Acts 16:16-34 - Songs That God Likes
Being thankful instead of complaining is possible but not always easy. Today we look at two men with songs in their hearts, and see how God moved for them.
Paul and Silas were preaching in the city of Philippi.
Acts 16:16 - a girl with a demon who could tell the future. As a slave, she made money for her owners.
v17-18 - she went around and shouted statements about the preachers
What she said was true, but...
1) it was annoying and distracting
2) they did not want to be a with her powers
So Paul drove out the demon.
v19-24 - Paul and Silas were going good works, but people conspired against them. They stirred up accusations, and ended the preachers in a painful prison.
P&S had every right to be angry, to lash out at the Philippians or at God. How do we act when we are persecuted or alone or going thru hard times?
Two things to understand:
1) God is big enough to handle what you dish out to Him.
Hebrews 4:15 - He’s been in your shoes
2) He can also lead you to overcome your issues.
John 16:33 - He overcame the world, and you can too.
Acts 16:25 - Paul and Silas reacted to jailtime by singing!
Songs were fairly common in the OT after a battle.
Only once was a song sung before the battle was won: 2 Chronicles 20.
And it was a song of thanksgiving, perhaps similar to what P&S sang in jail.
God broke the chains after P&S prayed and sang: Acts 16:26.
Could God be waiting to break off some chains in your life, but you have to praise Him and put Him first... first?
God won’t always change your circumstances, but He might. And He always wants to change your attitude in hard times.
When we pray and praise, we are putting God first in our problems. So we pray about our struggles, then praise Him because He is good. Even if He doesn’t change them, He lifts us up from them.
v27-34 - P&S’ lives became a testimony for others - is your life?
