas could have looked only at their dire and hopeless situation. Instead, they choose to sing praises for their unrealized blessings. Imagine the impact their witness has upon the listeners present. What glory to God!
Suddenly there was such a violent earthquake that the foundations of the prison were shaken. At once all the prison doors flew open, and everyone’s chains came loose. – Acts 16:26
God’s great power shakes the prison foundations. The prison doors open and all the prisoners’ chains of bondage are broken. The Lord works a mighty miracle in answer to the resolute faith of Paul and Silas. Their hymns of praise shut down the enemy’s plans.
The jailer is terrified. For under Roman law, he must face execution if any prisoner escapes. He draws his sword to kill himself, when Paul and Silas alert him to their presence.
The jailer called for lights, rushed in and fell trembling before Paul and Silas… and asked, ‘Sirs, what must I do to be saved?’ ‘Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved.’ – Acts 16:29-31
Paul and Silas choose not to leave because they could see that God had a higher purpose for them there. The disciples have the opportunity to share the gospel to the jailer and the members of his household. Their wounds are cleansed and they are fed. They then baptize all the new believers. The jailer is filled with joy at his newfound salvation. The enemy is defeated and God is glorified!
Through Jesus, therefore, let us continually offer to God a sacrifice of praise. – Hebrews 13:15
Our praises bring glory to God. In praise, we come into His mighty presence and unite our spirits with His. We remember His mighty power to act on our behalf. We turn our focus upon His victory instead of our troubles.
Praise is a spiritual weapon against the enemy. When we resist him, he will flee from us (James 4:7). Since God inhabits our praises, the enemy has no choice but to take flight. Darkness must depart in the presence of Light.
I will bless the Lord at all times; His praise will always be on my lips. – Psalm 34:1
What power there is in praise! Whether on the mountaintop or in the valley, when we sing praises to our Lord the enemy is silenced. Our faith is deepened as we discover God’s peace in the midst of our trials. Let us remember our spiritual weapon. As David proclaims in this psalm, let us praise the Lord always.
† Eternal Takeaway – Our spiritual weapon of praise invites God to do the miraculous †
