DELIVERANCE AT MIDNIGHT

Acts 16: 16-40 tell the story of Paul and Silas’s deliverance from incarceration. As told by Luke, the physician, Paul, and Silas, while ministering in Philippi, met a certain damsel that followed them around for several days saying, “These men are the servants of the most high God, which shew unto us the way of salvation.” This repetitive proclamation grieved Paul so much he cast the spirit of divination out of her, which made her masters angry. The masters caught Paul and Silas and brought them before the magistrates with false accusations. Believing the report, the magistrates had Paul and Silas beaten and cast into prison.

Having been told to keep these prisoners safely, the jailor put them in the inner cell and placed their feet in stocks. Being beaten and placed in prison did not deter Paul and Silas from praising God, for the scripture said, “And at midnight Paul and Silas prayed, and sang praises unto God.” They did these things loud enough that the other prisoners heard them.

Additionally, the scriptures revealed there was a great earthquake that shook the foundations of the prison, all the prison doors were opened, and all the prisoner’s bands were loosed. This occurrence caused the prison keeper to wake out of his sleep. Becoming alarmed with what he saw and thinking all the prisoners had escaped, he drew out his sword to commit suicide. Paul stopped him by saying, “Do thyself no harm: for we are all here.” The keeper got a lit torch and went trembling and fell before Paul and Silas. He escorted them out of prison and said, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?” Paul and Silas shared the message of salvation to the keeper and his household, and in turn, they believed and were baptized. Furthermore, the keeper dressed Paul and Silas’s wounds, fed them a meal, and the scripture reports rejoiced, believing God with all of his house.

Now that I shared this event in the life of Paul and Silas, here are some nuggets that I gathered from their experience:

1. While ministering, you will meet people that need an exorcism.
2. God can cause a possessed person to speak the truth.
3. Demons recognize those who have authority and power over them.
4. Sometimes deliverance happens in unlikely places.
5. Some deliverances are not instantaneous.
6. People will become angry when you cause economic loss in their lives.
7. You may have to suffer for others to be delivered.
8. Midnight is known to be the beginning of the third watch (12 a.m.-3 a.m.), and it is said to be the period that has the greatest satanic activity. Midnight also represents the darkest time of one’s life when one cannot see clearly. However, even when you know the enemy is working, when you are bound and can’t see, when your painful experience has left you bruised and battered, continue praying and singing praises to God.
9. When you have every right to complain, instead praise God.
10. A clear principle; sing until the chains fall off.
11. Praying and praising God yields results.
12. There is a set time for your release.
13. Deliverance is for those without and those within.
14. Some innocent people are placed in prison for the salvation of others.
15. God uses your experience to save others.
16. Believe God for household salvation.