Paul and Silas; How Expectations Broke Their Chains

So much of our present and our future is a reflection of our attitude and outlook on life.

Two people facing the same set of circumstances can have two entirely different attitudes and experience two entirely different results. Paul spoke of this while in prison as he wrote the Philippians:

According to my earnest expectation and hope that in nothing I shall be ashamed (Philippians 1:20).

In this verse, Paul speaks of earnest expectation and hope. Paul had a positive outlook and an attitude of expectation. Paul’s words reveal a fundamental outlook that shaped his future. In spite of the persecution that he endured for the sake of the gospel, Paul’s approach to life was positive. Although he knew that his call would involve hardship and ultimately death, he was able to live his life with expectation and hope. Listen to the final words we have of Paul in his last letter to Timothy:

For I am already being poured out as a drink offering, and the time of my departure is at hand. I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Finally, there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give to me on that Day, and not to me only but also to all who have loved His appearing (2 Timothy 4:6-8).

In spite of the incredible hardships that were a part of Paul’s “race,” he was able to finish while keeping faith. And Paul was still anticipating the future beyond death. The “crown of righteousness” was his goal. Consider these closing words in 2 Timothy:

Also I was delivered out of the mouth of the lion. And the Lord will deliver me from every evil work and preserve me for His heavenly kingdom (2 Timothy 4:17-18).

Again, we find a positive attitude that was shaping Paul’s future. His earnest expectation and hope were being fulfilled.

Much about our futures is determined by our attitudes. In our modern way of speaking, we are either optimists or pessimists. We all have a general approach to life that sets the tone for how we respond to and evaluate our circumstances and possibilities.

Let’s consider a very powerful example, again from the life of Paul. Paul and his traveling companion, Silas, had been imprisoned for preaching the gospel. They had been beaten with rods and thrown into an “inner prison” and their feet were fastened in stocks. Most of us would find an opportunity to complain. Silas could have blamed Paul for their circumstances. They could have been fighting among themselves as they contemplated years in prison or, worse, execution. Attitude is a powerful force. Our expectation in the goodness of God can overcome the evil of men. Let’s see what happened.

But at midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the prisoners were listening to them. Suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison were shaken; and immediately all the doors were opened and everyone’s chains were loosed (Acts 16:25-26).

We will respond to the events of life according to the attitude and expectation we carry within. That attitude will then determine the future possibilities. Rather than arguing and complaining about a seemingly impossible situation, Paul and Silas chose to pray and praise God. Complaining never unleashes the power of God, but praise will. Praise is an act of glorifying God regardless of the circumstances, but it also unleashes the power of God to change the circumstances! One way or another, the heart that lives to give thanks and believe will see the goodness of God. David understood praise to be the gateway to increase and blessing!

Let the peoples praise You, O God; let all the peoples praise You. Then the earth shall yield her increase; God, our own God, shall bless us (Psalm 67:5-6).

It is interesting that the potential of “increase” in the earth and blessing in our lives is dependent upon our recognition of God’s goodness!

God’s delivering power is released through the praises of those who trust Him. The attitude of thanksgiving, expectancy, and hope is a major force in shaping our futures. The moment our expectancy is diminished and our hearts begin to “see” a negative outcome, we lose the power to bring change. Our futures are in our hearts. God’s blessings and increase are released in the lives of the thankful. A thankful heart is one that is flowing in the grace of God and is not shaped by the corruption that is in the world. I have known many over the years whose hearts are negative toward just about everything. I must say that I have been one of those people at times. It is an approach to life that may recognize God’s goodness on a theological level, but on a practical level life is lived from our own strength, our own logic, and our own resources. Of course, our strength, logic, and resources will never be enough, and the negative attitude begins to grow.

Once the heart grows hard toward the present and the future, words of negativity will begin to flow. This attitude can be seen and heard through body language, complaining, criticism, gossip, and how we react to every piece of potentially negative news.

Rather than a default setting of praise and thanksgiving in our hearts, there is a fundamental approach to life as a victim. Unknowingly, we are shutting off God’s provision by ignoring His vision for our lives. We have chosen to see the issues around us as more powerful than the God who lives in us. Rather than praising God for His goodness, we begin to exalt the circumstances through complaining and fear. Rather than receiving His grace and provision by faith, we begin to contemplate hardship and loss.

In both scenarios, the future is being shaped. The praises of Paul and Silas in prison set them free both literally and figuratively. You won’t be bound by something you don’t allow to control you. Your future must be settled in your heart and the vision of God’s purpose for your life must be more powerful than the challenges around you. The expectation of good, of blessings, of health, loving relationships, and future influence in the world must begin within. As we have seen, prosperity begins within. Vision begins within. We shape our futures in our hearts.

You can tell who will have a joyful future and who won’t by their attitude toward the present. So often we see the complainers setting the course of their lives by how they approach the challenges of today. For the pessimist, the expectation of difficulties, hardships, relationship problems, and financial problems is allowed to suffocate any hint of God’s overwhelming goodness. Praise is the last thing in their heart. In five years, it will be the same. If there is no heart change, there will be no positive future.

The future God carries in His heart for us will be limited to the possibilities that we see with our hearts. God’s heart toward His children is filled with possibilities. Our future in God’s mind is filled with grace, potential, and increase.

For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the Lord, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope (Jeremiah 29:11).

In spite of the corruption in the world, God has made provision for us to have His peace, His love, His joy, His faith, and shape our futures with the seeds of life, His promises. Your attitude is a powerful force for or against the future that God desires for you.