Back to Paul and Silas. Do we remember what they did during their captivity? They worshipped God. The Bible is filled with stories where freedom has come about through worship.
Jesus is tired from a long journey and rests by a well. As He is there, a woman comes along to get water from the well. They begin speaking and through this conversation Jesus reveals something about worship. He says that true worshippers worship in spirit and in truth. Not in a certain place. Not at a certain time. God is spirit so we must worship in spirit and in truth. There is freedom in our worship. It can happen anywhere and isn't based on circumstances, but who God is.
Romans 12:1 says in response to God's mercies, I should offer my body as a living sacrifice - this is my spiritual worship. My worship isn't based on circumstances or tied to a building - it's in response to God's mercies and His mercies are new every morning.
When it came time for David to make an offering to the Lord, a man was willing to give David the offering he was going to give to the Lord for free! A good deal?! David's response was, 'I will not offer to God that which costs me nothing'. Worship is costly and it's the best of what we have. I can understand God's frustration when people would bring sacrifices and keep the best lamb for themselves and offered the worst lamb to God!
In worship we are drawing near to God and allowing us to be filled with His love, joy and peace. Most importantly His Spirit and where the spirit of the Lord is, there is ... freedom.
When Paul and Silas began to worship, not only their chains fell off, but the chains of the other prisoners fell off too!
Worship will not only bring freedom to us, but to others too!
GOD WANTS TO INCREASE OUR CAPACITY TO WORSHIP!
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