The supreme victory that we have in Christ is manifested through our faith in him. 5. Imagine the scene:A dark prison cell, full of criminals and outcasts listening to songs of praise. Anything witchcraft weapons have destroyed in my life, be restored back by fire, in Jesus name. Excerpts and links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to Evangelist Joshua Orekhie with a specific link to the original content. Lord, I call you Ebenezer, for you have brought me thus far. Look, if you heed this advice, and start praying in the midnight hours in the right ways, most of the stubborn problems that have bedeviled you for many years will begin to vanish away mysteriously. We urge you to bookmark this site for more updates. There was the desperate plight of manhis fear, helplessness, and insecurity. MIDNIGHT is the best time to make serious intercession: To the contrary, prayer is a mighty weapon to help in the time of trial. But when the men started sleeping and did not do their work of being vigilant, the enemy came and sowed tares among the wheat and went his way. What was holding Paul and Silas back was shaken and opened. Trinity Confusion, Did Paul Corrupt Christianity, and Did Jesus Claim To Be God? Due to Paul and Silas actions the other prisoners were free and the jailer had an amazing encounter. I think that they were able to see that whatever happened to them had served to advance the gospel. They were able to sing and pray in such a way where people, the jailer, were able to ask them, I know these guys are Christian. They further added that the two men were teaching strange and forbidden doctrines which are against their law. No matter what our circumstances, we can choose to praise God. Read Acts 16:20-24. She was demon-possessed, and the spirit that controlled her enabled her to foretell the . Inspired by what had just happened the jailor was intrigued to learn more What must I do to be saved?Believe in the Lord Jesus. My focus. If you have not trusted Jesus Christ as your Savior, Lord, and treasure, I encourage you to do it nowto believe in the good newsthat Jesus Christ is God incarnate, that he came to earth to die for our sins, and that hes resurrected on the third day so that we can have eternal life and have a relationship with God in heaven. Your email address will not be published. And when I say circumstance, I mean the things that led up to this situationthe things that brought us along to this situation. 1 Kings 3:20(KJV) And she arose at MIDNIGHT, and took my son from beside me, while your handmaid slept, and laid it in her bosom, and laid her dead child in my bosom. Mark and his wife live in Illinois and will soon be empty nesters when their son heads to college. Prayer is the seeking of God's greatest good, which will not come if we do not pray." (b). From the biblical record of Paul and Silas we learn the value of faithful companions and dedicated servants of the Lord in spreading the gospel. When we are able to admit our weaknesses, we can exploit them for the glory of God, show how Christ is superior in and through our weaknesses, get rid of the idols of approval and affirmation, and we can see that we work best when we let God be the strength in our weaknesses. Despite these conditions, political prisoners found ways to resist the authorities' attempts to break their spirits and morale through a variety of recreational and cultural activities. 8. All from witnessing Paul and Silas in jail, living faithful lives to God through their prayer and praise. , in, The Complete Biblical Library Greek-English Dictionary Pi-Rho, , (Springfield, MO: Complete Biblical Library, 1991), WORD. Your prayer requests will be looked unto for intercessory. The consciousness of a helper in heaven is a sustaining power. .and singing hymns to God, and the prisoners were listening to them. Im also a Sunday school teacher and a music leader. Would you read this together with me? And he rejoice to along with his entire household that he had believed in God. I am a slave, a servant, and a son of Christ, and my home is in heaven. A wicked person can stand up at that hour to fire evil arrows. We are looking at all of this here today. So its hard for me to confess this to you, but I feel that its something worth sharing, and I feel that its something that God has something to say about. I bless your name for my situation as unfavourable as they may currently be. The jailer immediately knew who was responsible for the miraculous release and the fact that no one escaped. Paul seems to return to the place of prayer just as he would have the synagogue, had there been one. Do you know that those that exercise midnight prayers, only return back with attacks? ). 26 Suddenly, there was a massive earthquake, and the prison was shaken to its foundations. And suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison were shaken: and immediately all the doors were opened, and every ones bands were loosed., Exodus 12:29-30, And it came to pass, that at midnight the Lord smote all the firstborn in the land of Egypt, from the firstborn of Pharaoh that sat on his throne unto the firstborn of the captive that was in the dungeon; and all the firstborn of cattle. There is no way a person can obtain a total breakthrough without prolonged midnight prayers. We can see the outcome of it all. Prayer is approaching God's throne. Our pastor told a story about a terrible day he had last week. On the way to the place of prayer, a slave girl confronted 6 them. Even in difficult times, in trials and tribulation, in persecution and distress, and pain, God is in control and able to glorify His name. What I mean by this is that we dont sing just to say, Okay, Im going to go through the motions. We sing in such a way that we feel itthat we really mean itthat we really seek to proclaim in our singing. He would have appeared to be linking the gospel with demon related activities. We may be so bound in the prison and stocks of circumstances that we cannot do anything other than pray. 13. If you like, believe this sermon or not. -Transform the lives around you by living a faithful life, Sometimes when we dont know where to start we can pray about prayer. You need to repent thoroughly and forsake all evil ways if you must pray in the midnight. Through the witness of Paul and Silas to the Philippian jailer and his family, the kingdom of God grew. About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the prisoners were listening to them, Berean Standard Bible About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the other prisoners were listening to them. About midnight, God released their chains and the chains of all the prisoners. This will be the outcome for all of us regardless of what kind of prison or situation we are in when the Spirit strengthens our inner man so that our hearts and minds are preserved in Christ Jesus. When you turn there, I want you to ask yourself, how did Paul and Silas find the strength to sing in a worst-case scenario? 26Suddenly there was such a violent earthquake that the foundations of the jail were shaken, and immediately all the doors were opened, and everyones chains came loose. But Paul stopped him. 33He took them the same hour of the night and washed their wounds. !" - Prophet TB JoshuaJoin Prophet TB Joshua for this po. Bible Biography Series Paul: The Missionary Apostle, , (Clinton, IA: LBC Publications, 1995), WORD, George Brooks Preaching Commentary Expositions from the Book of Acts: Volume 2. But thats honestly how I felt during this time. God will show you the secret of your life when you start praying this way. 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. When God opens a door, nobody can close it. Then the jailer called for lights, rushed in, and fell down trembling before Paul and Silas. Therefore, he preferred to go ahead and die the less painful death of suicide. Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window), Click to share on LinkedIn (Opens in new window), Click to share on Reddit (Opens in new window), Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window), Click to share on Tumblr (Opens in new window), Click to share on Pinterest (Opens in new window), Click to share on Pocket (Opens in new window), Click to share on Telegram (Opens in new window), Click to share on WhatsApp (Opens in new window), Click to share on Skype (Opens in new window). As you turn there, Im going to give you a little bit of the backstory. And by the time the person wakes up, he or she will see everything going wrong. This was the start of the church in Philippi. There was the strong witness of the disciples through terrible difficulties. But when we look back to the circumstances of Paul and Silass imprisonment, how they were kept together, how they were seeing and witnessing, how God brought the earthquake, how God caused the jailer to come and talk to them, and how Paul and Silas were bold in this situation, whatever happened, Gods hand was all over it. Her owners were not faithful to Jesus, but rather made money from her predictions. Prayer associated with corporate worship (, It is also interesting that the word "praying" (, ) here in verse 25 means The 3 points are so relevant to our prayer lives: -Have faith even if its as small as a mustard seed, -Set your mind on Christ above not your situations, -Transform the lives around you by living a faithful life. I think that we like to promote ourselves as being strong, confident, and assured of ourselves. I also mean that we need to not only sing when were at church. #FAITH Whatever the case, we should always find time to learn about the great works of God as well as give him praise. His reaction is one of repentance. And He said to them, which of you shall have a friend, and go to him at MIDNIGHT and say to him, Friend, lend me three loaves; for a friend of mine has come to me on his journey, and I have nothing to set before him; And he will answer from within and say, Do not trouble me; the door is now shut, and my children are with me in bed; I cannot rise and give it to you? Acts 16:25 - 26, "And at midnight Paul and Silas prayed, and sang praises unto God: and the prisoners heard them. Paul and . As a result, they had them severely beaten and wounded. And this is more than enough reason to sing. In the name of Jesus, I will march where you say. 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