And At Midnight

 As taught at Bible Study on 7_6_21

AND AT MIDNIGHT, PAUL & SILAS

PRAYED AND SANG PRAISES UNTO GOD!

 

This is not a cliché or catchy title or message.  These are the words that God spoke to me on Thursday morning (7-1-21).

We are under attack spiritually (who isn’t?) and facing battle after battle. It seems to be intensified lately with all the various issues coming at us from all sides. I was feeling overwhelmed on Wednesday and had been pleading with God to move in some of these situations. 

I went to sleep Wednesday with my heart heavy but on Thursday morning, these words came to me so clearly it woke me out of my sleep….

AND AT MIDNIGHT, PAUL AND SILAS
PRAYED AND SANG PRAISES TO GOD!
(Acts 16:25)

 

It feels like midnight to many of us.  We feel beaten, bruised, chained, and defeated.  Things feel dark and bleak at times.  BUT it was at that darkest moment that Paul and Silas chose not to focus on their situation or to complain, but rather they focused on giving God praise.

They were hurting and didn’t know what tomorrow held, but they worshipped.  They worshipped despite not knowing what the outcome would be.  And as they did, there was a SUDDENLY!

SUDDENLY, a shaking began to happen!  SUDDENLY, not only did their prison doors open wide but also the prison doors for everyone else in that place.  SUDDENLY, not only did their chains fall off but so did the chains binding everyone else there.

When we worship and pray in our darkest hour, we hold the power to not only see a shaking taking place and bands loosed in our situation, but it will also happen for others around us/our family.

It was a struggle getting myself to refocus my mind to sing praise every time a situation would arise or my heart would feel overwhelmed, but I worked at it because God said to pray and sing praise in the midnight hour!

Friday morning, the children’s song “Joshua fought the battle of Jericho” was playing in my mind.  I started to dismiss it thinking, “That’s what happens when you’re so involved in Children’s ministry.”  But then I realized and proclaimed…

YES! Those walls and those strongholds ARE coming down!
In Jesus’ name!

The walls of Jericho did not fall by the actions or words or the ability of the children of Israel. Those walls fell because they stayed silent, obeyed their leader, and then on the last time marching around those walls they SHOUTED AND PRAISED GOD!

WORSHIP is the way the battle(s) will be won!

PRAISE LED THE WAY INTO BATTLE….

Did you know it was the singers singing praises unto God who led the way into the battles?  You can read about it in 2 Chronicles 20.

Johoshaphat, King of Judah, was not a perfect man but he did set his face to seek the Lord and do what was right.

Moab and Ammon decided to pick an unprovoked fight with Jehoshaphat and Judah (which by the way…Judah means Praise.)  Johoshaphat was afraid but rather than just rushing into the battle, he went to God in prayer asking for help.

He prayed and said, “IF, WHEN evil cometh unpon us, as the sword, judgment, or pestilence, or famine, we stand before this house and in Thy presence, (for Thy name is in this house) and cry unto Thee in our affliction, THEN, Thou wilt hear and help……neither know we what to do: but our eyes are upon Thee. (2 Chron 20:9,12)

The Lord’s response?  The battle is not yours, but God’s!   He said “ye shall not need to fight in this battle: set yourselves, stand ye still and see the salvation of the Lord with you…fear not nor be dismayed!” (vs 15, 17)

THEN Jehoshaphat and all Israel fell before the Lord and WORSHIPPED.  Then they stood up to PRAISE the Lord God of Israel with a LOUD VOICE on high.

The Battle was God’s but God still said they had to GO! 

Do you know who led the way into the battle?  THE SINGERS singing PRAISE TO GOD! (2 Chron 20:21-22)

The singers went BEFORE the army, praising the Beauty of Holiness.

AND WHEN THEY BEGAN TO SING AND TO PRAISE, the Lord sent an ambushments against their enemies and they were smitten.

It was SONGS OF PRAISE that caused that battle to be won without fighting.

While listening to Bro Gregory’s message Wednesday night, it caught my attention that in the midst of Job’s sorrow, pain, agony, and loss, as he was hit with the news of loss after loss after loss.  Not only did he lose everything he had, but he also lost all his children. Yet, he didn’t moan or wail “why is this happening to me??!!”  No, instead, he fell to his knees and he worshipped God.

In your darkest moment, at midnight, PRAY and SING PRAISES to God then watch what God will do!

 

Peter’s faith was high despite the storm and waves that were trying to sink them when He saw Jesus walking on the water.  He believed he could walk on the water as well and asked Jesus to bid him to come.  And Jesus did. 

Peter took those steps out of the boat and began to walk on the water toward Jesus.  He may have thought, “This is great!” but then he began to focus on the storm and waves crashing round him.  When he took his eyes off Jesus and began to focus on the storm instead, he began to sink. 

Jesus rescued him, of course, but there is a lesson to be learned from all these great Biblical accounts….keep your eyes on Jesus and your heart and mind focused on praise. 

PRAISE will win the battle!  Keep a song in your heart and your mind focused on praising Jesus.