Crisis? 11/4-6

04-06 Nov. 2016 – Crisis Time? – Manna by Dorothy Callies

Acts 16:26 “Suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison were shaken.”

There are stories about different earthquakes that had happened around the world, we kept hearing about it.  It can be frightening crisis time especially in Haiti. The hearts of people goes out to them, ready to help in time of crisis. Does this crisis lead people to open their heart to God?  We pray they do.

Now in the book of Acts, we read how God used an earthquake to open someone’s heart to the gospel.  Paul and Silas were in jail at Philippi because they were falsely accused. How did Paul reacted to his crisis when he was falsely accused? Was Paul upset when they ‘had laid many stripes upon them’ and cast him and Silas into the prison? (Acts 16:23).  Let’s find the answer in Acts 16:25.

“And at midnight Paul and Silas prayed, and sang praises unto God: and the prisoners heard them.”  Here, Paul and Silas were not upset. Instead, they prayed and sang praises to God.  This story shows us how we should react to any crisis time by turning to God in prayer and to praise God for showing us a way through crisis.  Important thing is to be calm and allow God to give us peace and wisdom and guidance.

This was exactly what Paul and Silas had done.  They just prayed and praise God for all things even having stripes on their back which must have been very painful.  Are you going through painful time?  Think about Paul and Silas. What happened when they prayed and sang praises to God? Let’s read Acts 16:26

“Suddenly there was a great earthquake . . . the prison were shaken: and immediately all the door were opened, and everyone’s bands (chains) were loosed.”  God moved when they prayed and sang praises.  In your case, try prayer and sing praises to God and by faith watch God in action what He could do for you.

When the jailer learned that Paul and Silas had not tried to escape, he asked, “What must I do to be saved?” (16:30). Paul responded “believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and you will be saved” (v.31). The jailer and his family believed and were baptized. And know something? It all started with a crisis, an earthquake.

In crisis time, it is good to reach out and touch the Lord in prayer!

Song: Reach Out and Touch the Lord

            (Inspiring Choruses)      

Reach out and touch the Lord

     as He walks by

You’ll find He’s not too busy

    to hear your heart’s cry.

He’s passing by this moment

     your needs to supply.

Reach out and touch the Lord

     as He walks by. 

May the Lord bless you!

Dorothy