ABIDE - DAY 17
We are inseparable from His Love
Let’s read:
Acts 16
16 Now it happened, as we went to prayer, that a certain slave girl possessed with a spirit of divination met us, who brought her masters much profit by fortune-telling. 17 This girl followed Paul and us, and cried out, saying, “These men are the servants of the Most High God, who proclaim to us the way of salvation.” 18 And this she did for many days.
But Paul, greatly [d]annoyed, turned and said to the spirit, “I command you in the name of Jesus Christ to come out of her.” And he came out that very hour. 19 But when her masters saw that their hope of profit was gone, they seized Paul and Silas and dragged them into the marketplace to the authorities.
20 And they brought them to the magistrates, and said, “These men, being Jews, exceedingly trouble our city; 21 and they teach customs which are not lawful for us, being Romans, to receive or observe.” 22 Then the multitude rose up together against them; and the magistrates tore off their clothes and commanded them to be beaten with rods. 23 And when they had laid many stripes on them, they threw them into prison, commanding the jailer to keep them securely. 24 Having received such a charge, he put them into the inner prison and fastened their feet in the stocks.
Can you imagine this! Paul and Silas set this young girl free from the spirit that had hold of her and they were beaten and thrown in prison for it! There are many Christians today that don’t want to get involved in peoples other problems for fear of what might happen to them. This is the spirit of anti-Christ at work. It’s exactly the opposite of what Jesus would do. We have to remember we are called to set the captives free! Paul and Silas were fixed on bringing the love of God every where they went. They weren’t worried, they were focused on Jesus! Look what they were doing while in prison…
25 But at midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the prisoners were listening to them. 26 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 chains were loosed. 27 And the keeper of the prison, awaking from sleep and seeing the prison doors open, supposing the prisoners had fled, drew his sword and was about to kill himself. 28 But Paul called with a loud voice, saying, “Do yourself no harm, for we are all here.”
29 Then he called for a light, ran in, and fell down trembling before Paul and Silas. 30 And he brought them out and said, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?”
31 So they said, “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and you will be saved, you and your household.” 32 Then they spoke the word of the Lord to him and to all who were in his house. 33 And he took them the same hour of the night and washed their stripes. And immediately he and all his family were baptized. 34 Now when he had brought them into his house, he set food before them; and he rejoiced, having believed in God with all his household.
They were praying and singing! How many of us can say that we are doing the same thing when we are going through hard times?! These 2 men of God knew something very special. In Pauls letter to the Romans he said, “ Romans 8: 38 For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, 39 nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” He was fully convinced that no matter what happened he could not be separated from the love of God.
We have to remember this! In all circumstances, no matter what is going on, we absolutely cannot be separated from the love of our Father. He is infinitely for us and unequivocally with us through all things that we may face.
This understanding of being inseparable from the Fathers love is truly an ABIDING place!
Let’s read:
Acts 16
16 Now it happened, as we went to prayer, that a certain slave girl possessed with a spirit of divination met us, who brought her masters much profit by fortune-telling. 17 This girl followed Paul and us, and cried out, saying, “These men are the servants of the Most High God, who proclaim to us the way of salvation.” 18 And this she did for many days.
But Paul, greatly [d]annoyed, turned and said to the spirit, “I command you in the name of Jesus Christ to come out of her.” And he came out that very hour. 19 But when her masters saw that their hope of profit was gone, they seized Paul and Silas and dragged them into the marketplace to the authorities.
20 And they brought them to the magistrates, and said, “These men, being Jews, exceedingly trouble our city; 21 and they teach customs which are not lawful for us, being Romans, to receive or observe.” 22 Then the multitude rose up together against them; and the magistrates tore off their clothes and commanded them to be beaten with rods. 23 And when they had laid many stripes on them, they threw them into prison, commanding the jailer to keep them securely. 24 Having received such a charge, he put them into the inner prison and fastened their feet in the stocks.
Can you imagine this! Paul and Silas set this young girl free from the spirit that had hold of her and they were beaten and thrown in prison for it! There are many Christians today that don’t want to get involved in peoples other problems for fear of what might happen to them. This is the spirit of anti-Christ at work. It’s exactly the opposite of what Jesus would do. We have to remember we are called to set the captives free! Paul and Silas were fixed on bringing the love of God every where they went. They weren’t worried, they were focused on Jesus! Look what they were doing while in prison…
25 But at midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the prisoners were listening to them. 26 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 chains were loosed. 27 And the keeper of the prison, awaking from sleep and seeing the prison doors open, supposing the prisoners had fled, drew his sword and was about to kill himself. 28 But Paul called with a loud voice, saying, “Do yourself no harm, for we are all here.”
29 Then he called for a light, ran in, and fell down trembling before Paul and Silas. 30 And he brought them out and said, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?”
31 So they said, “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and you will be saved, you and your household.” 32 Then they spoke the word of the Lord to him and to all who were in his house. 33 And he took them the same hour of the night and washed their stripes. And immediately he and all his family were baptized. 34 Now when he had brought them into his house, he set food before them; and he rejoiced, having believed in God with all his household.
They were praying and singing! How many of us can say that we are doing the same thing when we are going through hard times?! These 2 men of God knew something very special. In Pauls letter to the Romans he said, “ Romans 8: 38 For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, 39 nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” He was fully convinced that no matter what happened he could not be separated from the love of God.
We have to remember this! In all circumstances, no matter what is going on, we absolutely cannot be separated from the love of our Father. He is infinitely for us and unequivocally with us through all things that we may face.
This understanding of being inseparable from the Fathers love is truly an ABIDING place!
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2 Comments
Paul and Silas singing while going through hard times reminded me that often when I can't see the answers and I've prayed all I know how to pray, I either listen to worship songs or most times sing myself. The songs are filled with scripture and it soothes and comforts. Sometimes while listening or singing I begin to get a revelation of where God is in my situation. I especially love when I'm troubled or fearful and I hear a chorus in my head again and again sometimes for a few days. When I calm down I realize God is speaking to me with what's being spoken in the song.
God knows what we need and has versatile means to get us to listen. Paul's chains were supernaturally broken off and we serve the same God who has the power to break every chain in our lives and draw us close to him like the soldier in the story.
I couldn't have said it better myself, Lois.