SCRIPTURE READING: ACTS 16: 16-39
FOCUS: “Then he called for a light, and sprang in, and came trembling, and fell down before Paul and Silas,” (Acts 16: 29)
MEMORY VERSE: “And the ransomed of the LORD shall return, and come to Zion with songs and everlasting joy upon their heads: they shall obtain joy and gladness, and sorrow and sighing shall flee away.” (Isaiah 35: 10)
Our Focal Scripture speaks of that moment when the jailor came trembling before Paul and Silas. He had locked them in prison and put them in chains; but when he came back, all the previously locked doors were opened, and all the chains he put on them had been taken away. He came back to meet the people he had previously locked in a free state. How he left them was not how he met them when he came back.
Friend, there may be people who left you in chains; there may be people who left you in a bad state; there may be people who left you in distress; there may be people who left you in pain and shame; there may be people who left you helpless; there may be people who left you for dead; there may be people who left you thinking that they would return to see you exactly where they left you; there may be people who left you in prison.
Hear me as I hear the Lord: those who left you in chains will return to see that you are free. Those who left you in a bad state will return to see that El Roi did not abandon you the way they abandoned you. Those who left you in distress will return to see that God has caused your territory to be enlarged. Those who left you stranded will return to see that you have been helped by God. Those who left you in pain will see joy if they check.
The jailor had locked Paul and Silas in chains, and in prison. He locked them where no one could help them; but when he returned, help that seemed impossible had become possible. When he returned, God had done for them what he thought no man could do. Hear me as I hear the Lord: when your jailors return, what they deemed impossible would have been made possible. They would see that God has done what no man could do.
Welcome to that season where those who left you in tears will return to see that joy has come. Welcome to that season where those who saw you in your low estate will not recognize your new level.
FURTHER READING: ISAIAH 35
DECLARATION:
- Those that left me helpless will return to see that I have been helped by El Roi, in Jesus’ name!
