Written by Mark Driskill:
Wednesday January 5, 2011
Read Acts 4:21-22
“and when they had threatened them further they let them go, finding no way to punish them….for all were praising God for what had happened.”
Praise can create a fortress of protection in the face of persecution. In this time of persecution, as the apostles stood their ground by faith, the enemy sought a way to bring them harm. But they were kept safe in a fortress of praise. You have to understand these leaders were experts in legalities. They knew how to bend the law to accomplish anything they wanted. Normally if they desired to kill someone they would have no problem finding a religious excuse to take them out. But here something happened. They just couldn’t find a way to punish these guys. Why is this? It is because the Apostles were abiding in shelter of the almighty and kept safe in the fortress of praise.
There is a spiritual power that comes through when we sincerely worship God in the midst of difficulty. On a practical level the leaders feared starting a riot. But on a spiritual level we know that God inhabits the praises of his people. This is more than sentimental talk. It is a truth we need to take hold of. God himself is manifest in the praises of his people. When the praises of Gods people arise, during, not after, the battle, the enemy cannot penetrate with his tactics. Everyone is focused on God and they become impervious to the attacks of the enemy.
There are times in your life when you will face the fire of persecution. If you will stand by faith through the assault, and not back down, and if you will determine to praise God for all he has done, regardless of how you feel, you will be kept safe in the fortress of praise. As the Psalmist says , “He who dwells in the shelter of the most high will abide in the shadow of the almighty.” (Psalm 91:1) The enemy will rage all around you. Threats will rain all around like flaming arrows, but they will not touch you. People will set up traps for you but you will not be harmed. No weapon formed against you will prosper.
Worship escorts you into the shelter of the almighty where you find strength and protection from the assaults of the enemy. The trick is to worship the Lord during the difficulty, not after. Anyone can praise God on the other side of the red sea. But true warriors of God worship in the heat of battle because they know God will not forsake them.
Mark Driskill and his wife Mary are homeschooling community ministers in Breathitt County Kentucky. They have four children. They co pastor Emmanuel fellowship Church, serve as Camp Pastors at Bethel Mennonite Camp, and Mark Teaches at Oakdale Christian Academy.
Mark is web minister for Begotten by theWord , a ministry of Helping Hands Christian Resources.
Once a month he preaches on the local radio station through the “Lion of Judah” program. Mark also preaches in youth rallies and revivals upon request at no charge. Their vision is to see true spiritual awakening come to the mountains of Eastern Kentucky and to the nation.
Contact information:
Email: driskill@hilbillymail.com
Facebook: Mark Driskill
Address: PO Box 1159 Jackson KY.
