“About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the other prisoners were listening to them. 26 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. 27 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. 28 But Paul shouted, “Don’t harm yourself! We are all here!” 29 The jailer called for lights, rushed in and fell trembling before Paul and Silas. 30 He then brought them out and asked, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?” Acts 16.25-30
The supernatural adventures of Paul and Silas continue! We find these disciples of Jesus inside a prison. They’ve been in ministry and doing wonderful things, and yet, the people aren’t so sure about it. They had just freed a female slave from a demon and her owners were not happy. So Paul and Silas found themselves in prison and under persecution once again.
But suddenly, at midnight, as they were “praying and singing hymns to God,” something happened. Things tend to occur when people pray and sing to God. Just look at Asbury University and the 20 some-odd colleges where revival is taking place. What started in one location is now spreading across the nation in very tangible ways. (We caught of glimpse of this with our Day of Prayer yesterday at Baylor’s Truett Seminary.)
With prayer and singing came an earthquake which just so happened to open the prison doors. The jailer, who was responsible for the prisoners, would be put to death if they escaped. When he saw this, he drew his sword and was about to kill himself. But God is in the business of saving, not destroying people. And so Paul said, “Don’t harm yourself, we are all here!” Then the jailer “called for lights, rushed in and fell trembling before Paul and Silas saying, “Sirs, what just I do to be saved?”
God is merciful. He saves those who desire salvation and the jailer, whose name is unknown, is known to God. The Lord is in the saving business, rescuing the lost, forgiving sin, redeeming humanity. What began with simple singing and prayer resulted in the salvation of not only the jailer but his entire household as well.
What begins with our praise ends in Gods divine activity among humanity. Dr. Billy Abraham, a blessed memory, said that he did not believe he would see revival in his time but believed that it would happen. Well it’s happening. The hunger of humanity for something greater than themselves is sweeping across the nation. People are finding freedom, release, hope and love. The embers of revival, the outpouring of God’s Spirit, is available to all.
Have you caught it? Do you feel it? Have you sensed the moving of the Spirit? Draw near to God and he will draw near to you! Find yourself before a loving God who is able to save you from the pit. He is with you and he is with his people.
Won’t you allow his Spirit to touch your heart today? Pray and sing, seek renewal, ask for revival. Let it begin with you.
“O Lord God, you are good and faithful. I praise you Lord for loving me and for allowing me to catch a glimpse of your Spirit. I find you willing and able to save me, to redeem me, to fill me with your love. Fall on our nation and spread to the world! Restore us to a right relationship with you that we might be your people and we might be your God. For you are good and your love endures forever.” Amen