Day 28 — The Prison
Acts 16:22-26
22 A mob quickly formed against Paul and Silas, and the city officials ordered them stripped and beaten with wooden rods. 23 They were severely beaten, and then they were thrown into prison. The jailer was ordered to make sure they didn’t escape. 24 So the jailer put them into the inner dungeon and clamped their feet in the stocks.
25 Around midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the other prisoners were listening. 26 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!
Paul and Silas have just healed a demon-possessed slave girl. Her owners are furious and in retaliation they make up false accusations against Paul and Silas and they are thrown in prison. Things look bleak for them, but they worship nonetheless because they know that as they worship, their fellow prisoners are listening. More than this, Paul and Silas know that as they are worshipping, spiritual realms are listening in too, and the forces of darkness are terrified! The prison shakes and the shackles fall off. The jailer sees their witness and asks what he must do to be saved! Their worship was a weapon in prison.
Worship is still a weapon in lockdown.
COVID-19 has sent the world into lockdown and we have an opportunity to worship and pray for freedom and healing. Worship and prayer shifts things in spiritual realms. When we worship our praises rise to the heart of the Father and heaven is listening. Our God who sits on the throne listens. The enemy listens in too and he is terrified!
The best part of this story is that the chains don't fall off just the christians. The chains of EVERY prisoner falls off. The grace of God means that freedom, forgiveness and healing is offered to us all regardless of our past. You can worship in your room knowing your worship is still a weapon. Lift up your voice in worship and ask God to break the chains off your friends and families and everyone kept prisoner in spiritual chains.
Prayer: King Jesus you are good! We praise you because you were not defeated on the cross and you remain undefeated to this day! Victorious king would you pour out healing on our land and an end to COVID-19.
Action: Turn up the volume on ‘Raise a Hallelujah’ and remind yourself how he is in control.
Tim Muller
Leadership Team