The Power of Praise and Worship

Give thanks in every circumstance, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus (I Thessalonians 5:18)

 Paul and Silas Free A Salve Girl 

The Apostles Paul and Silas were going to a place of prayer when they were met by a female slave who earned a great deal of money for her owners by fortune-telling. Paul commanded the spirit of divination to leave the girl, and the Word tells us “At that moment the spirit left her” (Acts 16:16-18).

Paul and Silas Unjustly Arrested and Beaten

When the owners realized that their moneymaker was gone, they seized Paul and Silas and dragged them into the marketplace before the authorities. Soon the gathering crowd joined in the attack and the magistrates ordered them stripped and beaten with rods. After their flogging, they were taken under heavy guard, to a cold, dark, subterranean dungeon, where their feet were fastened in stocks.

Today’s Christians Suffer Injustices

Paul and Silas had done nothing wrong, yet they were severely punished because they exposed and thwarted their accusers’ evil practices. Isn’t that what the enemy is doing to today’s Christians who stand by the truth of God’s Word? They are mocked, persecuted, heavily fined, thrown in jail, and even murdered for their faith, but this shouldn’t surprise us.

The Last Days

The Apostle Paul told Timothy that in the last days “men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, [without restraint], fierce, despisers of those that are good, traitors, [rousers], high-minded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God; Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away. For of this sort are they which creep into houses and lead captive, silly women laden with sins, led away with divers lusts, ever learning and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth” (2 Timothy 3:1-7).

The Power of Praise

In the depths of the earth and shrouded in darkness, “about midnight, Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, as the other prisoners listened. This entire scene astonishes me, considering that both men were in painful stocks, bruised, bloody, with their backs splayed open. Yet they had the fortitude and desire to sing songs of praise to God.

How Would We Respond?

I don’t know how I would have responded had I been brutally beaten and thrown into prison when no crime had been committed. I might not have been so eager to praise God. In fact, I might have complained in my misery and pain and asked God why He allowed such brutality and unfair punishment. Fortunately, Paul and Silas fully trusted God and instead of questioning or complaining, they praised Him with all their hearts.

Praise Releases God’s Supernatural Power

Psalm 22:3 tells us that God inhabits the praises of His people. Praise releases God’s supernatural power. That is why we are to praise the Lord no matter what happens and constantly speak of His glories and grace. We are to boast of all His kindness and let all who are discouraged take heart and praise and exalt the Lord (Psalm 34:1-3).

God Responds Suddenly

God responded to the praises of Paul and Silas and “suddenly a great earthquake shook the foundations of the prison and every prison door flung open and the chains of all the prisoners came loose” (Acts 16:26). Just like the chains that were broken off of all prisoners and the prison doors were opened for all who heard Paul and Silas worshipping God, those things that hold us captive can be suddenly broken off our lives when we are intentional in our praise and worship of God.

The jailer woke up, and when he saw the prison doors open, he drew his sword and was about to kill himself because he thought the prisoners had escaped. And it was an automatic death sentence for a jailer, if a prisoner escaped. But Paul shouted, “Don’t harm yourself! We are all here!” (Acts 16:27-28)

God’s Ways Are Above Our Ways

If you are asking why Paul and Silas had to suffer all that they did, God tells us, “For My thoughts are not your thoughts, nor are your ways My ways,” says the Lord. “For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways, and My thoughts than your thoughts (Isaiah 55: 8-9). We, like Paul and Silas, need to trust God in every circumstance and know that He not only has our best interest in mind, but His heart is towards the lost.

Lives Are Changed 

The jailer called for lights, rushed in and fell trembling before Paul and Silas. He then brought them out and asked, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?” I’m sure that he was amazed that the prisoners were still there and overwhelmed by what had happened. When he fell before Paul and Silas, I believe it was an act of contrition and reverence for God’s power (Acts 16:29-30).

Paul and Silas replied, “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved—you and your household” (vs. 31). Then they spoke the word of the Lord to him and to all the others in his house. At that hour of the night the jailer took them and washed their wounds, which was an act of repentance. Immediately, he and all of his household were baptized. The jailer brought them into his house and set a meal before them; he was filled with joy because he had come to believe in God—he and his whole household.

Not Moved by Circumstances

Paul and Silas were not moved by their circumstances. They trusted God and praised Him in song and worship. Then God moved mightily in the midst of a darkened dungeon and the prisoners and the jailer witnessed His delivering power. However, the greatest miracle was salvation and baptism of the jailer and his entire family. What better ending could there have been then having more souls added to the Kingdom of God?

We all have difficulties and trials in life. None of us are immune. Satan’s goal is to destroy our faith, trust, and hope in God, so he attacks us by using a variety of methods. But often God is allowing those trials to not only prove the genuineness of our faith but to bring others to Him.

God looks for our praises in the trials. For when we lift our voices in praise, we are saying to God, “No matter what happens, I will trust and praise You.” And it is in that complete surrender to God and His will, that His heart is moved to act.

PRAYER: FATHER, I confess there are times when I don’t feel like praising You. Help me to have the attitude of Paul and Silas who did not dwell on their circumstances, but instead, they chose to dwell in Your presence as they worshipped You with their whole hearts. In Jesus name, amen.