A Melody at Midnight
Notes
Transcript
And all of God’s people said amen, amen again, and amen one more time.
We are gathered here today to celebrate the life and legacy of our dear brother, Patrick Ferbee. I pray that something that is said or sung will bring Joy, Peace, and happiness in the days ahead. I’m reminded of a scripture that says, In the book of Isaish that says "He gives power to the weak and strength to the powerless." So as we go forward with today, remember that God is with you, and he will give you strength in these sorrowful times.
“Read through and follow the program the program”
Pray
Give Honor
Dr. Kirk T. Houston, Sr.
Eartha Watson
Text: Acts 16: 25-26
25 And at midnight Paul and Silas prayed, and sang praises unto God: and the prisoners heard them. 26 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.
A Melody at Midnight
A Melody at Midnight
A famous poet once stated, “It’s not how you live in the light that enlightens you, but its how you live in the dark. and true enough, If i went around the room, many of you can give me a tip or two, of what I should do, when I’m living in the light, but very FEW would want to tell us, what to do, in the dark.
Brothers and sisters, I’d like to take this time, to give you a few tips,
on how to handle, what may seem, like a dark situation.
There are a few people who can tell us, what to do in the dark.
If we look at the life of Hezekiah, it would show us, that if we encounter a dark situation, pray unto God and He will reverse some things.
If we look at the life of Daniel, it would show us, that if we encounter, a dark situation, Rest in God, and he will make was supposed to overtake you, lay down.
If we look at the life of Abraham, it would show us, that if we encounter a dark situation, Trust God, and he will provide a ram in the bush.
while all of those are great lives to model after. I believe that there is something that we can take, from our dear brother patrick, that will help us when we encounter a dark situation.
I was talking to Sis. Eartha Watson the other day, and she informed me that Patrick was loving, Kind, and giving…
but she also informed me, that pactrick did not mind. singing a song. That wherever he was, what ever he was doing, he was always, singing a song.
and I believe, that if we look at Patrick’s life, it would show us, that reguardless of the circumstances that life may bring, don’t be afraid, to sing your song.
THE TRUTH OF THE MATTER IS, it’s easy to sing a song in the light of life. When life is good, its easy to sing, but there is are a few lessons we can learn, about singing a MELODY AT MIDNIGHT.
Here in the text where we find Paul and Silas are jailed and changed for doing the work of the Lord.
Earlier in the chapter Paul and Silas were doing ministry, and found a girl saying great things about them, but she had the wrong heart. and I want to stay here for a quick moment, (Not everyone who is trying to comfort you, is doing it with a good heart)
Paul and Silas casted the demon out of this girl, which initally got them thrown in prison.
While they are in prison, The bible says, At Midnight, Paul and Silas are praying and singing hymns to God, and the prisoners were listening to them.”
There are a few BENEFITS OF SINGING A MELODY AT MIDNIGHT.
THE FIRST BENEFIT IS,
COMPELS LISTENERS
The bible says that Paul and Silas are praying and singing hymns unto God and the Prisoners were LISTENING.
Paul and silas are in a PRISON and the PRISONERS are listening.
Your melody will not only attract listeners, BUT THEY JUST MAY BE IN THE SAME SITUATION YOU ARE IN.
and sometimes you don’t even realize hows timely your song could be.
there are some that may just need to here
“ amazing grace how sweet the sound that saved a wrech like me”
some may need to hear
“pass me not o gentle savior, here my humble cry, while on others thou art calling, Do not pass me by”
SOME MAY NEED TO HEAR
“Father I stretch my hands to thee, No other help I know, If I withdraw myself from the, weather shall I go”
All I am trying to tell you is, there may be a moment where what you are going through can HELP someone else.
David even says “I will bless the Lord at all times, his praises shall continually be in my mouth, my soul shall make her boast in the Lord, the Humble shall HEAR there of and Be GLAD.” \
Your song, will COMPEL LISTENERS.
Not only will your song Compel Listeners, but it will
2. CANCELS THE limits
The bible says that PAUL AND SILAS, who were chained, prayed and sang hymns to God and SUDDENLY a great earthquake comes, and the foundations were shaken and the doors were opened and EVERYONES CHANINS WERE LOSE.
IT CANCELS THE LIMITS.
THE LIMITS WERE THE CHAINS ON THEIR WRISTS AND LOCKS ON THE DOORS. AND THAT WHICH WERE THEIR LIMITS WERE NO MORE.
The chains were on to limit their movement and the locks were on to limit the amount of space they are able to occupy.
but when you sing a song LONG ENOUGH,
God will step in, and what once was seen as a limit CAN NOW BE CANCELED.
It was not just the men who were singing the melodies that were freed,
but it was everyone in the prison.
So it could not only CANCEL the limits of your personal lives, but it can CANCEL the limit of the lives of everyone around you.
I CAN ONLY IMAGINE,
how many times patrick encountered someone, and as a result of his singing, the bondage that they once had, is no more.
I can only imagine, how many times,
he walked in the barber shop singing, and as a result of his singing what once was a frown is now a smile.
I can only imagine, how many times,
he got in someones car, turned the radio up, sang from his soul
and what once was a bad day, quickly turned to a good one.
because its something about your melody, that can shake some stuff up.
your melody will
1. COMPEL THE LISTENER
2. CANCEL THE LIMIT
AND LASTLY
3. Convert the Lost
The bible says that there was a GUARD who was there, who was supposed to be watching the prisoners.
The bible goes on to say that the guard wakes up from his sleep only to see that the chains had been broken and everyone had been set free,
and this NOW THIS SAME GUARD, is about to take his life, as a result of his prisoners being freed,
and Paul calls out unto the man, the man comes to them and says what must I do to be saved.
So because of their song, WHAT ONCE WAS LOST, HAS NOW BEEN SET FREE.
SO THE CHALLENGE i HAVE FOR YOU TODAY IS,
TO SING YOUR SONG,
IN THE LIGHT OR IN THE DARKNESS
SING YOUR SONG
IN SICKNESS AND IN HEALTH
SING YOUR SONG
WEATHER RICH OR BROKE
SING YOUR SONG
WEATHER HAPPY OR SAD
SING YOUR SONG
WEATHER UGLY OR PRETTY
SING YOUR SONG,
BECAUSE YOUR SONG CAN \
COMPEL THE LISTENER,
CHANGE THE LIMITS
AND IT CAN CONVERT THE LOST.
No matter how dark your situation may be, sing your song.
there may be one, who is here who does not know God in the pardon of your sins, now is a good time for you to get to know him.