The Presence Driven Church
The Power of His Presence
What should we expect from the Presence of the Lord? Here in Acts 16:25-34 we see what the Presence of the Lord does and what the Church needs to see again. Hunger for His Presence.
Acts 16:25-34 But at midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the prisoners were listening to them. 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 chains were loosed. And the keeper of the prison, awaking from sleep and seeing the prison doors open, supposing the prisoners had fled, drew his sword and was about to kill himself. But Paul called with a loud voice, saying, “Do yourself no harm, for we are all here.” Then he called for a light, ran in, and fell down trembling before Paul and Silas. And he brought them out and said, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?” So they said, “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and you will be saved, you and your household.” Then they spoke the word of the Lord to him and to all who were in his house. And he took them the same hour of the night and washed their stripes. And immediately he and all his family were baptized. Now when he had brought them into his house, he set food before them; and he rejoiced, having believed in God with all his household.
Earthquakes are powerful convulsions of the earth. The crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus shook the earth.
Matthew 27:51-54 And, behold, the veil of the temple was rent in twain from the top to the bottom; and the earth did quake, and the rocks rent; 52And the graves were opened; and many bodies of the saints which slept arose, 53And came out of the graves after his resurrection, and went into the holy city, and appeared unto many. 54Now when the centurion, and they that were with him, watching Jesus, saw the earthquake, and those things that were done, they feared greatly, saying, truly this was the Son of God.
Matthew 28:1-4 In the end of the Sabbath, as it began to dawn toward the first day of the week, came Mary Magdalene and the other Mary to see the sepulcher. 2And, behold, there was a great earthquake: for the angel of the Lord descended from heaven, and came and rolled back the stone from the door, and sat upon it. 3His countenance was like lightning, and his raiment white as snow: 4And for fear of him the keepers did shake, and became as dead men.
Nahum 1:5 The mountains quake at him, and the hills melt, and the earth is burned at his presence, yea, the world, and all that dwell therein.
Hebrew and Greek meanings - Raging: Crashing: Billowing: Shaking: Flickering; Shockwaves: Waves of Power
Paul and Silas were in prison (house of bondage), they had been tortured, bound in stocks, and placed in the deepest darkest place at the darkest hour (midnight) but they began to pray and praise God and suddenly their captivity was turned. When the Presence of God comes on the scene there is nothing that can stand in His way
When His Presence comes there is : POWER, DELIVERANCE FROM BONDAGE, HOLINESS, CONVICTION, SALVATION and EVANGELISM, HEALING, JOY.
1. In the midst of a prison sing praises to God because He abides in the praises of His people. Psalm 22:3 But thou art holy, O thou that inhabitest the praises of Israel.
2. God’s Presence will shake the foundations of our prisons. A Prison is anything that restricts our freedom – the basis of all prisons is sin – God dealt with our sin – there is also the aspect of self-imposed limitations – religion. Luke 4:18 The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; he hath sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised, Captives literally means – prisoners of war
3. Those things that held them in bondage lost their hold under the sin, people suffer emotionally, spiritually, and physically. SIN, beats us up, imprisons, and binds us, they were bound hand and foot, then the prison doors were opened – Prison means – House of Bondage or Restraint – this was the “Power of God’s Presence” – the ability to deliver and release, all doors were opened because Jesus was totally victorious. James 2:19 Even demons TREMBLE at His Presence.
4. The jailor was ready to commit suicide for he felt all was lost, when God turns up there sometimes needs to be a word of direction because of the power of conviction. Impossible situation, in the natural he was a prison keeper; he was one that realized his masters would not be pleased if anyone escapes. The picture here is of the one who is lost in sin, so under the control of Satan yet with Jesus there is hope.
The jailor was totally changed from one that had administered torture to one who now cleansed wounds. The jailor washed the Wounds of Paul and Silas, whom he first set out to harm. The jailor was healed spiritually, and applied healing ministry to Paul and Silas physically. Nothing is impossible for God.
God turned his mourning into dancing – he rejoiced – meaning he was jumping for joy at his salvation. This is what the world needs to see – total change!
Here it is then our gatherings must be filled with prayer, praise and as God’s Presence comes we must declare the power of His Presence through the preaching of His word.
Acts 8:5-8 Then Philip went down to the city of Samaria, and preached Christ unto them. And the people with one accord gave heed unto those things which Philip spake, hearing and seeing the miracles which he did. For unclean spirits, crying with loud voice, came out of many that were possessed with them: and many taken with palsies, and that were lame, were healed. And there was great joy in that city.
Everyone benefits from your praise.
Did you notice that it wasn’t just Paul and Silas’ chains that fell off? Everyone else in that prison, everyone else who was also shackled with the same things that Paul and Silas were shackled with, received a release from their praise.
You may be going through intense hardship right now. But if someone were to turn a light on in your prison cell, you’d find that you weren’t alone. When you decide to trust God, even when your feet are shackled, you will see others drawn to Christ. You will see their chains broken as well.
