What to do at your midnight.

WHAT TO DO AT YOUR MIDNIGHT

Acts  16:16 And it came to pass, as we went to prayer, a certain damsel possessed with a spirit of divination met us, which brought her masters much gain by soothsaying:  16:17 The same followed Paul and us, and cried, saying, These men are the servants of the most high God, which shew unto us the way of salvation.  16:18 And this did she many days. But Paul, being grieved, turned and said to the spirit, I command thee in the name of Jesus Christ to come out of her. And he came out the same hour.  16:19 And when her masters saw that the hope of their gains was gone, they caught Paul and Silas, and drew them into the marketplace unto the rulers,  16:20 And brought them to the magistrates, saying, These men, being Jews, do exceedingly trouble our city,  16:21 And teach customs, which are not lawful for us to receive, neither to observe, being Romans.  16:22 And the multitude rose up together against them: and the magistrates rent off their clothes, and commanded to beat them.  16:23 And when they had laid many stripes upon them, they cast them into prison, charging the jailor to keep them safely:  16:24 Who, having received such a charge, thrust them into the inner prison, and made their feet fast in the stocks.  16:25 And at midnight Paul and Silas prayed, and sang praises unto God: and the prisoners heard them.  16:26 And suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison were shaken: and immediately all the doors were opened, and every one’s bands were loosed.

In the course of doing God’s perfect will and labouring to advance the kingdom of Christ, we meet with unavoidable suffering.

The Bible says, we are appointed to suffer for the sake of Christ.

Philippians  1:29 For unto you it is given in the behalf of Christ, not only to believe on him, but also to suffer for his sake;

Paul and Silas were led by the Spirit of God to Macedonia to preach the gospel.

Acts  16:6 Now when they had gone throughout Phrygia and the region of Galatia, and were forbidden of the Holy Ghost to preach the word in Asia,  16:7 After they were come to Mysia, they assayed to go into Bithynia: but the Spirit suffered them not.  16:8 And they passing by Mysia came down to Troas.  16:9 And a vision appeared to Paul in the night; There stood a man of Macedonia, and prayed him, saying, Come over into Macedonia, and help us.  16:10 And after he had seen the vision, immediately we endeavoured to go into Macedonia, assuredly gathering that the Lord had called us for to preach the gospel unto them.

That you are doing exactly what God wanted you to do for His kingdom, does not immune you from suffering persecution.

Peter and John were severely beaten for preaching Christ’s resurrection in Jerusalem.

Acts  5:40 And to him they agreed: and when they had called the apostles, and beaten them, they commanded that they should not speak in the name of Jesus, and let them go.  5:41 And they departed from the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer shame for his name.  5:42 And daily in the temple, and in every house, they ceased not to teach and preach Jesus Christ.

So suffering for doing God’s perfect will must never discourage us, but we must with purpose of heart, cleave to God and continue His service.

Acts  11:23 Who, when he came, and had seen the grace of God, was glad, and exhorted them all, that with purpose of heart they would cleave unto the Lord.

Nothing must separate you from the love of Christ and His service.

Romans  8:35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?  8:36 As it is written, For thy sake we are killed all the day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter.  8:37 Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us.  8:38 For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come,  8:39 Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

You must continue to rejoice in trials and temptations.

James  1:2 My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations;  1:3 Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience.  1:4 But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing.

The suffering is momentary not forever. So persevere and you will be rewarded at the end of time.

Revelation  2:10 Fear none of those things which thou shalt suffer: behold, the devil shall cast some of you into prison, that ye may be tried; and ye shall have tribulation ten days: be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life.

Paul and Silas prayed and praised God at the climax of suffering and God set them free.

Acts  16:25 And at midnight Paul and Silas prayed, and sang praises unto God: and the prisoners heard them.  16:26 And suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison were shaken: and immediately all the doors were opened, and every one’s bands were loosed.

Peter and John did same. They never regretted suffering for Christ’s sake.

Acts  5:40 And to him they agreed: and when they had called the apostles, and beaten them, they commanded that they should not speak in the name of Jesus, and let them go.  5:41 And they departed from the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer shame for his name.

You also must do same and you will experience God’s intervention and be rewarded at the end of time in Jesus name.

Revelation  2:10 Fear none of those things which thou shalt suffer: behold, the devil shall cast some of you into prison, that ye may be tried; and ye shall have tribulation ten days: be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life.

Let us pray.