Songs in the Night

    

Kenneth Churchill working in interior China faced a critical situation. A young Chinese officer’s wife was in critical condition during child birth. After examining her, the doctor said “I cannot save both mother and child choose which one should be saved”.  The officer replied “I cannot make such a decision I leave it to you”. The doctor repeated again and asked the officer to make the decision; again the officer hesitated. Finally the nurse a Chinese Christian said “I know one who is able to save both your wife and baby”.

Will you kneel down here now and give your life to God and then pray and ask him to spare both your wife and child? The officer did what the nurse suggested; he gave his life to God and prayed for his wife and child to be spared. As they prayed the crisis was lifted and the doctor was able to save both the wife and baby. The officer went back to the red army and testified to his fellow officers, telling them Jesus Christ had redeemed him. “Give up your faith or be executed” was the red army ultimatum.

 “Jesus Christ is my redeemer, he spared my wife and baby and I will die for him rather than deny him” replied the officer. The hour of execution was set. Instead of facing a firing squad the officer stood before a lone gunman. The order was given” ready, aim , fire! ” The executioner touched the trigger of the gun and suddenly there was a great explosion. The gun had backfired; the executioner lay dead, killed by the explosion. No one else attempted to kill the converted officer. Prayers had placed a wall of protection around him.

During Paul’s second missionary journey the gospel reached Philippi. The devil tried to infiltrate his group using a demon possessed slave girl but Paul delivered the girl. The devil’s plan failed and he went into attack mode. Acts 16:19-21 says ‘“when her owners of the delivered 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. They brought them before the magistrates and said, “These men are Jews, and are throwing our city into an uproar by advocating customs unlawful for us Romans to accept or practice.”’

Greatly incensed at the loss of such an income, the masters of the young woman accused Paul and Silas of troubling the city. “Then the multitude rose up together against them; and the magistrates tore off their clothes and commanded them to be beaten with rods. And when they had laid many stripes on them, they threw them into prison, commanding the jailer to keep them securely. Having received such a charge, he put them into the inner prison and fastened their feet in the stocks (Acts 16:22-24).

Fearing public disturbance, the magistrates sought to allay the ferment by instant punishment. Inner cells were the most secure part of the prison; they were reserved for the most dangerous criminals. Inner cells were dark, damp and heavily guarded. Stocks were heavy wooden frames with holes meant to lock a person's ankles in place, forcing them to sit in a rigid and painful position. These details highlight the depth of opposition the gospel can provoke. Yet every element—authority, location, restraint—sets the stage for God to demonstrate that no human order can hinder His saving work.

The devil tried to dampen the enthusiasm of the missionary. But, the pain and humiliation had no power over the undaunted spirit of the prisoners. “About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the other prisoners were listening to them” (Acts 16:26). The stocks could bind their bodies but not their worship or witness. The phrase “about midnight” sets the scene in the deepest part of the night, the moment when darkness feels longest and human resources are lowest.

Many Christians might pray under such circumstances but very few would sing praises to God! The Lord was with his servants in the prison. The psalmist says “by day the LORD directs his love, at night his song is with me (Ps.42:8). The Lord filled their hearts with gladness, which found expression in songs in the night season. They turned a dark, fetid cell into a place of worship; their joyful sounds pierced the gloom. Prayer and praise rose from a place intended to silence and humiliate them. Their worship testified that God remained worthy of trust even in pain. This was Job’s attitude (Job 2:9-10).

God sustained His missionaries, not just to survive or endure, but to thrive. Paul and Silas demonstrated steadfast faith despite unjust treatment.  They chose conversation with God over despair and complaint. Their unwavering joy not only sustained them but also drew the attention of everyone nearby.  The other prisoners were listening to their songs, perhaps in amazement. The prisoners heard more than unusual courage; they heard firsthand faith under fire.

They heard witnesses whose confidence rested in the living God.  Music is one of the strongest potential forces in soul winning. The melody of song, poured forth from the heart in clear, distinct utterance, is one of God's instrumentalities in saving souls. Songs communicate spiritual truth directly to the heart. Melodies evoke feelings that make a listener more receptive to the message. Lyrics stick in the mind long after the song ends, allowing the message to be replayed internally.

Paul and Silas's faith and worship in prison served as a powerful testimony to those around them. Boldness coupled with joy makes the gospel attractive. Years later Paul wrote to Philippians from another jail “Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice!” (Phil.4:4). He also wrote “Rejoice always…In everything give thanks; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus” (1 Thess. 5:18). Always? In everything?  Did he live in the same world we live in! Yes he did! He had learnt to focus on the Lord and His abundant grace in every situation, and so he was filled with joy in every situation.

It’s not enough just to grit your teeth and endure trials; God wants you to rejoice in them! Paul and Silas did not know the end of this story when they began singing at midnight in the dungeon. For all they knew, they would be executed the next day. Their singing was not based on their knowledge of a happy outcome. It was based on their knowledge of a good and sovereign God. The assurance that God is present and active in our lives, even in the darkest moments, provides hope and encouragement.

Paul and Silas were not singing so that they could be good witnesses in this difficult situation. But, the overflow of their worship was witness. They were singing because their hearts were full of praise toward God and the joy of His salvation. They sang because they delighted in God. That’s how it should be. The world should see (or hear) our joy in the Lord from the dungeon and ask, “What’s with these people?” Then we tell them the reason for our hope (1 Pet.3:15). Our lives back up the reality of the message.

Paul and Silas would not have been rejoicing in the Lord in the prison at midnight under these awful circumstances if it had not been a regular part of their everyday lives. They had a daily habit of mentally focusing on how great and wonderful God is. That should convict us of our lack of joy and our grumbling over the minor irritations in our lives! A cheerful, joyous spirit does not depend on having wonderful, trouble-free circumstances. It depends on our relationship with the Lord. If you want to glorify God, which is the highest goal for the Christian, you must focus on finding delight in Him (Ps. 37:4).

The prisoners were listening to Paul and Silas. They always are! Those who are prisoners in Satan’s domain of darkness are always listening to and watching the Lord’s people, especially in times of trial. If Paul and Silas had been complaining because their rights had been violated they would have missed this great opportunity for witness. Not many of us will ever go through what Paul and Silas had to endure. But we will be treated wrongly somewhere. Any time you are mistreated, you are probably looking at a wonderful opportunity for bearing witness of Christ.

“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” (Acts 16:26-27). God intervened unexpectedly, shook what seemed immovable, opened doors no one else could budge and freed every captive within reach. Philippi’s Roman prison, built to confine and intimidate, could not withstand the authority of the Creator. No lock or chain can resist the Lord.

“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. But Paul called with a loud voice, saying, “Do yourself no harm, for we are all here” (Acts 16:27-28). The man who had secured Paul and Silas in the inner room now stood helpless before the power of God; he now recognized that the men he had guarded served the living God.

Paul and Silas did not run for their lives as soon as they were free. They knew that God had another purpose in mind.  He could have prevented them from being thrown in prison in the first place, but He did not do so. Whenever Paul wrote as a prisoner, he never said, “Paul, a prisoner of Caesar who has unjustly put me in prison!” No, it was always, “Paul, a prisoner of Christ Jesus”( Eph. 3:1, 4:1 ;Philemon 1:1). He trusted in the sovereign and all-powerful God, who easily could overrule Caesar if He so chose.

No prisoner fled, despite an opportunity that ordinarily would have brought immediate escape. This demonstrates God’s sovereignty over the hearts of men. He restrained the prisoners to protect the jailer from certain death. It also shows the persuasive influence of godly leadership; light in darkness can steady an entire room. Paul shows unconditional love and concern over the soul of someone who had imprisoned him.

The jailer “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? So they said, “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and you will be saved, you and your household.”  Then they spoke the word of the Lord to him and to all who were in his house. And he took them the same hour of the night and washed their stripes. And immediately he and all his family were baptized. 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” (Acts 16:29-34).

Paul and Silas were prisoners but the jailer addressed them with reverence “sirs”. The miracle had established their spiritual authority in his eyes. The jailer's question and the subsequent answer from Paul and Silas highlight the simplicity of the Gospel message. The jailer’s greatest fear should not have been the Roman sword but eternal judgment. Jesus said “Do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather, be afraid of the One who can destroy both soul and body in hell” (Matt 10:28).

This story demonstrates God's power and sovereignty in orchestrating events that lead individuals to seek Him. He has ability to reach people through unexpected means. God ordained this set of painful circumstances that brought Paul in contact with the jailer. It’s obvious Paul was thankful for the opportunity and he did not question God’s wisdom. Though Roman authorities had treated them unjustly, they remained servants of Christ rather than victims of their circumstances.

Worship has the power to transform our environment and influence those around us. Our actions and attitudes during trials can serve as a powerful witness to others.  Years later during his final imprisonment, Paul wrote to Timothy “This is my gospel, for which I am suffering even to the point of being chained like a criminal. But God’s word is not chained. Therefore I endure everything for the sake of the elect, that they too may obtain the salvation that is in Christ Jesus, with eternal glory”(2 Tim.2:8-10).