Where do you worship God? I’m not asking for a geographic location—latitude and longitude.

I’m asking for places in your life where you pray and sing hymns to God even though you’re in a “prison.”

For Paul and Silas, it was a literal prison in the city of Philippi.

How did they get there? The combined Power of Money, the Power of Religion, and the Power of the Kingdoms of the World put them there.

This was the same combination of the Powers of Money, Religion and Kingdoms of the World that united to insult, torture and crucify Jesus. Here’s how these Powers united to insult, torture and imprison Paul and Silas.

Paul and Silas were on a missionary trip through Macedonia and Greece to spread the Gospel and establish churches. Macedonia was the homeland of Alexander the Great. It’s just north of Greece.

For awhile, Paul and Silas stayed in Philippi, a major city in Macedonia. At first, all went well. But then Paul cast a spirit out of a female slave that had enabled her to predict the future.

The men who made money from this female slave were mad at Paul. “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.” (Acts 16:19).

As usual, the Power of Money expected that a court would help rich people. Why? Because rich people write the laws. And because rich people can afford excellent lawyers to convince courts to help rich people!

When the slaveowners denounced Paul and Silas, the Power of Religion fanned the flames of Anti-Semitism. They accused Paul and Silas of being Jews who were “throwing our city into an uproar.” (Acts 16:20).

The slaveowners also fanned the flames of Nationalism—the Power of the Kingdoms of the World. They accused Paul and Silas of “advocating customs unlawful for us Romans to accept or practice.” (Acts 16:21).

So much for insults. Next came torture!

“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.” (Acts 16:22-23).

What is your response when you reach the place in your life where you are in a “prison”?

Many types of “prisons” exist. You can be imprisoned by bad health, a bad job, or a bad marriage. You can be imprisoned by poverty, racism, terrorism, or war. You can be imprisoned by the Power of Money, the Power of Religion, or the Power of the Kingdoms of the World.

Whatever the cause of your imprisonment, I hope your response is the same as the response of Paul and Silas.

Despite the insults. Despite the flogging. Despite their chains. Despite their feet being in stocks. Despite being in the inner cell of the prison. (Acts 16:22-24).

Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God! Even though it was midnight, they prayed and sang hymns to God!!! (Acts 16:25).

Remember Paul and Silas when you reach places in your life—places of worship—where you are in “prisons”.

No matter what kinds of “prisons” you find yourself in, pray and sing hymns to God!

No matter how long you are in a “prison”—whether it’s for hours, years, or for the rest of your life—keep on praying and singing hymns to God.

For example, you should sing “And Can It Be” by Charles Wesley.

My favorite verse is the one about my chains falling off and my imprisoned spirit being freed from a dungeon flaming with light so that I can go forth and follow Jesus:

“And can it be that I should gain

An int’rest in the Savior’s Blood?

Died He for me, who caused his pain?

For me, who Him to death pursued?

Amazing love! How can it be

That Thou, my God shouldst die for me?

He left His Father’s throne above,

So free, so infinite His grace!

Emptied Himself of all but love,

And bled for Adam’s helpless race!

‘Tis mercy all, immense and free,

For, O my God, it found out me.

Long my imprisoned spirit lay

Fast bound in sin and nature’s night.

Thine eye diffused a quick’ning ray:

I woke—the dungeon flamed with light!

My chains fell off; my heart was free,

I rose, went forth, and followed thee.

No condemnation now I dread:

Jesus, and all in Him is mine!

Alive in Him, my living Head,

And clothed in righteousness divine,

Bold I approach th’eternal throne,

And claim the crown, through Christ my own.

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To read about additional places of worship, please read my blogs “Places of Worship—Rainbows”, “Places of Worship—Stone Pillows”, “Places of Worship—Crossing Streams”, “Places of Worship—Burning Bushes”, “Places of Worship—Seeing and Hearing”, “Places of Worship—Following the Way of Jesus”, “Places of Worship—Spirit and Truth”, and “Places of Worship—Wanting To Get Well”.

To read more about Paul and Silas in Philippi, please read the chapter “Paul and Silas Sing Hymns in the Prison in Philippi” in my book Lighting the World, at pages 97-100.

To read why Nationalism is bad, please read my blog “Nationalism Is Patriotism Gone Astray”.