Praise The Lord In Spite Of
Praise The Lord In
Spite Of
Scripture Reading: Acts 16:16-30
Text: Acts 16:24-26
Rev. Lummie Hearn, Pastor
Revised 5/18/07, Preached at Century Chapel Christian Methodist Episcopal Church
Church Anniervary May 20,2007 Sac. CA.Scripture Reading: Acts 16:16-30
Acts 16:16-30
16 Once when we were going to the place of prayer, we were met by a slave girl who had a spirit by
which she predicted the future. She earned a great deal of money for her owners by fortune-telling.
17 This girl followed Paul and the rest of us, shouting, "These men are servants of the Most High God,
who are telling you the way to be saved."
18 She kept this up for many days. Finally Paul became so troubled that he turned around and said to
the spirit, "In the name of Jesus Christ I command you to come out of her!" At that moment the spirit left her.
19 When the owners of the slave girl realized that their hope of making money was gone, they seized
Paul and Silas and dragged them into the marketplace to face the authorities.
20 They brought them before the magistrates and said, "These men are Jews, and are throwing our city
into an uproar
21 by advocating customs unlawful for us Romans to accept or practice."
22 The crowd joined in the attack against Paul and Silas, and the magistrates ordered them to be
stripped and beaten.
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.
27 The jailer woke up, and when he saw the prison doors open, he drew his sword and was about to
kill himself because he thought the prisoners had escaped.
28 But Paul shouted, "Don't harm yourself! We are all here!"
29 The jailer called for lights, rushed in and fell trembling before Paul and Silas.
30 He then brought them out and asked, "Sirs, what must I do to be saved?"
(NIV)
For our lesson this morning /afternoon, I would have us if you will concentrate on the verses 24,25, and 26.
Putting the most of our concentration on verse 25.
This verse reading from the NKJ states;
25 But at midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the prisoners were
listening to them.
(NKJ)
Subject: Praise The Lord In Spite Of
Explain the subject matter leading up to this case where text is taken:Acts VV 16 thru 24.If we made a decision to wait until all are every thing was ripe and good, or all things were going the way
that we would have them to go, everything was good and sweet.
If we would wait for all these things or moments to “Praise the Lord”. Some of us would never praise Him.
Some of us would never have a chance to do so.
Many times we think the saying “ If it was not for bad luck I would have any luck at all”.
It seem like, for some of us that everything that we start it ends in disappointment. For some women and for
some men, every relationship that you engage in it ends in a disastrous.
Parents both mothers and fathers, and single parents. You try all that you know to do to raise your children
in a godly manner, but it seem sometimes, that the more or harder that you try to do what is right the worst
the situation becomes. (Then to add insult to injury, we at times will instead of leaning on God we
Every time you set down and turn on the TV there is sad news about somebody’ child hooked up in some
kind of lawlessness. It’s not just candy at the corner store any more. It’s car jacking, murder and mayhem.
Some of these kids are eight, nine, ten, and eleven years old.
The war of word with Iran. Soldiers being kidnapped and killed in Iraq, Mental-illness has gotten the best of
someone and they go on a rampage and take many lives.
Just a few days ago ( as a matter of fact it was Thursday) someone in Texas called the sheriff dept., but
when they arrived the person open fire on them and two officers lay dead from a hunting rifle shot.
My dearly beloved, I say to you this evening;
Praise The Lord In Spite Of
Somebody maybe saying right now, well bro preacher that is all good what you are saying, but it takes
money to buy land.
You maybe saying; What can I praise the Lord for? Tell me what can I praise the Lord for when troubles
are all around me,..... Death is on every side and hand..... Sickness is abounding every time I turn around,...
Family conditions have gone from bad to worst. I can not even step out of my house at night for fear of
getting killed. Preacher I’m sure you saw the news Friday morning, where a man atacked
a woman while she was praying in the Church. Drug dealers are all up and down the streets and
avenues, in the neighborhood where some of us live. Even when day time comes my nerves are on edge
when I leave home for fear that when I return all that I have, have been taken away by thefts that are
sometimes members of my own family. So, preacher, tell me if you please, how can I praise the Lord? Tell
me what can I say?
Truly praise is not going to change the physical conditions at hand, but we must praise the God any way.
God is good in spite of the things that may befall us.
Psalm 103:1ff tells us; (Read verse from bible); See Isaiah 12:1ff (read from bible)
Rom 8:28 And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who
have been called according to his purpose.(NIV).Paul is not saying here in this reading to us that everything that happen to us is good, but through it good will
come if we allow it to.
Sometimes even in the midst of sadness of death of a love one comes the bring together of, in some cases
brothers and sisters, and sisters, brothers and brothers, aunts and uncles, and sometimes separated hus-bands
and wives who may not have spoken to one another in twenty years or longer.
Please do not misunderstand me in what In am saying. Surly I am not saying that God will bring death and
sorrow on someone just to have family members reconcile their differences. But on the other hand it can be
the circumstances that brought about the reconciliation.
My dear brothers and sisters we ought to; Praise The Lord In Spite Of
No doubt some of us here in this service this morning/afternoon can witness where in Churches there were
someone who was a real hard person to get alone with. But along came a serious circumstance and now
that person is one of the most humble members in the Church.
We ought to;
Praise The Lord In Spite Of
Praise Him in spite of the condition that we find ourselves in.
Mothers no matter where you find yourself on the scale of life do not let yourself fall below the circumstance
that you are facing. In the midst of all of it you can give praise.
When God made woman there is something it seem He gave to them, that He did not give to the man.
Please do not misunderstand me to say that the bible said this, but on the other hand you can find in the
bible where nations and cities were referred to as mother..
Cases in point;
MOTHER
Figurative. As in English so in Heb.., a nation was considered as a mother, and individuals as her children
(Isa 50:1; Jer 50:12; Eze 19:2; Hos 4:5). Large and important cities are called mothers (2 Sa 20:19), such
as "Babylon the great, the mother of harlots" (Rv 17:5). A place where two ways part has the designation of
"mother of the way" (Eze 21:21, marg.), because out of it two ways arise as daughters. In Job (1:21) the
earth is represented as the common mother, to whose bosom all must return. The sentiment, at once so mild
and tender, which is felt by a true mother for her child, is used to illustrate the love of God for His people
(Isa 44:1-8; 66:6-14; 1 Co 3:1-2; 1 Th 2:7).
There is nothing that is happing or will happen to us that have not already happen to someone before us.
If you are in the Lord, He will always provide a way out of whatever situation that we find ourselves in.
We ought to just; ................ Prasise The Lord In Spite Of.
My brothers and sisters in the letter to the Hebrew Christians the writer writes in chapter 13:1-25. Let me if
you will call your attention to verses 15 & 16..15 Through Jesus, therefore, let us continually offer to God a sacrifice of praise-- the fruit of
lips that confess his name.
16 And do not forget to do good and to share with others, for with such sacrifices God is pleased.
(NIV)
Those of us who are Christians are to offer praises to the Lord at all times, anytime, and everywhere.
There is no certain times, nor are there a certain place that we are to give praise. Since the first fruit of our lips
can be our sacifices, then we do not have to go to some special place, we can praise Him whereever and
whenever.
We ought to;.....................Praise The Lord In Spite Of
We can praise the Lord in what we do for those who are in need of help, through the blessing that God has
given to us.
When we do good to those who need our help, this makes God well please.
We may not be seen by others or our name might not be called when the roll is called for those who have
contributed to the cause.
Our name may never be on the program or flashed on the Marquis, but remember that God is well pleased at
what you are doing to glorify His name.
You just ought to;........................... Praise The Lord In Spite Of.
The Prophet Hosea writes in the 14th chapter of Hosea verses 1 & 2;
Hosea 14:1-2
1 Return, O Israel, to the LORD your God. Your sins have been your downfall!
He goes on to say in the second verse
2 Take words with you and return to the LORD. Say to him: "Forgive all our sins and receive us
graciously, that we may offer the fruit of our lips.
(NIV)
You see my dearly beloved, “The first fruit of our lips” refers to a thank offering to God.
God dersires real, heartfelt repentance, not merely annual sacrifices of praise on Sunday
morning at 11 AM
We ought to praise Him because;
John 3:16 "For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that
whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. (NIV).We ought to;................... Praise Him In Spite Of
Psalm 146:1 & 2 tells us;
1 Praise the LORD. Praise the LORD, O my soul.
2.I will praise the LORD all my life; I will sing praise to my God as long as I live.
(NIV)
Mothers, when you are feeling like the weight of the world is resting upon your shoulders. And it seem some-times
as if you have not a friend in the world. Every which way you turn there seen to be trouble all about you,
but do’nt you give up, dont you give out and do’nt give in. God did not make you like He made you to leave
you all alone, if only you would trust Him. When things seem to get you down, God has provided a way for us,
because He is our way maker.
Jos 1:9
9 Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged, for the
LORD your God will be with you wherever you go." NIV If He is with me, then He must be my way
maker.
Turn to the Plasm you will find courage there.
Psalm 146 thru 150 will tell, and also show you why and how to praise the Lord.
Just a little of Ps 146;
5 Blessed is he whose help is the God of Jacob, whose hope is in the LORD his God,
6 the Maker of heaven and earth, the sea, and everything in them-- the LORD, who remains faithful
forever.
7 He upholds the cause of the oppressed and gives food to the hungry. The LORD sets prisoners free,
8 the LORD gives sight to the blind, the LORD lifts up those who are bowed down, the LORD loves the
righteous.
9 The LORD watches over the alien and sustains the fatherless and the widow, but he frustrates the ways
of the wicked.
10 The LORD reigns forever, your God, O Zion, for all generations. Praise the LORD. (NIV)
If we would just give the Lord some praise it would take our minds off our short comings
in life. It would help us to focus more on God and His goodness and less on ourselves.
When the afflictions of life is standing at our door steps and many times it has already
come in and taken up residents where we are. Instead of dwelling on what may have got
me I need to dwell on what I can do for the Master
We ought to; Praise The Lord In Spite Of.Explain the Text
Talk about what sings they may have sing or what prayer they may have prayed
I do not know what songs they may have sing;
They May have sang; Savior More Than Life To Me
I am clinging, clinging close to Thee,
Let Thy precious blood applied
They may have sang; Nearer, My God To Thee
If there is a cross for everyone,
then there is a cross for me.
They could have sang an old hymn; If I Can Just Make It In
I won’t mind the load I’m bearing
I won’t mind the clothes I’m wearing
I won’t mind the way I’m fareing
If I just can make it in
They could have sang; Amazing Grace how sweet the sound -
That saved a wretch like me! I once was lost
but now am found, was blind but now I see
They may have prayed, Father I stretched my hands to Thee, No
other help I know. If Thou would withdraw Thou self from me.
Free me O Lord if it is Thou will from the clutches of these jail walls.
They did not have a lawyer like the late Johnnie Crocken, nor did they have a Melvin Belli,
but they just kept right on praising the Lord. In spite of their conditions, and being thrown
in jail only because they were doing the will of God.
Them the jail doors opened, chains fell off, but they ran not. They kept Praising the Lord.
We can sometimes cause someone to come to the Lord, if they see how we maybe coping
with the trails and tribulations of our life..