This Bible story begins with the unjust arrest of Paul and Silas. Because they had cast a spirit of divination out of a girl, the local Philippian authorities beat them and threw them into a jail cell. Yet in spite of the disheartening atmosphere, at midnight, Paul and Silas were heard praying and singing praises to God.

Paul and Silas knew the secret of how to lift their hearts above their troubles and enter into God’s presence and power. Through praise and worship, their hearts were raised into a joyous presence and peace of God, and provided God a channel for His power to operate in their circumstances.

The Bible says that God inhabits the praises of His people (Psalm 23:3).  Praise to God is a vehicle of faith which takes us into His presence and power. Praise and worship is the gate pass which allows us to enter the sacredness of His glory.

“I will declare thy name unto my brethren, in the midst of the church I will sing praise unto the Lord” (Hebrew’s 2:12).  Consequently, Christ’s presence along with His virtue and anointing is manifested in this type of gathering. God’s presence responds when we move upon Him with worship.  Lifting up Jesus through praise and worship invokes the Lord’s presence and power to flow in our midst.

High praises bring our spirit into a place of fellowship and intimacy between ourselves and God. It magnifies our awareness of our spiritual union with the most high God. “Blessed is the people that know the joyful sound; they shall walk, O Lord, in the light of thy countenance” (Psalm 89:15).

Unpretentious praise and worship pleases the Lord. He delights in the love and devotion of His children. According to the scriptures, the various expressions of praise bring blessing to the Lord. He eagerly awaits the fragrance of our affections, desiring to manifest His sweet presence and power in our midst. “The true worshipers shall worship the father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship him” (John 4:23).