We live in a day when “religion” is more prevalent than it has ever been. There are approximately 20 known religions in the world. Christians make up roughly 2.5 billion people. In the Christian movement alone, there are 34,000 denominations. Religion and denominations do not scare Satan. Hell focus on those who are passionate and who are determined to live for God regardless of the effort required doing so. Satan does not want us to go to heaven. Satan does not want us to service Jesus. When we declare that we will serve God, Satan will not step aside and let us do it. The enemy will do anything he can to impede any progress in living for God. He will try to bind us in anyway he can. One of our texts tells of Paul and Silas being bound in physical chains and detained in prison. The other text describes a man that was not bound by chains. In fact, chains could not hold him. He was possessed by sprits that kept him bound. Regardless of what we may face or how we may be detained, but we are not defeated. Jesus purchased victory for us all! It all starts with a desire: The desire for deliverance; the desire for a break through; the desire for victory. Paul and Silas may have well questioned if they would make it, but they worshiped God anyway. Their circumstances were dire, but they did not allow this to get in the way of their worship. We sometimes rely on our feelings to move us into worship, but the reality is that when we feel least like it, is when we need to worship the most. The man with the legion of demons in him did not allow that to interfere with his worship of Jesus. If we are going to have a breakthrough, we have to be sick of being where we are. It is time for someone to take authority over what has ruled them for so long. We may be detained, but we are not defeated.
