Spirit – Pastor Pushie

Not everyone who is bound is in prison. You can be free physically, but bound spiritually. There are people who outwardly appear to be free but, on the inside, are tied up mentally, spiritually and emotionally

The Bible says that Paul and Silas were on their way to prayer, when a woman with a spirit through which she told the future followed them, shouting. This slave woman used to make a lot of money for her owners by predicting the future for people. She was bound spiritually, and her owners benefitted from it. She continued to follow Paul and Silas until they commanded the spirit to leave her. She was set free. This angered her owners becase people don’t mind you being bound if it benefits them.

When the woman’s owners realised that the spirit that made them money was gone, they seized Paul and Silas, and dragged them before authorities with false accusations. Paul and Silas were severely flogged, and thrown into prison. The woman that was once bound spiritually was freed, but the men responsible for her freedom were imprisoned. Freedom is a costly business. Oftentimes, the price of our freedom is paid by someone else.

Paul and Silas were actually on their way to Mysia and Bithynia, not Macedonia. In a dream, Paul saw a man begging him to come and save them. So he went to Macedonia to help. He and Silas were simply on their way to prayer, but ended up in prison. Have your good deeds ever been rewarded with a bad return? Many times, the people you’ve been assigned to help will be the very ones to hurt you. The devil knows that if they receive you, he’ll lose them. This was how one president was a prisoner before he became a liberator. This was how Moses was banished to the wilderness before he freed the Israelites. Because, if the destiny of the deliverer is bound, everyone assigned to them is tied. It takes the power of prayer to break the chains in order to set the captives free.

When you find yourself in trouble after having the best of intentions, it can result in mental bondage. This is when you start doubting everything you believe: ‘Did I hear God right?’, ‘Did I make the wrong decision?’, or ‘How did I end up in this situation?’ The pair could’ve gone elsewhere, but there they were, sitting in prison facing possible execution for helping people. When people see you suffering, they assume that you’ve done something wrong, but in fact, many times persecution comes after doing something right. Paul and Silas were paying the price of their freedom. You’d expect them to be bitter at God, to be angry, and to give up and stop serving Him. But instead, they did something amazing. The Bible says that at midnight, in the middle of the prison, they began to pray and sing hymns. At a time when they could’ve lost their faith, when it seemed like God had abandoned them, they chose to draw closer to Him. It’s easy to praise Him when everything is going your way. But are you able to still praise Him during a dark time? Job said, ‘Though he slay me, yet will I trust him.’ That means I believe in God beyond my circumstances. He’ll never leave nor forsake me. Though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil. No weapon formed against me shall proper.

Paula and Silas began to pray and worship out loud. All the prisoners were listening. Never be ashamed of your process, no matter where it may take you. Allow people to witness the entire story, so that when you win, they’ll know only God could’ve come through for you. As Paul and Silas sang praises to God, there was a sudden earthquake, that shook the foundations of the prison. Because when the praises go up, the presence of the Lord comes down. The Bible says that the prison doors flew open, and everyone’s chains were set loose. I pray that no matter the situation you’re in, as you begin to praise God, the chains fall off from you. I pray that your praise changes your family and touch your community. I pray freedom from oppression over our nation. May God Almighty bless our land and heal us. In the mighty and matchless name of our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ. ‘Whom the Son sets free, is free indeed.’ Amen. – Pastor P

It’s easy to praise Him when everything is going your way. But are you able to still praise Him during a dark time?