Stop whinging - start praising
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· 30 viewsPrayer and praise changes things. A look at Paul and Silas in prison and how we apply this to ourselves.
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Do you know that when we worship things change?
when we move into that place where we focus on worshipping the Living God things happen.
Things happen in the spiritual realm. Things happen in the natural world.
The spiritual impacts on the natural when God breaks through.
Th
When we worship, we join the in habitants of heave calling
Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God, the Almighty, who was and who is and who is to come.”
We align ourselves with the 24 elders in Revelation, that leave their thrones and
10 the twenty-four elders fall down before him who sits on the throne and worship him who lives for ever and ever. They lay their crowns before the throne and say:
11 “You are worthy, our Lord and God,
to receive glory and honor and power,
for you created all things,
and by your will they were created
and have their being.”
Primarily worship is about stopping the focus on me and moving the focus to Him.
We worship Him not because of the things he does, or the things he is going to do but because he is The I AM. We worship because God is God.
We may sing of the promises that God has made. We may have songs that talk about things that God has done but at the core of our worship is not the whats but the Who. We worship - Jesus, We worship the Great I AM, We worship our Father God Expand.
Worship Him because he is I am.
We worship be cause he is worthy - he is Holy and we are made to worship him.
Is anyone like me though? Sometimes it is hard to get in to worship.
I don’t like the worship it’s too loud, too slow, too fast, too new, too ancient.
I don’t like the worship its too loud, too slow, too fast, too new, too ancient.
I don’t feel like it, I’m not very happy. I’m annoyed at the kids, or my parents or....
Worship is not about Feeling it is about choice - it is about decision.
when we don’t feel like worshipping is often the point when we really need to worship. I don’t know about you but the times that I do not feel like spending time with God are the times in my life where I need to get into His presence more than ever.
When we
8 I, John, am the one who heard and saw these things. And when I had heard and seen them, I fell down to worship at the feet of the angel who had been showing them to me. 9 But he said to me, “Don’t do that! I am a fellow servant with you and with your fellow prophets and with all who keep the words of this scroll. Worship God!”
rev22 :8-9
Not always easy to be in that place.
Not always easy to be in that place.
Having lost in a fire virtually everything they owned, the Spafford family made new plans, including a move from Chicago to Europe. Horatio Spafford planned the trip for his wife and four daughters to be as trouble-free as possible. To transport them from America to France, he booked passage on a huge ship, and made sure they had Christians with whom to fellowship in route. He planned to join them a few weeks later.
In spite of much careful preparation, Mr. Spafford's plans suddenly dissolved when the ship carrying his loved ones was rammed by another vessel and sank, carrying his four beloved daughters to the bottom. His wife arrived in Wales safely nine days later and telegraphed her husband the awful news that all four of their children had drowned. Spafford left Chicago to go and bring his wife home. As they cross the Atlantic, the captain came and told him when they were passing over the spot where his daughters had died.
At that place, Horatio Spafford took a pen and paper and wrote these words while passing over the spot where his daughters perished:
When peace, like a river, attendeth my way,
When sorrows like sea billows roll;
Whatever my lot, Thou has taught me to say,
It is well, it is well, with my soul.
It took great faith for Horatio Spafford to write those words. God took the worse experience of his life and turned it into a song of praise and hope.
Thank God I have not been placed in a situation as painful as Spafford’s but I know the restorative power praising God, I remember when Margaret passed away, driving back from the hospital to her house, and back here. I prayed I, praised, I gave thanks - The simple act of praising and seeking to worship was not just a distraction from my sadness, but something changed.
Paul and Silas in prison.
Paul and Silas in prison.
In Paul and Silas found themselves in a difficult prison of oppression and suffering. this was not the first time Paul was in prison, he knew from experience that a prison is not on the face of it a place where you are going to be thankful that you are there, yet Paul and Silas experienced God moving, in their lives and in the lives of other. They received everything they needed transform a prison of pain into a place of praise and a place where God’s glory was evident.
The story starts with Paul and Silas casting out a demon from a girl - a good deed. Except that...
19 When her owners realized that their hope of making money was gone, they seized Paul and Silas and dragged them into the marketplace to face the authorities.
They received everything they needed transform a prison of pain into a prison of praise. I would like to examine their experience for a little while today. It may be that someone here is locked away in a prison of pain. I want you to see that God can take your pain and turn it into praise for His glory.
the Girls was a slave to her owners and to the demon. - Paul and Silas did what was right for the girl but Paul and Silas are falsely accused by men with their own agenda, who cared for nothing but money. These men did not care for the poor demon possessed child of whom they made their living. They were not above lying and scheming to exact revenge on those they felt had done them wrong.
The evidence the men gave about Paul and Silas was the false. All they had done was preach the Gospel and set a poor tortured soul free from bondage. They were doing their best to serve the Lord and still trouble came.
I am sure you have heard the expression ‘if at first you don’t succeed, try, try and try again’ but it is easy when we are faced with trials to follow its modern counterpart ‘if at first you don’t succeed, give up its not worth the hassle’
We can read through acts and the letters of Paul that he faced unfairness, obstacles, accusations and abuse - this was one of those times.
We read that Paul and Silas were stripped and beaten with rods. They were then thrown into the inner prison - High Security and thrust into stock. This was no prison like anything we have in this country. Our modern prisons would have been like a five-star resort compared to where these men found themselves.
Most likely, they would have been thrown into a deep, dark cell either an inner cell with no windows or an underground room that would have been the nastiest place you could ever imagine. They would have been chained amid mud, filth and human waste. It would have been a dank, dark, dreary, dirty, disgusting, dangerous dungeon. They were there for no other reason but for faithful, obedient service to the Jesus.
The stocks were designed to keep the feet spread apart not just restrained to make it really uncomfortable, as sitting, or laying would be painful
The stocks were designed to keep the feet spread apart not just restrained to make it really uncomfortable, as sitting, or laying would be painful
Paul and Silas had every natural reason to be downcast and want to give up they had followed the Lord to Philippi and now they are sitting, chained in a cruel Roman prison they were hurting, humiliated and in need of some encouragement.
When Paul and Silas found themselves in this prison experience, they were hurting, humiliated and in need of some encouragement.
So they prayed and worshipped.
Acts
Turn a place of misery into a place of Personal Ministry
Turn a place of misery into a place of Personal Ministry
25 About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the other prisoners were listening to them.
In their hour of need they had no man to whom they could turn for help. They turned to the only source of help available to them. They turned to God and lifted their hearts to Him in prayer and praise.
Paul and Silas instinctively did something we seem not to grasp. They knew the best place to find the help of a Friend in a difficult situation is to turn to Jesus.
These men knew something that so many saints never get a handle on. They knew the best place to find the help of a Friend in a difficult situation is to turn to the throne of grace. The saints have a Friend Who cares deeply about them, . He has promised to hear their prayers, . He has promised to answer their prayers, .
We have a Friend Who cares deeply about us, Hebrews tells us
15 For we do not have a high priest who is unable to empathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet he did not sin. 16 Let us then approach God’s throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.
He has promised to hear Our prayers
He has promised to hear Our prayers
3 ‘Call to me and I will answer you and tell you great and unsearchable things you do not know.’
and He has promised to answer them, .
14 This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us. 15 And if we know that he hears us—whatever we ask—we know that we have what we asked of him.
He has promised to answer their prayers, .
When we find ourselves experiencing the times in our lives that are hard - we have these great promises, but we need to trust in them. Even though we are sitting in the mud - or worse, we need to pray and praise - we may be sitting on the floor unable to go lower but we are still children of the Most High - we need to live and respond like we are.
When you find yourself locked away in a prison experience, you can always find a friend Who cares and Who is available to help you. Learn to lean on Him in prayer and your prison will be transformed.
When we Praise and Worship even when we do not feel like it we turn the place of Pity into a place of personal ministry where the Holy Spirit can minister to our souls.
Turn a place of misery into a place of Ministry to others
Turn a place of misery into a place of Ministry to others
When we rise above the natural and live in the presence of God it has an amazing effect on the folks around us.
You see when we act like the world, bitching, moaning, giving up, feeling sorry for our selves the world looks at us and thinks ‘whatever! been there done that, had worse’.
But when we hold onto God and praise him even when we are down, people stop.
It is not natural, it counter cultural - they take notice. The natural effect of praising in the hard times is that people stop, they watch they listen they are looking for the source of our hope.
Hope is a powerful emotion, one that overcomes loss, loneliness, fear and uncertainty. It is more powerful than happiness and as one quote puts it - “for without hope, what do any of us have?”
“for without hope, what do any of us have?”
People around us are desperate for hope and we the local church are the hope of the world.
You are the church - when you display hope it is attractive.
We hear that as Paul and Silas praised
25 About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the other prisoners were listening to them.
In the original language the verb to listen - it is more than just hearing - it is an eagerness to hear, they were hanging on every word that Paul and Silas uttered desperate to know the source of their Faith. I tend to talk about faith and hope as related terms - faith is my hope and Gods certainty.
I tend to talk about faith and hope as related terms - faith is my hope and
Gods certainty. I have many hopes for my time at the Vine. Two are simple,
I hope to be able to meet and chat to many of you in the village and I hope
Faith and hope are two things this world really needs, when we speak of them or better still when we demonstrate them with our words, our attitudes and actions - people around you will be transfixed.
not to make too many mistakes. My first mistake was missing the deadline
for the November issue of this magazine. I also have faith that God can do
amazing things despite my mistakes.
Paul and Silas, when they worshipped with faith and hope turned that place of Misery into a place of Ministry for the other prisoner.
uncertainty. It is more powerful than happiness and as one quote puts it
“for without hope, what do any of us have?”
Faith and hope are two things this world really needs, when we speak of them or better still when we demonstrate them with our words, our attitudes and actions - people around you will be transfixed.
How many of us have people we know that would benefit from being ministered to by the Lord Most high? I’ll tell you a truth, you will never get them to church if you don’t display hope and faith. Hope is attractive and living in faith, that combination of hope and certainty - is the measure of our authenticity as followers of Christ.
Charles Spurgeon said, “Any fool can sing in the day. It is easy to sing when we can read the notes by daylight; but the skilful singer is he who can sing when there is not a ray of light to read by.... Songs in the night come only from God; they are not in the power of men.”
Let’s not be people that sit with the world and sing songs of Misery - “Gloom, despair and agony on me. Deep dark depression, excessive misery. If it weren’t for bad luck we’d have no luck at all. Doom, despair and agony on me.”
We are called to be a light in the world.
When we can praise in the middle of our trials, we have a powerful testimony. A testimony that says, “My God is real when things are going well, and my God is real when everything falls apart. He is God and He is sufficient!” That is a powerful message to the world. When we join in this song - God steps in...
Then God Steps in.
Then God Steps in.
26 and suddenly there came a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison house were shaken; and immediately all the doors were opened and everyone’s chains were unfastened. 27 When the jailer awoke and saw the prison doors opened, he drew his sword and was about to kill himself, supposing that the prisoners had escaped. 28 But Paul cried out with a loud voice, saying, “Do not harm yourself, for we are all here!” 29 And he called for lights and rushed in, and trembling with fear he fell down before Paul and Silas,
When we pray and praise God steps in. As we speak into the heavenly realms, God changes things in miraculous ways.
Suddenly, foundations of prison shaken, immediately All of a sudden, God moved in power and one moment all the prisoners were chained down and the next moment, they were all free! One moment, things looked bleak, but in the next moment, the power of the Lord changed the situation and things began to look better!
ANSWER TO PRAYERS
(Ill. How you and I respond in the prisons of life is something we should pay close attention to. After all, God may have sent us there just so we could help someone else to see that God is an ever present, all-sufficient, all mighty God. Let’s notice how God used this prison to get glory to His name and to bring others to Himself.)
A. v. 26 The Majesty Of God’s Power – Notice the language of this verse: Suddenly, foundations of prison shaken, immediately – This is a verse packed with action! All of a sudden, God moved in power and one moment all the prisoners were chained down and the next moment, they were all free! One moment, things looked bleak, but in the next moment, the power of the Lord changed the situation and things began to look better!
God may change your situation immediately as with Paul and SIlas, he may calm the waves as He did for the Disciples on the ship, . (optional verse)
17 where they got into a boat and set off across the lake for Capernaum. By now it was dark, and Jesus had not yet joined them. 18 A strong wind was blowing and the waters grew rough. 19 When they had rowed about three or four miles, they saw Jesus approaching the boat, walking on the water; and they were frightened. 20 But he said to them, “It is I; don’t be afraid.” 21 Then they were willing to take him into the boat, and immediately the boat reached the shore where they were heading.
Or, He may Step in and change you in your situation as He did Paul and Job.
However, God steps in, you can be sure that He will move in power when the time is right.
The SYNERGY between - being in a place of MINISTRY to others and God moving is immense.
He has a plan to set you free! He has not forgotten about you. He knows where you are. He knows the pressure. He knows about the horrors of whatever prison you are in and He knows how to set you free.
Did you notice that even though they were free, they were still in prison? They were made free while they were still in their prison experience. God can and will do that in your life. When He does, it is a display of awesome, Almighty power! Sometimes the freedom comes before the situation changes. That freedom is there for a demonstrative purpose in that situation.
In Paul and Silas’ case the story unfolds.
29 The jailer called for lights, rushed in and fell trembling before Paul and Silas. 30 He then brought them out and asked, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?”
31 They replied, “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved—you and your household.” 32 Then they spoke the word of the Lord to him and to all the others in his house. 33 At that hour of the night the jailer took them and washed their wounds; then immediately he and all his household were baptized. 34 The jailer brought them into his house and set a meal before them; he was filled with joy because he had come to believe in God—he and his whole household.
Sometimes our ‘prison experiences’ are to benefit others. Sometimes we may never get an answer to why we go through some experience. Sometimes God will send you into a prison experience for His Own purposes and you may never know why these things have happened to you.
6 As they pass through the Valley of Baka,
they make it a place of springs;
the autumn rains also cover it with pools.
Why did God allow these men to go through this prison? All they had done was serve the Lord! After that are released, they go meet with the brethren and immediately leave town. Is it possible that God allowed Paul and Silas to be beaten, thrown into prison and locked in the stocks just so He might use them in Philippi? Is it possible that God allowed them to endure all that pain and suffering just so God could get glory in Philippi? Is it possible that He sent them to prison just to save a jailer and his family? If you look at the outcome of this event, you will see that God used these events to save the jailer and his family, v. 27-34; to testify to the city officials, v. 35-39; and to encourage the saints and to teach them that God was greater than any prison or problem they would face, v. 40.
B. v. 27-33 The Majesty Of God’s Providence – Why did God allow these men to go through this prison? All they had done was serve the Lord! After that are released, they go meet with the brethren and immediately leave town. Is it possible that God allowed Paul and Silas to be beaten, thrown into prison and locked in the stocks just so He might use them in Philippi? Is it possible that God allowed them to endure all that pain and suffering just so God could get glory in Philippi? Is it possible that He sent them to prison just to save a jailer and his family? If you look at the outcome of this event, you will see that God used these events to save the jailer and his family, v. 27-34; to testify to the city officials, v. 35-39; and to encourage the saints and to teach them that God was greater than any prison or problem they would face, v. 40.
What is important though is that as we go through these experiences He is honoured, and we are used as a vessel of honour for His glory and through our faith we are a light of Hope for those around us.
(Ill. Sometimes you never get an answer to the why questions. Sometimes God will send you into a prison experience for His Own purposes and you may never know why these things have happened to you. But, does it really matter as long as He is honored and we are used as a vessel of honor for His glory? You can rest assured that even when life makes no sense at all, God has a purpose for everything He allows in your life, ; . Paul understood this truth, . He knew the truth of , “God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Therefore will not we fear, though the earth be removed, and though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea.”
We can be assured that even when life makes no sense at all, God has a purpose for everything He allow us to encounter.
Paul understood this truth he knew the truth of
19 for I know that through your prayers and God’s provision of the Spirit of Jesus Christ what has happened to me will turn out for my deliverance. 20 I eagerly expect and hope that I will in no way be ashamed, but will have sufficient courage so that now as always Christ will be exalted in my body, whether by life or by death. 21 For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain. 22 If I am to go on living in the body, this will mean fruitful labor for me. Yet what shall I choose? I do not know!
1 God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble. 2 Therefore we will not fear, though the earth give way and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea,
Every day we face life as part of God’s plan for us. His plan is a good plan and He knows what He is doing. Our duty is to trust Him at all times and realise that even the things that hurt us are sent to grow us and to shape our lives for His glory. He is worthy to be praised whether we are at the top of a mountain or sitting in the dirt of a prison cell. How we respond in these situations is the opportunity for Gods glory to be demonstrated and hope (or faith) to be planted in our hearts and those around us.
He knew the truth of , “God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Therefore will not we fear, though the earth be removed, and though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea.”
What we face in life is part of God’s plan for us. His plan is a good plan and He knows what He is doing. Our duty is to trust Him at all times and realize that even the things that hurt us are sent to grow us and to shape our lives for His glory, ; ; . Blessed is that saint who will allow the Lord to have His way in that saint’s life!)
Conc: When the prison door slams behind you and you find yourself locked down tight in the shackles of your pain and problems, you may feel that there is no reason to praise the Lord. If you will turn your heart toward Heaven, He will hear you and He will help you to lift your voice in praise to Him. You will also find that He will give you peace in your heart that He will use your prison for His glory and for your good
As we bring this to a close, I want to remind you of two things.
Conclusion - A hard truth
Conclusion - A hard truth
The power of out prayers and the power of praise to change situations
When we pray in his will, when Jesus joins with us and intercedes on our behalf. - when our prayers become His...
18 “Truly I tell you, whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.
And the power of praise.
In 2 Chronicles when the Lords Army was to go to war against the ..... the Moabites, Ammonites and Meunites. The people came to complain about the overwhelming odds. The commander of the Lord’s Army, Jeshosephat stood up, not to strategise, not to to give a pep talk but to praise the Lord - He understood that that battle was not theirs but the Lords.
As the people - Men, women and children praised and sang words that are familiar to us… Give thanks to the Lord for his love endures forever.
God set traps and ambushes against their enemies and the battle was won.
If you are feeling up against it, this is a word for you - the battle belongs to the Lord. Stop whining start praying and praising - just because you don’t feel like it changes nothing about the worthiness of God.
I know this is a hard message, but it is truth and a truth I can testify to and I know others here can too.
My Favorite Illustrations What Constitutes a Family?
What Constitutes a Family?
A family is not simply a group of people dwelling under one roof. By that definition any hotel or prison could qualify. A family is not a group of people bearing the same name. Persons with the same name may live all over the nation and be total strangers.
A family can have a variety of compositions—parents and children, a married couple without children, a single parent and children, among others. Family is not simply people but a spirit of oneness. It is a spirit produced through loving and longing, laughter and tears, shared joy and sorrow, mutual struggle and respect, faith and joy and sorrow, mutual struggle and respect, faith and faithfulness, and a common pursuit of worthy goals.
My Favorite Illustrations What Constitutes a Family?
What Constitutes a Family?
A family is not simply a group of people dwelling under one roof. By that definition any hotel or prison could qualify. A family is not a group of people bearing the same name. Persons with the same name may live all over the nation and be total strangers.
A family can have a variety of compositions—parents and children, a married couple without children, a single parent and children, among others. Family is not simply people but a spirit of oneness. It is a spirit produced through loving and longing, laughter and tears, shared joy and sorrow, mutual struggle and respect, faith and joy and sorrow, mutual struggle and respect, faith and faithfulness, and a common pursuit of worthy goals.
Key Verse: About midnight Paul and Silas were praying. They were also singing hymns to God. Suddenly there was a powerful earthquake. It shook the prison from top to bottom. All at once the prison doors flew open. Everybody's chains came loose. -
Materials: small, squishy ball
Personal Connection:
Ask: Did you know that God lives in the places where people are praising Him? That is so neat because it means that when we praise God, He is right here with us! God is delighted when He hears us praising Him! There’s a really cool story in the Old Testament
1 After this, the Moabites and Ammonites with some of the Meunites came to wage war against Jehoshaphat.
2 Some people came and told Jehoshaphat, “A vast army is coming against you from Edom, from the other side of the Dead Sea. It is already in Hazezon Tamar” (that is, En Gedi). 3 Alarmed, Jehoshaphat resolved to inquire of the Lord, and he proclaimed a fast for all Judah. 4 The people of Judah came together to seek help from the Lord; indeed, they came from every town in Judah to seek him.
5 Then Jehoshaphat stood up in the assembly of Judah and Jerusalem at the temple of the Lord in the front of the new courtyard 6 and said:
“Lord, the God of our ancestors, are you not the God who is in heaven? You rule over all the kingdoms of the nations. Power and might are in your hand, and no one can withstand you. 7 Our God, did you not drive out the inhabitants of this land before your people Israel and give it forever to the descendants of Abraham your friend? 8 They have lived in it and have built in it a sanctuary for your Name, saying, 9 ‘If calamity comes upon us, whether the sword of judgment, or plague or famine, we will stand in your presence before this temple that bears your Name and will cry out to you in our distress, and you will hear us and save us.’
10 “But now here are men from Ammon, Moab and Mount Seir, whose territory you would not allow Israel to invade when they came from Egypt; so they turned away from them and did not destroy them. 11 See how they are repaying us by coming to drive us out of the possession you gave us as an inheritance. 12 Our God, will you not judge them? For we have no power to face this vast army that is attacking us. We do not know what to do, but our eyes are on you.”
13 All the men of Judah, with their wives and children and little ones, stood there before the Lord.
14 Then the Spirit of the Lord came on Jahaziel son of Zechariah, the son of Benaiah, the son of Jeiel, the son of Mattaniah, a Levite and descendant of Asaph, as he stood in the assembly.
15 He said: “Listen, King Jehoshaphat and all who live in Judah and Jerusalem! This is what the Lord says to you: ‘Do not be afraid or discouraged because of this vast army. For the battle is not yours, but God’s. 16 Tomorrow march down against them. They will be climbing up by the Pass of Ziz, and you will find them at the end of the gorge in the Desert of Jeruel. 17 You will not have to fight this battle. Take up your positions; stand firm and see the deliverance the Lord will give you, Judah and Jerusalem. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged. Go out to face them tomorrow, and the Lord will be with you.’ ”
18 Jehoshaphat bowed down with his face to the ground, and all the people of Judah and Jerusalem fell down in worship before the Lord. 19 Then some Levites from the Kohathites and Korahites stood up and praised the Lord, the God of Israel, with a very loud voice.
20 Early in the morning they left for the Desert of Tekoa. As they set out, Jehoshaphat stood and said, “Listen to me, Judah and people of Jerusalem! Have faith in the Lord your God and you will be upheld; have faith in his prophets and you will be successful.” 21 After consulting the people, Jehoshaphat appointed men to sing to the Lord and to praise him for the splendor of his holiness as they went out at the head of the army, saying:
“Give thanks to the Lord,
for his love endures forever.”
22 As they began to sing and praise, the Lord set ambushes against the men of Ammon and Moab and Mount Seir who were invading Judah, and they were defeated. 23 The Ammonites and Moabites rose up against the men from Mount Seir to destroy and annihilate them. After they finished slaughtering the men from Seir, they helped to destroy one another.
24 When the men of Judah came to the place that overlooks the desert and looked toward the vast army, they saw only dead bodies lying on the ground; no one had escaped. 25 So Jehoshaphat and his men went to carry off their plunder, and they found among them a great amount of equipment and clothing and also articles of value—more than they could take away. There was so much plunder that it took three days to collect it. 26 On the fourth day they assembled in the Valley of Berakah, where they praised the Lord. This is why it is called the Valley of Berakah to this day.
27 Then, led by Jehoshaphat, all the men of Judah and Jerusalem returned joyfully to Jerusalem, for the Lord had given them cause to rejoice over their enemies. 28 They entered Jerusalem and went to the temple of the Lord with harps and lyres and trumpets.
29 The fear of God came on all the surrounding kingdoms when they heard how the Lord had fought against the enemies of Israel. 30 And the kingdom of Jehoshaphat was at peace, for his God had given him rest on every side.
31 So Jehoshaphat reigned over Judah. He was thirty-five years old when he became king of Judah, and he reigned in Jerusalem twenty-five years. His mother’s name was Azubah daughter of Shilhi. 32 He followed the ways of his father Asa and did not stray from them; he did what was right in the eyes of the Lord. 33 The high places, however, were not removed, and the people still had not set their hearts on the God of their ancestors.
34 The other events of Jehoshaphat’s reign, from beginning to end, are written in the annals of Jehu son of Hanani, which are recorded in the book of the kings of Israel.
35 Later, Jehoshaphat king of Judah made an alliance with Ahaziah king of Israel, whose ways were wicked. 36 He agreed with him to construct a fleet of trading ships. After these were built at Ezion Geber, 37 Eliezer son of Dodavahu of Mareshah prophesied against Jehoshaphat, saying, “Because you have made an alliance with Ahaziah, the Lord will destroy what you have made.” The ships were wrecked and were not able to set sail to trade.
). Israel’s enemies were lined up to go to war against them. God told His people to get ready to do battle, but instead of going out with a war cry, He wanted them to sing His praises. Because they obeyed Him, God fought the battle for them, and Israel’s enemies were all defeated!
. Israel’s enemies were lined up to go to war against them. God told His people to get ready to do battle, but instead of going out with a war cry, He wanted them to sing His praises. Because they obeyed Him, God fought the battle for them, and Israel’s enemies were all defeated!
Hands on Application:
Say: is a psalm that praises the Lord God. Let’s read it together and see who is supposed to praise the Lord.After reading , ask: Who should praise the Lord? How do you think the sun and moon praise Him? What about the lightning and hail? Did you see yourself in that psalm? (Hint: Look at verse 12.) How do you praise God?
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Intro: Having lost in a fire virtually everything they owned, the Spafford family made new plans, including a move from Chicago to France. Horatio Spafford planned the trip for his wife and four daughters to be as trouble-free as possible. To transport them from America to France, he booked passage on a huge ship, and made sure they had Christians with whom to fellowship in route. He planned to join them a few weeks later.
In spite of much careful preparation, Mr. Spafford's plans suddenly dissolved when the ship carrying his loved ones was rammed by another vessel and sank, carrying his four beloved daughters to the bottom. His wife arrived in Wales safely nine days later and telegraphed her husband the awful news that all four of their children had drowned. Spafford left Chicago to go and bring his wife home. As they cross the Atlantic, the captain came and told him when they were passing over the spot where his daughters had died.
At that place, Horatio Spafford took a pen and paper and wrote these words while passing over the spot where his daughters perished:
When peace, like a river, attendeth my way,
When sorrows like sea billows roll;
Whatever my lot, Thou has taught me to say,
It is well, it is well, with my soul.
It took great faith for Horatio Spafford to write those words. God took the worse prison experience of his life and turned it into a prison of praise and hope.
Paul and Silas found themselves in a difficult prison of oppression and suffering. In that prison they experienced the great grace of God. They received everything they needed transform a prison of pain into a prison of praise. I would like to examine their experience for a little while today. It may be that someone here is locked away in a prison of pain. I want you to see that God can take your pain and turn it into praise for His glory. Let’s notice some of the facts pointed out in this passage as we think on the subject: The Prison Of His Praises.
I. v. 16-24 IT IS A PLACE OF MISERY
(Ill. When Paul and company arrived in Philippi, they expected great things to happen. After all, the Lord had very clearly sent them to that city, v. 6-12. His will was further revealed when Lydia and some others came to faith in the Lord, v. 13-15. As soon as the Lord started blessing, however, the devil began his work. Ill. The Context of verses 16-24. These men were in the Lord’s will, doing the Lord’s work and still trouble came into their lives. They found themselves in a place of misery. Let’s examine that place together.)
MOVE TO WORSHIP
The problem with their story is the fact that nothing those men said about Paul and Silas was the truth. All they had done was preach the Gospel and set a poor tortured soul free from bondage. They were doing their best to serve the Lord and still trouble came. Have you ever been there?
B. v. 22-23 The Misery Of The Arrest – Ill. The Context. When the rest of the people of Philippi heard the false accusations of the men, they turned on Paul and Silas like a pack of rabid dogs. They hauled them into court; there they were beaten and thrown into prison. The word “cast” means “to throw something with no concern for where it lands”. These men were beaten like common criminals and thrown into prison. All they had done was preach the Gospel and try to help someone and their troubles got worse and worse. Have you ever been there?
Most likely, they would have been thrown into a deep, dark cell that would have been the nastiest place you could ever imagine. They would have been chained amid mud, filth and human waste. It would have been a dank, dark, dreary, dirty, disgusting, dangerous dungeon. They were there for no other reason but for faithful, obedient service to the Lord Jesus Christ. Have you ever been there?
(Note: I know that I touch this note a lot in my preaching, but God never said this life would be easy. The Bible is very clear that the opposite would be true. , “Therefore I hated life; because the work that is wrought under the sun is grievous unto me: for all is vanity and vexation of spirit.” , “For all his days are sorrows, and his travail grief; yea, his heart taketh not rest in the night. This is also vanity.” Other verses teach the same truth, ; .
Jesus told His disciples that trouble was not a possibility; it was an absolute certainty, ! I guess you have noticed by now that this life is hard. It seems sometimes like God’s children bear more than their share of trials and troubles, Ill. Asaph and .
There are going to be some rough times along the way. There will be some hard times, times when trials and suffering will dominate you life. There will be times when you will do your best to serve the Lord, but He will still put you in a prison situation. It will be a place of misery and suffering. Sometimes it will be worse than you can ever imagine. Spouses die, diseases come, children rebel, marriages fail, and sometimes life hurts. And all the good deeds, good prayers, good hopes, good wishes, and good thoughts will not be able to prevent you from going into a prison experience from time to time.
I know that is not what anyone wants to hear, but those are the facts as the Bible declares them. There will be some places of misery along the path of life. Have you ever been there?
If you have, I need to tell you that you will probably go there again. If you haven’t I can say that you will go there some. If you are there right now, I want you to know that there is hope in your place of misery.)
II. v. 25 IT IS A PLACE OF MINISTRY
A. A Place Of Personal Ministry – When Paul and Silas found themselves in this prison experience, they were hurting, humiliated and in need of some encouragement. After all, they had followed the Lord to Philippi and now they are sitting, chained in a cruel Roman prison. In their hour of need they had no man to whom they could turn for help. They turned to the only source of help available to them. They turned to God and lifted their hearts to Him in prayer.
These men knew something that so many saints never get a handle on. They knew the best place to find the help of a Friend in a difficult situation is to turn to the throne of grace. The saints have a Friend Who cares deeply about them, . He has promised to hear their prayers, . He has promised to answer their prayers, .
When you find yourself locked away in a prison experience, you can always find a friend Who cares and Who is available to help you. Learn to lean on Him in prayer and your prison will be transformed.
B. A Place Of Profound Ministry – As they prayed, their prison was transformed from a place of pain into a place of praise. Paul and Silas began to sing songs of praise unto the Lord. We do not know what they sang, but we can be sure that they did not sing “Gloom, despair and agony on me. Deep dark depression, excessive misery. If it weren’t for bad luck we’d have no luck at all. Doom, despair and agony on me.”
These men are in a terrible predicament. They have been serving the Lord faithfully. They followed Him even when His will did not make sense to them. Now they are in a prison because they did the right thing. They are in a prison because they have been lied about. They are in a prison, wounded, bleeding and chained. Yet, they are filled with the praises of the Lord. They had learned the profound truth of and .
Ill. Charles Spurgeon said, “Any fool can sing in the day. It is easy to sing when we can read the notes by daylight; but the skillful singer is he who can sing when there is not a ray of light to read by.... Songs in the night come only from God; they are not in the power of men.”
When we find ourselves in one of the bitter prisons of life, and we turn to the Lord for the help we need to make it through that prison, God can turn our sighing into song. He can turn our trials into testimony. He can turn our pain into praise. He can take a time of profound heartache and transform it into a time great help.
May God help us to do as many of the great saints of God have done. May He help us to have a song in the midnight hour. May He help us to be like Job, . May He help us to be like Paul, . May He give us grace to praise Him when the pressure is on!
C. A Place Of Powerful Ministry – “and the prisoners heard them” – This phrase means that the other prisoners were “listening intently” to Paul and Silas as they prayed and praised the Lord. They were amazed by what they were hearing! Here were two men who had been severely beaten, carelessly thrown into the inner prison and fastened down in the stocks. Yet, they are not moaning and groaning. They are praising their God and singing love songs to him. That is a powerful ministry!
I would just remind you that a lost world is watching you and me as go through our prison experiences. They could care less about us when we are filled with joy and everything is going well; but they are all eyes and ears when trouble comes into our lives. They watch us to see how we will react when the pressure is place on our lives. They want to see if our faith is real when we go into the prison house of suffering.
(Ill. I have seen saints on both sides of this thing. I have seen some fall to pieces when trouble comes. I have seen others lean on the strong arms of a loving God and praise Him in the face of overwhelming pain and suffering. I can tell that those who can praise the Lord in their trials have a powerful testimony. Their testimony says, “My God is real when things are going well and my God is real when everything falls apart. He is God and He is sufficient!” That is a powerful testimony; and it is a testimony that we should all strive to have in our lives! Ill. )
(Ill. How you and I respond in the prisons of life is something we should pay close attention to. After all, God may have sent us there just so we could help someone else to see that God is an ever present, all-sufficient, all mighty God. Let’s notice how God used this prison to get glory to His name and to bring others to Himself.)
A. v. 26 The Majesty Of God’s Power – Notice the language of this verse: Suddenly, foundations of prison shaken, immediately – This is a verse packed with action! All of a sudden, God moved in power and one moment all the prisoners were chained down and the next moment, they were all free! One moment, things looked bleak, but in the next moment, the power of the Lord changed the situation and things began to look better!
(Ill. Whether you recognize it or not, the prison is a place of power! God may change your situation as He did for the Disciples on the ship, . Or, He may change you in your situation as He did Paul and Job. Either way, you can be sure that He will move in power when the time is right and set you free. He has a plan to set you free! He has not forgotten about you. He knows where you are. He knows the pressure. He knows about the horrors of the prison and He knows how to set you free.
Did you notice that even though they were free, they were still in prison? They were made free while they were still in their prison experience. God can and will do that in your life. When He does, it is a display of awesome, Almighty power!)
B. v. 27-33 The Majesty Of God’s Providence – Why did God allow these men to go through this prison? All they had done was serve the Lord! After that are released, they go meet with the brethren and immediately leave town. Is it possible that God allowed Paul and Silas to be beaten, thrown into prison and locked in the stocks just so He might use them in Philippi? Is it possible that God allowed them to endure all that pain and suffering just so God could get glory in Philippi? Is it possible that He sent them to prison just to save a jailer and his family? If you look at the outcome of this event, you will see that God used these events to save the jailer and his family, v. 27-34; to testify to the city officials, v. 35-39; and to encourage the saints and to teach them that God was greater than any prison or problem they would face, v. 40.
(Ill. Sometimes you never get an answer to the why questions. Sometimes God will send you into a prison experience for His Own purposes and you may never know why these things have happened to you. But, does it really matter as long as He is honored and we are used as a vessel of honor for His glory? You can rest assured that even when life makes no sense at all, God has a purpose for everything He allows in your life, ; . Paul understood this truth, . He knew the truth of , “God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Therefore will not we fear, though the earth be removed, and though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea.”
What we face in life is part of God’s plan for us. His plan is a good plan and He knows what He is doing. Our duty is to trust Him at all times and realize that even the things that hurt us are sent to grow us and to shape our lives for His glory, ; ; . Blessed is that saint who will allow the Lord to have His way in that saint’s life!)
Conc: When the prison door slams behind you and you find yourself locked down tight in the shackles of your pain and problems, you may feel that there is no reason to praise the Lord. If you will turn your heart toward Heaven, He will hear you and He will help you to lift your voice in praise to Him. You will also find that He will give you peace in your heart that He will use your prison for His glory and for your good.
If you are in a prison experience today let me encourage you to bring your need to Him. Let me encourage you to allow Him to turn your prison of pain into a prison of praise. If there are needs, bring them to Him.