Introduction. (Acts 16:16-25) This evening I would like to focus on this last verse and consider carefully some lessons that it teaches us.
I. “But at midnight...”
II. “...Paul and Silas...”
III. “...Were praying and singing hymns to God...”
IV. “...And the prisoners were listening to them.”
We are coworkers. - (I Peter 3:7) “heirs together of the grace of life” We are the refuge. - (I Thessalonians 5:14) We are the escape from the world. We are a comfort to one another. Do we always see it this way?
Everyday we live life in a war zone. As we struggle and try to hold the battle line secure we may at times sometimes feel as if we are about to fall. I should be that when we come together we get the strength we nee to make it another day. Yet, if we find in our times together nothing except discouragement our strength grows a little weaker.
We must rebuke sin. We must try to help each other grow. But how do we do that? When was the last time you looked for something good that a brother or sister does and encouraged them in that? By nature we do those things that receive a positive response. Ex. Wife and a meal. By nature we lose heart at a continual negative response. Ex. wife and meal - “you can cook your own meal” (Galatians 6:1-9)
Note: This isn’t to say that there aren’t those times when we bring a bad attitude with us and there is nothing anyone can do right.Literally “praying hymns to God.” Alford comments - “The distinction of modern times between prayer and praise, arising from our attention being directed to the shape rather than the essence of devotion, was unknown in these days” (Vol. II, p. 183).
Most English “praying and singing hymns.” Worship at a time of hardship. Praise during a time of difficulty. (James 5:13)
We remember words better that are set to a tune. Example: Big Mac > “2 all beef patties, special sauce, lettuce...” When busy and frustrated or tempted bring to mind the words of a song. “It won’t be very long, till this short life shall end” or “farther along we’ll understand why.”
It is good to learn new songs - as you grow older things may not stick in the memory as when younger. Ex. 70’s songs I know all the words. As we select songs to edify one another we must keep in mind that older familiar songs will trigger the memory of some of us who have heard them for years - we need to hear them!