Worship

When you hear two sermons on the same passage of scripture within 24 hours, you realize that God is trying to tell you something!  Let me share it with you...

Acts 16:16-24 paints a graphic and exciting scene, full of enough drama to fill the movie screens in Hollywood:  After exorcising a fortune-telling demon from a slave girl, rendering her useless to her owners, Paul and Silas are not only confronted but severely beaten and then thrown in prison.  Bruised and bloodied, they sit in a maximum security prison for hours.  At midnight they are praying and praising God, while the other prisoners are listening. Suddenly God sends an earthquake strong enough that all the chains break loose and all the prison cell doors swing open!  Read for yourself the rest of the story in verses 27-34.

At times I am beaten up by the enemy, bloodied from battle -- spiritually and emotionally -- as I strive to walk this path of faith.  Circumstances or even my own fear of failure can feel as confining as a maximum security prison cell.

But, praise can change my perspective!  We've all heard the statement: "You cannot always control what happens to you in life, but you can choose your response."  When we choose praise, we usher in the presence of Almighty God!  A pathway is paved for the Holy spirit to enter right into our prison cell and shake the shackles loose!

Praise delivers us...and it can also launch us into our destiny.  Having an attitude of praise even in the midst of darkness and despair can allow such power and presence of the Holy Spirit to flow that I am launched to a whole new level of my faith walk.  Fulfilling the destiny that God has planned for me is advanced by a choice to praise!

Another point from this passage that overwhelmed me was this:  Just being in the atmosphere, the environment of praise brought freedom.

There are times when we are so beaten down, so discouraged, so overwhelmed by life's circumstances that we cannot muster up any energy to praise.  We cannot exert the effort.  At those times, we need to just get in the environment of praise --  surround ourselves with others who are praising the Lord.  Spend time in that atmosphere, that setting, and the freedom will come to us as well!  Praise is contagious!

From the indication of the scripture in Acts 16:25 , Paul and Silas were the only ones praying and singing.  Perhaps the other prisoners were mocking them -- "You fools! Why are you singing and praising God? You're in prison.  He's abandoned you."  Or even, "It's late!  Be quiet and go to sleep!"  Perhaps the other prisoners were just listening and watching, intrigued.  Perhaps they were overwhelmed by their own circumstances, and the sound of hope and joy was foreign in their ears.  I have found myself in each one of those prison cells.  How about you?

Regardless, the truth is that Paul and Silas might have been the only ones praising, but all of the prisoners were set free!

Let us always choose to praise and usher in the presence and power of Jesus Christ.

How lovely is your dwelling place, 
O LORD Almighty!

My soul yearns, even faints, 
for the courts of the LORD; 
my heart and my flesh cry out 
for the living God.

Even the sparrow has found a home, 
and the swallow a nest for herself, 
where she may have her young— 
a place near your altar, 
O LORD Almighty, my King and my God.

Psalms 84:1-3

As the psalmist,my soul yearns for God's courts!  Verse 3 mentions the swallow and the sparrow who have made nests beside God's altar.  What an image!

Imagine the grandness, the splendor, the holiness of the temple and the feelings of awe and reverence it evoked in the people of Israel.  Why, if they entered the Holy of Holies unbidden or unworthily, they were struck dead.  And yet these common birds had easy access -- made their homes right near the holy altar of God's presence.  The NIV text note says the psalmist was jealous!

What an image of intimacy for us.  also, we must realize that because of Jesus Christ's atonement, we have that same access to God's presence!

We can come boldly before the throne of grace with confidence.  As He knows the sparrows, He knows us as well.  Praise You, Jesus!

Other scriptures: Hebrews 4:16 ; Matthew 6:26-27 ; 10:30; Luke 12:7