The Power of Our Song- Part 2

We have been talking about Paul & Silas in Acts 16.  We find them in a dark, cold prison.  They are not complaining, but "singing and praying to God".  The first point we discussed in Part 1 was "Tough times reveal where our heart is regarding our worship to God."  


Here is the second point I wanted to share...

Others are watching, listening, and being influenced by our worship.

Verse 25 says, "... Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the prisoners were listening to them." Personal worship is between you & God.  Public worship brings an extra element; other people.  In public worship, others are listening & feeling the affects of our worship. 

Over the years, there have been times that I have walked into a worship service & wasn't feeling particularly "charged up" about worship that day.  When I walked into an atmosphere where others were singing, praising & going after the heart of God together, it ignited something in me.  Their faith lifted mine.  Their song stirred up my song.  When all was said and done, I walked out of that place encouraged & refueled, all because I was in the presence of God and other's worship.  

This is why Hebrews 10:24-25 says, "And let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works, not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching."  Did you catch that?  When we do not gather in a public worship setting, not only are we not considering ourself, we are not considering others as well.  


When we publicly gather for worship, three things happen:

1. We offer God our corporate worship as His church, which He loves and deserves.
2. We create an environment of worship that brings a spiritual dynamic that  lifts us up and encourages everyone involved.  When we worship together, we stir up love and good works and exhort one another.
3. We give a testimony to our communities of God's glory.   

Verse 26 say's, "Suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison were shaken; and immediately all the doors were opened and everyone's chains were loosed."  

Check this out!  Not everyone was singing and praying, but everyone's prison doors were opened and everyone's chains were loosed!  The next time you go into a public worship setting, realize that as YOU worship & sing to God, YOU are changing the atmosphere; not only for yourself but for everyone around you.  God desires your worship.  You need to worship.  Others need your worship to God as well.  Let us learn to live & worship like Paul and Silas.  Our worship will touch God's heart & He will open doors that need opened & set us all free.

-Fred

H20 Spontaneous Baptism Weekend- THIS WEEKEND!!!

One of our favorite weekends here at 7 Hills is our H20 Spontaneous Baptism.  It is a weekend when Pastor Marcus shares the gospel and challenges people to "take the next step" in their faith journey.  That step is making a public confession of faith in Jesus through water baptism.  


Our last H20 weekend was in one word "miraculous"!  To see over 500 people step up and declare a fresh start in Jesus through baptism was so powerful to see.  We had 3 baptism pools on stage.  We provide anything and everything someone would need if they decided in that moment to respond to the call of the Holy Spirit.  It was unbelievable to see the faces of the people as they came up out of the water.  Faces of joy and hope.  People who's hearts have been touched and changed all because of Jesus.


If you want to get water baptized or know someone who needs a fresh start in life through Jesus Christ, you need to come out and experience this great weekend with us.  H20 will be at our Florence Campus this weekend, Oct. 9th & 10th (Sat: 5 & 6:30 PM and Sun: 9, 10:20, 11:45 AM). It is a weekend-long celebration of a better life through Christ! 

The Power of Our Song- Part 1

Acts 16 gives us one of the greatest examples of the power of worship in the Bible.  We find Paul & Silas in prison.  They have been arrested, falsely accused, beaten, thrown in jail and shackled at their feet.  Talk about a bad day!  The next time you feel like you're having a bad day, read this story and maybe it will help give a little perspective.

In verse 25 we find Paul & Silas not complaining but "praying and singing to God"!  In this story there are two key truths regarding worship that I want to share with you.  I will talk about the first in this post and the second in The Power of Our Song-Part 2.  


Here's the first...

Tough times reveal where our heart is regarding our worship to God.
Verse 22-24 says, "Then the multitude rose up together against them; and the magistrates tore off their clothes and commanded them to be beaten with rods. And when they had laid many stripes on them, they threw them into prison, commanding the jailer to keep them securely. Having received such a charge, he put them into the inner prison and fastened their feet in the stocks."  


It's pretty easy to give praise to God when life is going smooth and we are perched up on the mountain top.  But what about when trouble and adversity come our way and we want to sing the blues?  Paul & Silas weren't at a worship conference or a church service with state of the art sound and lighting.  They were in prison.  A cold, dark, depressing prison.  Verse 25 tells us that it was "at midnight".  I don't know about you, but at midnight, after a long hard day I usually don't feel like singing.  Maybe that's the point.  Worship flows out of love and faith.  They didn't let their feelings lead their faith.  They let their faith lead their feelings, and their worship.


What was the difference between Paul & Silas and all the rest of the prisoners?  Obviously, they all were dealing with some hard times.  I mean, they are in jail!  They're all in the same horrible conditions.  How come Paul & Silas were singing while the others... well, were not singing?  The difference was this.  They knew something that the others didn't.  They knew Jesus.  They knew that He was worthy of their worship and that when God's people pray & sing to Him... He responds!  Maybe they could sing when the others couldn't because the prisoners saw themselves "trapped inside" the prison while Paul & Silas saw themselves "coming out" of prison. 


Don't allow outside circumstances or problems rob you of your worship, nor your present placement or position affect your faith for your future.  In fact, allow them to drive you to Jesus in worship.  The answers for all of life's problems are found at the cross of Christ.  As you worship, you will magnify God and demagnify your problems.  We all have tough times and go through seasons of difficulty.  I know it can be tough sometimes, but let us be like Paul & Silas.  Let's have an attitude & heart of worship no matter what life might be throwing at us.  Remember,  "When it looks the darkest, our praise needs to be the strongest!" 


-Fred