"And when they had struck them with many blows, they threw them into prison, charging the jailer to keep them safely. He, having received [so strict a] charge, put them into the inner prison (the dungeon) and fastened their feet in the stocks. But about midnight, as Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns of praise to God, and the [other] prisoners were listening to them; Suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the very foundations of the prison were shaken; and at once all the doors were opened and everyone's shackles were unfastened. When the jailer, startled out of his sleep, saw that the prison doors were open, he drew his sword and was on the point of killing himself, because he supposed that the prisoners had escaped. But Paul shouted, Do not harm yourself, for we are all here!" ~Acts 16:23-28 Amplified Bible
In this familiar passage of scripture we see that Paul and Silas have been beaten, for the cause of Christ, and thrown into jail. They were where God called them to be, but they were suffering persecution for it. Does it ever seem like you are where God called you to be, yet you are suffering for the cause? Paul and Silas experienced that here in this jail. They had been beaten and thrown into prison. And in my own flesh, if this were me, I would be angry and upset. I would be questioning whether or not I heard God. I would be questioning why this was happening to me. In my flesh, I would be confused. But God is not the author of confusion. He had this all set up. In the middle of this storm that Paul and Silas were in they chose to keep their faith because their faith was not based on what they could see.
"For we walk by faith [we regulate our lives and conduct ourselves by our conviction or belief respecting man's relationship to God and divine things, with trust and holy fervor; thus we walk] not by sight or appearance.” ~2 Corinthians 5:7
“BUT AT MIDNIGHT”, Paul and Silas were praying and singing praises to God. This is so amazing. How many of us could be beaten, and thrown into jail, while going about God’s business, and still decide to praise Him for His goodness? They weren’t complaining, they weren’t cursing God, they weren’t having a pity party, and they had every right to be upset by human standards; yet they chose to praise God for who He is. The Bible says, “But at midnight” they were praising God, and the other prisoners listened to them. Did you know that there are other people around you in similar situations? Other people are watching how you handle a trial and/or crisis. What do you think these prisoners thought when these two men came in beaten and shackled but yet sang praises and prayed to God? What kind of testimony, what kind of impact do you think this must have had on these prisoners? People are watching us. As Christians we are to walk in love and with the Spirit of God. We may be the only Christ that people encounter, and our love and our commitment to faith in God should be genuine.
Paul and Silas were praying around midnight. They had no idea what was about to happen. And I’ve heard it said that midnight is near the darkest hour. But I have also heard this wonderful point. Midnight is “transition time”. Midnight is when the old day passes on and the new day begins. Hold on…I’m not sure you got that. I said Midnight is when the OLD passes away and the NEW begins!!! Are you getting this? Paul and Silas were in their transition. They began praising and glorifying God in spite of their circumstances-- and in their transition of midnight an earthquake came. The Bible says that an earthquake came and it was so strong it shook the very foundations of the prison. At once the doors were opened and all the shackles fell off. WOW! Did you get that too? When we are in the midst of the storm, and if we continue in our faith, God will shake the very foundation of the [prison] we are in. And not only did Paul and Silas’ shackles unfasten, every one else’s were loosed as well! What a mighty work, God freed not only them but everyone around them as well. So our impact cannot be just for ourselves when we are going through a trial, yet when we praise God and keep our faith others may see the light of God through us that they may also be loosed from whatever [prison] they may be in.
God loosed the chains that Paul and Silas were shackled to and the prison doors were opened. Even the jailer himself was moved. He asked them how he too could be saved. And that very night he and his family were saved. What a powerful resolution to a miserable trial. The faith that Paul and Silas had impacted everyone they encountered and God was given all the glory!
This story is a wonderful example to us of how we can look to our circumstances and say I am not moved. I am not going to question God. I am going to sing praises to Him and I am going to pray. Even though it seems like they have put me in the dungeon and I have shackles all around me, I will praise the LORD my God. And while I praise Him, He will send the earthquake, He will set me free from my captivity. And while I praise Him- may others see my testimony so that they too can be set free! Praise God for midnight. Let the transition begin!
Be Encouraged, Be Blessed, Be Free!
Originally written July 13, 2009
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