40 Days of PRAYER
Dr Jim Brown's TruNorth Devotional
40 Days of PRAYER
Day 33 | PRAYING AND SINGING | Acts 16:25-30
40 Days of PRAYER
Day 33 | PRAYING AND SINGING | Acts 16:25-30
PRAYING AND SINGING
Acts 16:25-30
“Around midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the other prisoners were listening. Suddenly, there was a massive earthquake, and the prison was shaken to its foundations. All the doors immediately flew open, and the chains of every prisoner fell off! The jailer woke up to see the prison doors wide open. He assumed the prisoners had escaped, so he drew his sword to kill himself. But Paul shouted to him, ‘Stop! Don’t kill yourself! We are all here!’ The jailer called for lights and ran to the dungeon and fell down trembling before Paul and Silas. Then he brought them out and asked, ‘Sirs, what must I do to be saved?’”
The pre-story before these verses is that Paul and Silas had traveled to Philippi and in their course of interacting with people about the LORD, they led Lydia of Thyatira to Jesus. As they continued in the town, they cast an evil spirit out of a slave girl who – through that spirit – told people’s fortunes which made lots of money for her masters. Paul cast that demon out of her – much to the displeasure of her owners – which led to Paul and Silas being arrested, beaten with rods, and thrown in prison.
Then we learn that Paul and Silas were singing and praying, though nearly beaten to death and shackled to the stockade.
Take note of how the LORD used this circumstance to draw the jailer to Jesus as Lord and Savior. If the LORD can use that difficult situation, He can use us in any situation we find ourselves to accomplish 2 Peter 3:9 – “God is not slow about His promise (to come again) as some count slowness… not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance.”
Do you have friends or family who don’t know Jesus yet? Keep praying for them.
Prayer: LORD, it is clear that YOU don’t wish any to perish without You. Keep me alert to opportunities I have to simply and honestly share my faith with them. Amen.
Acts 16:25-30
“Around midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the other prisoners were listening. Suddenly, there was a massive earthquake, and the prison was shaken to its foundations. All the doors immediately flew open, and the chains of every prisoner fell off! The jailer woke up to see the prison doors wide open. He assumed the prisoners had escaped, so he drew his sword to kill himself. But Paul shouted to him, ‘Stop! Don’t kill yourself! We are all here!’ The jailer called for lights and ran to the dungeon and fell down trembling before Paul and Silas. Then he brought them out and asked, ‘Sirs, what must I do to be saved?’”
The pre-story before these verses is that Paul and Silas had traveled to Philippi and in their course of interacting with people about the LORD, they led Lydia of Thyatira to Jesus. As they continued in the town, they cast an evil spirit out of a slave girl who – through that spirit – told people’s fortunes which made lots of money for her masters. Paul cast that demon out of her – much to the displeasure of her owners – which led to Paul and Silas being arrested, beaten with rods, and thrown in prison.
Then we learn that Paul and Silas were singing and praying, though nearly beaten to death and shackled to the stockade.
Take note of how the LORD used this circumstance to draw the jailer to Jesus as Lord and Savior. If the LORD can use that difficult situation, He can use us in any situation we find ourselves to accomplish 2 Peter 3:9 – “God is not slow about His promise (to come again) as some count slowness… not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance.”
Do you have friends or family who don’t know Jesus yet? Keep praying for them.
Prayer: LORD, it is clear that YOU don’t wish any to perish without You. Keep me alert to opportunities I have to simply and honestly share my faith with them. Amen.