"The Influence of the Unconditional Praise"

Acts 16:25-26; "And at midnight Paul and Silas prayed, and sang praises unto God: and the prisoners heard them. 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."

Praising God is not a difficult task when things are going on well. When the bank account is fat and there are no outstanding bills to settle. When the body is healthy and there are no traces of pain or strain and when examinations are passed. When you’re passing every class in school and you're not having problems with drugs, alcohol, and cigarettes. When disappointments are far away and when all family members live in harmony and relationships are warm, it is a natural thing to rejoice and be glad.

But what happens at the dark moments of our lives? When all dreams are shattered and broken into pieces. When failure meets you at every corner. When relationship fails and our world is fallen apart. When friends forsake us and loneliness takes over. When disappointments rain from every side and all hope is lost, you agree with me that praising God in such a moment is beyond ordinary.

The situation that Paul and Silas found themselves in was not a pleasant one at all. Following their arrest for preaching the gospel of Christ, they were stripped naked in the market square. They were beaten with horse whip woven with razors and dragged on the floor for many hours which resulted in their flesh being bruised and torn in several places. That was not all. With blisters and patches of caked blood all over their bodies, they were confined to the inner prison with their feet firmly held down in stocks under the watch of a heavily armed guard! The situation was really bad and humiliating.

Paul and Silas against all odds prayed and with passion sang praises to God. They refused to give attention to the deplorable conditions they found themselves in the prisons but chose to appreciate God in that situation. Not even the excruciating pain in their body brought about by the injuries inflicted on them was enough to stop them from praising the Lord. They sang praises to God even when there were seemingly no reasons at all to rejoice or be excited. Their prayer was not one seeking vengeance or revenge on their captors but that of heartfelt gratitude to God for counting them worthy to be partakers of the sufferings of Christ! They praised God and sang tirelessly. Although it was a midnight at the point when darkness was at its peak, but for these worshippers it was the moment before their Breakthrough. The moment before their Revival. The moment before every chain that had them bond would be broken. Sorrow and self pity had no room in their hearts at all.

And at midnight Paul and Silas prayed, and sang praises unto God: and the prisoners heard them. 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.

God is bigger than all our problems and challenges put together. He’s bigger than the prison. He’s bigger than the chains that have you bound. He’s bigger than the darkness of your midnight. So when we come to His presence, the most important thing is not emphasizing the problems at the expense of offering Him quality praise. We’ve got to be like the woman with the issue of blood, and press through the crowds in our minds and around us and touch Jesus. She was in desperate need of a breakthrough in her life. The power of praise has no limitations, especially when it is offered genuinely from a pure heart right in a situation that is seemingly not conducive for rejoicing or excitement. Therefore; I will bless the LORD at all times: his praise shall continually be in my mouth.


Troyce D. Mack
















7 Berkeley Street
Manning, SC 29102

David W. Gleason; Pastor