Proclamation:
“After
they had been severely flogged, they were thrown into prison, and the jailer
was commanded to guard them carefully.
When he received these orders, he put them in the inner cell and
fastened their feet in stocks. About
midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the other
prisoners were listening to them. Suddenly
there was such a violent earthquake that the foundations of the prison were
shaken. At once all of the prison doors
flew open, and everyone’s chains came loose.”
Acts 16:23-26 (NIV)
Explanation:
These
words were written under the influence of The Holy Spirit of God by Luke, the
physician and frequent traveling companion of the Apostle Paul. While they were on their way to the place of
prayer, Paul and Silas met a female slave who was possessed by a spirit which
allowed her to predict the future. She
earned a great deal of money for her owners by fortune-telling. She follow them for several days and kept shouting,
“These men are servants of The Most High God, who are telling you the way to be
saved.” After a while Paul became
annoyed with her and commanded the demon to come out of her and it left
her. Her owners realized that their
money making source was gone, they seized Paul and Silas and took them before
the authorities and accused them of advocating unlawful practices. (Acts
16:16-22)
Application:
After seeing what happened, the keeper of the prison led them out, took them to his house, washed their wounds, fed them, and he and his whole family were baptized. (Acts 16:27-34) God can make the impossible, happen. He can make your enemies your footstool. He can turn those who were beating you down into someone who helps you to move up a little higher. Jesus said, "With men this is impossible, but with God all things are possible." (Matthew 19:26) He also said, "... All things are possible to him that believes." (Mark 9:23) The chains of life’s bad situations can be broken and weeping can be changed to joy. (Psalm 30:5) As believers, we are only as powerful as our prayers. "Little prayer, little power; much prayer, much power; no prayer, no power." (Author unknown) God still hears and answers prayers.
After seeing what happened, the keeper of the prison led them out, took them to his house, washed their wounds, fed them, and he and his whole family were baptized. (Acts 16:27-34) God can make the impossible, happen. He can make your enemies your footstool. He can turn those who were beating you down into someone who helps you to move up a little higher. Jesus said, "With men this is impossible, but with God all things are possible." (Matthew 19:26) He also said, "... All things are possible to him that believes." (Mark 9:23) The chains of life’s bad situations can be broken and weeping can be changed to joy. (Psalm 30:5) As believers, we are only as powerful as our prayers. "Little prayer, little power; much prayer, much power; no prayer, no power." (Author unknown) God still hears and answers prayers.
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