“But at midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the prisoners were listening to them.” (Acts 16:25)
 

September 2010

Dear Friend,

Trusting that all is well with you and your loved ones. Our team has had a wonderful summer of ministry, and now we are looking forward to pressing in to what God has for us this Fall and Winter. Our phone lines are busy, and we are praising God for all the answers to prayer! It is such a blessing when our callers call back to tell us what God has done! Some of the situations seemed impossible at the time, but our God is the God of the impossible! Glory!

When we read about Paul and Silas in prison, we can somehow identify with them, with their frustrations and their feelings as they were led to prison in order to be stopped from doing the work that God had called them to do. The charges were false: Paul was not causing trouble in the city. There was strong opposition to the Gospel of Jesus Christ, just as there is today.  Those of us who know the truth can really become discouraged when we see those around us rejecting Christ and living the wrong way. Thank God, so far, we have religious freedom here in the United States, but there will come a time when censorship will come, and it could mean prison if we refuse to give in. Are we willing to go all the way? We certainly pray so! Only God can give courage and strength for that, and I do believe that He will do so just as we need it. Look at what He did for Paul and Silas! They had to have supernatural joy in their heart; a special strength that could only come from God Himself! As they were imprisoned, instead of saying “woe is me, look where I am now!” they began to sing and rejoice! They praised God right where they were, right in the middle of the situation! This is the power of praise my friend! When in serious situations, a song sung from the heart to God can bring supernatural deliverance! Praise directed at God can open prison doors!

Yes, it is true, that God did not always act in that way. There were other times that Paul was imprisoned and remained there for a time. He was also martyred. But we learn a great lesson from this passage. Read Acts 16:25-31. As Paul and Silas sang and praised God, 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. There was a direct relationship between praise and their supernatural deliverance. This was so serious that the prison guard was ready to kill himself! But God even had a miracle for him! Paul told him not to kill himself, that they were all there, no one had fled. Just picture the trembling guard as he witnessed all of this! How scary that had to be for him! His question that followed led to his salvation, and the salvation of his whole family! Paul said “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and you will be saved, you and your household.” (Vs. 31) How thrilling is that? Wow!  It goes on to say how the guard cleaned their wounds and how he and all his family were baptized. He set food before Paul and Silas and he rejoiced because of his belief in God with all his household. Glory!

When times come that seem to be as threatening as prison doors closing in, let us open our hearts to give praise to God! Let us offer the sacrifice of thanksgiving, totally trusting in Him to see us through. Instead of looking at the circumstances, let us look to God! Our praise will draw us closer to the One who is our Savior, our Deliverer, our Stronghold in the time of trouble!

“I will love You, O Lord, my strength. The Lord is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer; My God, my strength, in whom I will trust; My shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold. I will call upon the Lord, who is worthy to be praised; So shall I be saved from my enemies.” (Psalm 18:1-3)

As we begin a new season, let us begin by worshiping and praising God! I believe that in this season, we are going to be introduced to a powerful demonstration of Who God is, just as God did for Paul and Silas and  that prison guard. Nothing is impossible with Him, and even though the world seems to be growing more and more hostile to the gospel, and to what is right or wrong, God is still on the Throne! Let us sing our praises! Let us get before Him and worship Him and adore Him! Let us take time every single day to read His Word, and fill our hearts with His Truth, because He is Truth! What the world decides is the opposite, but our God is Greater! Let us stand up for Truth! Let us stand up for the Gospel and draw those dear to us into His marvelous Presence! Let us not be afraid to speak up when we have to. Our silence will speak too if we allow it. It is important to be a mouthpiece and show the love of Jesus, and Who He is by our words and actions. As we praise Him, and sing, and worship, He will show Himself strong on our behalf. If we want our loved ones and those around us to know Him, let us not be timid! Let us ask the Holy Spirit every single morning to bring us to people who need to know the Gospel. If we stay in tune with Him, we will not overstep our boundaries, and those who hear us will hear what we have to say.

If we have been battling a situation for a time now, let us offer praise to God, right in the midst of it! Let us not let that situation cause us to be silent! Let us open our mouths every day and praise and worship the King of Kings, the Lord of Lords, the Great I Am! As we praise Him, prison doors will open, and deliverance will come! Amen!

Father, in Jesus Name, I lift up this reader to You and place him or her in Your Loving Arms. Lord, take hold of this person, and bring encouragement! Bring release Lord! Bring peace, and love, and joy into their heart! Set the captive free to worship You in spirit and in truth, and bring hope and healing and deliverance, for Your Glory. In Jesus Name, Amen!  God bless you!

Rev. Barbara Anne Yovino, Ph.D.

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