DCLM Daily Manna 2024: DCLM Daily Manna 3 October 2024: The Power of Praise
Text: Acts 16:16-33 (KJV)
16 And it came to pass, as we went to prayer, a certain damsel possessed with a spirit of divination met us, which brought her masters much gain by soothsaying:
17 The same followed Paul and us, and cried, saying, These men are the servants of the most high God, which shew unto us the way of salvation.
18 And this did she many days. But Paul, being grieved, turned and said to the spirit, I command thee in the name of Jesus Christ to come out of her. And he came out the same hour.
19 And when her masters saw that the hope of their gains was gone, they caught Paul and Silas, and drew them into the marketplace unto the rulers,
20 And brought them to the magistrates, saying, These men, being Jews, do exceedingly trouble our city,
21 And teach customs, which are not lawful for us to receive, neither to observe, being Romans.
22 And the multitude rose up together against them: and the magistrates rent off their clothes, and commanded to beat them.
23 And when they had laid many stripes upon them, they cast them into prison, charging the jailor to keep them safely:
24 Who, having received such a charge, thrust them into the inner prison, and made their feet fast in the stocks.
25 And at midnight Paul and Silas prayed, and sang praises unto God: and the prisoners heard them.
26 And suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison were shaken: and immediately all the doors were opened, and every one’s bands were loosed.
27 And the keeper of the prison awaking out of his sleep, and seeing the prison doors open, he drew out his sword, and would have killed himself, supposing that the prisoners had been fled.
28 But Paul cried with a loud voice, saying, Do thyself no harm: for we are all here.
29 Then he called for a light, and sprang in, and came trembling, and fell down before Paul and Silas,
30 And brought them out, and said, Sirs, what must I do to be saved?
31 And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house.
32 And they spake unto him the word of the Lord, and to all that were in his house.
33 And he took them the same hour of the night, and washed their stripes*; and was baptized, he and all his, straightway.
KEY VERSE: Acts 16:25,26
“And at midnight Paul and Silas prayed, and sang praises unto God: and the prisoners heard them. And suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison were shaken: and immediately all the doors were opened, and every one’s bands were loosed.”
Life is full of twists and turns. It does not always offer what we expect. What makes the difference is our response in such confounding situations. We can decide to act like most people, search for excuses for our predicament, wallow in self-pity or relapse into depression. But we can also choose to be undaunted and stand firm on the strength of our conviction. At such a time, it is natural to praise God for the privilege of suffering for the cause of the Kingdom.
Apostle Paul and Silas had just arrived in the city of Philippi. As they were going for prayers a few days later, they were trailed by a young girl who was possessed by the spirit of divination. She kept announcing to the public that Paul and Silas were servants of God who came to show the people the way of salvation. Initially, they ignored her, but she continued the practice for several days. Grieved in the spirit, Paul rebuked the spirit, and cast him out of the girl.
In anger that she had been stripped of her dark powers with which she made money for her employers, they raised false accusations and public protests against Paul and Silas. They were beaten and thrown into prison. In that condition, they began to praise God at midnight. God shook the prison with an earthquake that also shattered the chains and shackles of all prisoners.
We must learn to praise God, when our trials are fiercest. It gladdens God’s heart and it is like a sweet-smelling savour to Him. Praise brings comfort in times of trouble and it serves to strengthen our faith. It brings victory in the midst of battles and assures us that the Lord has neither left nor forsaken us.
THOUGHT FOR THE DAY:
Learn to praise God now, for it will be our only duty in heaven.
BIBLE IN ONE YEAR:
Luke 3-4
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Daily Manna 3 October 2024
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