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Today Reminder - 01 December 2011


My prayer for you for today is that you will believe and trust in the Lord Jesus, and that His presence in your life will touch those around you. In Jesus Name.

Acts 16:29-39
The jailer called for lights and ran to the dungeon and fell down trembling before Paul and Silas. Then he brought them out and asked, "Sirs, what must I do to be saved?"

In the most unexpected places God is at work. This event in Paul’s life is actually quite interesting and well, it makes you think. You see it all started with a fortune teller. Firstly I must say that Paul has gone through some tough experiences before he ended up in Philippi. Now what I love about this encounter is all the little messages that form part of one result. Now we know that we will suffer for Christ but let’s look at what happened to Paul. You see this fortune teller was a demon possessed slave that earned a lot of money for her masters. But what she did is she shouted out what Paul and Silas was doing and we find it in verse 17:

17 She followed Paul and the rest of us, shouting, "These men are servants of the Most High God, and they have come to tell you how to be saved."
18 This went on day after day until Paul got so exasperated that he turned and said to the demon within her, "I command you in the name of Jesus Christ to come out of her." And instantly it left her.

I just love that. Paul got exasperated (infuriated, annoyed) to the point where he just had enough and he said: "I command you in the name of Jesus Christ to come out of her."  And the spirit left her. Goodness, if I was a bystander I can just imagine the stunned silence and the look of confusion on that girls face and then it must’ve been followed by a cry of joy for she was free of the demon. We can move mountains with Jesus. And yes this not only changed her life but also Paul and Silas life’s:

22 A mob quickly formed against Paul and Silas, and the city officials ordered them stripped and beaten with wooden rods.23 They were severely beaten, and then they were thrown into prison. The jailer was ordered to make sure they didn't escape.24 So the jailer put them into the inner dungeon and clamped their feet in the stocks.

This is the best part, what now looked like a hopeless situation was all part of God’s plan to save the jailer and his family. This is what we must learn, even in hopeless times God is at work. And what left me stunned out of this whole story is this part:

25 Around midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the other prisoners were listening.

That just left me speechless. You see even in the worst times we must always remember that God has a plan and purpose. Don’t lose faith my friend but stand firm as we journey together to the Kingdom of God and pray and sing hymns along the way.

Have a great day, friend of Jesus.

Cheers

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