“THE PRISONERS WERE LISTENING!”

 Acts 16:25-32 (ESV)

“[25] About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to GOD, and “THE PRISONERS WERE LISTENING” to 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 everyone’s bonds were unfastened. [27] When the jailer woke and saw that the prison doors were open, he drew his sword and was ABOUT TO KILL HIMSELF, supposing that the prisoners had escaped. [28] But Paul cried with a loud voice, “Do not harm yourself, for we are all here.” [29] And the jailer called for lights and rushed in, and trembling with fear he fell down before Paul and Silas. [30] Then he brought them out and said, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?” [31] And they said, “Believe in the LORD JESUS, and YOU WILL BE SAVED, you and your household.” [32] And they spoke the word of the LORD to him and to all who were in his house.”

Allowing GOD to move you outside of your comfort zone can be a confusing place to be, especially for a person who isn’t SPIRITUALLY Mature. Thinking ourselves to be beyond trials is akin to Believing we are CANNOT be instructed by the HOLY SPIRIT on how to GLORIFY GOD! Paul and Silas were “in the inner prison” with their feet shackled in stocks, but only after they had been beaten by the magistrates and the crowds (Acts 16:22-24). It seemed NO ONE understood what they were going through!!!

Although we might not have to experience being “in the inner prison”, we can find ourselves in predicaments where it seems NO ONE UNDERSTANDS our plight. But do we fully grasp what JESUS went through ON OUR BEHALF on Calvary? Paul and Silas were “in the inner prison”, but the SPIRIT OF GOD was there WITH THEM! They were NOT ALONE, and NEITHER ARE WE!  

The SPIRIT OF GOD moved upon the guard of the prison to where he “drew his sword and was ABOUT TO KILL HIMSELF, supposing that the prisoners had escaped”! But, even though the restraints of the prison and inmates were reduced to rubbish, ALL of the prisoners were still there and there was no reason for him to KILL HIMSELF. He was led to ask “what must I do to be saved?” He probably wasn’t familiar enough with what BEING SAVED would mean, but he knew he needed the same SPIRIT that was IN CHARGE of the current situation living for and inside of him!

The SPIRIT OF GOD “NEVER” takes a break from the CARES of what is transpiring! There are BILLIONS of people alive today, yet the HOLY SPIRIT is working ALL THINGS (Romans 8:28) TOGETHER for HIS GOOD, even if we are “in the inner prison”! My prayer is that I will be aware that just as “THE PRISONERS WERE LISTENING” to Paul and Silas sing praises to GOD from the bowels of their confinement “in the inner prison”, GOD IS STILL ON THE THRONE even in our difficulties!!!