The Spirit That Sets Us Free (Acts 16:16~34) While we are living in this world, we always face the spirits of the world. The angels of God also come to us to take care of us. If we stay in the worldly life, demons stick to us. They cling to us or oppress us by getting on our shoulders. However, because Jesus took the cross and was torn in His flesh and shed His precious blood to redeem us, we should not concede to the devil no matter what happens. Paul and other servants of God went to other gentile cities and preached the gospel of Jesus Christ and many Gentiles came to believe in Jesus and were greatly impressed with the healing work and vast grace of Jesus Christ. Today's story tells us that as Paul and Silas preached the gospel in West Asia that when they came to the city of Philippi and preached the gospel many people in the market listened to them and believed in Christ so the glory of God prevailed over them. At that time Philippi was famous for women fortunetellers who were filled with evil spirits and predicted people's futures. The rich hired a young woman fortuneteller, to predict the future for people, to earn money for them. Whenever Paul and Silas appeared at a market and preached the gospel this woman fortuneteller always followed them shouting, "Do you know who they are? The God who created heaven and earth prophesies through these men." If she had believed in the Lord, it would have been no problem, but she didn't believe in God. Thus the credibility of the gospel was ruined. Finally Paul became so troubled that he turned around and said to the spirit, "In the name of Jesus Christ I command you to come out of her!" At that moment the spirit left her. We are unable to understand the world of demons, but God has given us the authority over it. Not only Paul but also we Christians are given the authority of God so He said, "In my name you will drive out demons; you will speak in new tongues; you will perform many spiritual gifts." Therefore, you should drive out demons. You must cast out demons from others, but more urgently you should drive out demons that stick to you. It is very urgent. Paul and Silas cast out demons from her and they were immediately gone. The girl may have felt good, but when the owners of the slave girl realized that they were no longer making money, they seized Paul and Silas and dragged them to the authorities. Paul and Silas were severely flogged. Then the mayor of that city was reported to about this and could punish them. Therefore, he ordered that Paul and Silas be imprisoned for a next day trial. Even within the prison there were divisions. Some prisoners were temporarily imprisoned while others were incarcerated for their serious crimes. Furthermore, there were some prisoners for capital punishment. Apostle Paul and Silas were not charged with committing minor infractions, but Gentiles were permitted to be killed so they probably were expecting to be sentenced to death. There is only one thing that Paul and Silas could do at that time. It is prayer and praise and giving glory to God. Some Christians say that there is nothing they can do, but it is prayer that we can do anytime and anywhere. " 'If you can'?" said Jesus. "Everything is possible for him who believes."(Mark 9:23) When we face difficulties, we should kneel down before God. Through prayer we can commit all our hardships to God. Therefore, these two prisoners of faith praised God and prayed to Him and other prisoners listened to them quietly. They didn't rebuke them by saying, "Don't make a noise! Shut up and sleep! We hate this. Why are you praying so loudly?" They didn't disturb them but listened to their praise and prayer with calmness. Their praise and prayer impressed them greatly so they didn't protest. Then suddenly the prison began to be shaken by an earthquake to the extent that all the prisoners couldn't stand as the earth quaked under their feet; they were so frightened. More than that, at once all the prison doors flew open, and everybody's chains came loose. Their praise and prayer not only made them feel good but also set them free from chains. All the prisoners were astounded, but they didn't run away! At that time, the jailer woke up, and when he saw the prison doors open, he drew his sword and was about to kill himself because he thought the prisoners had escaped. But Paul shouted, "You Jailer, Don't harm yourself! We are all here! We are good prisoners so we don't open the prison door without the permission of the authority!" Then the jailer called for lights, rushed in and fell trembling before Paul and Silas. They gave praise and thanksgiving to God more boldly. Then other prisoners concentrated more on listening to Paul and Silas' praise and thanksgiving without realizing that their chains had already came loose. Therefore, Paul and Silas always prayed to God and gave praise to Him while encouraging people wherever they went. When we come before God, we should put a foundation with positive hearts and dream a dream upon it. Where there is no vision the people perish! We must draw what we desire on our positive foundation of heart. We should draw a beautiful picture, business, research we want upon it and always look at it. We must focus on it through prayer and thanksgiving to God and then our dream will become our faith. Dreams and faith should come forth. After we cultivate our dreams and faith, what about our spoken words? They will become creative and productive. We should dream and confess the things that are not as though they were. When we dream and believe, our mouths will confess creative words. It is very precious. When God created heaven and earth, He commanded, "Let there be light!" God also said what He dreamed and believed, "Let there be light." Why can we have a creative declaration? It is because God created us in His likeness and image. Therefore, our God is a creative God who made us creative according to His image. As times go by, when we get into deeper grace, we will have wonderfully creative power. Even today people tell the things that are not as though they were to develop human culture so they are awarded the Nobel prize or highly praised. We Christians can also, like God work creative things by seeing, believing, and confessing. Therefore, our mouth confession is very important. You know, don't just dream, but when you have faith, you should believe and give thanks and then you can confess it. If you keep repeating creative words as follows, "I am happy. I am happy. I am happy!", you will be swept away by waves of happiness and happiness will surround you. Human life is quite different from that of general animals. When we boldly make a creative declaration, "Dear friend, I pray that you may enjoy good health and that all may go well with you, even as your soul is getting along well," the Spirit of God will create accordingly. Even in the prison Paul and Silas still praised and gave thanks to God in the midst of a painful night and there was a great movement of freedom due to this. They may enjoy good health and that all may go well with them, even as their souls are getting along well and the great waves of happiness rose and their lives became changed. Then the jailer was astounded and rushed to Paul and Silas to save him and Paul used this freedom, as an opportunity to offer salvation for this jailer. When Paul and Silas had been severely flogged, they were put in the inner cell and their feet were fastened in the stocks. However, they overcame all of these things by prayer and praise. There the angel of God joined in their praise. You should think that the angel of God is always with you so you must praise Jesus in the midst of hardship and difficulty. And pray loudly and praise with living faith. God will rejoice over you. He will be joyful enough to shake your situation with an earthquake. The Bible says in Matthew 11:28, "Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest." Psalm 50:23 says, “He who sacrifices thank offerings honors me, and he prepares the way so that I may show him the salvation of God.” Therefore, when we give thanksgiving and praise to God, He will be joyful so much that He will do amazing things like an earthquake even in the midst of a Gentile prison. God can work an earthquake as a sign of punishment or support and favor for those who believe and rejoice over Him. Paul and Silas were freed the next day and kept on their mission journey. I want to ask you that during next week you should never think that you are all alone. Nobody is exempt from worry, anxiety, restlessness, irritation, or despair, but the angel of God always follows you. As the angel of God is with you, I want you to remember the Word of God in your heart and have positive and active faith and live a successful life.