GET CRAZY SERIOUS ABOUT YOUR PRAYERS TO GOD! And at MIDNIGHT
PAUL AND SILAS
PRAYED AND SANG,
PRAISES UNTO GOD: and the prisoners heard them.
ACTS 16:25
WHAT MOUNTAIN
ARE YOU
FACING TODAY
MOUNTAINS OF TROUBLES
I want to talk to those of you who have "MOUNTAINS" before you:
- Mountains of ILLNESS
- Mountains of NEEDING A JOB
- Mountains of FAMILY PROBLEMS
- Mountains of UNSAVED LOVED ONES
- Mountains of FINANCIAL DIFFICULTIES
- Mountains of HATRED (Including SELF HATRED)
- Mountains of GRIEF
- Mountains of DEEP DEPRESSION
- Mountains of SUICIDAL FEELINGS
These are some pretty "HEAVY MOUNTAINS, OR BURDENS" that you are carrying daily! You have no idea of how to get
Over, Around, Up or even THROUGH THESE MOUNTAINS!
These MOUNTAINS are causing you: Stress - Anxieties - Worry - Concern - Hardships - and even Torment! As Believers In Christ Jesus, these MOUNTAINS are not to cause us to misery or anguish!
MOUNTAINS FOR PAUL AND SILAS
Let's take a look at the whole story of why
Paul and Silas were in prison:
Paul and Silas were on their way to prayer when they came upon a slave girl who had a "spirit of prediction!" She was making large profits for her owners by fortune-telling.
As she followed Paul and Silas the "spirit within her" cried out to them, "These men, who are proclaiming to you the way of salvation are the slaves of the Highest God!"
And, she did this day after day.
A MOUNTAIN AND A MIRACLE
Paul was greatly aggravated and turned to the spirit, and said, "I COMMAND YOU IN THE NAME OF JESUS CHRIST TO COME OUT OF HER!" And immediately the spirit obey at the name of Jesus and came out!
When her owners saw that their hope of profit was gone, they seized Paul and Silas and dragged them into the marketplace to the authorities. Before the magistrates, they said, "These men are seriously disturbing our city. They are Jews and are promoting customs that are not legal for us as Romans to adopt or practice.
Then the mob joined in the attack against them, and the chief magistrates stripped off their clothes and ordered them to be beaten with rods. After they had inflicted many blows upon them, they threw them in jail, ordering the jailer to keep them securely guarded.
The jailer receiving such an order, put them into the inner prison and secured their feet in the stocks! Now, this was a MOUNTAIN that Paul and Silas had "no control over!"
A MIDNIGHT DELIVERANCE
About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the prisoners were listening to them. Suddenly there was such a violent earthquake that the foundations of the jail were shaken, and immediately all the doors were opened, and EVERYONE'S CHAINS came loose.
When the jailer woke up and saw the doors of the prison open, he drew his sword and was going to kill himself, since he thought the prisoners had all escaped. But, Paul cried out in a loud voice, "Don't harm yourself, because all of us are here!"
THE JAILER'S EYES WERE OPENED
Then the jailer called for lights, rushed in and fell trembling before Paul and Silas. He then escorted them out and said, "Sirs, what must I do to be saved?"
Paul and Silas said, "Believe on the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved -- you and your household." Then they spoke the message of the Lord to him along with everyone in his house.
He took them the same hour of the night and washed their wounds. Right away he and all his family were baptized. He brought them into his house, set a meal before them, and rejoiced because he had believed God with his entire household.
AN OFFICIAL APOLOGY
When daylight came, the chief magistrates sent the police to say, "Release those men!" The jailer reported these words to Paul: "The magistrates have sent orders for you to be released. So come out now and go in peace!"
But Paul said to them, "They beat us in public without a trial, although we are Roman citizens, and they threw us in jail. And now are they going to smuggle us out secretly? Certainly not! On the contrary, let them come themselves and escort us out!"
Then the police reported these words to the magistrates. They were afraid when they heard that Paul and Silas were Roman Citizens. So they came and apologized to them, and escorting them out, they urged them to leave town.
NO MOUNTAIN IS TO BIG FOR GOD
Whatever MOUNTAIN you are facing today, it is NOT TO BIG FOR GOD! God "DESIRES TO MOVE YOUR MOUNTAIN and
PROVIDE A MIRACLE!"
However, He is looking to see what we are doing amid our MOUNTAINS... Are we PRAYING? Are we SINGING? Are we being OBEDIENT to HIS WORD?
It's not that God does not want to help you or me, it's the personal relationship with Him that He is looking for! He wants us to know Him, to seek Him and to Love Him!
We can not call upon God just when we NEED HIM! He wants us to have a DAILY WALK WITH HIM! Fellowship, communication, singing, praying, sharing and LOVING HIM!
MOUNTAINS MOVED
When we have a relationship with someone it is because we are in communication with them. We call them, we talk to them, we plan to get together's with them.
We need the same fellowship with the Lord! He wants to hear from us, He wants to be a part of our daily lives. I have to keep a constant check on my relationship with Christ Jesus!
MY OWN SELF CHECK
I have to ask myself daily, "Have you talked with God today in prayer? Have you sung praises and given Him thanks for EVERYTHING He does for you?
And, when the MOUNTAINS are OVERWHELMING... I'm learning to get more FERVENT - ECSTATIC - EXCITED - ELATED - RAPTUROUS and EVEN CRAZY WITH JOY in,
MY PRAYERS, MY FAITH and MIRACLES!
MOUNTAINS MOVE and MIRACLES OCCUR when we seek the Lord our God with ALL OUR HEARTS!
And ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search for me with all your heart. JEREMIAH 29:13
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