Praise from the Prison of Affliction

Here's a look into the jail cell.

Paul and Silas from Dr. Michael he is section of God's praises even when the body is perception of God. Even though some of us even though we treated for singing praises even mixed is leading the way. There international Bible teacher Michael living out your days in prison facing the potential sentence. Do you see yourself spending your time thinking that's exactly what Paul and Silas were doing intense and ongoing persecution for naming the name of Jesus on today's leading the way.

Dr. Michael yourself opens the Bible to this includable event revealing how you can experience abundant life, no matter the darkness around you here now is Dr. Michael, yourself and the message he's called praise from the prison of affliction some years ago the way you perceive God has impact on your circumstances. I have no how soon will directly affect whether you crazy person, or a complaining person you see, God is all powerful goals loves you dearly.

Nothing is going to get you down to view God as being in total control of all circumstances. For those who love him.

Nothing is going to hassle you in this life you view God as the one who has a perfect plan for your life, then nothing will you no one will frighten you if you see God as one cares for the minutest details of every area of your life, then nothing and no one is able to rob you of the joy if you see God as the one who saved you cold you my name before the foundation of your nor my love with him forever in heaven away from you. You will be over, it all depends on how you view God but to see if you view God as a benevolent dictator that you go to when you want something really big than the slightest change in your circumstances are going to discourage you and going to disappoint you and intimidate you. If you view God as a big center in the sky blue is ready to give your presence. If you been good and I want to tell you right now the slightest change in your circumstances is going to rob you of your joy all depends on how you view God. How do you perceive God.

Now Paul and Silas perception of God calls them to join us know that the rain and sipping iced tea is believing Silas perception of God caused them to sing praises in the middle of the night lecturer suite.

This confinement Paul and Silas perception of God to sing praises to the Lord, even when their body is already being Paul and Silas perception of God is likely all world. Even though Shea in a dungeon. Silas was singing praises to the Lord, even though you maliciously treated Silas for singing praises even in the midst of this justice and fairness. Look at verse 25 of acts 16.

If you haven't turned back. 16 already turned to look at verse 25.

Dr. Luke inspired by the Holy Spirit tells us that about midnight. There were praising God. About midnight, so what's so special about midnight why the Holy Spirit then Luke see, it is important to record but was about midnight and began to praise God not remember. People want to write off the sundown and then they got up sunrise did not like. Just remember that my but you see the reason. Midnight is mentioned here because midnight. Everything is accentuated at midnight is when loneliness is accentuated at midnight is when willingness is accentuated at midnight is when fear is accentuated at midnight is when your imagination runs wild at midnight is when the smallest problem becomes a giant problem at midnight is when you're feeling sorry for yourself is multiplied 100 times.

But Paul and Silas.

Instead of throwing a pity party. They threw a party to Jesus instead of feeling sorry for themselves, they began to be filled with thanksgiving instead of griping about their lot in life that will glorify the greatness and the glories of God. Instead, all constantly protesting the blatant injustice and make no mistake about it was a blatant injustice. They praise God for this position instead of licking their wounds and saying all me will blessing God for giving them the sufferings of the name of Jesus. Most of us Christians when face adversity.

We get ourselves in such a model we don't know how to get out of it is like getting on a treadmill list. I don't know how to get out of it. I'll never forget dear friend of mine in Texas sent me a treadmill as a gift was great the first day, but being a nonmechanical that I am a start in the same sorts is long-sought on the on button and I, started walking great.

They kept on speeding speeding speeding speeding and finally I kept looking for the offer but luckily signed off but about nightmare having finally had to jump out of the thing and I just let it run until I found the of never using the Dr. that without checking with the off button is but I have seen it in the lives of so many believers I'm not talking about people who don't know God and only become religious when they want something from God I'm talked about people who love God and talk about people who trust in the Lord's plan for the life I'm talking about people who know both intellectually and in the heart. God works all things together for good for those who love God and they know that I'm talking about those people. But when they face difficult circumstances, but don't know where the off button is listen to me very carefully. Please because I was among the hard way, where the off button is only shared with you the off button is in praising the name of the Lord pain. Not afterward. The body is listing up the name of Jesus in the middle of trouble.

The off button isn't thanksgiving and gratitude to the Lord in the middle of your dilemma.

The off button is in exalting the name of the Lord Jesus in the middle of your frustration and in the middle of your difficulty. The off button is taking your eyes off the problem, but the only way you can take your eyes off the problem is when you begin to focus it on Jesus on the praise the name of Jesus. I love it when people say we just take your eyes off the problem. How I think my problem when I am the Lord taught me several years ago. The only way to take your eyes off the problem and problem people is by focusing on blessing his name and glory in his name and magnifying his name and I believe Paul and Silas would have spent their time commiserating with each other.

Had they not understood this all important lesson I knew I would lend would you blame them. Paul and Silas would have spent their time patting each other on the back.

Paul and Silas spend their time going over what they could have done differently in order to avoid being in prison.

Paul and Silas have spent the time wondering if they really are in the will of God by coming to Philippi.

You know people like that in a sanctimonious Christians drive me nuts.

They really do love Hardy Christians.

Unlike sanctimonious Christians the moment you start doing something in you face a problem this old brother used to maybe out of the will of God.

Do you think God is in this crazy idea comes from you face a problem on your out of the will of God, who said so this is a case anywhere. Why, because everywhere he went he face problems he faced difficulties he faced persecution he faced his life started. Please hear me right on this one.

Paul and Silas you that the secret of victory is not going around the problem. Paul and Silas knew that the secret of victory is not a quick fix. Paul and Silas knew that the secret of victory is not pretending that there is no problem.

Silas knew that the secret of Rick Drake wants to look at the devil in the instant praises to the Lord knew that the secret of direct was to appropriate the power that God has for them in praising him in the middle of trouble. They knew the secret of victory is to brag on Jesus. They knew that the secret of victory history and again I say rejoice in the apostle Paul knew that affliction works well patients, and therefore, he said, I rejoice in afflictions, Paul knew that afflictions produces far more exceeding internal weight of glory. Therefore, he said I will rejoice in affliction is not anywhere documented here.

But therefore Paul and Silas prayed to be released.

They may have, but it was reported here but didn't ask to be taken care of it. They didn't build a resume at the end when the try to get them out. You know what Paul would not go out with other public apology because he was concerned for the welfare of the little church in Philippi, not for himself, and he wanted to make sure that we know they have set a precedence for injustice and at least he suffered, he did not want to suffer but he never asked for anything even ask one last quick. Sometimes I think things are happening us a God centered earthquake that shakes the place up. He doesn't listen to me, but the earthquake came to praise God didn't know really what causes the devil, either. Joy unspeakable or pain.

Unbelievable. You want to know level with you. You and the devil cannot be both happy. If you are happy, the devil was miserable. If you are miserable.

The devil was happy to write it down. Don't ever forget it. It works like a charm rooted us. I know from my own life alone experience it works. It really does.

How do you make the devil miserable doing and how to make the devil miserable is how you like the devil miserable is the way you handle your circumstances if you got this is all God is suffering so all please everybody feel sorry for me. Why is this happening Satan and all the demons having a party. They really are absolutely having a ball going around and high-fiving each other is okay regarding we got but if you say this is possibly this is confusing. This is painful. This does not make any sense. From my point of view. All I know he promised that he write all things work together for my good, because I love him and then you begin to bless the name of Jesus praise the name of Jesus is my rock is my deliverer is my fortress thing to me and I will trust him on till you are going to you, the devil is miserable.

You've made a miserable demons are squirming and running around in confusion and very unhappy. Why, because the devil knows, listen to me please.

The devil knows that there is power that you can only experience when you are able to bless the name of God and praise the name of God in the midst of the storms of life, but is a problem most Christians are brainwashed with television. They are brainwashed. Psychology of the world system membrane with the sec. they brainwash with all principles that come from godless people.

Please listen carefully.

There is power in praising the name of the Lord. If you that's not all that's only half the story because I believe in the Scripture teaches there is even greater power in being able to praise the name of Jesus in the midst of your pain far greater power than you thought possible.

There is far greater power available to you and available to me when we are able to bless the name of the Lord in the midst of confusing circumstances. As far greater power that is ready for you to appropriate when you glory in the Lord when everything is growing up in your face, special power, but not promise this analogy. Look at verse 26 1626 of the book of acts as Paul and Silas. Praise God, and earthquake hits the town of Philippi.

Now I don't know whether that's part of the world that is prone to earthquakes momentary basically use if understanding of this. They probably never have enough quick until this day. You know back then prisons were built mostly and I don't know that this is a case in Philippi are not, but normally, the Romans built prisons and mountains and rocks in caves because it's natural fortification for prisoners will be able to escape and if this is the same case here. The Bible said that it shook the foundation of the prison was built on a rock in the mountain is built and rocks built in caves. I want to tell you the whole place was shaking up so much so that the prison warden who lived obviously on the compound as a normative was ready to go himself. Why the Roman law was very stringent and it says that any soldier who allows prisoners to escape. No matter the cause might be the cause might be having very will pay with their life in the prison warden in Philippi probably set himself. There's no way that any of the prisoners still around. The doors are open and the earth shook, and the mountain was shaking and and he preferred to put the sword in his heart than to let the Romans do it for him. But the apostle Paul cried out to him. Don't hurt yourself, for we all hear. I don't want you to miss this one. Please don't miss this one is a table turned to the other table turned Jayla falls on his knees before the prisoners table turned the power of praising the Lord in the midst of difficult circumstances. This is the power of God working in terms of world upside down. The table around the prison warden said what can I do to be saved.

How do you think you knew about salvation. If you know about salvation want to know about salvation earlier in acts chapter 16, there was a demon possessed woman who was running around.

Listen, this is a small town. This is a tiny town and the word gets spread very fast and small towns. Believe me, and here's this demon possessed woman running all of her was her message.

Please man, are messengers most high God. They are here to bring you the message of salvation and the flipping Jim few days will be in the Holy Spirit was working in his life, salvation. Now I have guilt that all the gods of the Romans cannot erase salvation.

I wake up in the morning. I look to the sky and I wonder if there is a God is pleased with me all these things. The Holy Spirit was preparing him when he heard the message of salvation from this demon possessed woman heart is being prepared. God is working in him. And so it took a crisis for them to say what could be saved. What happened Paul September simply believe on the Lord Jesus Christ. Why just that. Why just believe in the Lord Jesus Christ. Because this man had nothing between him and salvation other than belief. Dear member when Jesus looked at the rich young ruler, and he said to him, go all sell all that you have and then come and follow me. Paul didn't do that, you know why because he knew for this man. There is nothing this in the way of the believing in the Lord Jesus Christ and by the way, with Paulson believe in the Lord Jesus, that doesn't mean just believe that he existed believe that he was a good man believe none enough word means total surrender to him that he become the Lord of your life if you want to have a legacy for the next generation. If you want to leave a legacy to your children model to them.

The praise of God in tough times.

If you want to leave something of value to your offspring model to them how to appropriate the power of God in your life. The power that can only come from learning to praise God in the midst of difficult if you want to make an impact on the next generation. Then let them know what you know our is fleeting.

Power is a mirage. Political power is temporary power can take Wayne's the power of praise is real, the power of praise is lasting power of praise is lost Dr. Michael used to with a challenge to put on the garment of praise. Maybe you feel like you're in some sort of a prison that you're just not able to lift up praise like Paul and Silas did well. We do hope that you will consider a conversation with one of the leading the way.

Pastoral team members ask how you can experience freedom in Christ and see praise arise from within. Just start by visiting LTW.org/Jesus do that right now. LTW.Ord/Jesus.

He before we run out of time. In today's episode. I learned a lot for a challenge to engage deeper with your community and your culture.

Many people want to engage with culture but ill-equipped well that's exactly why we would like to encourage you to listen to a powerful podcast produced by Dr. yes after leading the way. It's called candid conversations with Jonathan you sent listen to candid conversations with Jonathan you staff for discussions about life, love, marriage, sexuality, education, and so much more simply search for candid conversations with Jonathan, yourself and your favorite podcast platform and listen to new episodes each Tuesday. You can also listen and learn more and LTW.Ord/again at LTW.Ord/got a question about Dr. you sent for leading the way, 86626435686626356. This program is furnished by leading the way with Dr. Michael passionately proclaiming uncompromising true