Village Missions: 10-Minute Devotional

Praises from Prison

Good afternoon, Village Missions Family.

I am honored and humbled to bring you our afternoon devotional...

Please take out your copy of God’s Word...

And turn to the Book of Acts.

We are going focus in on Acts 16:25.

The title to today’s devotional is called, “Praises from Prison”

Reading of Text

Acts 16:25 ESV

25 About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the prisoners were listening to them,

1) Suffering for Christ

A little context to this verse...

Paul and Silas, after removing a demon from a possessed fortune teller,...

Are accused of disturbing the peace...

And are dragged into the marketplace before the rulers of the city.

Acts 16:22-23 says that:

Acts 16:22–23 ESV

22 The crowd joined in attacking them, and the magistrates tore the garments off them and gave orders to beat them with rods. 23 And when they had inflicted many blows upon them, they threw them into prison, ordering the jailer to keep them safely.

So, they were beaten and imprisoned for doing God’s work.

To many, this would be a completely dreadful situation.

Some people may get angry at God and curse Him...

Following the horrible advice Job’s wife attempted to give him.

Some others would question God on why He would allowed this to happen while in service to Him...

Kind of like Job’s attitude before God appeared to him and he changed his tune.

.......

However, Paul and Silas have a very different response...

They have a Joyful Response.

2) A Joyful Response

Verse 25 (a): About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God

Paul and Silas were beaten...

But not only that...

Paul and Silas were also imprisoned...

But not only that...

Paul and Silas were also chained up...

.......

Yet, Paul and Silas decided to pray.

But not only that..

Paul and Silas decided to also sing hymns of praise.

.......

They were singing and praising God with bruises up and down their bodies.

They were singing and praising God with prison bars and brick walls surrounding them.

They were singing and praising God with chains shackling them.

And these chains were fastened to their feet...

They were fastened in these stocks designed to induce painful cramping by spreading their legs as wide as possible.

.......

Wow...

.......

Singing and praising while going through all this...

That is true faithfulness to our God...

As James says in James 1:2:

James 1:2 ESV

2 Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds,

And this is a reminder to us all...

This is a reminder on how to joyfully respond to suffering.

We are warned by Jesus that as genuine believers, we will be persecuted as it said in Matthew 5:11:

Matthew 5:11 ESV

11 “Blessed are you when others revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account.

It is not a matter of “if” other persecute you...

But “when” other persecute you.

So, suffering is a guarantee for the life of a believer.

.......

But there is blessing in the suffering.

Jesus says “blessed are you” when they persecute you.

Philippians 1:29 says:

Philippians 1:29 ESV

29 For it has been granted to you that for the sake of Christ you should not only believe in him but also suffer for his sake,

When we suffer for our Lord and Savior it is a blessing...

It calls for a celebration.

It calls for singing and praising.

.......

Keep in mind 1 Peter 2:19-21:

1 Peter 2:19–21 ESV

19 For this is a gracious thing, when, mindful of God, one endures sorrows while suffering unjustly. 20 For what credit is it if, when you sin and are beaten for it, you endure? But if when you do good and suffer for it you endure, this is a gracious thing in the sight of God. 21 For to this you have been called, because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, so that you might follow in his steps.

Brothers and Sisters, we are not greater than our Master.

We must follow His steps.

.......

Also, keep in mind Romans 8:28 which says:

Romans 8:28 ESV

28 And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.

If you are in Christ, then this promise is a pillow to rest your head on.

We may not always know the reason why but by the authority of Scripture I can promise you your suffering for Christ is not in vain.

.......

Whether God is calling you to serve with Village Missions or somewhere else...

There will be suffering...

There will be persecution...

They will revile you...

They will hate you...

They may even attack you...

They may even take your life...

But Brothers and Sisters...

Know that we have a sovereign and mighty God...

And nothing just happens by chance...

It has a blessed purpose.

So, sing in the suffering.

.......

Not just for yourself...

But for others too.

Continue with me as we look at the second half of verse 25.

3) A Powerful Witness

Verse 25 (b): And the prisoners were listening to them

When Paul and Silas responded in the way they did...

People took notice.

This was a powerful witness and testimony.

Paul and Silas used this opportunity to testify to the character of our mighty and awesome God.

So, their faithfulness impact the ones around them.

.......

So, this should be a constant reminder for us to live what we preach and teach.

Others are watching...

And if your reaction is unlike the world...

People will want to know what you have...

They will want to know about the hope that is in you.

They will want to know about this joy you have that the world’s treasures can’t offer.

They will want to know what you have that can make you sing and praise in the middle of suffering.

.......

So, when they ask...

Tell them about who you were and who you are now...

Tell them about the new birth...

Tell them about real hope...

Tell them about who now lives in you...

Tell them about Jesus...

.......

I will close with this wisdom from Peter which is recorded in 1 Peter 4:12-14:

1 Peter 4:12–14 ESV

12 Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery trial when it comes upon you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you. 13 But rejoice insofar as you share Christ’s sufferings, that you may also rejoice and be glad when his glory is revealed. 14 If you are insulted for the name of Christ, you are blessed, because the Spirit of glory and of God rests upon you.

All the glory to our mighty and awesome God.

Amen.