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What to do when "shackled"
The 'Oy Vey' Prayer

What to do when "shackled"
Gleanings from Pastor Dave's teaching

The world gave Paul and Silas four *BAD rewards* for preaching the Gospel. What were they?

  • #1- Their clothes were torn off
  • #2- They were beaten with rods
  Then the multitude rose up together against Paul and Silas; and the magistrates tore off their clothes and commanded them to be beaten with rods. Acts 16.22
  • #3- Still bleeding from the stripes laid on their backs, Paul and Silas were then thrown into prison.
  And when they had laid many stripes on them, they threw them into prison, commanding the jailer to keep them securely. Acts 16.23
  • #4- Paul and Silas were not put into an outer cell. Instead, they were shackled deep within the blackest, coldest, dankest innards of the prison.
  Having received such a charge, he put them into the inner prison and fastened their feet in the stocks. Acts 16.24

Surely this was a time for Paul and Silas to call out to God...

  • Father, why did you let this happen to Your servants?
  • Father, send Your angels. FREE us!!!
   

But Paul and Silas didn't question God or ask Him for help.

What did God's two servants do? They SANG hymns!!!

  • Instead of fear -- joy!
  • Instead of weeping -- singing!
  • Instead of blaming God -- praise for God!
  But at midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the prisoners were listening to them. Acts 16.25

WHY did God let His two servants get beaten and thrown into prison?

Consider well the highlighted part of the verse quoted alongside. Ask yourself...

  • WHAT did God want the prisoners to hear?
  • WHY were the prisoners able to hear it?
  But at midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the prisoners were listening to them. Acts 16.25

Blessed be the God and Father
Of our Lord Jesus Christ,
The Father of mercies
And God of all comfort,
Who comforts us in all our tribulation,
That we may be able to comfort those who
are in any trouble,
With the comfort with which we ourselves
are comforted by God.

2 Cor 1.3


The 'Oy Vey' Prayer
by marc weinstein

Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered.

And he that searcheth the hearts knoweth what is the mind of the Spirit, because he maketh intercession for the saints according to the will of God.

Romans 8.26 - 27

1- As a Jewish believer, Romans 8.26 - 27 (quoted above) has special meaning and personal application to me. Paul used the word "groanings" to convey deep sighs that cannot be uttered. Had Yiddish, (the conversational combination of Hebrew and German) been around in Paul’s day, I'm almost sure he would have used the term "oy vey" instead of "groanings."

The Yiddish term “oy vey” means exactly what it sounds like, a deep indefinable sigh. When a Jewish person speaks it, there's a special sharp utterance of despair on the word “oy.” Sometimes, just the word “oy” is spoken. My mother would say it often.
  infirmities Strong's 769 astheneia. From 772
feebleness (of mind or body); by implication, malady; morally, moral frailty:--disease, infirmity, sickness, weakness


groanings Strong's 4726 stenagmos. From 4727
a sigh:--groaning
2- Many times, I’ll lie awake at night in bed tossing and groaning in my mind, seemingly having conversations. I believe I'm having them with the Lord and not some grand delusion. Somehow trying to utter them aloud just doesn't do these "prayer thoughts" justice nor adequate to express them. Frankly, I fear I’ll lose the continuity of those thoughts if I even try to articulate them. I just want to hear the inner voice of the conversation I'm having with Him.

Somehow in the spiritual realm, these conversations are making connection. Though in my deepest sense of lost for words, in the depth of my pains of sickness and yes, in the times of deepest moral frailty, God's Love is sensing them and still at work making intercession for me.
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  3- Eventually, an answer, provision, and certain Grace will come to sustain me. Sometimes, it will be nothing I ever gave a thought about, but deep down, I have a core belief that I know He knows all my needs. Not that I have anything against audibly saying prayers, but perhaps for me personally, having a hearing loss has something to do with this. My voice seems too jarring to my ears in the quiet of the night or sensitive in the day. I just find it hard to speak it out or even bother asking others about praying for my needs. Nevertheless, the workings of His Hand are being revealed more so lately in things I've not ever audibly asked about. It's not important that I know anything about how it works, I just know that He's working, “making intercession for” not only me, but for all who call upon His Name.

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