Acts 16: 16-34
"But at midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the prisoners were listening to them." Acts 16: 25
Paul and Silas had many good reasons to be disheartened. They had just been beaten severely and cast into prison for bringing freedom to a woman who was possessed by an evil spirit. Responding to God's call on their lives very often came with great cost, not only for Paul, but also for his fellow workers, and even for the churches that he had founded. Paul knew that this world was full of ungodly influences and demonic spirits that are actively in rebellion to God, and determined to oppress
as much of God's creation as possible and to oppose the message of salvation and deliverance through Jesus Christ. We must know, that for us also, every obedience to God will be opposed by spiritual forces of evil and powers of darkness. Thankfully, Paul didn't let the reality of this battle stop him from being obedient to his calling. Paul considered his life in this world as nothing compared to knowing Christ, and all his present sufferings as nothing compared to his eternal inheritance. In fact, Paul didn't just put up with his sufferings, he actually rejoiced in them for being counted worthy to suffer for the name of Jesus, believing that they were working for him a far greater eternal glory. (2 Cor. 4: 16- 18) But it wasn't some special knowledge or truth alone that gave Paul the victory over his circumstances. It was nothing less than the reality of the actual presence of God. All the truth in the world is insufficient without the Spirit of God transforming our hearts from the inside and making that truth real in us. Their lives were indwelt with the Holy Spirit of God. That's how, at midnight, in their darkest hour, they could pray and praise God. They prayed and praised, not knowing what the future would bring. They didn't know if they would be spending the rest of their lives in this prison cell, or even if they would be executed the next day, but whether God rescues them from prison or not, live or die, they know that they are the Lord's. They believed and received the life of God within them and were free, even in prison. We may not always receive from the Lord the reasons why something happens. We may not know what is coming next or what our next step should be, but there is freedom in simply letting our Lord have His way in us and resting in His love for us. In this life, all of us will experience troubles and calamities beyond our control that come upon us unexpectedly. True freedom is not being free from all the hard things that happen, but it is God giving us the strength to get through all the storms of life without bitterness, but with a prayer in our hearts and praises on our lips.
"In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world." John 16: 33.
~ Jim Krauser
