Have you ever found yourself dogged by a problem that just won’t let go. You try to ignore it till finally you just turn around and confront it and send it packing. I would like to let you know when you stand up for what is right and confront evil that sometimes things may take a turn for the worse but hold on there’s something good just around the corner. I would like to show you an example of this in scripture.
Acts 16 New International Version
16 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. 17 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.” 18 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.
19 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. 20 They brought them before the magistrates and said, “These men are Jews, and are throwing our city into an uproar 21 by advocating customs unlawful for us Romans to accept or practice.”
22 The crowd joined in the attack against Paul and Silas, and the magistrates ordered them to be stripped and beaten with rods. 23 After they had been severely flogged, they were thrown into prison, and the jailer was commanded to guard them carefully. 24 When he received these orders, he put them in the inner cell and fastened their feet in the stocks.
Of course this evil spirit was not interested in people getting saved to say the very least. It was mocking them and trying to make them look foolish. What’s interesting to see is how some people make a living by using evil to line their pockets. Maybe that is why so many in the world hate the message of morality and righteousness. It cuts into their profit as was the case in this incident. Paul and Silas were taken prisoner, they were stripped and humiliated and then beaten. What is also interesting is the fact it was against the law for Paul who was a Roman citizen to have received that beating. However he did not try to take the easy way out. He smelled the fragrance of rain amidst the storm. A heavenly rain, the thunder and lightning were things he had to go through to receive the refreshing rain.
Let’s read further.
Acts 16 New International Version
25 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?”
31 They replied, “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved—you and your household.” 32 Then they spoke the word of the Lord to him and to all the others in his house. 33 At that hour of the night the jailer took them and washed their wounds; then immediately he and all his household were baptized. 34 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.
35 When it was daylight, the magistrates sent their officers to the jailer with the order: “Release those men.” 36 The jailer told Paul, “The magistrates have ordered that you and Silas be released. Now you can leave. Go in peace.”
37 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.”
Now let’s use our imagination to fill in the blanks and try to understand a little more clearly what just happened. These two were stripped and beaten. That means the whip had direct contact with their skin. They both had many painful welts on their body and the pain that night was overwhelming. However, how did Paul and Silas pass this time of torment. They worshipped God. They had church and the other prisoners took note of what was taking place. Worship in the midst of suffering not only moves God but it shakes the earth. Not just the foundations made with stone and mortar but the hearts of men. This jailer came to Paul and Silas and the first words he spoke were, “what must I do to be saved”. This is the type of worship service that moves not only mountains but tears down the walls of a man’s heart. Not only does it open the prison doors, but it opens the hearts of men. I guess sometimes a little persecution thrown into the stove of worship only makes the bread of life more desirable. That jailer took them from the jail that night, he fed them and dressed their wounds. It was there that Paul and SIlar finished their message. When they were done everyone in the house was baptized. Not just one jailer but everyone in his family.
What an atmosphere was present in the jail but not just in the jail but also the home of the jailer. God often after he accomplishes His will also brings desert to the table for the faithful. They had probably won more souls that night than in the entire time they were in Philippi. Plus Paul had a chance to confront those that had beaten him and watch them squirm as they realized they had beaten Roman Citizens. Their hide was now at stake and their whole attitude changed towards these two men.
Now you may be in a place where you’re taking a little heat while you’re trying to follow God’s plan for your life. There may be human spirits as well as evil spirits that are trying to intimidate you. Sometimes you have to stop ignoring them and confront them. However be aware that sometimes when you send them packing there are things that follow where your faith will be tested. It may hurt for a while but worship amidst the suffering and rejection that sometimes follows obedience only adds a special kind of incense to your worship. So when times are dark and you have been wrongfully chastised for doing good. Turn up the volume of your prayers and worship, for if you look up you will see amidst the thunder and the lightning that God is sending a rain of revival that will shake the place you are inhabiting and people will seek you out who have hungry hearts. Every preacher and every saint longs to minister to the open and hungry heart that surrenders itself to God. People are watching you and when they see your faithfulness and determination followed by God’s demonstrations of might and power. They will seek deliverance from their chains and the jail cells they inhabit.