Lifting Hands of Worship in Difficult Times - Your Nightly Scripture - August 23rd
Lifting Hands Of Worship In Difficult Times
Your Nightly Scripture
Evening Scripture
Acts, Chapter 16
Paul came to Derbe and then to Lystra, where a disciple named Timothy lived, whose mother was Jewish and a believer but whose father was a Greek. The believers at Lystra and Iconium spoke well of him. Paul wanted to take him along on the journey, so he circumcised him because of the Jews who lived in that area, for they all knew that his father was a Greek. As they traveled from town to town, they delivered the decisions reached by the apostles and elders in Jerusalem for the people to obey. So the churches were strengthened in the faith and grew daily in numbers.
Paul and his companions traveled throughout the region of Phrygia and Galatia, having been kept by the Holy Spirit from preaching the word in the province of Asia. When they came to the border of Mysia, they tried to enter Bithynia, but the Spirit of Jesus would not allow them to. So they passed by Mysia and went down to Troas. During the night Paul had a vision of a man of Macedonia standing and begging him, “Come over to Macedonia and help us.” After Paul had seen the vision, we got ready at once to leave for Macedonia, concluding that God had called us to preach the gospel to them.
From Troas we put out to sea and sailed straight for Samothrace, and the next day we went on to Neapolis. From there we traveled to Philippi, a Roman colony and the leading city of that district of Macedonia. And we stayed there several days.
On the Sabbath we went outside the city gate to the river, where we expected to find a place of prayer. We sat down and began to speak to the women who had gathered there. One of those listening was a woman from the city of Thyatira named Lydia, a dealer in purple cloth. She was a worshiper of God. The Lord opened her heart to respond to Paul’s message. When she and the members of her household were baptized, she invited us to her home. “If you consider me a believer in the Lord,” she said, “come and stay at my house.” And she persuaded us.
Once when we were going to the place of prayer, we were met by a female slave who had a spirit by which she predicted the future. She earned a great deal of money for her owners by fortune-telling. She followed Paul and the rest of us, shouting, “These men are servants of the Most High God, who are telling you the way to be saved.” She kept this up for many days. Finally Paul became so annoyed that he turned around and said to the spirit, “In the name of Jesus Christ I command you to come out of her!” At that moment the spirit left her.
When her owners realized that their hope of making money was gone, they seized Paul and Silas and dragged them into the marketplace to face the authorities. They brought them before the magistrates and said, “These men are Jews, and are throwing our city into an uproar by advocating customs unlawful for us Romans to accept or practice.”
The crowd joined in the attack against Paul and Silas, and the magistrates ordered them to be stripped and beaten with rods. After they had been severely flogged, they were thrown into prison, and the jailer was commanded to guard them carefully. When he received these orders, he put them in the inner cell and fastened their feet in the stocks.
About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the other prisoners were listening to them. Suddenly there was such a violent earthquake that the foundations of the prison were shaken. At once all the prison doors flew open, and everyone’s chains came loose. The jailer woke up, and when he saw the prison doors open, he drew his sword and was about to kill himself because he thought the prisoners had escaped. But Paul shouted, “Don’t harm yourself! We are all here!”
The jailer called for lights, rushed in and fell trembling before Paul and Silas. He then brought them out and asked, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?”
They replied, “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved—you and your household.” Then they spoke the word of the Lord to him and to all the others in his house. At that hour of the night the jailer took them and washed their wounds; then immediately he and all his household were baptized. The jailer brought them into his house and set a meal before them; he was filled with joy because he had come to believe in God—he and his whole household.
When it was daylight, the magistrates sent their officers to the jailer with the order: “Release those men.” The jailer told Paul, “The magistrates have ordered that you and Silas be released. Now you can leave. Go in peace.” But Paul said to the officers: “They beat us publicly without a trial, even though we are Roman citizens, and threw us into prison. And now do they want to get rid of us quietly? No! Let them come themselves and escort us out.”
The officers reported this to the magistrates, and when they heard that Paul and Silas were Roman citizens, they were alarmed. They came to appease them and escorted them from the prison, requesting them to leave the city. After Paul and Silas came out of the prison, they went to Lydia’s house, where they met with the brothers and sisters and encouraged them. Then they left.
Evening Reflection
Your walk with Jesus should be marked by maturity. One measure of our spiritual maturity is the way we respond during the trials of life. In the life of Paul and Silas, they had every right to complain. All they were doing was preaching the gospel and obeying what God had called them to do. However, their obedience led them to being beaten and placed in jail. I don’t think any of us would have been surprised if the next thing we read was that Paul and Silas were angry about their unfair treatment. Instead, we find something quite different.
"About midnight, Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the other prisoners were listening to them." - Acts 16:31
There are two points of application from this verse that I want to help you with. The first is that Paul and Silas were praying and singing. In the moment, they should have been frustrated; they were lifting their voices to God in prayer and worship. This is what a mature response looks like.
How is it possible that this is how they would respond to their difficult situation? It’s because their eyes were fixed in the right direction. The hope we have in Christ is not determined by the circumstances of life. This hope goes beyond our trials, beyond our difficulties, and even beyond the grave. In the most challenging moments of life, focusing on the hope in Christ that goes beyond anything in this life can lead you to sing and worship.
During the period of slavery in America, many enslaved African men and women were forced to work under unimaginable and horrific conditions. Many were separated from their families, their freedom was denied, and they faced injustice daily. Despite these circumstances, many gathered in what were known as hush harbors. These were secret meeting places hidden deep in the woods where they could worship. They would sing songs of hope, knowing that even though their bodies were in chains, their souls were free because they were in Christ. As with Paul and Silas, their circumstances did not hinder their worship. As you think of your situation in life today, know that you, too, can worship, because your hope goes beyond this life.
There is one more simple truth to bring to your attention. This same verse says “…and the other prisoners were listening to them.” When you go through trials, people are watching you. Once people know you are a follower of Christ, they watch your response and the way you endure trials. Are you singing, praying, and worshipping, or are you grumbling and complaining? Only one of these responses speaks to your hope in Christ. While you may not see it, the way you navigate these moments speaks to those around you because they are listening to your life to see what song it is playing.
Lastly, the trials you endure are not just for you. Yes, they will challenge you, mold you, and mature you. Beyond that, they can influence those around them and potentially open doors for the gospel. Paul and Silas’ worship led to the jailer's salvation and that of his household. Who knows if the difficult situation you are in is God’s way of reaching someone with the gospel that you might not reach any other way?
My friend, I encourage you to worship through the trial. God is the same good God before, during, and after the trial. When you worship, those around you may wonder what kind of God you are serving that you will continue to praise even when everything is falling apart. That might be your open door to tell of how wonderful Jesus is.
Evening Prayer
Lord,
I am facing a difficult situation right now, and sometimes it is hard to see where it is going. In these moments, give me a song of worship and praise in my heart. Let me fix my gaze not on what is happening around me, but on you, knowing that your goodness is not determined by these circumstances. Help me to always worship and pray because this not only encourages my soul, but it may also provide hope for someone who is listening to my life. Even now, I begin to lift my hands and voice in worship to you. Even if the circumstances do not immediately change, let my faith and hope in you remain unshaken. Thank you for your Spirit who lives in me, who draws me close to you, and your presence that walks with me regardless of what is happening in my life. Let this be the focus of my life each day and each night.
I pray all this in Jesus’ name.
Amen.
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Scripture quoted by permission. Quotations designated (NIV) are from THE HOLY BIBLE: NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®. NIV®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica. All rights reserved worldwide.
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He is the author of The Pursuit of Purpose, which helps readers understand how God leads them into his will, and the author of The Pursuit of Victory: How To Conquer Your Greatest Challenges and Win In Your Christian Life. Clarence is also committed to helping 10,000 people learn how to study the Bible and has released his first course, Bible Study Basics, to achieve that goal. To learn more about his ministry and resources, please visit clarencehaynes.com.
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