Free Me

I have spent a lot of my life bound. Bound by other people’s expectations of me. Bound by my perceived shortcomings. Bound by my poor decisions. The sermon from Sunday was entitled “Free Me” and came from Acts 16.

Acts 16 tell some of the story of Paul and Silas and their mission work. Paul receives a vision from God that they need to preach the gospel in Macedonia. On their way to Macedonia, they encounter a slave girl who is possessed with a spirit of devination. The girl follows them for days crying out that they are the real deal. That Paul and Silas are servants of the Most High God.

I was mighty surprised by the next scripture in the Bible. Paul was greatly annoyed. The spirit in the girl is telling the truth, but Paul was still annoyed. He commands the spirit to come out of the girl in the name of Jesus Christ. And the Bible says that the spirit came out of her that very hour.

Well, this causes some problems with the masters of the slave. See, she was their money maker. And now that the spirit is gone, so is their profit. They drag Paul and Silas to the authorities and demand justice for their loss. Paul and Silas are beaten with rods and put into inner prison with their feet in stocks.

All because Paul had a vision. And chose to obey God. I can’t lie. I would be upset. With people. And with God. I’m just doing what God told me to do, and it got me locked up. But how do Paul and Silas react?

At midnight…when it is darkest…when they are beaten and bound, they pray and sing hymns to God. If that doesn’t give you butterflies and goosebumps, I don’t know what will. They stay steadfast and give thanks to God in a very dark time. And guess what else? The other prisoners were listening to them.

Their praise caused an earthquake. The foundations of the prison were shaken. Every locked door opened and everyone’s chains were loosened. All the prisoners were free. Paul and Silas were free. The slave girl was free. The jailer and his family ended up being free. Because of Paul and Silas’s obedience and dependence on God.

Your very presence should free those that are bound. The way you handle life’s curve balls should show a dark world that there is a God. You’re not going to get it right every time, but you should always be striving to let the light that is in you shine. I mess up constantly, but I’m not quitting. I’m determined that everyone within my circle will be free and not bound. Please know that if you’re reading this, you’re within my circle. I’m praying that God moves in your life and sets you free so that you can help free others. #wepreach