Teaching summary
In this sermon, Pastor Leonard Rola teaches that praise is the believer’s way out of pain, bondage, confusion, and suffering. Using the story of Paul and Silas in Acts 16, he explains that they did not magnify their prison, but magnified their God. Through prayer and praise, chains were broken, doors were opened, and healing came. The message encourages believers to shift their focus from problems to God, because when God is magnified, everything else becomes small.
Bible verses referenced
Acts 16:16-34- “And it came to pass, as we went to prayer, a certain damsel possessed with a spirit of divination met us, which brought her masters much gain by soothsaying: The same followed Paul and us, and cried, saying, These men are the servants of the most high God, which shew unto us the way of salvation. And this did she for many days. But Paul, being grieved, turned and said to the spirit, I command thee in the name of Jesus Christ to come out of her. And he came out the same hour. And when her masters saw that the hope of their gains was gone, they caught Paul and Silas, and drew them into the marketplace unto the rulers, And brought them to the magistrates, saying, These men, being Jews, do exceedingly trouble our city, And teach customs, which are not lawful for us to receive, neither to observe, being Romans. And the multitude rose together against them: and the magistrates rent off their clothes, and commanded to beat them. And when they had laid many stripes upon them, they cast them into prison, charging the jailor to keep them safely: Who, having received such a charge, thrust them into the inner prison, and made their feet fast in the stocks. And at midnight Paul and Silas prayed, and sang praises unto God: and the prisoners heard them. And 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 bands were loosed. And the keeper of the prison, awaking out of his sleep, and seeing the prison doors open, he drew out his sword, and would have killed himself, supposing that the prisoners had fled. But Paul cried with a loud voice, saying, Do thyself no harm: for we are all here. Then he called for a light, and sprang in, and came trembling, and fell before Paul and Silas, and brought them out, and said, Sirs, what must I do to be saved? And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house. And they spake unto him the word of the Lord, and to all that were in his house. And he took them the same hour of the night, and washed their stripes; and was baptized, he and all his, straightway. And when he had brought them into his house, he set meat before them, and rejoiced, believing in God with all his house.”
Philippians 4:4-7- “Rejoice in the Lord alway: and again I say, Rejoice. Let your moderation be known unto all men. The Lord is at hand. Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.”
Psalm 100:4- “Enter into his gates with thanksgiving, and into his courts with praise: be thankful unto him, and bless his name.”
Romans 6:4-5- “Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life. For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection.”
Hebrews 12:2- “Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.”
Teaching notes
Table of Contents
- Introduction: A Spirit-Led Message from Acts 16
- Paul and Silas in Prison: Pain, Bondage, and Injustice
- Midnight Praise: The Turning Point
- Salvation Through Belief Alone
- Do Not Magnify the Situation—Magnify God
- Breaking Addictions Through Praise
- Direction and Open Doors Through Praise
- Physical Restoration Through Praise
- Final Encouragement and Closing Prayer
Introduction: A Spirit-Led Message from Acts 16
Pastor Leonard begins by explaining that this message was given to him early in the morning by the Lord. He had prepared something else, but at 6:00 a.m., the Lord directed him to Acts chapter 16. He emphasizes that he will be preaching from the King James Version and introduces the account of Paul and Silas during the Macedonian call.
He begins reading from Acts 16:16-34, which recounts the encounter with a possessed girl, the imprisonment of Paul and Silas, and their miraculous deliverance. Acts 16:16-34: “And it came to pass, as we went to prayer…” (full passage as listed above).
Paul and Silas in Prison: Pain, Bondage, and Injustice
Pastor Leonard explains that Paul cast the spirit out of the girl by saying, “I command thee in the name of Jesus Christ to come out of her.”
Because her masters lost their financial gain, Paul and Silas were dragged before the magistrates, beaten unlawfully, and thrown into prison. They were Roman citizens and should not have been beaten without trial, yet they endured many stripes and were cast into the inner prison, the lowest and most miserable place.
Their feet were fastened in stocks. They were wounded, bleeding, chained, and trapped with no visible way out.
This, he explains, represents pain, suffering, bondage, addiction, and being trapped without direction — experiences many believers face today.
Midnight Praise: The Turning Point
Instead of magnifying their suffering, Paul and Silas prayed and sang praises. “And at midnight Paul and Silas prayed, and sang praises unto God: and the prisoners heard them.”
Then came the breakthrough: “And suddenly there was a great earthquake… and immediately all the doors were opened, and everyone’s bands were loosed.” Not only were Paul and Silas freed — everyone’s chains were broken.
Pastor Leonard emphasizes that prayer and praise brought the way out. They did not magnify the prison; they magnified God.
Salvation Through Belief Alone
The jailer, witnessing the miracle, asked: “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?”
Paul answered: “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house.”
Pastor Leonard stresses there was no mention of works, striving, effort, or performance—just belief. The jailer washed their wounds, was baptized, and rejoiced.
Do Not Magnify the Situation—Magnify God
Pastor Leonard connects this to Philippians 4:4-7: “Rejoice in the Lord alway…” (full passage as listed above)
He also references Psalm 100:4: “Enter into his gates with thanksgiving, and into his courts with praise…”
He explains that believers often magnify their suffering instead of magnifying God. Some feel suffering pleases God, but they forget resurrection life.
Romans 6:4-5: “Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death…” He reminds the church that we are united not only in Christ’s death, but in His resurrection life.
He also references: Hebrews 12:2: “Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith…” He teaches that believers must take their eyes off the natural realm and fix them on Jesus.
Breaking Addictions Through Praise
Pastor Leonard shares personal testimony about food addiction and anger addiction. He describes how he once weighed over 295 pounds and struggled with compulsive eating. He also struggled with rage and anger.
He explains that addictions cannot be broken by willpower alone. The way out is prayer and praise. Praise magnifies God and shrinks the power of addiction. When God is magnified, His power overshadows the bondage.
Direction and Open Doors Through Praise
He teaches that many believers are waiting for doors to open or direction to appear. Paul and Silas were locked in prison, yet they did not focus on the closed doors. They praised.
Then: “Immediately all the doors were opened…” Praise is compared to binoculars. When reversed, what once seemed large becomes small. Praise makes God big and the problem small.
Physical Restoration Through Praise
Pastor Leonard notes that after their praise and deliverance, the jailer washed their wounds. Physical restoration followed praise. Prayer and praise are not about commanding or striving — they are about magnifying God.
Healing, comfort, restoration, open doors, direction, and freedom flow from that posture.
Final Encouragement and Closing Prayer
Pastor Leonard closes by encouraging believers: if you are in pain, bondage, addiction, confusion, or seeking direction, your way out is prayer and praise. When God is magnified, problems become insignificant.
He prays that believers will take their eyes off the natural and put them on Him, because as He is magnified, victory comes.
We hope this article blessed you. Share this teaching with someone who needs freedom, direction, or healing, and remember: praise is the way out.