“And at midnight Paul and Silas prayed, and sang praises unto God and the prisoners heard them: and immediately all the doors were opened, and every one’s bands were loosed” (Acts 16:25-26)
Many of you, including myself, have endured or are enduring some very trying circumstances and situations. You may even feel you have been abandoned by our covenant God. This is simply not the case! I want us all to be reminded today about the power of praise and how we have to employ it when encountered by the enemy.
Our praise is so powerful that it not only activates the Kingdom of Heaven, but also can stir the Kingdom of Darkness. Sometimes, we may have to endure circumstances we would rather not.
Please look at the life of Paul and Silas in Acts 16:16-26. As Paul and Silas were going to pray, a woman with a spirit of divination met them. In a Greek military sense, the word for met infers it was a hostile meeting or encounter. As the men of God were going to pray, they encountered this same spirit for many days. When we pray we must be, and stay aware of what the enemy is sending against us. The spirit behind any hostile encounter must be recognized and confronted.
Paul confronted the spirit of divination (a python spirit) and it came out of the woman immediately. Despite that spiritual victory, still Paul and Silas were beaten and whipped (striped) by the magistrates. One of the definitions of “stripes” in the Greek language means a plague. You may say, “Well God says no plague can come near my dwelling” Psalms 91:10). I know many God fearing prophets and leaders who have contracted Covid. They are people of prayer and faith.
Paul and Silas were men of prayer and faith. Because of their anointing to cast out devils, they were locked up in an inner prison and their feet were held fast in stocks. (Acts 16:24) Had God abandoned them? NO! While locked up, as some of you may feel you now are in a spiritual sense, they prayed and sang praises to God, and the prisoners heard them. (Acts 16:25) “Suddenly, because of their praise, there was a great earthquake so that the foundations of the prison were shaken: and IMMEDIATELY all the doors were opened and everyone’s bands were loosed” (Acts. 16:26). Even though, and possibly because these men were men of prayer and operated in the gifts of the Spirit of God, they had to endure physical pain.
I have recently been through a similar situation in my life that lasted 52 days. As I had gathered in prayer with other city leaders at a private residence, I felt what I would describe as the pain of a sharp arrow hitting me in my abdomen. I had never experienced anything like this in my life. After making it through that gathering and seeking much prayer, all of those who prayed for me over the next number of days said the same thing: “This is an attack of witchcraft.” Though we addressed the spirit, I still experienced pain that proved to require medical attention. One of the ultrasounds I was given revealed an abnormality in my body. This led to a biopsy to determine if cancerous cells were present.
Weeks earlier the Spirit of the LORD revealed to me that He would show me great and mighty things (hidden and fenced in) that I didn’t know. (Jer. 33:3) Through x-rays, ultrasounds and a biopsy, the doctors and I could see something hidden within me that I did not know existed. Jeremiah 33:3 pertains to more than spiritual revelation. Through much ministry and prayer, other leaders were able to locate the reason for this attack on me and clear the spiritual accusation against me that was the source of these symptoms. Through much continued PRAISE and TRUST, and the support of others praying, the LORD delivered me. I was “rescued” and consequently received a Pathological report that read, “BENIGN.”
“The human spirit can endure a sick body, but who can bear a crushed spirit?” (Prov. 18:14). As I have learned in my affliction, my spirit had to endure my sick body. If you are suffering right now, please know, the LORD is with you through the physical pain and discomfort. Do not allow your spirit to be crushed by doubting the LORD. The Holy Spirit led me through many scriptures in His beautiful Word while I was having to endure considerable pain. He admonished me to not lose hope, but to continue to trust Him. Even though trust and hope seemed quite contrary to my circumstances, I chose to trust. Although I had to endure physical discomfort, I made it to the other side. I never doubted that the LORD was with me. Throughout the whole ordeal, I learned much about God’s timing and how His is so often very different from ours.
As we praise, God wants to bring a transfer into our lives. There is an appointment for those who mourn. The LORD wants to give us beauty for our ashes, the oil of joy for mourning and the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness. (Isa. 61:3) Let us do it today; praise the Lord! Lift up our voices and praise HIM. Because Paul and Silas never gave up and continued to praise, their reward continued through them to the keeper of the prison who, with his entire household, was saved and baptized. We never fully realize the positive effects our faith and endurance has on others.
We thank you today, Lord. As we praise You, You execute vengeance upon the heathen, and You bind [ungodly] kings with chains” (Psa. 149:7-8).
