LEARNING DAILY

Acts 16:25-26, About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the prisoners were listening to them, and suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison were shaken. And immediately all the doors were opened, and everyone 's bonds were unfastened.

Each one of us has experienced those times when we think if something does not happen real soon our time will run out. You know those times when you need an answer about a really important decision or when you need help in a very desperate situation. Pastor Ed Newton talked, a situation that Paul and Silas found themselves in the city of Philippi. While in the city Paul and Silas had been used to save and baptize a woman named Lydia and her household. They had cast out a spirit of divination from a slave girl, which caused them to be thrown into jail. They were beaten and jailed for doing what the Lord Jesus Christ wanted them to do.

Their response while in jail was to “pray and sing hymns of praise to God”. They worshipped before the miracle. Worship may not change the circumstances, but it will change the one doing the worshipping. When worry is high, worship goes down; when worship goes up, worry goes down” (EN). I doubt that Paul and Silas knew what was going to happen to them while in this jail. But they pray and they worship God who is in control. Who needs to apply this to their own situation today?

“And the prisoners were listening to them”. Do we forget that people are watching those who profess to be a Believer and Follower of Jesus Christ? People want to know if they are genuine in the beliefs or just talkers. When Believers mess us, people are quick to point out their failings and use the failure to dismiss Christianity. At the same time when praise and worship and faithfully following the Lord during times of trial bring people to see faith in action. Those in the prison with Paul and Silas were watching and listening to them.

“Their prayer and their praise ‘activated a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison were shaken’” (EN). “And immediately all the doors were opened, and everyone 's bonds were unfastened.” “When God shakes the situation, He opens the doors and the shackles fall off” (EN). Pastor referenced Isaiah 61:1 when referring to the Lord Jesus Christ, “The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me, because the Lord has anointed me to bring good news to the poor; he has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to those who are bound”. Notice that the building does not collapse, the prison doors were open but no one left. The prisoners could have been free but they all stayed. If the prisoners escaped the jailer would have to forfeit his life.

“But Paul cried with a loud voice, ‘Do not harm yourself, for we are all here’.” (Verse 28). It is either by Paul’s direction or the Holy Spirit’s influence that the prisoners stay; by doing so the jailer’s life is spared. “When Paul spoke by the Holy Spirit (and when the Believer speaks or writes) the jailer’s spirit was lifted, finding hope and salvation” (EN).

At that time the jailer asked the greatest question, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?”. The answer given, “Believe in the Lord Jesus, you will be saved, you and your household” (verse 30-31). “This is not complicated. Jesus plus nothing equals salvation” (EN). Do not misunderstand! Each member of the jailer’s household did not become saved because he had accepted Jesus Christ as his Savior. NO! Each person had to do so for themselves. But because the jailer did, his family followed. “This is not an intellectual knowledge; it must come from the heart! (EN).

The takeaway from this is for each of us to never panic when facing those situations that are out of control for us. Instead, we place our faith in the Savior who controls every situation we face and know He is able to deliver us. “But if not….” we still trust and follow Him!