Standing at the grave of your little child. Watching your house burn to the ground. Losing your job when you have mounting bills. Watching your spouse walk out on you, never to return. Can anyone be expected to praise God in the midst of these or other various difficult blows? Sometimes it just seems impossible. In today’s Scripture reading from the Book of Acts we read of two men who did just that, praise God in the midst of some very terrible circumstances, and the result that happened when praise came against some of the worst that Satan dished out.
As our passage opens, Paul and Silas had come bringing the Gospel of Jesus to the northern Greek city of Philippi. They were walking through the city and a slave girl who was possessed by demons which had given her divination powers, followed them. She was calling out that they were messengers from God (vs. 16-18). This girl was a fortune teller in contact with evil, demonic spirits who gave her this power. God has very strictly forbidden involvement with fortune-telling and other occult activities (Leviticus 19:31; Leviticus 20:6; Deuteronomy 18:10-13; Galatians 5:19-21). Christians are to have nothing to do with such activities. Even though what she said about Paul and Silas was true, the source was still an evil spirit, a demon, and Paul would have nothing to do with that. He did not want to appear to link the Gospel with demon related activities. Truth and evil do not mix.
Paul cast this evil demon out of her, and when her masters saw that her occult abilities were gone they were furious. She couldn’t earn money for them, so they got the city leaders to arrest the two (vs. 19-24). They did not investigate the charges, conduct a proper hearing, or give Paul and Silas a chance to defend themselves, which Paul had a right to being a Roman citizen. They were illegally punished, since they had not been convicted of any crime. Instead they were severely beaten with rods, put in stocks, and chained in jail.
So what did these two do? Cry and moan in jail as to how unfair this was? Did they protest against God as to why He let this happen when they were doing His work? No, though chained in painful stocks, with their backs, arms and legs beaten raw from rods, they prayed and sang hymns and praises to God (vs. 25). They were not complaining or focusing on their circumstances. They set their hearts on God and all that He had done for them and through them in their ministry. What happened then? God heard their praises and responded. He caused an earthquake that shook the prison, causing their chains to become undone and the doors to fly open (vs. 26). The jailer was going to kill himself, as he was responsible for the prisoners, but Paul kept him from that (vs 27-28).
The jailer had heard these two prisoners pray and sing praises to God. He knew this was really strange, as every other prisoner he had known either cursed, cried, or moaned. These two praised God! And then he saw what happened! This was amazing! He wanted what they had, and asked the two what he must do to be saved. Paul and Silas didn’t hesitate to tell him the message of Jesus. The jailer brought them to his home, cared for their wounds, and allowed the two to witness to his family, as well (vs. 30-34).
Paul and Silas knew the power of praising God, even in dark times. They were thrown in prison after being beaten with rods. They were chained against the wall, bleeding and with wounds unattended. They were in prison, but not imprisoned in their hearts. They chose to praise God for who He is in spite of the circumstances. Then God moved in power! Thanksgiving and praise opens impossible doors and shakes loose chains.
Because of Paul and Silas giving praise, the jailer repented and was saved, being led to give his life to Jesus. Does our life and testimony, especially in the midst of difficulties, compel others to ask “What must I do to be saved?” Even in the worst situations, God is worthy of our praise. Because of their testimony, the jailer and his whole family were saved. They became some of the earliest members of the church in Philippi, the church that the Book of Philippians was written to. All because of praise in the midst of tribulation.
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