“About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the other prisoners were listening to them.” Acts 16:25

In Acts 16:16-24 we read of two missionaries in Philippi who get arrested, beaten, and thrown into prison on false charges, not for doing anything wrong, but for “ruining” someone’s money-making by delivering their slave girl from a fortune-telling demon. No part of a first-century prison was comfortable, but to make things worse, they were thrown into the dungeon part, “their feet securely fastened in stocks” (v.24).

Not what most of us would call the time and venue for a hymn-sing. Unless we’re Paul and Silas. They started right in, praising, praying, and singing to the Lord—at midnight! Imagine the possible responses of the captive audience around them experiencing this free concert— “Hey, pipe down! Can’t a guy get any sleep around here?!” “Are you crazy? Who praises any of their gods in a place like this?!” Yet, there were likely others in there who found this dungeon revival meeting strangely comforting and encouraging. Perhaps some who were listening even began to hum along to the new tune they were unaccustomed to.

Were Paul and Silas so super-human and super-spiritual that they could do what none of the rest of us ever could or would—have a praise and worship hoe-down in the middle of horrible circumstances? No. In a film on the life of Dietrich Bonhoeffer we saw recently, they show him and other Christian prisoners, all gaunt and pale from months of starvation rations and mistreatment, sitting in chains. Dietrich begins to sing a hymn, and others join in, using their chains as percussion instruments! Not the kind of worship band we’re likely to see in church.  Yet certainly one of the most inspirational worship “sets” I’ve seen.

Ok, but Bonhoeffer and his band were among those martyr heroes we read and hear about, way above us spiritually, right up there with Paul and Silas. What about us “regular” Christians? How can we praise the Lord no matter what, where, or when, and even if we’re surrounded by those hostile to the Gospel?

First, these heroes of the faith were and are people, just like us, who didn’t start out as heroes. They started out as new believers, with weaknesses, sinful natures to overcome, and in need of building their relationship with the Lord so they could trust Him more. And, like us, they all had a past they didn’t want to bring into their future. Minor or major, they had regrets for who they’d been and what they’d done before they gave their lives to Christ. Paul even called himself “the worst of sinners”, saying he was unworthy to be appointed to the Lord’s service, because “I was once a blasphemer, persecutor, and violent man, [yet] I was shown mercy because I acted in ignorance and unbelief” (1 Tim. 1:12-15).

Second, The Lord won’t require of us anything He doesn’t equip and empower us to do. The same Holy Spirit that lived in Paul, Silas, and others we admire lives in us and will lead and empower us as much as we “let” Him. Meaning, that in His sovereignty, the Lord has allowed us to choose to give ourselves daily, moment by moment, to whatever the Spirit wants to do in and through us. “Spirit-filled”, “Spirit-led”, Fruit(s) of the Spirit, Gifts of the Spirit, all have one common source—the Holy Spirit. “For there is one body and one Spirit, just as you have been called to one glorious hope for the future.” (Eph. 4:4)

Third, He will build us up to whatever He brings us to. Like a master trainer in a fitness center, who doesn’t ask scrawny people to lift 100lb barbells when they first start training, the Lord doesn’t ask us to do more than He knows we’re ready for.

“No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can endure it” 1 Cor. 10:13

At the same time, we, the trainees, know if we’re going to get into the shape we need, we have to keep training, so we can face greater challenges.

“…train yourself for godliness; for while bodily training is of some value, godliness is of value in every way, as it holds promise for the present life and also for the life to come.” 1 Tim. 4:7-8

In Paul and Silas’ case, their praise resulted in the Lord “applauding” with an earthquake that unbound them and the other prisoners and opened the way out, which they didn’t take. Instead, the jailer, his whole family, and likely many of the prisoners got saved for eternity and became part of the new (and only) church-plant in town (see Acts 16:26-31).

We probably won’t be holding worship hoe-downs in a dungeon, but we will need to praise Him in times and places we’d rather not. That way anyone who’s listening can find out Who He is and what He does. Whether or not an earthquake results, our praise and prayer will cause a ripple effect of changed lives, starting with our own.