Prisoners can’t leave.
Acts 16:22 And the multitude rose up together against them: and the magistrates rent their garments off them, and commanded to beat them with rods.
Acts 16:23 And when they had laid many stripes upon them, they cast them into prison, charging the jailor to keep them safely:
Acts 16:24 who, having received such a charge, cast them into the inner prison, and made their feet fast in the stocks.
Acts 16:25 But about midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns unto God, and the prisoners were listening to them;
Acts 16:26 and suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison-house were shaken: and immediately all the doors were opened, and every one’s bands were loosed.
Acts 16:27 And the jailor, being roused out of sleep and seeing the prison doors open, drew his sword and was about to kill himself, supposing that the prisoners had escaped.
Acts 16:28 But Paul cried with a loud voice, saying, Do thyself no harm: for we are all here.
In this story we see Paul and Silas jailed for preaching the Gospel. They were accused of introducing customs that were not compatible with the customs of the people. For their actions they were beaten and put into the inner prison. The inner prison was the place where all the waste of the other prisoners would flow too. It was a place of stench and disgrace. There they were put into stock’s and kept as criminals. I wonder sometimes if what we believe will get us in trouble. No more just believing something but be so radical that our life will threaten the status quo of the community around us. Today many people is hated for their Christianity because they do stupid things instead of challenging the status quo.
After they were thrown into jail they refused to have a pity party. To them it was another place of ministry. This time they were ministering unto God. Their desire to worship was greater than their desire to complain. They started singing praises and worshipping God. Your prison is the place of worship. Walls and iron bars cannot contain a joyful heart. Prison is not a threat to people that find God attractive. Prison is the place of opportunity. Joseph did not loose his dream because of prison. Jeremiah was still a mouthpiece of the prophetic from his prison cell. Some people have prisons that are not physical but spiritual. Start singing and see what God will do. Prison is an excuse for God to show up!
As they were singing an earthquake shook the place. That must have been some awesome worship going on. The prisoners were listening to Paul and Silas. Does your worship attract people to listen? It was midnight and no one complained and asked them to shut up. “Let’s get some sleep here.” They were all caught up in the worship. I wonder what they were singing and praying? Then it happened. An earthquake. Most people will miss God in this but I see something. Isaiah says that the posts shook at the presence of God. In the book of Exodus God showed up on the mountain and the place shook. In Elijah’ day he ran from Jezebel and found God on the mountain and there was an earthquake. The presence of God shakes the earth. I want to see that happen. God shaking the things we have build and setting people free from their chains. Worship is one key that can usher that in.
All the doors were opened and all the chains fell off. Hallelujah to God for opening all the places that have shut us in. People have imprisoned us with their opinions. Government has imprisoned us with their liberal agenda. We were put in chains by our own choice to do the wrong things. God is shaking everything that has kept us in bonds and He is releasing His people from bondage and chains. When can we have such a worship service where we don’t pray for people to be set free but as we just worship the King, He shows up. I like the fact that all the prisoners were set free from their chains. We have only experience a small part of what God can do. We have seen only a few people set free. Imagine what it looks like when everyone is set free. Free from abuse. Free from their past and free from haunting memories. Free from addictions and free from sin. Free from accusations and free from curses.
After the earthquake the guards ran to check on the people. They didn’t need any keys to open doors. God removed the control they had over the prisoners. A shaking will remove the powerful manipulating spirits that have plagued the church for so long. Men controlling men with fear and rules made to imprison God’s people. These people will just realize one day that God showed up and set everyone free. The guards in this story expected everyone escaped. Isn’t it amazing that no one wanted to leave after they were set free? There was something so amazing about their worship that it kept them there. This is absolutely mind blowing that nobody left. Their freedom wasn’t being out of a physical jail but their freedom was being out of a spiritual jail. When God sets them free they will want to stay. When God shows up people won’t leave.
When we have such a worship life people are attracted to us. They won’t leave us alone. We carry the power to break the chains and to open the prison doors. Jesus said that what He came to do was to set the captives free. They didn’t want to leave Him alone. I think He was a worshipper. God is looking for those that will worship Him. He has something in mind. Will you be a worshipper today? Get past the average thing you normally do and pour your heart and soul out to God. Allow Him to set you free and you will see others around you set free as well. They will have no desire to leave God and follow the world again.
