“And the multitude rose up 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. Acts 16:22-24 KJV
These verses set the atmosphere for the most important aspect of worship any of us can begin to learn.
What is true worship? Worship meant to change us not our circumstances?
I am not going to attempt to completely answer the first question. I will attempt to give you things to think about when you talk to the Holy Spirit.
Worship is not about us or what we get out of it. You should not worship, or go to a worship service so that we feel good or get a blessing out of it. Many times I hear people say, “I did not get anything out of that worship service”. That is proof you came to worship for the wrong reasons. Worship is what you are offering God. Every single instance of any worship in heaven around the throne is about the elders and angels singing and shouting the blessings and the greatness of God. They did not come to get blessed, they are there to be a blessing to God. You should not come to be blessed. You are to worship to show God and show others about the saving grace of your Savior. You are there to bless others with your praise and thanksgiving of the wonderful blessings of God. You are not at worship or church for your benefit. That may sound harsh, but the elders and angels were not surrounding God for their benefit. They were only there to worship and praise the God that had already blessed them. Worship is for you to return to God your praise for those blessings.
Paul and Silas had been beaten badly, unjustly and did not deserve any of what we would consider punishment. They were bleeding with open wounds. They were cast down into the darkest depths, an inner room. The light from the sun has never entered. The only light that ever entered was when the Jailer used a torch to enter so he could see. Foul, smelling worse than anything you can imagine. The cleaning crew does not go down there. To make matters worse they were put in stocks. They were setting in foul and filth. They were not there alone. There were many other prisoners chained in the darkness.
And now the wake-up call that all of us need!
“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 every one’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 been 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 down before Paul and Silas, and brought them out, and said, Sirs, what must I do to be saved?” Acts 16: 25-30 KJV
This set of verses are so important for what you read and what you do not read in these verses.
You do not read about complaints, or negativity directed toward the government or authorities. You do not read about any negativity toward anything that has happened to them. Justly or unjustly. They were not praying for their release from the darkness and shackles. They are not crying out to the Lord for any benefit for themselves.
What are they doing? They are singing and praying out loud, not silently. Why? So that the other prisoners would be blessed by their worship. The other prisoners did not need to hear about any pain and suffering that Paul and Silas were going through. The people around you do not need to hear about any troubles, pain, that you are going through. They only need to hear your praising God. The people coming to your worship service should see you singing, praising God with hands held high, swaying and moving like no one else is watching but God. Not standing with hands in pockets and barely moving your lips in a whisper. You are Praising God. You are not there for your benefit. You are there for their benefit.
Then God caused a great earthquake that broke open the chains and doors and walls. Many of you may think this was for the benefit of Paul and Silas. To break them out of the dungeon. God had already blessed Paul and Silas by keeping them alive and not dead after the beatings. They were praising God for that and not requesting or expecting deliverance. They were content with the circumstances. How do we know they were content? They did not run when given the opportunity. The other prisoners understood this too. They could have run and been running from the law for many years. But they understood that standing and staying with men that can praise God in their troubles is better than freedom in the world.
The earthquake was only to get the attention of the Jailer and the other prisoners. It was not meant for the benefit of Paul and Silas. They knew they were in God’s hands. Others needed to see that and experience they also were in the presence of God.
This is one of the most important things for any of us to learn and remember. “Deliverence” no matter what shape it comes in, is not for your benefit. It is there for you to be a witness to others about God’s great saving power.
God promises you to be with you in the shadow of death. He may allow you to go into the shadow of death. You need to be content with those circumstances. He is allowing you to be beaten and thrown into shackles for His Glory. God has a bigger picture than any of us can understand or comprehend.
“And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God”. Romans 8:28 KJV
The words “all things” mean just that. All things, good or bad, painful or joyful, just or unjust, work for your benefit. You are in God’s hand. Your name is written on His palms. Now stand up and shout the praises of the one you planned your salvation even before the creation of this world. That is LOVE!
You are not called to just sit still and listen to a sermon and go home and have a potluck. You are called to let the whole world know what God has done for you this week. Go to worship God and sing His praises. Do not go to a worship service to be blessed. You will not be blessed and you will only hear the words of dread when Jesus comes. “I do not know you”.
You are meant to be a blessing to others.
Remember it is not a religion, it is a relationship.
Prayers and Love for all.
Larry
