The Power of Prayer, Praise and Worship.

If you missed Big Earl at Celebrate Recovery – WFR, you missed it. He spoke from Acts 16. Paul and Silas were beaten almost to death, put in stocks, and thrown into the inner most prison cell.

 

BEATEN, BOUND, ABANDONED

 

At midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God AND ALL THE PRISONERS WERE LISTENING (put that in your back pocket for a minute)–worship.

 

A GREAT SUGGESTION FOR TIMES WHEN YOU ARE UP AT NIGHT WITH A HEAVY HEART. SEE WHAT HAPPENS NEXT.

 

An Earthquake. The Prison Doors Open. The CHAINS WERE LOOSED.

 

SUPERNATURAL THINGS HAPPEN IN TIMES OF PRAYER, PRAISE AND WORSHIP.

 

Big Earl mentioned that many just stood or were on their phone during praise and worship. You are missing supernatural intervention of God when you check out of praise and worship.

 

Nevertheless, you are holy, enthroned on the praises of Isra’el. Psalm 22:4 CJB

 

Similarly, the Spirit helps us in our weakness; for we don’t know how to pray the way we should. But the Spirit himself pleads on our behalf with groanings too deep for words Romans 8:26 CJB

 

I exhort you, therefore, brothers, in view of God’s mercies, to offer yourselves as a sacrifice, living and set apart for God. This will please him; it is the logical “Temple worship” for you. Romans 12:1 CJB

 

Furthermore, the other prisoners around them HEARD. And the chains of the other prisoners around them were loosed as well.

 

What did Paul and Silas and the prisoners do when they were freed? I might have thought to run for the hills (See verses 35-40–good stuff). Instead, when the prison guard came back to open cells and loosened chains, all the prisoners were still there. And because of their declaration, “we are all here” , the guard and his family were saved.

 

My takeaways from this phenomenal passage:

 

1. When we praise Him in our darkest hour, He will show up for you.

2. Our praises affect those around us. Who knows which of our unsaved loved ones may seek to know the cause of our praise in difficulty? Who might we encourage?

3. Don’t leave. At CR that ‘s why we always say “Keep Coming Back”. To everyone. To those whose chains have been broken, we need you be a light and testimony to those still in bondage.

 

Be Blessed.