Suddenly 6/5/11
Acts 16:25
Introduction
• They are in the inner prison—no windows, no source of light
• Their feet are bound in chains
• The time--midnight
• It is pitch black—zero visibility
• Their bodies ache and hurt from being beaten
• They are singing and praying
• Their prayers are prayers of praise
• Their songs might have been something like:
O, How I Love Jesus
Jesus, Jesus How I trust him,
How I’ve proved him o’er and o’er
Jesus, Jesus precious Jesus
O, for grace to trust him more
Through many dangers toils and snares
I have already come
Tis grace that brought me safe thus far
And grace will lead me on
Praise God, Praise God…..
• And the prisoners heard them
What was the reaction of the prisoners?
And Suddenly
• Definition—surprisingly, in a moment, in a startling way, in an instant, swiftly, unexpectedly—God shows up
• He shows up in response to prayer, to praise, to worship, to singing, to his children’s cry
• He shows up in the form of a Seizmos (size-mahs)—an earthquake--a shaking, a commotion, a tempest
The Results
• The foundations of the prison were shaken
That which the entire structure rests upon
• All the doors were opened
Doors that had been closed to prevent exiting
• Immediately everyone’s bands (chains) were loosed
Chains of bondage
• Note “suddenly” and “immediately”
Suddenly can happen on its own—out of nowhere
Immediately is a result of something occurring previously. A continuation.
Verse 26 is a result of verse 25
Close
• We need God to do a “Suddenly” for us
An out of nowhere entrance into our lives--with a bang
• We need what comes “Immediately” after
A shaking of our situation, a holy commotion to shake things up
Doors to be opened—Doors of opportunity, blessing,
Chains to fall off—addictions and habits broken, negative thinking, depression, discouragement, failure, fear, release from the past
