Does Praise Possess Power? Acts 16:25

  I am curious and growing in a personal desire to find out more about a power found in praising God. This is a background as to how this subject became a top priority for me, an urging I believe coming from His very throne...  


I am finding great value taking the time to give God praise in my daily life. Circumstances, concerns for the present and the future, sins, coupled with ongoing relationships, personal and otherwise, sometimes bring feelings of frustration which left unattended, lead to a hopelessness. A believer is then left in a quandary; people or circumstances never change, and when or if they do, it is merely a result of happenstance rather than a trusting faith in the Lord Jesus. 
  For myself, I began to rejoice having Him as a true friend in my life and embrace a gratefulness in my heart for this friendship. As I practice this new behavior, I have discovered a power emerges that leads me to a time of praise. From this praise rises an inner confidence and trust, giving me ability to trust in Him not only for the present, but for the future. It reinforces the fact although my sin erupts in life daily, confession with a heart of repentance can lead me to a strength to overcome. It is often a process rather than a "one-night wonder," yet it is stable and helps me in following Him. Out of this time of praise comes a renewed vigor God is and will change all things to give Him glory, including relationships and/or circumstances.

So, how does this work?

  The book of Acts was written by a physician named Luke. He was non-Jewish, the only non-Jewish author of the New Testament. Although Saint Paul wrote approximately 2/3 of all the letters found in the New Testament, word count actually points out 25% of the entire New Testament was written by...Luke, more than any other author, including Paul.
  Luke traveled and worked with Saint Paul. His main objective in writing the New Testament letters was to write the truth of what was being said of Christ. Luke makes this clear in the first chapter:
  Luke 1:1-4  " Many people have tried their hand at putting together the events of a wonderful harvest conveyed through the Scriptures, making it known to all God is actively among us. The testimonies of these eyewitness reports originate back to His original disciples.
  Having investigated the accuracy of these events in the most disciplined and learned fashion, I submit to you Theophilus, these finding have been found to be true with certainty. It is further concluded these events are an encouragement to believers in Him and are valid to reinforce the very doctrine of our faith." ( a gleaning format with use of numerous versions.)

  Luke supported Paul...including Paul's final days in a Roman prison.

  Luke was sensitive and aware of the many stories that were told about Christians in relation to the Roman Empire. The general public regarded Christians as a cult group whose real motive was to disrupt the success of the Roman Empire and cause a rebellion against Roman form of government with its goal to overthrow Roman rule.
  Writing this letter of Acts (Acts of the Apostles technically), Luke wanted to show the citizens and government of the Roman Empire that Christians were good for the Empire and good to support its success and future. Luke furthered this thought with a proclamation Christ Jesus was good for all: all people, all nations, and for the entirety of mankind. Luke equally wanted to dispel the numerous lies and inaccurate tales that have been spread about the Christian faith, both by Christians and non-Christians.
  One method of clarifying the Christian message was the welcome of the Holy Spirit into the lives of those who had given their hearts in an act of total surrender to this One known as Jesus of Nazareth. This new form of vital guidance coming directly from this Spirit includes visions, dreams, words of knowledge, and prophecy. 
 The problem arose when those calling themselves believers began spreading mixed messages. Some interpreted any dreams and thoughts as God revealing His purpose to them. The real conflict escalated when these various thoughts were not in agreement to the written Scriptures.
  Along with these controversial experiences beginning to happen, the early Christian church was in a serious division, stemming from the need for Jewish law in Christianity. With Gentile ( non-Jewish) communities surrendering their hearts and lives to the Lord Jesus, the question arose on the need of Jewish culture in the lives of the Gentiles.  

 In chapter 16, Timothy, a loyal follower and later Pastor within the early Christian church, was introduced. Timothy was an assistant to Saint Paul. Timothy brought a unique background to Jewish and Gentile believers. Timothy had a Jewish mother and a Greek ( Gentile) father. This was a major controversy in that time period: becoming a Christian without Jewish roots vs. becoming a Christian outside a Judean belief system. Paul encouraged Timothy to have circumcision to have better acceptance toward Jewish Christians. 
  Much like today, where many of us have a "mixed bag" in reference to ancestry. We have various nationalities, different cultures, various ideals, and different religious beliefs  toward God and who He is.  The early church faced similar circumstances.
  
  In this chapter in Acts, Paul receives a vision one night. He sees a man from the Greek region of Macedonia who speaks to Paul requesting help. He encourages Paul to come and help them introducing this Jesus of Nazareth. Paul did...the Scriptures write he left for Macedonia immediately. 
  This story surprised me. Involved in a Christian format of study in the meaning of the Scripture, Saint Paul, a scholar of the written Word, suddenly receives a vision one night and is off to Macedonia.  How did he know that was a God thing... a vision from God?

 Enter the Holy Spirit....