Opening illustration: While worshiping with our mentors in Tharmaid during a meeting at an underground church, we encounter a woman who was possessed with evil spirit. What transpired during the worship time was a powerful move of God’s deliverance for that woman.
Introduction: Some strange things were about to take place in that prison on this particular night. Can you imagine being incarcerated in that prison and hearing the sounds of singing echo through those stone corridors? I’m sure the sounds of cursing were often heard, as badly beaten men expressed their wrath toward God and man. But these were the sounds of men rejoicing, not men singing some mournful dirge. This was not something akin to “Nobody knows the trouble I’ve seen …” This was much more like “Amazing Grace.” Luke tells us that “the prisoners were listening” (verse 25). I’ll bet they were listening. The praise and worship that night made the impact in the lives of many around Paul and Silas, especially those who were bound. ‘In everything give thanks …’ (1 Thessalonians 5:18).
How our praise & worship to God impacts those who are around and bound?
(A) God moves the ‘Natural Realm’ ~
(i) People are drawn to listen (v. 25)
And doubtless with astonishment. Prayer and praise are not common in a prison. The song of rejoicing and the language of praise is not usual among men lying bound in a dungeon. From this narrative we may learn:
(1) That the Christian has the sources of his happiness within him. External circumstances cannot destroy his peace and joy. In a dungeon he may find as real happiness as on a throne. On the cold earth, beaten and bruised, he may be as truly happy as on a bed of down.
(2) The enemies of Christians cannot destroy their peace. They may incarcerate the body, but they cannot bind the spirit, they may exclude from earthly comforts, but they cannot shut them out from the presence and sustaining grace of God.
(3) We see the value of a good conscience. Nothing else can give peace; and amidst the wakeful hours of the night, whether in a dungeon or on a bed of sickness, it is of more value than all the wealth of the world.
(4) We see the inestimable worth of the religion of Christ. It fits for all scenes; supports in all trials; upholds by day or by night; inspires the soul with confidence in God; and puts into the lips the songs of praise and thanksgiving.
(5) We have here an inspiring and holy scene which sin, and infidelity could never furnish. What more uplifting spectacle has the earth witnessed than that of scourged and incarcerated men, suffering from unjust and cruel inflictions, and anticipating still greater sorrows; yet, with a calm mind, a pure conscience, a holy joy, pouring forth their desires and praises at midnight, into the ear of the God who always hears prayer! The darkness, the stillness, the loneliness, all gave sublimity to the scene, and teach us how invaluable is the privilege of access to the throne of mercy in this suffering world.
Illustration: Dave’s encounter with an unbeliever near the UI grounds.
(ii) Occurrence of earthquake (v. 26a)
An extraordinary and unusual one; which did not arise from natural causes, from wind being pent up in the earth, but from the prayers and praises of the saints, going up to heaven; when God was pleased to testify his presence and power this way; and the effects which followed upon this earthquake, show it to be a supernatural one.
Illustration: The Red Sea & Jordan experience for the Israelites. What are our ‘Red Seas?’ Killing of Graham Staines results in cyclones in the Bay of Bengal and devastating earthquakes in Western India.
(B) God moves the ‘Physical Realm’ ~
(i) Shaking of strongholds (v. 26b)
In such circumstances, was regarded as a symbol of the presence of God, and as an answer to prayer. The design of this was, doubtless, to furnish them proof of the presence and protection of God, and to provide a way for them to escape. It was one among the series of wonders by which the gospel was established, and the early Christians protected amidst their dangers. What are our strongholds?
(ii) Opening of closed (impossible) doors (v. 26)
An effect that would naturally follow from the violent concussion of the earthquake. What are those impossible situations in our lives? What are the odds?
(iii) Loosing of chains (strongholds) (v. 26)
This was evidently a miracle. It was evidently a direct interposition of divine power. But for what purpose it was done is not recorded. Grotius supposes that it was that they might know that the apostles might be useful to them and to others, and that by them their spiritual bonds might be loosed. Probably the design was to impress all the prisoners with the conviction of the presence and power of God, and thus to prepare them to receive the message of life from the lips of his servants Paul and Silas. They had just before heard them singing and praying; they were aware, doubtless, of the cause for which they were imprisoned; they saw evident tokens that they were the servants of the Most High, and under his protection; and their own minds were impressed and awed by the terrors of the earthquake, and by the fact of their own liberation. It renders this scene the more remarkable, that though the doors were opened, and the prisoners loosed, yet no one made any attempt to escape. And yet so eminently did God’s providence conduct everything, that not one of the prisoners made his escape, though the doors were open, and his bolts off! What are those bindings in our lives?
© God moves the ‘Spiritual Realm’ ~
(i) Causing us to dare (bold) (vs. 27-28)
Not only Paul and Silas, but the rest of the prisoners also; who either being so intent upon hearing the prayers and praises of the apostles, or so terrified with the earthquake, that they took no notice of their bands being loosed, and so never thought or attempted to make their escape; and as for Paul and Silas, all this happened to them, not for their deliverance in this way, as in the case of Peter, but to show the power of God, what He could do, and His presence with His servants. What is causing you to be scared and not be bold for the Lord?
(ii) The bound fall and tremble (v. 29-31)
Not as before, because of the prisoners and their escape; nor merely or so much on account of the earthquake, though the terror of that might not be as yet over; but chiefly through the horror of his conscience, and the dreadful sense he had of himself as a sinner, and of his lost state and condition by nature; the law had entered into his conscience, and had worked wrath there; the Spirit of God had convinced him of his sin and misery, and there was a fearful looking for of fiery indignation in him. God’s assurance that when we praise and worship Him in Spirit and truth, He would move those who are bound.
Application: Vs. 30 – 34 ~ the bound are saved
This was a simple, a plain, and an effectual direction. They did not direct him to use the means of grace, to pray, or to continue to seek for salvation. They did not advise him to delay, or to wait for the mercy of God. They told him to believe at once; to commit his agitated, and guilty, and troubled spirit to the Savior, with the assurance that he should find peace. They presumed that he would understand what it was to believe, and they commanded him to do the thing. And this was the uniform direction which the early preachers gave to those inquiring the way to life.
Converting grace changes people's language of and to good people and good ministers. How serious was the jailer's inquiry! His salvation becomes his great concern; that lies nearest to his heart, which before was furthest from his thoughts. It is his own precious soul that he is concerned about. Those who are thoroughly convinced of sin, and truly concerned about their salvation, will give themselves up to Christ. Here is the sum of the whole gospel, the covenant of grace in a few words; Believe in the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shall be saved, and thy house. The Lord so blessed the word, that the jailer was at once softened and humbled. He treated them with kindness and compassion, and, professing faith in Christ was baptized in that name, with his family. The Spirit of grace worked such a strong faith in them, as did away further doubt; and Paul and Silas knew by the Spirit, that a work of God was wrought in them. When sinners are thus converted, they will love and honor those whom they before despised and hated and will seek to lessen the suffering they before desired to increase. When the fruits of faith begin to appear, terrors will be followed by confidence and joy in God. This was not the doing of Paul and Silas but of the Holy Spirit.
Paul and Silas did their part of praising and worshiping God and we saw God doing His part of moving the three realms. The question here is ~ are we doing our part? The praise and worship that we bring to God in spirit and truth will surely move the 3 realms so that it brings glory to God. Let us worship …
Illustration: In late 1990's in Watford, England, Matt Redman's church had a high caliber praise band and worship team, yet the pastor knew that the congregation had lost its way in worship. So, the Pastor asked, "When you come through the doors on a Sunday, what are you bringing as your offering to God?" Matt Redman says the question led initially to some embarrassing silence. Eventually, through that experience, heartfelt prayers and heart-driven songs were sung as they experienced God in a fresh way.
But in closed doors the pastor took the worship leader aside and told him that he could not lead the singing at church until things changed because he saw that he was more interested in the attention he received than in worshipping the Lord. Mat was angry at first and yet the words of the preacher were true, and he knew it deep in his heart. Six months later he wrote a song and taught it to the church there. The words are these:
I’m coming back to the heart of worship and it’s all about you, it’s all about you Jesus
I’m sorry Lord for the thing I’ve made it! It’s all about you, it’s all about you Jesus!
After a little while, they re-introduced the band, praise team, etc., and with the renewed focus and intensity, the corporate time became authentic. Worship from the heart is not about the newest, latest, greatest, or hottest song on the charts. It's not about the oldest, most obscure, and well-known song. In fact, true worship is not about a song at all, it's about the Son. It's about our bringing to Him my soul, my life, and my all.
When we reach that place, God will move the natural realm, the physical realm and the spiritual realm in and through our lives to accomplish His purpose. Are you pursuing God in truly worshiping Him in Spirit and in truth?
