Two men of God found themselves in jail. The story of Paul and Silas is an inspiration to us all. Their choice in how to deal with this is an example. What does this have to do with us? Everything! We see a simple way that always works regardless of what kind of jail we find ourselves in. Remember—bars cannot keep Jesus out!
Acts 16:22 “And the multitude rose up together against them: and the magistrates rent off their clothes, and commanded to beat them. 23 And when they had laid many stripes upon them, they cast them into prison, charging the jailor to keep them safely: 24 Who, having received such a charge, thrust them into the inner prison, and made their feet fast in the stocks. 25 And at midnight Paul and Silas prayed, and sang praises unto God: and the prisoners heard them.26 And suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison were shaken: and immediately all the doors were opened, and every one’s bands were loosed.”
Paul and Silas certainly didn’t anticipate their day would end this way…but it did. Ministers of the Lord, witnessing to the lost in Philippi, doing God’s will, but they ended up in jail. It doesn’t matter how right we are with the Lord. We can be surprised and end up in jail. Family, loss of a loved one, illness, and life itself can put us in a life-prison. The enemy of our life, Satan, does his best to put us there. Life can be good and turn rough quickly without a warning. It’s the same with sin. It’s a prison that won’t let us out.
Paul and Silas were oppressed and beaten. That morning they didn’t hurt. That evening their bodies were hurt and bleeding. They were in prison. Maybe you’re in jail now. We can put ourselves there on our own sometimes, or like Paul and Silas we are put there as Christians by the world around us. We are hated by the world. We can say “I am brave.” Just one doctor’s report or loss of a job or loved one can leave us crying and tested. We end up in prison. It’s important to remember it’s not meant for us to serve time in jail, but if we find ourselves there it’s important to serve the sentence the right way.
Paul and Silas weren’t in a motel of sorts like prisoners are today. They had no television or air conditioning or exercise room. They were in a dark, cold, and damp inner prison. Most of the other prisoners would be executed for their crimes. They wouldn’t be treated well, maybe not fed. They were thrust in shackles in a place dark as pitch bleeding from the beating they received. The only thing they had was what was in their heart.
There are times we dread to see the night come or times we don’t want to face another day. We’re in jail. Paul and Silas didn’t focus on what they had lost but what they had. It was still well with their soul. They still had Jesus. They were not alone for Jesus said he’d be with them to the end of the world. They claimed that promise and basked in that love. They couldn’t see Jesus, but knew he was with them.
Regardless of how thick our bars are, the fact that we can’t see Jesus doesn’t mean he’s not there. He’s 100% Jesus, Savior and Master. Paul and Silas had a choice. They could have complained or turned their backs on the Lord. They could have let it get to them. We can. Don’t. The bars of a Christian are temporary. The incarceration time is shorter than the devil wants. Jesus is in the prison with us, so there is a way to make it. Let’s serve Jesus while we’re in jail. Paul and Silas didn’t give up or question this. With their feet shackled they began to pray. Why not pray? Why don’t we? Jesus is with us, so let’s talk to him. We may have to unload; however we don’t have to waste time telling him all about it—he’s there. He knows all about it. They talked and then prayed. They knew the Lord was listening. Life may cut our line off to others, but it can’t cut the line to Jesus. “Operator, give me Jesus on the line.” Jesus will come through one way or another. How in the world could they, how in the world can we praise God? How can we be happy? How can we be thankful? We have every reason.
The good things shouldn’t motivate us. They should not be the gage of the presence of God. He is there through thick and thin. As they did, begin to thank and praise the Lord; they were happy to be counted worthy of the stripes for the Lord. Their bond with Jesus was still intact. Life cannot, the devil cannot, and others cannot take away the Lord. Nothing can separate us from the love of Jesus. We are more than conquerors. Paul and Silas realized what they had. If jail was where they had to be, it was all right. Jesus was their happiness and joy. He was their reason for peace. They sang to the Lord; he loves to be sung to. Paul may not have carried a tune in a bucket, but the Lord loved it.
When we’re in prison, we can sing. We can serve our time this way or give up. Even in the darkest of times Jesus is still our sunshine. What did the Lord do? He shook the prison and the shackles of all the prisoners came loose. The jailer called for a light and fell down at their feet and said “sirs, what must I do to be saved?” That’s what the Master can do. We can praise him or lay over on our cot. What the Lord did for Paul and Silas he can do for us.
What kind of jail is it? Sorrow? Sickness? Emotional? Burdens? Is your life a jail? Are you in the dark of night? You might as well serve your sentence and do it right. Begin to look to the Lord. Give thanks for what you do have. See what happens. The first key is to pray. Why not come and do it right now?
Adwolfe Freewill Baptist Church 