The Power of Worship.
Reading Time: 8 minutes
“Around midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the other prisoners were listening. Suddenly, there was a massive earthquake, and the prison was shaken to its foundations. All the doors immediately flew open, and the chains of every prisoner fell off! The jailer woke up to see the prison doors wide open. He assumed the prisoners had escaped, so he drew his sword to kill himself. But Paul shouted to him, “Stop! Don’t kill yourself! We are all here!” The jailer called for lights and ran to the dungeon and fell down trembling before Paul and Silas. Then he brought them out and asked, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?” They replied, “Believe in the Lord Jesus and you will be saved, along with everyone in your household.”
Acts 16:25-31
Following Jesus is a personal choice, however, I believe the likelihood of a choice to live for Christ or even the benefits of living for Christ can be garnered through the actions of someone else.
In this story, Paul and Silas find themselves in jail, a common occurrence for people following Jesus. But they’re singing. Now honestly that seems crazy. You're in a dungeon, you have no idea what the future may hold, it's cold, dark, and damp but you're singing? Then as they’re worshipping and praising God, there is an earthquake that frees them from their bondage. In casting their cares to God and reminding themselves of the God they serve, they find freedom in their situation. But it wasn't just an opportunity for freedom for them. The Bible says the other prisoners were listening. Paul and Silas were doing the singing and praying but the Bible says every door was opened and every chain fell off. Are you telling me an opportunity of freedom was given because someone else was reminded of the goodness of God?
All I see here is that the opportunity for freedom for the whole jail seems to have been garnered by the praise of two people. All through the Bible we see the faith of some save others. Friends broke a roof so their paralyzed friend could get to Jesus. Fathers went to Jesus on behalf of their sick kids. Lazarus wasn't alive to ask Jesus to resurrect him, but Mary and Martha had the faith. Don’t tell me your tribe doesn’t matter. Don’t tell me the people you’re around don't matter. Don’t tell me that who you have in your community doesn’t matter.
You could be the catalyst for freedom in the lives of your family. You could be the one to break generational curses. You could be the one to change the trajectories of those coming after you.
In 1st Samuel 10, Saul is called to be king of Israel. Samuel is giving him the instructions as he moves forward.
“When you arrive at Gibeah of God, where the garrison of the Philistines is located, you will meet a band of prophets coming down from the place of worship. They will be playing a harp, a tambourine, a flute, and a lyre, and they will be prophesying. At that time the Spirit of the Lord will come powerfully upon you, and you will prophesy with them. You will be changed into a different person.
1 Samuel 10:5-6
Now I've wanted to write a different devotional from this story for literal years but I want you to see something here. Saul is on a journey, through the territory of his enemies. Saul is in a hard place. Worshipers come from church. They are playing their instruments and praising God from the overflow of their experience. Oh catch this, they aren’t in church right now. They are leaving their own encounter with God, and are also in the territory of their enemies. But they are praising God and Saul is changed into a new person. They didn't know what Saul was going through. They didn't know the stress and change of pace he may have been under from the news of him being chosen to be king. But from their casual act of praise, Saul was changed. Can I preach for a second? If my praise can cause someone else freedom, how selfish is it when I hold it back?
Yo, come here for a second. You don't have to have it all together to praise God and you don't have to even be safe yet for your praise to bring transformation to someone else’s situation. Paul and Silas were in jail, too. The prophets in Saul's story were also in the camp of their enemies. Both needed a change in their life but the praise of one group led to the freedom of another.
Let’s go back to the story in Acts so we can go deeper. Can I tell you something crazier about praise? Sit down for this one. Praise didn't just become the catalyst for the opportunity of freedom for others in bondage… it set the oppressor free too.
Let’s go back to the text.
The jailer woke up to see the prison doors wide open. He assumed the prisoners had escaped, so he drew his sword to kill himself. But Paul shouted to him, “Stop! Don’t kill yourself! We are all here!” The jailer called for lights and ran to the dungeon and fell down trembling before Paul and Silas. Then he brought them out and asked, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?” They replied, “Believe in the Lord Jesus and you will be saved, along with everyone in your household.”
Acts 16:27-31
The jailer thought his life was over. He may have thought the prisoners had escaped and that the death his bosses would inflict on him would be worse than what he could do to himself so he was about to take his own life. Paul stops him and is like “Yo, we’re still here.” Is this why they stayed? Did God slow the prisoners down from leaving so the jailer wouldn’t kill himself? I don't know. But what I do know is now the jailer asks for lights to be turned on and he asks Paul and Silas what must he do to be saved. Do y’all see this?
One thing I think we can recognize is that no matter how oppressive another human may be, they have issues too and deserve a chance to change and right their wrongs. I wonder what type of self-control it took Paul to still use this moment to love on his oppressor. Paul doesn’t go to the jailer and say, “That's what y’all get for wrongly beating and incarcerating me!” Paul goes on to tell the jailer that all he must do is believe and guess what? Not just him, but his whole family would be saved.
Jeremiah says the word of God is like fire shut up in his bones that he cannot contain. Could it be that this fire shut up in your bones is contagious? Could it be that when God does something for you, others are affected? Yes, they have a choice to choose on their own. But it seems like it gets a lot easier when they see someone they know and love test-drive first. You can be a billboard that shows others the freedom they too can have in Jesus. As chains fall off of you, it will show your family the freedom that is possible. As you soar, little boys and girls will be able to dream more vividly. As you let your light shine, others will be pointed to you, and then to your father.
Worship isn’t just singing. Worship is a life posture. Worship is simply allowing God to take His place in your life. The word for “glory” in Hebrew is taken from the word used for “weight” or “headship”. Giving God glory is just keeping Him at the head. Worship is just giving yourself back to Him and letting Him drive. As you remember what He has done and who He is, it won't just help you break free from the things holding you back, it may inspire others to try Him for themselves and do the same. Your life can point others to Him and allow them to experience Him.
Keep worshiping. It’s not just singing (but if you sing, then sing). In Ephesians, Paul says to be filled with the spirit singing psalms and spiritual songs. It’s not just playing instruments, but if you play, David says to praise Him with the timbrel and dance. Praise Him with the string, percussion, and wind instruments. If you can't sing, that's ok too. The Bible says to just make a joyful noise! And if none of that works Paul in his letter to the Romans says to just present your life! You are a worship leader. As you present yourself to God it will give others the inspiration to do the same.
Worship is a lifestyle and it bears fruit.
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