ANALYSIS: The Power of Prayer and Praise
1. The Power of Pray and Praise can cause Foundations to Shake.
Suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison were shaken; Vs 26

- Cultural Foundations-“Enter by the narrow gate; for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and there are many who go in by it. Matthew 7:13

- Tradition-For laying aside the commandment of God, you hold the tradition of men—the washing of pitchers and cups, and many other such things you do.”9 He said to them, “All too well you reject the commandment of God, that you may keep your tradition. Mark 7:8-9

- Money- “Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal; 20 but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. 21 For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. Matthew 6:19-21

- Reason- “There is a way that appears to be right, but in the end it leads to death” Pr 16:25

- Feelings-“The heart is deceitful above all things, And desperately wicked; Who can know it? Jer 17:9

2. The Power of Prayer and Praise can cause Doors to Open and Chains to Break.
and immediately all the doors were opened and everyone’s chains were loosed. Vs 26

3. The Power of Prayer and Praise can cause Men to Awake.
And the keeper of the prison, awaking from sleep and seeing the prison doors open, supposing the prisoners had fled, drew his sword and was about to kill himself. 28 But Paul called with a loud voice, saying, “Do yourself no harm, for we are all here.”29 Then he called for a light, ran in, and fell down trembling before Paul and Silas.

4. The Power of Prayer & Praise can cause many to Partake.
30 And he brought them out and said, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?”So they said, “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and you will be saved, you and your household.” 32 Then they spoke the word of the Lord to him and to all who were in his house. 33 And he took them the same hour of the night and washed their stripes. And immediately he and all his family were baptized. Now when he had brought them into his house, he set food before them; and he rejoiced, having believed in God with all his household. Vs 30-33

APPLICATION:Being Contagious when things are Outrageous is a matter of FOCUS!

1. Focus on Christ and not the Crises.
“You will keep in perfect peace all who trust in you, all whose thoughts are fixed on you” Isaiah 26:3

2. Focus on our Position and not our Condition.
But God, who is rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, 5 even when we were dead in trespasses, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved), 6 and raised us up together, and made us sit together in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, 7 that in the ages to come He might show the exceeding riches of His grace in His kindness toward us in Christ Jesus.Ephesians 2:1-7

Focus on Others and not just Ourselves.
Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit, but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than himself. 4 Let each of you look out not only for his own interests, but also for the interests of others. Phil 2:3-4