Giving thanks and praise to God from a pure heart is one of the most powerful things Christians can do in this world. It moves the heart of God and can bring about real change in the lives of those who discover and apply this simple truth. Wherever you see Christianity thriving, you will find a strong emphasis on praising and worshipping God as saviour, healer and deliverer.
In Acts chapter 16, Paul and Silas travel from place to place from Jerusalem on their way to Macedonia, telling the good news about Jesus and introducing people to the Christian faith. Through their activities, the gospel had reached mainland Europe! But as is often the case with the apostles, things didn't always go to plan. They were thrown into prison in Philippi. But there they discovered that praise can literally open prison doors, and it can do the same in our lives too.
1. Praise God at all times (Acts 16:20-22, 25; Psalm 84:4-7; Psalm 50:14-15)
2. Praise shakes everything up (Acts 16:26a; Joshua 5:4-5, 6:20)
3. Praise brings salvation and release (Acts 16:26b-40)
Apply
When you are in difficult circumstances, what is your response? Paul & Silas were dragged before the authorities on false charges, stripped and beaten severely, then thrown into prison (Acts 16:20-22). They had obeyed God and seen great results, but for all the good they had done they had ended up in prison. Yet they did not complain or focus on themselves: they focussed on the Lord and began to praise Him loudly for all to hear (Acts 16:25). What comes out of us in a crisis is a good indication of what we have built our lives on. The reality of knowing Jesus in their everyday lives had changed everything for the apostles. All their hopes and dreams now rested on the risen Jesus and that's what came through in their singing. No outward force could rob them of their inner joy. They knew Jesus had suffered too & now He was right with them in their suffering. They placed their future in God’s hands, and as they sang, His Spirit in them would transform the atmosphere of the prison into a place of worship. They were chained up in body, but totally free in their hearts and minds. They refused to be defined by the situation in which they found themselves. A life of constant thanksgiving and praise transforms hopelessness into a glorious present and future (Psalm 84:4-7). Even when you may not feel like giving thanks and praise, like Paul and Silas we cannot allow our circumstances to dictate our emotions and reactions. And, in offering up a sacrifice of praise from a sincere heart, and in obedience to God’s word, we receive the promise of God's rescue (Psalm 50:14-15 AMP).
Do you need to start praising God and stop focussing on your circumstances to see the situation change? Paul & Silas were in a hopeless situation, but their focus was not on their plight. Their decision to sing thanks and praise to God was about to change everything (Acts 16:26). Their praise shook up their circumstances. We also see that when Joshua and his army obeyed God’s instruction, it was the loud shout of praise that brought down the walls of Jericho (Joshua 5:4-5, 6:20). Praising God changes our perspective on the situation. It prevents us from focussing just on ourselves and reminds us of who God is: that He is always good and that in all things he is also working for our good. Praise shakes up any negative thoughts and shakes out fearful emotions. Praise can change the atmosphere of your heart and your home from one of doubt, despair and dread to one of faith and total assurance in the promises and the love of God. And, like Paul and Silas experienced, praising God whilst in a locked up situation is key to seeing a miraculous shake up of your circumstances. In short, praise is powerful and it works!
Have you experienced how praising God brings both personal salvation and release, and brings freedom to those around you too? Paul and Silas' decision to give thanks and praise in their locked up situation affected everyone in the prison (Acts 16:26). It created an opportunity for others to encounter the presence of Jesus and give their lives to Him. Although they had been in chains, the power of God was not chained. The God of freedom had not only loosed their chains with an earthquake, but those of all the other prisoners with them. Our freedom is not just for our sake, but also for the sake of others. Paul & Silas also had the opportunity to share the word of God with the jailer and his household (Acts 16:27-34). Their decision to praise in the prison became the key to an entire household immediately experiencing the joy of knowing Jesus for themselves and becoming part of God’s family. And they saw their release from prison too. Today, be confident that your decision to praise God will unlock your circumstances and open prison doors. Choose to praise God in all circumstances and you will see how it shakes up your present reality, and brings salvation and release both to you and those around you.
