And it came to pass, as we went to prayer, a certain damsel possessed with a spirit of divination met us, which brought her masters much gain by soothsaying: the same followed Paul and us, and cried, saying, These men are the servants of the most high God, which shew unto us the way of salvation. And this did she many days. But Paul, being grieved, turned and said to the spirit, I command thee in the name of Jesus Christ to come out of her. And he came out the same hour. And when her masters saw that the hope of their gains was gone, they caught Paul and Silas, and drew them into the marketplace unto the rulers, and brought them to the magistrates, saying, These men, being Jews, do exceedingly trouble our city, and teach customs, which are not lawful for us to receive, neither to observe, being Romans. And the multitude rose up together against them: and the magistrates rent off their clothes, and commanded to beat them. And when they had laid many stripes upon them, they cast them into prison, charging the jailor to keep them safely: who, having received such a charge, thrust them into the inner prison, and made their feet fast in the stocks. And at midnight Paul and Silas prayed, and sang praises unto God: and the prisoners heard them. 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 one’s bands were loosed. Acts 16:16-26

In Acts 16

1. Paul and Silas were on mission – going to pray
2. They had a confrontation with the enemy causing the deliverance of an exploited young woman, and triggered the wrath of her exploitive owners
3. The anger of Satan through the owners fell upon Paul and Silas (doing his character, a liar and the father of lies) to put them in jail after an unjust trial and after being physically assaulted!

Is this an expected result of serving the Lord? Most of us do not expect that serving the Lord in truth can put us in trouble (see John 16:33b; Luke 21:8,12-19 (note particularly vs 13); 2 Corinthians 1:5; 4:8-10; Philippians 1:12-14 and note 1 Peter 4:12-19)

… In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world. John 16:33b

But before all these, they shall lay their hands on you, and persecute you, delivering you up to the synagogues, and into prisons, being brought before kings and rulers for my name’s sake. And it shall turn to you for a testimony. Settle it therefore in your hearts, not to meditate before what ye shall answer: for I will give you a mouth and wisdom, which all your adversaries shall not be able to gainsay nor resist. And ye shall be betrayed both by parents, and brethren, and kinsfolks, and friends; and some of you shall they cause to be put to death. And ye shall be hated of all men for my name’s sake. But there shall not an hair of your head perish. In your patience possess ye your souls. Luke 21:12-19

For as the sufferings of Christ abound in us, so our consolation also aboundeth by Christ. 2 Corinthians 1:5

We are troubled on every side, yet not distressed; we are perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; cast down, but not destroyed; always bearing about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our body. 2 Corinthian 4:8-10

But I would ye should understand, brethren, that the things which happened unto me have fallen out rather unto the furtherance of the gospel; wo that my bonds in Christ are manifest in all the palace, and in all other places; and many of the brethren in the Lord, waxing confident by my bonds, are much more bold to speak the word without fear. Philippians 1:12-14

Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you: but rejoice, inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ’s sufferings; that, when his glory shall be revealed, ye may be glad also with exceeding joy. If ye be reproached for the name of Christ, happy are ye; for the spirit of glory and of God resteth upon you: on their part he is evil spoken of, but on your part he is glorified. But let none of you suffer as a murderer, or as a thief, or as an evildoer, or as a busybody in other men’s matters. Yet if any man suffer as a Christian, let him not be ashamed; but let him glorify God on this behalf. For the time is come that judgment must begin at the house of God: and if it first begin at us, what shall the end be of them that obey not the gospel of God? And if the righteous scarcely be saved, where shall the ungodly and the sinner appear? Wherefore let them that suffer according to the will of God commit the keeping of their souls to him in well doing, as unto a faithful Creator. 1 Peter 4:12-19

Paul and Silas through praise and prayer blunted the pain and shame, committed the keeping of their souls to Christ as evident in Acts 16:25. What followed in Acts 16:26-39 poked the finger in the eye of the enemy, bringing more souls out of his kingdom of darkness to God’s marvellous light. More than that, we see the Great Covenant Keeper showing up with proof of His presence with a suffering witness (Isaiah 55:12-13).

Even when consecrated and living in His complete will, always arm yourself with the mind that the accuser, liar and persecutor can come; in patient endurance it will end up in praise and glory.

“Don’t allow what’s wrong with you to keep you from worshipping what’s right with God. With their feet locked in stocks, their backs lacerated with whips, and the unjust contempt of society heaped upon them, the Bible says, ‘At midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God.’ They decided to stop focusing on what was wrong with their circumstances and start focusing on what is right with God. They could have complained, but they made a choice to worship God despite their external circumstances. And that is often the most challenging and crucial choice we can make. It’s similar to hitting the refresh key on your computer. Doing so restores the joy of your salvation, recalibrates your spirit, and renews your mind.

And it empowers you to discover something good to praise God about, even when everything seems to be going wrong. Is it simple? Definitely not. But one of the purest forms of worship is praising God when you don’t want to. ‘Let us continually offer the sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of our lips, giving thanks to His name’ (Hebrew 13:15 NKJV). Note the words ‘sacrifice of praise.’ And it’s a sacrifice that moves God and bring results: ‘Suddenly there was a great earthquake so that the foundations of the prison were shake and immediately all the doors were opened and everyone’s chains were loosed’ (Acts 16:2 NKJV). When you’re in a situation with no way out, praise opens doors. When you’re shackled by lack and limitation, praise breaks chains. So, worship your way through it—Taken from United Christian Broadcasters

Selah.



Pastor Afolabi Oladele