"... I have set before you an open door, and no man can shut it..." Rev 3:8
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. Acts 16:25-34
1. At midnight:
At a very dark time in your life.
At a time when you’re feeling pained, distressed, lonely, rejected, or physically drained.
At a time when you’re financially devastated, emotionally depleted or spiritually oppressed.
At a time when things are not going the way you had hoped or planned or dreamed.
At a time when things are out of your control. You don’t know which way to turn or what to do.
At a time when you can’t even see your own hands in the darkness, much less help yourself!
Have you noticed things always seem worse at night? This is exactly the kind of situation Paul and Silas found themselves in. They had been beaten and imprisoned without just cause. They were in pain. They came to win souls for God and things weren’t going as they had planned. They had no control over their outward circumstances. It was a midnight of the soul!
So how did they respond? They could have complained until they got themselves into a state of depression. They could have felt deserted by God and despaired of life. But what did they do?
They chose to trust God! They chose to look up and not down or around! They did something that goes against human nature in that kind of setting. Something that’s pleasing to God. Something that’s powerfully effective! They began to pray and sing hymns. Wow!
2. Let’s look at prayer first.
Why did they pray? Why should we? What does God’s word have to say about it?
Is anyone among you suffering? Let him pray... The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much. Excerpts from Jam 5:13-16
Paul and Silas were definitely suffering and they needed God’s help. We do too. God was moved by their prayers and He is moved by ours as well. Prayer, as we shall see, does make a difference.
Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. Phi 4:6-7
This is a familiar passage but it is so important. When do we need peace as much as when we face great difficulties? God, who is the peace speaker, promises that if we will call on Him with a grateful heart, He will give us a peace that no one can understand.
When Mike and I were in Germany, we went to the hospital to pick up a young man for church. His wife had been hospitalized with a heart problem. They knew she had major problems when they got married but they were young and in love and they just thought everything would be alright. When Mike went in to get him he found out that his wife had just passed away. We didn’t even know him but we hurt for him. The body needed to be prepared to send back to the United States for burial, and there was nothing else he could do at the hospital, so he wanted to go on to church with us. Mike came out and told me what happened so I was expecting to see a broken young man but he got in the car and spoke nothing but the praises of God all the way to church. We could not believe the peace God had given him. At first, I thought he was just in shock. But, he was so anointed by God’s Spirit that he was able to go back to the States and preach his wife’s funeral so effectively that people were saved during the service. God had truly given him a peace that passed human understanding. What a testimony to the truth of God’s word!
3. Paul and Silas not only prayed, they also sang hymns to God. They weren’t like the Jews during the Babylonian captivity spoken of in Psalms 137, verses 1-4.
By the rivers of Babylon, there we sat down, yea, we wept when we remembered Zion. We hung our harps upon the willows in the midst of it. For there those who carried us away captive asked of us a song, and those who plundered us requested mirth, saying, "Sing us one of the songs of Zion!" How shall we sing the LORD's song in a foreign land?
Can you feel their hopelessness, dejection and depression? They focused on their losses rather than focusing on their deliverance and Deliverer! They were alive! They had a future and a hope because God was with them! They were asking the wrong question. How could they not sing the LORD’s song in a foreign land? God is worthy of praise no matter where we find ourselves. He’s always worthy of praise! And, singing a song of praise would have lifted their spirits and allowed God to touch the hearts of their captors.
Their example is not one to follow.
Like Paul and Silas, we sing the Lord’s song in every circumstance? He is worthy to be praised! Singing lifts our spirits and encourages our hearts! It builds our faith as we sense God’s presence inhabiting our praises! Nothing comes into our lives but what the Lord allows for our good so faith should keep a song in our heart at all times. And remember, it will not only help us, it will touch others!
4. Others were watching and listening:
Whether we realize it or not, someone who is truly in bondage is always watching our lives, very much aware of what we are up to. Someone in bondage is listening to our talk and watching our walk. Someone in bondage wants to know if our faith is real because they need something real in their own life! They have pressing needs. Often, desperate needs. They want and need to know if our God can help them. So, they are watching to see if we really trust Him to help us when things go wrong in our lives. They are waiting for some Good News that is more than mere words! We are living epistles! As Paul and Silas did, we have a great responsibility to let our lights shine in the darkness.
Let me share with you a short poem of encouragement.
Shine
Whate’re the size your flame,
Shine in Jesus’ name!
Declare His glory. Lift the cross!
Save others from eternal loss!
Don’t be ashamed. His Word proclaim.
Whate’re the size your flame,
Shine in Jesus’ name!
By our faithfulness, we can turn our troubles into testimonies!
God responds to the prayers and praises of His people!
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. Can you imagine what that was like? After the initial shock was past it had to have been a prisoner’s dream come true!
5. All the doors flew open!
Prayer brings results! By God’s grace, it can open all the closed doors in our lives and in the lives of those we are praying for. There are many types of doors that need to be opened. As I read through this partial list I’m sure you will relate to some that you know God has already opened for you and to some you think still need to be opened.
Doors of hard hearts. Doors of difficulty. Doors of defeat. Doors of addictions. Doors of misunderstanding. Doors of failure. Doors of ignorance. Doors of debt. Doors of woundedness. Doors of rejection. Doors of painful memories. Doors of sickness. Doors of possession. Doors of doubt. Doors of poor self-image. Doors of oppression. Doors of unforgiveness. Doors of abuse.
As the saying goes, "Nobody knows what goes on behind closed doors!" Except those who live there, of course. Life can be really hard living behind closed doors! On the other hand:
Open doors allow the light of revelation knowledge to enter– the truth that sets free!
Open doors allow the Holy Spirit to breathe new life into seemingly hopeless situations.
Open doors allow all those prisoners that want to, to go free!
If I had the time I could testify about how God has opened at least a dozen of the doors listed above in my own life. I’ll take the time to tell you about just one. The door of debt.
Back in the early 80's, when my husband, Mike, was the pastor of a small church in Mustang, Oklahoma, God miraculously opened the door for us to buy a house with a VA loan. We only lived in it about 18 months when Mike felt led to move to Cleveland, Tennessee, to go to the School of Theology. We agreed to sell the house with our VA loan intact and it sold very quickly. We knew if they defaulted on the loan it would come back to us, but that seemed highly unlikely since the economy was booming and they’d paid $10,000.00 down on it. We moved to Cleveland and didn’t give it much thought.
Sometime after we moved, the economy in Oklahoma went south and the buyers defaulted on the loan. By the time the VA contacted us in 1989 they wanted us to pay $3000.00 to catch up the missed payments and then to start making the payments. We didn’t have any money. We were in that "descending into greatness" mode at the time– you know, living on next to nothing to serve God. He was taking care of us, but there was no extra cash, so Mike ignored the letter hoping the problem would just go away. That’s not an example to follow!
Since we didn’t respond, the mortgage company sold the house. Supposedly, because the economy was so bad, they sold it for $8000.00 less than the outstanding loan balance and in November of 1989, they sent us a bill for that amount. Since we didn’t have it, they set up a payment schedule of $45.00 a month, ad infinitum! It didn’t seem fair to us, but we managed to make the payments.
Shortly thereafter, God blessed us by opening the door for Mike to go to work in the World Missions Department. Our pay increased significantly and we decided to build a house. I was concerned about qualifying for the building loan with the VA debt on our credit record so I prayed about it. I didn’t tell God what to do. I merely shared my concerns with Him and asked if there was any way He could help us out and told Him we would certainly appreciate it if He could. Well, a week or two later, we got a letter in the mail that said, "Your debt has been reduced by $7830.00." There was no explanation given. I was excited but wondering what happened so I called Mike to tell him and see what he thought about it. He told me to call and get the details. When I called the VA Debt Servicing Center, the man who answered said, "Your debt has been forgiven and the money you’ve already paid will be returned to you with a verification that your debt is cancelled." I was amazed and delighted by his choice of words (it sounded like God to me) but I asked, "Do you know why?" He said, " No. I don’t know. But, if I were you, I’d just accept it." So we did. Is God incredible or what? Be encouraged that prayer makes a difference!
6. The chains of every prisoner fell off!
The chains fell off of the thieves, the slanderers, the liars, the murderers and the rapists. They fell off of those who had been falsely accused as well as those who were rightfully condemned. They fell off of the good old boys and the worst of sinners, the whited sepulchers and the devil worshipers! Everyone’s chains fell off! Why? Because God is "not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance." (2 Peter 3:9) The blood of Jesus paid for all sins to be forgiven! Freedom is available to all whether they take it or not! All prisoners may have new life by faith in Christ! But some don’t know how to get it.
7. The jailer said, "What must I do to be saved?"
We don’t know what happened to all those prisoners but it’s possible a revival broke out in that prison led by the jailor! We know that he was serious about his need of God. He asked what to do and got the answer. (Are you ready to tell others how to be saved?) Paul and Silas were ready to tell him. They said, "Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and you will be saved, you and your household!" So all the members of his household believed. They responded to the truth from heaven, the good news of God’s Word, by faith! They simply believed and they were all saved by God’s grace through the blood of Jesus!
You can be saved too. Not just from your sins but from a life of doubt, depression, oppression, rejection, obsessions, addictions, failures, etc. The work is already accomplished. ("I have set before you an open door, and no man can shut it!") The doors are open! The chains have fallen away! If you are saved but still feel bound, it is only an illusion! Satan is trying to blind you with a false impression! He is a liar! The Father of lies. Don’t listen to him. Don’t believe the lie he has whispered in your ear or placed before your eyes. Defeat is just a wrong perspective! In Christ you are super victorious!
I encourage you to resist the enemy of your soul and always speak in agreement with God’s Word. Satan cannot change the truth. Say,
"I am God’s child." John 1:12
"I am free from all condemnation." Romans 8:1-2
"I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me!" Phil 4:13
"I am more than a conqueror through Him who loves me!" Romans 8:37
"He will never leave me or forsake me." Hebrews 13:5
"He is able to keep that which I have committed unto Him against that day!" 2Tim 1:12
"No weapon formed against me shall prosper." Isa 54:17
Stand on God’s Word! See through eyes of faith! Appropriate by faith what God has already promised and provided for you and ask in faith, and according to the will of God, for those things you have need of. Notice the following scripture.
Now this is the confidence that we have in Him, that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us. And if we know that He hears us, whatever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we have asked of Him. I John 5:14-15
This is a scripture we should all memorize and understand. It says we can have whatever we ask for in faith, if it’s within God’s will. God is sovereign and He doesn’t need us to tell Him what to do. We are to ask God to help us as He sees fit. He knows far more than we do. We don’t even know how to pray sometimes but He knows how to answer. And His way is always for our best.
When we need something from our Heavenly Father, we should follow the example of the leper who went to Jesus and said, "Lord, if you are willing you can make me clean." Notice the leper believed Jesus had the power to heal Him but recognized that it must also be His will. Jesus responds to that kind of faith. He said, "I am willing....!" And because the leper believed Him, he cleansed him. (Matthew 8:2) His Word says He wants to forgive us, free us, fill us with His Spirit, provide for us, and save us to the uttermost! His Word also says He wants to save sinners. So if we ask for those things in faith, we will have what we ask for.
It is time for us to be like Paul and Silas. It is time for us to know who we are in Christ.
"... we should no longer be children, tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine... but... grow up in ...Christ... working... (so that) every part does its share, (and) causes growth of the body for the edifying of itself in love. (Eph 4:14-16)
God wants us to work together like Paul and Silas did so that we can continually go through the doors He has opened for us and so that we can help open doors for others. I trust that God will minister the truth of His Word to your hearts.
Our Father in heaven, I hallow and praise Your Name! Thank You for Your Word, the only source of Truth! Thank You for freedom from sin and peace of mind provided on the cross of Calvary by Jesus Christ, Your only begotten Son. Thank You for creating us for your pleasure and loving us as your children.
I ask, in the name of Jesus, that Your Holy Spirit will comfort Your children in their times of need and that You will bring salvation to those longing for Your forgiveness and deliverance. Nothing is too difficult for You!
