Acts 16:25- (KJV) And at midnight Paul and Silas prayed, and sang praises unto God: and the prisoners heard them.
VERY BRIEFLY THIS MORNING WE WANT TO FOCUS IN ON VERSE 25
TOPIC- PRAYING AND SINGING A SUNDAY MORNING SPIRITUAL IN A MIDNIGHT SITUATION
MY BROTHERS AND SISTERS
AT ONE TIME OR ANOTHER EACH OF US HAS EXPERIENCE A MIDNIGHT SITUATION
YOURS MIGHT BE ONE THING AND MINES MIGHT BE ANOTHER BUT WE ALL HAVE EXPERIENCE A MIDNIGHT SITUATION
AND IT`S IMPORTANT TO REALIZE THAT IN LIFE WE FIND OURSELVES IN 3 SITUATIONS
AND THAT IS GOING INTO A MIDNIGHT SITUATION
IN THE MIDDLE OF A MIDNIGHT SITUATION
OR COMING OUT OF A MIDNIGHT SITUATION
AND JUST IN CASE THERE IS SOMEONE HERE UNDER THE SOUND OF MYWEAK VOICE WHO IS COMING OUT OF A
MIDNIGHT SITUATION
I NEED TO ENCOURAGE YOU TO STAY READ UP PRAYED UP AND SUITED UP BECAUSE ANOTHER MIDNIGHT
SITUATION JUST MIGHT BE HEADED YOUR WAY
AND THE REASON WHY LIFE IS FULL OF TRIALS AND TRIBULATION
AND THESE MIDNIGHT SITUATIONS WILL SHOW UP AT YOUR HOUSE UNANNOUNCE
AND AIN`T IT AMAZING HOW TROUBLE WILL RIDE DOWN YOUR STREET
BACK UP IN YOUR DRIVEWAY
GET OUT AND WALK RIGHT INTO YOUR HOUSE WITHOUT KNOCKING
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BUT IN MY STUDYING OF THE BIBLE I`VE DISCOVERED
THAT GOD DOES HIS BEST WORK IN OUR MIDNIGHT SITUATIONS
CAN I BORROW A SKINNY MINUTE AND TELL YOU WHAT I`M TALKING ABOUT
WEEL COME HERE MOSES AND TELL US ABOUT YOUR MIDNIGHT SITUATION
I HEAR MOSES SAYING REV I HAD PHAROH AND HIS ARMY BEHIND MEAND A WATERY GRAVE BEFORE ME
AND I PRAYED AND GOD TOLD ME TO STRECTH OUT THE ROD AND WHEN I STRECTH OUT THE ROD
GOD PUT THE WIND IN A FULL NELSON AND MADE A FREEWAY DOWN THE RED SEA
WELL COME HERE HEBREW BOYS AND TELL US ABOUT YOUR MIDNIGHT SITUATION
I HEAR THE 3 HEBREW BOYS SAYING
REV ....NEBUCHABNEZZAR SET UP A GOLDEN IMAGE AND WANTED US BOW DOWN AND WORSHIP IT
BUT WE REFUSE AND HE HEATED THE FURNACE 7 TIMES HOTTER AWHEN THEY THROWED US IN
THE SON OF MAN HAD WENT BEFORE US AND TOOK THE HEAT OUT THE FLAME AND TURN THE BURNING FURNACE
INTO A FELLOPWSHIP HALL
WELL COME HERE DANIEL AND TELL US ABOUT YOUR MIDNIGHT SITUATION
I HEAR DANIEL SAYING THAT THE KING SET A DECREE THAT NO ONE COULD PRAY
BUT I WENT TO MY ROOM AND CALL ON THE GOD OF ISRAEL
AND THEY PUT ME IN THE LIONS DEN
BUT WHAT THEY FELL TO REALIZE THAT THE GOD OF ISRAEL HAD PUT THE LION ON A 24 HOUR FAST AND
DELIVERED ME INSIDE THE LION DEN
THATS WHY I CAN BOLDLY SAY THAT GOD DOES HIS BEST WORK IN OUR
MIDNIGHT SITUATIONS
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NOW TO GET A BETTER UNDERSTANDING OF THE TEXT BEFORE US
YOU HAVE TO GO TO THE 15TH CHAPTER OF ACT
THE 15TH CHAPTER REVEALS THAT PAUL AND BARNABAS HAD A DISAGREEMENT
ABOUT JOHN MARK
JOHN MARK ON THE 1ST MISSIONARY JOURNEY WENT BACK HOME WHEN THINGS GOT ROUGH
AND AS THEY PREPARE FOR THE 2ND MISSIONARY
BARNABAS WANTED JOHN MARK TO GO BUT PAUL REMEMBERED WHAT HE DID
ON THE 1ST MISSIONARY AND DISAGREED
AND I NEED TO PULL OVER AND PUT ON MY EMERGENCY PRAISE FLASHERS
WE ALL DISAGREE ABOUT SOME THINGS IN LIFE BUT EVEN THOUGH WE
DISAGREE WE SHOULD NEVER FALL OUT WITH EACH OTHER
THE 15TH CHAPTER REVEALS THAT BARNABAS TOOK JOHN MARK WITH HIM
AND PAUL TOOK SILAS WITH HIM
AND IN THE TEXT BEFORE US
PAUL AND SILAS HAS ARRIVED ON THE EUROPEAN CONTINENT
IN THE CITY OF PHILIPPI
AND FOR THE FRIST TIME THE GOOD NEWS OF JESUS CHRIST IS BEING PREACH THERE
AND THERE EVANGELISTIC EFFORTS HAVE PROVEN TO BE SUCCESSFUL
FOR THERE FRIST CONVERT IS A BUSSINESS WOMAN NAMED LYDIA
AND LYDIA REPRESENTS THE MIDDLE OR UPPER ECHELON OF THE PHILIPPIAN SOCIETY
BUT WHEN A YOUNG GIRL WITH A SPRIT OF DIVINATION WAS DELIVERED IN THE NAME OF JESUS BY PAUL
ALL HELL BROKE LOOSE
LUKE REVEALS TO US IN THE TEXT
THAT THE OWNERS OF THIS YOUNG GIRL WHO USED HER FOR THERE OWN SELFISH GAIN
BECAME ANGRY WITH PAUL AND SILAS FOR THEY HAD THREATEN THERE ENTERPRISE
THAT HAD PROVEN TO BE ECONOMICALLY AND FINANCIALLY SUCCESSFUL
VERSE 19 REVEALS TO US THAT THEY BROUGHT PAUL AND SILAS TO THEMARKET PLACE BEFORE THE JUDGES
AND THE JUDGES ORDERED THAT THEY BE BEATEN
AND CAST INTO THE INTER PART OF THE PRISON
AND THIS IS WHERE OUR TEXT WILL BEGIN
PRAYING AND SINGING A SUNDAY MORNING SPIRITUAL IN A MIDNIGHT SITUATION
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AND THE 1ST SPRITUAL NUGGET THAT I WANT TO LIFT UP
IS THAT WHAT EVER YOU MIGHT BE GOING
THROUGH DON`T PANIC OR THROW A TEMPER TANTRUM
YOU SEE MY BROTHERS AND SISTERS EVEN THOUGH PAUL AND SILAS WAS THROWN IN JAIL
THEY KNEW WITHOUT A SHADOW OF A DOUBT THAT GOD WAS MORE THAN ABLE TO MAKE AWAY
AND THAT THERE BREAKTHROUGH FOR THERE MIDNIGHT SITUATION WAS IN THERE PRAISE
Acts 16:25 (KJV) And at midnight Paul and Silas prayed, and sang praises unto God: and the prisoners heard
them.
EVEN THOUGH THEY FOUND THEMSELVES
the victims of false and prejudicial charges, locked up in the depths of a Roman jail, in stocks!
THEY DID`NT COMPLAIN MOAN OR WHINE LIKE SOME OF US DO
BUT THERE STAY AT THE PHILLPI COUNTY JAIL WAS MARKED BY TWO ACTIVITYS
PRAYING AND SINGING HYMNS TO GOD
LUKE REVEALS TO US THAT THESE BROTHERS WAITED UNTIL THE MIDNIGHT HOUR
AND HAD A PRAYER AND PRAISE SERVICE
THE MIDNIGHT HOUR WHEN MOST MEN ,WOMEN -BOY AND GIRLS LAY IN THE IMAGE OF DEATH ASLEEP
AND I JUST NEED TO REMIND YOU GOD DO SOME OF HIS BEST WORK IN THE MIDNIGHT HOUR
Job 35:10 (KJV) TELLS US THAT GOD WILL GIVE YOU A SONG IN THE NIGHT
FOR LUKE DOES NOT TELL US WHAT THEY PRAYED AND SONG
BUT IF YOU WOULD ALLOW ME TO USE MY SANCTIFIED IMAGINATION
I CAN HEAR PAUL SAYING
SILAS SINCE MY NAME START WITH A --P-- I`LL PRAY
AND SINCE YOUR NAME START WITH A --S-- WHY DON`T YOU LEAD US IN SINGING
AND I CAN IMAGINE PAUL STRECTHING OUT HIS HANDS SAYING
FATHER I STRETCH MY HANDS TO THEE -NO OTHER HELP I KNOW -IF THOU WITHDRAW THY SELF FROM THEE
-NO OTHER HELP I KNOW
LORD I KNOW YOU TELL US IN YOUR WORD NOT TO
.Fret not thyself because of evildoers, neither be thou envious against the workers of iniquity.
[2] For they shall soon be cut down like the grass, and wither as the green herb.
[3] Trust in the Lord, and do good; so shalt thou dwell in the land, and verily thou shalt be fed.
[4] Delight thyself also in the Lord; and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart.
[5] Commit thy way unto the Lord; trust also in him; and he shall bring it to pass.
[6] And he shall bring forth thy righteousness as the light, and thy judgment as the noonday.
AND I NEED TO TELL YOU MY BROTHERS AND SISTERS
THAT PRAYER IS A GREAT ANTIDOTE TO TRIALS AND TRIBULATION
BECAUSE THERE IS POWER IN PRAYER
AND PRAYER CHANGE THINGS
BECAUSE IF WE HAVE A HEART TO PRAY HEAVEN HAS A EAR TO HEAR
THAT’S WHY THE SONG WRITER SAID
THAT WHEN YOU KNEEL DOWN AND PRAY REMEMBER TO LET JESUS HAVE HIS WAY BECAUSE PRAYER WILL
CHANGE THINGS FOR YOU
THEN I HEARD ANOTHER SONG WRITR SAY
WHAT A FRIEND WE HAVE IN JESUS -ALL OUR SINS AND GRIEF TO BEAR
WHAT A PRIVILEGE IT IS TO CARRY EVERYTHING TO GOD IN PRAYER
THEN I HEARD ANOTHER SONG WRITER SAID
I PRAYED ABOUT AND GOD DOES ANSWER PRAYERS
AND I WONDER IS THERE ANY BODY HERE THIS MORNING/EVENING
THAT KNOWS THAT JESUS IS ON THE MAINLINE AND ALL YOU HAVE TO DO IS CALL HIM UP AND TELL HIM WHAT YOU WANT
MY BROTHERS AND SISTERS LUKE REVEALS TO US NOT DID THEY PRAY
BUT THEY SUNG SONGS OF PRAISES AS WELL
MY BROTHERS AND SISTERS THEY COULD HAVE SUNG ANY OF THE 150TH
PSALMS
THEY COULD HAVE SUNG
-
Psalm 1:1 (KJV)
Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in
the seat of the scornful.
[2] But his delight is in the law of the Lord; and in his law doth he meditate day and night.
[3] And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf
also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper.
THEY COULD HAVE SONG
Psalm 23:1-6 (KJV) The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.
[2] He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters.
[3] He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name's sake.
[4] Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and
thy staff they comfort me.
[5] Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup
runneth over.
[6] Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the Lord for
ever.
OR
--
Psalm 27:1-2 (KJV) .The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? the Lord is the strength of my
life; of whom shall I be afraid?
[2] When the wicked, even mine enemies and my foes, came upon me to eat up my flesh, they stumbled and fell.
OR
Psalm 34:1-4 (KJV) .I will bless the Lord at all times: his praise shall continually be in my mouth.
[2] My soul shall make her boast in the Lord: the humble shall hear thereof, and be glad.
[3] O magnify the Lord with me, and let us exalt his name together.
[4] I sought the Lord, and he heard me, and delivered me
from all my fears.
OR
Psalm 46:1 (KJV) .God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.
OR THEY COULD HAVE SONG
LORD I KNOW YOU BEEN SO GOOD YOU WATCH OVER ME ALL NIGHT LONG LORD I KNOW YOU
BEEN SO GOOD
YOU KNOW I SHOULD HAVE BEEN DEAD IN MY GRAVE BUT LORD I KNOW YOU BEEN SO GOOD
BUT IN THE MIDIST OF THEIR PRAYING AND SINGING
THE TEXT REVEALS TO US THAT GOD STARTED WORKING IT OUT FOR THERE GOOD
Acts 16:26 (KJV) 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.
AND THIS BRINGS ME TO THE 2ND SPRITUAL NUGGET I SEE IN THE TEXT
IS THAT EVERY MIDNIGHT SITUATION DEMANDS A TESTIMONY
PAUL AND SILAS KNEW THAT THERE DELIVERANCE WAS NOT ON THERE OWN DOING
YOU SEE ALL OF US ARE UNIQUELY PERSONAL AND PRIVATE PEOPLE
FOR WE DON`T WANT EVERYBODY TO KNOW OUR BUSSINESS
HOWEVER ONCE YOUR BREAKTHROUGH TAKE PLACE IN YOUR MIDNIGHT SITUATION
YOUR DELIVERANCE CAN NOT BE PRIVATE
Acts 16:37 (KJV) But Paul said unto them, They have beaten us openly uncondemned, being Romans, and have cast us into prison; and now do they thrust us out privily?
nay verily; but let them come themselves and fetch us out.
MY BROTHERS AND SISTERS
Having the magistrates come and personally release and escort Paul and Silas from prison was a public declaration
of the innocence of Paul and Silas.
AS WELL IT WAS THERE TESTIMONY
AND Their testimony needed to be made known for some very good reasons
THAT THE CHURCH AT PHILLIPPI WOULD KNOW THAT GOD IS ABLE
AND THAT HE`S STILL IN THE BLESSING BUSINESS
AND I WONDER IF ANYBODY HERE KNOW THAT GOD IS ABLE
HE`S ABLE TO OPEN DOORS THAT NO MAN CAN CLOSE AND CLOSE DOORS THAT NO MAN CAN OPEN
WANT HE BE YOUR BURDEN BEARER ---HEAVY LOAD CARRIER --HEART FIXER AND MIND REGULATER
WANT HE BE A COMPANY KEEPER IN A LONELY HOUR
I`M TALKING ABOUT JESUS MARY`S LITTLE BABY
JOSEPH STEP SON
JAME AND JUDE BIG BROTHER
ELIZBETH AND ZACARIAH COUSIN
JOHN THE BAPTIST SAVIOR
THE ONE WHO DIED ON A MOUNTIAN CALL CALVARY AND WAS PLACE IN A BORROWED TOMB
BUT EARLY ---EARLY SUNDAY MORNING HE GOT UP WITH ALL POWER IN HIS HAND
