February 09, 2023: SOAP #4816: Leviticus 10-12; Acts 16

SCRIPTURE:  Acts (NIV) 16:9 During the night Paul had a vision of a man of Macedonia standing and begging him, “Come over to Macedonia and help us.” 10 After Paul had seen the vision, we got ready at once to leave for Macedonia, concluding that God had called us to preach the gospel to them….
23 After they had been severely flogged, they were thrown into prison, and the jailer was commanded to guard them carefully. 24 Upon receiving such orders, he put them in the inner cell and fastened their feet in the stocks. 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 everybody’s chains came loose.

OBSERVATION:  Through their ministry, a demon-possessed slave girl had been delivered.   Her masters now would not be able to use her to make them money.  They had Paul and Silas beaten and thrown in jail.  I think in jail. Paul and Silas looked back and reminded themselves of God’s call.  No, they had not missed the will of God.  And while waiting for whatever it was that God was going to do, they began to sing.  An earthquake shook open the stocks and set them free!

APPLICATION: Being in the will of God is no guarantee that everything will go well.   But being in the will of God builds my faith to be able to sing at midnight, even when things are looking bad.   Being in the will of God builds my faith to wait for Him to do what only He can do!

PRAYER:   Lord, I want to keep my eyes on you. Help me always remember that the word you gave me when things were going good is strong enough to keep me when things are not going good.   Amen.

Pastor Leon
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