The Life Changing Power of Praise
Acts 16:20-40
Acts 16:16-21 (NIV)
"Once when we were going to the place of prayer, we were met by a slave girl who had a spirit by which she predicted the future. She earned a great deal of money for her owners by fortune-telling. [Greek: pneuma pythona//python] spirit. This girl 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 troubled 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 the owners of the slave girl 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."
Acts 16:22 (NIV)
"The crowd joined in the attack against Paul and Silas, and the magistrates ordered them to be stripped and beaten."
Acts 16:23 (NIV)
"After they had been severely flogged,"
Acts 16:23-24 (NIV)
"After they had been severely flogged, they were thrown into prison, and the jailer was commanded to guard them carefully. Upon receiving such orders, he put them in the inner cell and fastened their feet in the stocks."
Acts 16:25 (NIV)
"About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God..."
Acts 5:40-41 (NLT)
"They called in the apostles and had them flogged. Then
they ordered them never again to speak in the name of Jesus, and they let them go.The apostles left the high council rejoicing that God had counted them worthy to suffer disgrace for the name of Jesus."
1st Praise changes you
Acts 16:25 (NIV)
"About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God..."
1. Praise will give you a heart for the battle
Psalm 34:1
"I will praise the LORD at all times. I will constantly speak is praises."
Psalm 34:2
"I will boast only in the LORD; let all who are helpless take heart."
2. Praise will free you from your fears
Psalm 34:3-4
"Oh, magnify the LORD with me, and let us exalt his name together. I prayed to the LORD, and he answered me. He freed me from all my fears."
3. Praise will give you joy in the midst of trouble
Psalm 34:5
"Those who look to him for help will be radiant with joy;"
4. Praise brings God’s help to deliver you from your troubles
Psalm 34:6 (NLT)
"In my desperation I prayed, and the LORD listened; he saved me from all my troubles."
2nd Praise changes your situation
Acts 16:25
"About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the other prisoners were listening to them."
Acts 16:25-26 (NIV)
"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 everybody's chains came loose."
Philippians 4:4 (NIV)
"Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice!"
3rd Praise changes other people
Acts 16:25
"About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the other prisoners were listening to them."
Acts 16:27-30 (NIV)
"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?"
Acts 16:30-34 (NIV)
"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 family 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 family."
Acts 16:35-40 (NIV)
"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 encouraged them. Then they left."
