PREVAILING IN PRAYER BY THE WORD (8)

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

PRAISES reinforce the wonder-full reality of PREVAILING IN PRAYER BY GOD’S WORD: “But at midnight Paul and Silas were PRAYING and SINGING HYMNS to GOD, and the prisoners were listening to 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 16:25-26). Through unceasing and combined flow of Prayer and Praise from the hearts and lips of two Men of the Word, the Prison was shaken to its foundations; the prison doors were flung open; bands, chains, and shackles were broken; and a whole household was saved. Prayer and Praise prevailed!

Paul and Silas had traversed Macedonia’s cities in response to the vision of a heavenly invitation (Acts 16: 9-10). At Philippi, the missionary pair were unjustly arrested for casting a religious spirit of divination out of a young girl, thereby debarring her masters of their illicit gain (vv.16-18). The witchcraft merchants in league with the local Philippian authorities, mobilized the multitudes, accused Paul and Silas, beat them and threw them into prison. Besides the severe beating, their arms and feet were fastened in stocks (v.24). Clamping them in such an immobile position might have caused cramps and loss of blood circulation. But these did not deter the pair from praying and praising God!

By the standards of that day, the prison environment was more like a dungeon: dark, damp, stench-ridden, with no waste facility or comfort of any kind. This pit of despair became the platform of Prayer and Praise for Paul and Silas! Despite the aches and pains in their bodies and the hostile milieu, at midnight the two were heard praying and singing hymns to God! This must have been strange to the ears of other prisoners, who were probably accustomed to groans, moans, or cursing. Suddenly, an earthquake shook the prison, and doors flung open. Amazingly, the bonds of Paul, Silas, and all other prisoners were broken! This massive release of power came through Prayer and Praise!

This account of Paul and Silas teaches us how to lift our hearts above troubles and access God’s Presence and Power. Through praise and worship grounded in God’s Word, their hearts were raised into God’s Presence and Peace, which provided a channel for His power to operate in their circumstances. God dwells and is enthroned in the atmosphere of Praise: “But You are holy, ENTHRONED in the PRAISES of Israel” (Psa.22:3). Praise is not a mere emotional reaction to encountering God’s Presence; a vehicle of faith which ushers us into God’s Presence: “Enter into His gates with thanksgiving, And into His courts with praise. Be thankful to Him, and bless His name” (Psa. 100:4).

Paul and Silas seemed to have everything going wrong for them until they experienced God’s supernatural rescue. They focused, not on their surroundings, but on God who delivers, and has a supernatural solution to every situation. They prayed and praised God in the worst of situations and proved that these do not depend on circumstances, knowing that God works all things for the good of His lovers (Rom.8:28). Praise to God is a vehicle of Faith into God’s Presence and Power. The more of God’s Word we know, the stronger our Faith is to engage in Prevailing Prayer and acceptable Praise. The art of Praise is nothing but exercising Power in Prayer. Praise is the “gate-pass” into the sacredness of His Glory! No matter the challenges we may be facing, as people of the Word, Praise with strengthen us to prevail in prayer!