Acts 16:16-21; 25-26; & 30-31
Paul, once known as Saul the persecutor of the early Christians.
In this chapter we see Paul and Silas on a missionary journey. They had gone to several places preaching the gospel. They went to Derbe, Lystra and Iconium. The bible says that the churches that they went to in those cities were strengthened. However, there were some cities that they were forbidden by the Holy Spirit to preach in. Then one evening the Apostle Paul received a vision of a man of Macedonia urging him to come to Macedonia and help them. Immediately Paul arranged for him and his team to go to Macedonia to preach the gospel. So, they arrive to the city of Philippi which is the capitol of Macedonia a Roman colony.
Vs. 16 we see Paul and Silas going to the place of prayer (the synagogue) and there they are met by a slave girl who had a spirit of divination. Some call it a python spirit or a soothsayer. She was a prophetess controlled by is python spirit. The Greek term for “divination” in this verse is pythōna. The origin of the Greek word is rooted in Greek mythology, which includes the story of Apollo slaying a serpent or dragon that dwelt in the region of Pytho and was said to have guarded the oracle of Delphi. It was by this spirit that this slave girl made her owners rich. Kind of like the fortune tellers of today or that lady from Long Island Medium who goes around telling people that she can communicate with their deceased loved ones….and she’s making money from it.
The slave girl is following Paul and Silas around town saying, “these men are servants of the most high God who proclaim to you the way of salvation” Now what she was saying was true, but it was not by the spirit of God. She wasn’t saying it because the Holy Spirit was leading her to say it. She was saying it by the spirit of divination being a distraction!!!
Paul got annoyed why?!?
1 John 4:1 – Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world.
Whenever an anointed man or woman of God is present demons will begin to manifest.
Look at Jesus with the man who was bound by a legion of demons. The bible says that as He arrived in the region of Gadarenes that the demons began to shout out “What do You want with me, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? I beg You before God not to torture me!”
Paul annoyed turns around and says to the demon, not the girl, but the demonic python spirit that was oppressing her…. I command you to come out of her and the demon left her that same hour.
Now what do you think happened after that? Her owners were mad at Paul and Silas because their bread & butter was gone. The girl was useless to them. The owners have Paul & Silas arrested. They lied and falsely accused them and said that these Jews are disturbing the city and teachings customs that are not lawful for us to receive or observe because we’re Romans.
When you say what God wants you to say people are going to be upset. When you are about your father’s business and you’re saying what thus saith the Lord, people are going to be angry. They’re going to lie on you. They’re going falsely accuse you. They’re going criticize you and condemn you. They’re even going to insult you. But Jesus said in
Matt 5:11 – 12 – Blessed are you when others revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you.
Paul & Silas have messed up the slave girl’s handler’s lucrative business. They’ve been falsely accused of disturbing the peace. They’ve accused of teaching a false religion that is against the customs and traditions of the Roman Empire. Now the crowd is saying “Beat them” “Strip them naked” “Lock them up.”
Not only did they lock them up they put them in the inner prison and put their feet in stockades.
But then midnight came. Someone midnight. This is where the crux of our text comes to light…. Midnight is the darkest hour. Things happen at midnight…. most people in this type of situation would be afraid or would murmur or complain…. oh, woe is me……nobody knows the trouble I see….
We must remember to give thanks. 1 Thess 5:18 says, in everything (all things) give thanks for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you. It does not mean that you have to be thankful for the situation, but while you’re in the situation give God thanks.
The bible says that Paul & Silas began to pray and sing hymns. Hymns are religious odes that celebrate God in song…. imagine they’re in prison….in the deepest darkest dungeon….in stockades and they’re praying and singing songs of praise to God…. they’re celebrating…. they’re counting it all joy concerning the diverse trials…. they were rejoicing.
1 Peter 4:14
If you are insulted for the name of Christ, you are blessed, because the Spirit of glory and of God rests on you.
1 Peter 4:16
But if you suffer as a Christian, do not be ashamed, but glorify God that you bear that name.
They were rejoicing in prison…. they were singing hymns in prison…. they were bound, but yet free….in prison……
We ought to always praise God no matter what the situation may be…
Psalm 34: 1-6 – I will bless the Lord at all times: his praise shall continually be in my mouth. My soul shall make her boast in the Lord: the humble shall hear thereof and be glad. O magnify the Lord with me and let us exalt his name together. I sought the Lord, and he heard me, and delivered me from all my fears. They looked unto him and were lightened: and their faces were not ashamed. This poor man cried, and the Lord heard him, and saved him out of all his troubles.
It’s good to praise God in every situation…. Not jest when things are going well, but even when things are bad. It’s easy to praise God when things are going well, but can you praise God when things are bad?!?
Vs. 25. The bible says that the prisoners heard them. Here they are in the same situation as Paul and Silas. In the same dungeon. Don’t know when they’re going to see the light of day.
People are watching you and how you’re living this life of Christianity. How are you representing the kingdom? We’re supposed to be living epistles. What type of epistle are you? They’re watching you to see how you carry yourself in bad situations. They’re watching how you handle adversity. You’re always talking to your family and friends about the Lord & how God is good and the blessings of the Lord, but what do they see when things are bad? Are you still praising God when it’s midnight?
Vs. 26 – suddenly there was a great earthquake that shock the foundation of the prison.
When you praise God in your situation miracles signs & wonders begins to happen that will shake the very foundation of any prison any situation that you find yourself. It will shake it to the very core.
Why? The bible says in Ps. 22:3 that God inhabits the praises of Israel. He inhabits the praises of His people. One version says that He is enthroned in the praises of Israel. God enthrones himself in our praises. He sits down and abides and makes himself at home in our praises. You want God in your home praise Him. You want God to help you in your situation. Praise Him. Let everything that have breathe praise the Lord!!!
When God is in your praise things have got to change. The atmosphere has to shift. There will be miracles signs and wonders.
There was an earthquake, and the bible says that the foundation shock and the doors opened, and everyone’s shackles were loosed.
The prison guard wakes up afraid. So much so that he was about to kill himself.
Paul stopped him Do thyself no harm: for we are all here and the prison guard cried out “what must I do to be saved?!?”
You see what your praise can do?!? The people around you will hear your praise in spite of the prison in spite of the circumstance. I heard her always talking about God and how He’s a way maker, miracle worker, promise keeper, & a light in the darkness, but I didn’t believe her until I say the manifestation of Him making a way of out no way. I didn’t believe her until I saw the miracle. I didn’t believe her until I saw the promise kept…. I didn’t believe until I saw Him move in my own life… tell someone there’s power in your praise….
Sirs what must I do to be saved…. Paul answers him and says believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and thou shalt be saved…. not just you but your entire household!!! They weren’t even there, but the power of God to save was so mighty that it even went into the jailer’s household because of his faith….
Now this is the best part…. The jailer now takes them out of the prison and takes them home with him. The bible says that vs. 34 – And when he had brought them into his house, he set meat before them, and rejoiced, believing in God with all his house.
Read the rest of the chapter…. the bible says that the judges having heard what happened sent word to the jailer to let Paul & Silas go…. but Paul demanded that since they falsely accused them and casted us into prison let them come and say it to our faces….and they did….
The devil had to restore them…. this is what happens when you praise God miracles signs and wonders happen. Shackles are loosed. Doors are opened and people get saved.
Women of Purpose & Destiny 