DCLM Sincere Milk 20 August 2024 — The Power of Praise
DCLM Sincere Milk 20 August 2024 Devotional by Pastor W. F. Kumuyi — The Power of Praise
Topic: The Power of Praise
Text: Acts 16:16-26
16And it came to pass, as we went to prayer, a certain damsel possessed with a spirit of divination met us, which brought her masters much gain by soothsaying:
18And this did she many days. But Paul, being grieved, turned and said to the spirit, I command thee in the name of Jesus Christ to come out of her. And he came out the same hour.
19And when her masters saw that the hope of their gains was gone, they caught Paul and Silas, and drew them into the marketplace unto the rulers,
20And brought them to the magistrates, saying, These men, being Jews, do exceedingly trouble our city,
21And teach customs, which are not lawful for us to receive, neither to observe, being Romans.
22And the multitude rose up together against them: and the magistrates rent off their clothes, and commanded to beat them.
23And when they had laid many stripes upon them, they cast them into prison, charging the jailor to keep them safely:
24Who, having received such a charge, thrust them into the inner prison, and made their feet fast in the stocks.
Key Verse: “And at midnight Paul and Silas prayed, and sang praises unto God: and the prisoners heard them.” Acts 16:25
Message
Paul and Silas had been falsely accused, beaten unjustly and locked up in the prison for casting out the demon in a young lady. She had been using soothsaying as a money-making business for her master. When her master discovered that their deception and means of livelihood was over, he encouraged the multitude to beat up Paul and Silas. Then with the authority of the magistrate, they were locked up in the prison.
Also Read: DCLM Sincere Milk 19 August 2024 — The Holy Ghost-Our Guide
At midnight, in spite of their weakness and bodily injuries, Paul and Silas chose to pray and sing praise the Lord! God intervened and delivered them. Midnight represents the hour of need, loneliness and despair. At such a time, even though it may be difficult to praise God, still do so as it moves the hand of God to do something new and extraordinary.
Further Reading: 2 Chronicles 20:21-23
Prayer for today: Lord, give me a heart that praises you all the time.
1. Admit that you are a sinner. "For all [humans] have sinned, and comes short of the glory of God....[and] the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord" (Romans 3:23)
2. Repent now. "Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out ...[for] if we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness " (Acts 3:19, 1 John 1:9)
3. Believe that God loves you and Jesus died for you. "God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet Sinners, Christ died for us" (Romans 5:8)
4. Invite Jesus into your life through prayer of faith. Jesus says, "Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me" (Revelation 3:20)
