Sermon by: Rev. Andrew V. Stevens 
astevens@vicon.net or www.vicon.net/~NewLife/ 
ÐÏ_ࡱ_áVictory in the Storm! 
Understand & Apply 
When the praises go Up, God’s glory comes down...
I. Introduction
A. Have you ever planed a day out perfectly...It’s going to be a great 
day, etc.
1. Then, out of no where your day goes in a drastically different 
direction.

B. Sometimes, this happens to us in life...
1. We start out life with great plans, goals, expectations.
2. Then, all of a sudden, by surprise we get hit by the storms of Life.
a. Sometimes they come as they did the last two weeks (13 days 
of rain.) other times just a quick passing storm.
3. But no matter how long or short...the storms of life are our real 
spiritual battle fields.
4. During the storms of life we have two options. 
a. Let the storm(s) defeat us & change our destiny...
or
b. We can defeat the storms of Life and fulfill our destiny...

C. What storms are you facing today...this morning.
1. Has the devil tried to, recently, turn your world upside down? 
2. Is there the storm of debt & or low finances driving you nuts.
3. Is something happening to you or in your life that you seem to 
have absolutely no control over?

D. This morning, we are going to take a look at two men (Paul & Silas) 
who didn’t get defeated by a storm but rather found & experienced 
victory and fulfilled their destiny.


II. The Setting
A. Read Acts 16: 16 - 34
B. Opening Prayer...you may be seated

C. Paul & Silas had received a vision from the Lord to go to 
Macedonia...listen to what they run into.

D. Acts 16: 16 - 17 
“Now it happened, as we went to prayer, that a certain slave girl possessed with 
a spirit of divination met us, who brought her masters much profit by fortune- 
telling. This girl followed Paul and us, and cried out, saying, "These men are 
the servants of the Most High God, who proclaim to us the way of salvation.”


1. At this point, Paul had enough discernment to recognize the spirit 
by which she (the slave girl) told the future was not of God.
a. He realized it was the spirit of divination...unclean spirit that 
could seemingly predict the future.



III. Let’s look at verse 18, as the plot thickens... 
“And this she did for many days. But Paul, greatly annoyed, turned and said to the 
spirit, "I command you in the name of Jesus Christ to come out of her." And he 
came out that very hour.”


A. She was, in her own way, acknowledging Jesus as the Messiah.
1. She needed to be saved...as in salvation...but also to be saved 
from the spirit, that allowed her to tell the future, but kept her 
prisoner to it.


IV. Paul prayed for her and she was delivered instantly... “that very hour.”

A. This is what you would call a “speedy delivery” and a great example 
of spiritual warfare.
a. When you live by faith the devil will throw some storms your 
way ~ spiritual warfare.
b. However, we will see that when we take a stand for God...God 
takes a stand for us.

B. If we will put on the full armor of God
+
Live a life of Faith *in* God.
=
Victory for us and defeat for devil and his plans.


C. Paul and Silas are literally walking and talking a life of Faith in 
Christ...notice the devil threw a storm their way...

D. The owners of the slave girl were very upset!!!
1. Their money making, fortune telling slave had been freed and 
now their business is closed.

E. Notice that: Paul and Silas were dragged into the market place and 
were accused or throwing the city into an uproar by advocating 
customs unlawful for Romans to accept or practice.

F. Look at verses 22 - 24 
“Then the multitude rose up together against them; and the magistrates tore off 
their clothes and commanded them to be beaten with rods. And when they had 
laid many stripes on them, they threw them into prison, commanding the jailer to 
keep them securely. Having received such a charge, he put them into the inner 
prison and fastened their feet in the stocks.”



V. Let’s slow down for a moment and review the facts:
A. Paul & Silas receive & respond to a vision to go to Macedonia.

B. They arrive, preach a little, and have a quick deliverance service 
for a slave girl.

C. The slave’s masters get very upset.

D. The are beaten up severely.

E. No trial...Thrown into a maximum security prison.
VI. And now comes the critical point for Paul & Silas...and for You and Me.
A. Look at verses 25 + 26 
“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.”

1. Flogged, beaten, and stripped!!!
2. These seem like good reasons for a tear filled pity party.
a. Perhaps what you are going through right now would make 
you want to have a tear filled pity party as well.
3. But notice Paul & Silas did just the opposite.
a. Talk about walking in the Spirit and being obedient to God’s 
commands. Wow!
b. Paul and Silas knew and understood the importance of the 
spiritual principle found in 1 Thessalonians 5: 18. 
“in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for 
you.”


B. This scripture doesn’t mean, “be thankful that you are going through a 
hard, difficult, challenging, or terrible time.”

1. But rather remember the first two words of this verse, “IN 
EVERYTHING” give thanks.
a. Give thanks that you’re not alone...Give thanks that in 
everything God is going through it with you to see that 
you get the victory!!!

C. What an incredible witness Paul & Silas were to the other prisoners.
1. It says the other prisoners were listening to them sing & pray.

D. In the midst of their storm, Paul & Silas applied another spiritual 
principle found in Romans 5: 1 - 5.
“Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus 
Christ, through whom also we have access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and rejoice 
in hope of the glory of God. And not only that, but we also glory in tribulations, knowing that 
tribulation produces perseverance; and perseverance, character; and character, hope. Now hope 
does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit 
who was given to us.”


E. Bottom Line: Are you going through a storm, trial of faith, or some 
sort of tribulation?
a. If so then...Pray and praise God and thank Him for the fact that He 
is with you!
b. Walk in faith, fully armed with the armor of God, and praise His 
Holy Name....and expect the breakthrough you need!!!


VII. Not only did Paul & Silas get the Victory...they watched God totally 
inialiate the enemy!!!
A. Once Paul & Silas stood up for God (praised Him in the midst of their 
trial) God stood up for them and delivered them.

B. Paul & Silas went a step past victory and applied another spiritual 
principle found in Romans 12: 21. 
“Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.”

C. How so??? 
1. They led the guard to salvation and won the guard’s entire 
family to Christ as well.

D. Wow!!! what an example:
1. They preach, rebuke evil spirits, get thrown in jail, praise and 
worship God in Jail. They’re praise went up and once again God’s 
Glory came down. They were freed and kept on 
preaching...incredible!!!


VIII. Conclusion
A. Before God will effect your life around you God wants and needs to 
effect your life personally & internally.

B. Before God will save you from the mess you’re in...first God must 
save your soul.
1. Just like the little slave girl.

C. Help me God...follow the leading of the spirit.