Worship Breaks Chains

A Lifestyle of Worship

At Grace Chapel we have 5 statements that we call ‘strategies’ that help us understand what it means to be a Christian and, collectively, a church.

1. A Lifestyle of Worship

2. Connect to God and Others

3. A Place to Grow

4. Saved People Serve

5. His Message, Our Mission – Go.

We are going to lean heavily into the 1st one this morning, “A Lifestyle of Worship”. When we see God for who He truly is we can live a lifestyle of worship

Worship Breaks Chains

Throughout our freedom journey, we’ve talked about three reasons we find ourselves in bondage. We’re all greatly affected by both our own sin (what we’ve done) and by what other people have done to us. We also have an enemy who wants to take away our freedom. Fortunately, Jesus gave us the power to overcome sin, heal from past hurts, and fight this enemy.

In the book of Acts we find a story about 2 missionaries, Paul and Silas. In chapter 16 we find them in prison because the enemy didn’t want them setting people free from bondages. If we look at their story, we will see several life-giving principles that help us break free from the chains in our lives.

Acts 16:16–18 NIV

Once when we were going to the place of prayer, we were met by a female slave who had a spirit by which she predicted the future. She earned a great deal of money for her owners by fortune-telling. She followed Paul and the rest of us, shouting, “These men are servants of the Most High God, who are telling you the way to be saved.” She kept this up for many days. Finally Paul became so annoyed that he turned around and said to the spirit, “In the name of Jesus Christ I command you to come out of her!” At that moment the spirit left her.

You would think this would have been a good thing; but, strangely enough, her freedom becomes a problem for them. We can be in bondage because of things we have done, … because of things that have been done to us by others, … or even just the difficulties of this life.

The Good News is, there is an answer, and we will see that the solution to their bondage is found in worshipping God.

Worship Understands God’s ‘Worthship’

As I was preparing to preach this message, I thought that the direction might include the lessons taught to us by King David learned from the worship of the tabernacle. There are certainly lessons to be learned but the single greatest observation that I had was that worship can be anything that understands the ‘worthship’ of God and responds back to Him.

Let’s look at a few principles from Paul and Silas’s predicament that help us experience freedom.

Your Freedom Isn’t Free

If you are going to be free, you’re going to have to fight! Let’s look back a little bit at the events leading up to Paul and Silas’s miracle:

Acts 16:19–24 NIV

When her owners realized that their hope of making money was gone, they seized Paul and Silas and dragged them into the marketplace to face the authorities. They brought them before the magistrates and said, “These men are Jews, and are throwing our city into an uproar by advocating customs unlawful for us Romans to accept or practice.” The crowd joined in the attack against Paul and Silas, and the magistrates ordered them to be stripped and beaten with rods. After they had been severely flogged, they were thrown into prison, and the jailer was commanded to guard them carefully. When he received these orders, he put them in the inner cell and fastened their feet in the stocks.

Paul and Silas had done nothing wrong. They had cast a spirit out of a demon possessed woman and what they got for it was getting arrested, mobbed, stripped, beaten, flogged, and thrown in prison. They had a decision to make…sit and sulk and be angry at individuals and/or the system or live a lifestyle of worship. Their freedom would come as a result of their resolve to worship God. – This is the FIGHT!

The decision we make in the middle of our crisis makes a big difference!

When You Don’t Know WHAT to Do, You Can Know WHERE to Go

What you do in worship is not as important as where you go. Paul and Silas chose to worship God in their prison.

Acts 16:25–26 NIV

About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the other prisoners were listening to them. Suddenly there was such a violent earthquake that the foundations of the prison were shaken. At once all the prison doors flew open, and everyone’s chains came loose.

We must get our eyes off the problem and onto the Savior! Last summer we went through many of the kings of Israel and learned some powerful lessons. King Jehoshaphat’s lesson taught us that that we should keep our eyes on the Lord, stand with Him, and anticipate the move of the Spirit when the enemy attacks us. When faced with an attack of 3 nations against them, like Paul and Silas, Jehoshaphat turned to worship God.

2 Chronicles 20:12 NIV

Our God, will you not judge them? For we have no power to face this vast army that is attacking us. We do not know what to do, but our eyes are on you.”

Where are your eyes? The battle isn’t yours, it’s God’s! [We come back to Jahaziel later].

Psalm 105:2–4 NIV

Sing to him, sing praise to him; tell of all his wonderful acts. Glory in his holy name; let the hearts of those who seek the Lord rejoice. Look to the Lord and his strength; seek his face always.

Your Praise IS a PROBLEM for Your Problem

Can you imagine the Public Relations issues that the devil had after the resurrection? The devil thought he had beaten Jesus when He was crucified… but He rose from the dead. The devil lost even more credibility when the Holy Spirit was poured out in Jerusalem. Now the devil was trying to put out fires throughout the known world. He thought he had put out Paul and Silas in Thyatira. But…they began to worship God in prayer and songs. And…they had a captivated audience!

Our worship is a weapon! When we open our mouths in worship, the enemy’s mouth must shut!

Remember Jehoshaphat’s problem? They turned to God in worship and a prophet spoke up:

2 Chronicles 20:14–15 NIV

Then the Spirit of the Lord came on Jahaziel son of Zechariah, the son of Benaiah, the son of Jeiel, the son of Mattaniah, a Levite and descendant of Asaph, as he stood in the assembly. He said: “Listen, King Jehoshaphat and all who live in Judah and Jerusalem! This is what the Lord says to you: ‘Do not be afraid or discouraged because of this vast army. For the battle is not yours, but God’s.

Something good happens when we begin to praise God! The enemy begins to fall apart, and chains begin to fall off. Locked doors begin to open. Did you know that it wasn’t just Paul and Silas that were freed that night? All the prison doors opened, and all the chains fell off. Even the jailer himself repented and believed in Jesus Christ.

If You Are Going to Win this Fight for Your Freedom, You Need the Right People Around You.

A couple of years ago I heard about a phenomenon that happens in the heart of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park each year. During a two-week period in late spring, in the early evening, synchronous fireflies put on an enchanting display. These fireflies synchronize their flashes in unison across the landscape. For about five seconds, they light up like twinkling Christmas lights, and then they all stop together. This adapted behavior has helped them survive, find mates, and scare off predators.

When everyone aligns their actions, when there is unity, remarkable things can happen.

• When individuals collaborate, their combined strength surpasses what each could achieve alone. Unity amplifies impact.

• Fireflies don’t compete; they illuminate together. In teamwork, mutual support is essential. When one member struggles, others step in. Collective success depends on lifting each other up.

I mentioned 5 statements that we use here at Grace Chapel. The 2nd one is “Connect to God and Others”. There is an amplified strength that we offer when we surround ourselves with the right people. We are strengthened, grow in impact, and become healthier.

Ecclesiastes 4:9–12 NIV

Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their labor: If either of them falls down, one can help the other up. But pity anyone who falls and has no one to help them up. Also, if two lie down together, they will keep warm. But how can one keep warm alone? Though one may be overpowered, two can defend themselves. A cord of three strands is not quickly broken.

Paul had Silas. Who do you have? [Plug the purpose of church and ministries like men’s, women’s, community groups, CMA].

Break Free Today!

Jesus Christ has made freedom available to each of us. It begins with recognizing His grace and mercy that He made available to each of us. If you haven’t already done so, make a commitment to Jesus today.

If you have made that commitment to Christ, it is time to begin putting into action what the Word of God taught us through the examples of Paul and Silas:

• Worship is ‘Worthship’

• Your Freedom isn’t Free – “Pay the price”

• When You Don’t Know WHAT to Do, You Can Know WHERE to Go

- Alcohol, isolation, medication, and adrenaline rushes are not solutions. God is!

• Your Praise IS a PROBLEM for Your Problem.

- Not only will you find praise to be a powerful spiritual weapon, others around you will benefit as well.

• You Need the Right People Around You.

- “Show me your friends and I’ll show you your future.”

- Spanish saying, “Show me who your friends are, and I’ll tell you who you are.”

Chains Come Crashing Down

Since the beginning of the year, we have talked about freedom in Christ.

- Christ has made today…this moment…a new day.

- We were created to be free

- There is an enemy who wants to take our freedom

- We can live unoffended

- We must learn to speak Words of Life

- There is power through the Holy Spirit to be free from unhealthy fear

- Worship opens prison doors

Call the prayer team forward and offer a time for people to leave their chains at the altar.