August 10, 2014
Evening Service

In our studies through the Book of Acts, we have been able to see many examples of people being saved.  This morning, we saw the conversion of Lydia.  She was one who was hungering and thirsting for a closer walk with God and only needed someone to share the true gospel message with her.  There are still many in our world today just like Lydia.  Pray that as we pass them along our journey through life, that we can seize the opportunity to share the truth with them.  We must be in tune with the Holy Spirit to guide us in this quest.  Tonight we will see another conversion, but this one comes under far different circumstances.

 Act 16:16-18 And as we went to prayer, it happened that a certain girl possessed with a spirit of divination met us, who brought her masters much gain by fortune-telling.  (17)  The same followed Paul and us and cried, saying, “These men are the servants of the Most High God, who are announcing to us the way of salvation.”  (18)  And she did this many days. But being greatly annoyed, and turning to the demonic spirit, Paul said, “I command you in the name of Jesus Christ to come out of her!” And it came out in that hour.

·         Paul using the power and authority of the name of Jesus cast the demon from this possessed girl. 

 

 Act 16:19-24 And when her masters saw that the hope of their gain went out, having seized Paul and Silas, they dragged them to the market before the rulers.  (20)  And bringing them near to the judges, they said, “These men, being Jews, are exceedingly troubling our city.  (21) And they teach customs which are not lawful for us to receive nor to do, being Romans."  (22)  And the crowd rose up against them. And tearing off their clothes, the judges ordered them to be flogged.  (23)  And after laying on them many stripes, they threw them into prison, commanding the jailor to keep them safely;  (24)  who, having received such a command, thrust them into the inner prison and made their feet fast in the stocks.

·         We, as Christians, will come across this same spirit against us as well.  We are trying our best to live a life pleasing to God and somewhere along the journey; we will receive persecution for it.

·         God had told Paul through Anannias that he chosen not only to “bear My name” before others, but also that he would “suffer for my name’s sake.”

·         Paul told Timothy:

 

 2Ti 3:12 Yea, and all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will be persecuted.

·         That is me and you, so don’t be surprised, expect it.  We may not receive it to the degree they did, but it is coming, how should we handle it?

·         Now Paul and Silas teach us by an example, the attitude we should display when our time of suffering comes along.

Act 16:25 And toward midnight Paul and Silas prayed and praised God in a hymn. And the prisoners listened to them.

·         Wow!  This is the attitude we are to face when suffering troubles, trials, and persecutions; prayer and praise.  This certainly shoots down the excuse of “I just don’t feel like it.”  After being unjustly flogged and thrown into prison, Paul and Silas sing and pray.  We worship in “spirit and truth.”  It is an action of the heart.

·         Jesus is our Lord and Savior no matter what condition our bodies are in.  Our physical circumstances do not reflect our spiritual condition.  He is Lord on the days I feel good and the days I feel terrible.  He is Lord on the day of birth as well as the day of death.  Praise should come regardless.

 

 Act 16:26-30 And suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison were shaken. And immediately all the doors were opened and all the bonds were loosened.  (27)  And being awakened, and seeing the doors of the prison being open, drawing a sword, the jailer was about to kill himself, supposing that the prisoners had escaped.  (28)  But Paul called out with a loud voice, saying, “Do yourself no harm, for we are all here.”  (29)  Then asking for a light he rushed in and fell trembling before Paul and Silas.  (30)  And leading them outside, he said, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?”

·         God shows mightily that He is pleased as He shakes the prison with an earthquake.

·         Lydia was searching for God and found Him.  The jailer was just doing his job and God found him.   He saw firsthand the power of God and knew that is what he needed.

·         Doesn’t heaven rejoice every time someone asks this question; “What must I do to be saved?”   This is the question that reveals a repentant heart, one that wants to have their sins forgiven and begin a new life in Christ.  Paul quickly and simply answers his question.

 

Act 16:31 And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and you shall be saved, and your household.

 

Rom 10:9  Because if you confess the Lord Jesus, and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you shall be saved.

·         It truly is that simple.  Believing is an act of the heart.  True belief will be followed by actions.  Each time in Acts that we see a conversion, baptism follows.  The salvation process begins in the heart as one believes and is proven, not earned, by obedience.  “Fruits of repentance” will be produced.

 

Act 16:32-34  And they spoke the Word of the Lord to him, and to all who were in his household.  (33)  And taking them in that hour of the night, he washed from their stripes. And immediately, he and all his family were baptized.  (34)  And bringing them up to the house, he set a table before them and rejoiced, believing in God with his entire household.

·         Baptism follows believing, which in turn is followed by a desire to serve.

 

 Act 16:35-40 And when it was day, the judges sent the officers, saying, Let those men go.  (36)  And the jailer spoke these words to Paul: The judges have sent to let you go. Now therefore depart, and go in peace.  (37)  But Paul said to them, “Having beaten us publicly, men who are Romans and uncondemned, they threw us into prison. And now do they put us out secretly? No indeed! But coming themselves, let them bring us out.”  (38)  And the officers reported these words to the judges. And hearing that they were Romans, they were afraid.  (39)  And coming they begged them. And bringing them out, they asked them to depart out of the city.  (40)  And going out from the prison, they entered into the house of Lydia. And seeing the brothers, they comforted them and departed.

·         They did not leave the city with their tails between their legs; they left with their heads held high being asked to leave the city not ordered.

·         Notice the ones who deserved to be comforted for their sufferings were the ones doing the comforting.

 

We learn tonight that persecution will be part of our Christian journey.  The attitude we are to display needs to be one of prayer and praise.  We are again shown the simplicity of the gospel and the importance of baptism.

 

Lord, please create in me a heart that will praise You in good times and bad.