First Good Samaritan Baptist Church
The Caring Church, Preparing the World by Sharing the WORD!

WEEKLY WORD

BUT AT MIDNIGHT…SUDDENLY
[PART I]

25 But at midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the prisoners were listening to them. 26 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 16:25, 26
New King James Version

This passage of scripture is known for the words “at midnight.” However, what we want to include in these words is the conjunction “but.” The New King James Version begins with “But at midnight…” The conjunction “but” acts not as a continuation, but as an interruption. The implication of this conjunction “but” suggests that something must be considered prior to the conjunction “but” that interrupts the flow of the text.

The assumption that is usually made is that “at midnight” began the famous prayer meeting in prison of Paul and Silas but what is noteworthy is that they had a persistent prayer life. Prior to verse 25, Paul and Silas went to the house of prayer for prayer.

• One day as we were going down to the place of prayer, we met a slave girl…

It was this slave girl who was used as property was introduced to prayer while Paul and Silas entered the house of prayer. The result of her encounter with Paul and Silas is that she transitioned from being a slave to being saved. She became a believer. This made the men of the city upset because she could no longer be manipulated for money. Consequently, the praying men [Paul and Silas] ended up being whipped and put in prison.

The lesson of Paul and Silas is that one’s prayer life is not an exemption from problems. Prayer won’t keep you from having problems, but PRAYER WILL KEEP YOU while going through problems. BUT AT MIDNIGHT, Paul and Silas continued to pray. While praying in prison, their incarceration became liberation for them and others. Prayer still works. Prayer will keep you in alignment while being in seasons of confinement. PRAYER STILL WORKS!

Dr. James A. Simmons, Senior Pastor