POWER OF PRAISE FOR IMPACT

“But at midnight Paul and Silas were PRAYING and SINGING HYMNS to God, and the prisoners were listening to them” – Acts 16:25

Allied to the Power of Prayer is the awesome POWER of PRAISE for IMPACT: “But at midnight Paul and Silas were PRAYING and SINGING HYMNS to God, and the prisoners were listening to them. Suddenly there was a great earthquake so that the foundations of the prison were shaken; and immediately all the doors were opened and everyone’s chains were loosed” (Acts 16:25-26). Paul and Silas faced unexpected trials, but their response is worth emulating. Trying times are a part of life, during which the key issue is not diagnosing how we got where we are, but rather how we are going to respond to what we are facing.

Paul and Silas had recently made their way to Philippi, the leading city of the district of Macedonia, a Roman colony. They were on a mission to spread the gospel when they were suddenly and wrongly accused by an angry slave owner who was irate that the two had taken away his income by delivering his slave girl from an evil spirit. He stirred up a mob against God’s servants, saying they were creating mass confusion in the city. They persuaded the Roman authorities of Philippi to sentence the duo to severe punishment, forgoing a proper hearing, and giving Paul and Silas no opportunity to defend themselves.

After being severely beaten, they were thrown into the innermost part of a prison, most likely a damp, dark, smelly, prison cell with no possible way of escape. They had no idea what the morning would bring or how long their stay in the prison would be. However, rather than respond with fear, discouragement, frustration, or anger, they showed the Power of Faith through Praise! This was spontaneous because it was a commitment Paul had made before this emergency: “Rejoice always, pray continually and give thanks in all circumstances” (1The.5:16-18a). He had determined to let prayer and praise be his response no matter what he was facing. Paul chose to pray and praise his way through any trouble or trial he faced in life. And Silas keyed in too!

In their extreme discomfort and agony, the two chose to praise God at midnight, producing impact for the benefit of all, because God inhabits the praises of His people: “But You are holy, enthroned in the PRAISES of Israel” (Psa.22:3). Praise prepares the Way for God to work, to produce powerful results. God often demonstrates His Power in response to Praise! It is in God’s Character to show up amid our trials and display His Supernatural Power, turning a prison cell into a Place of Praise.