Last week we discussed how Paul was trying to get to Jerusalem for the Feast of Pentecost (Acts 20:16). Let’s read:
Acts 20:17 But when we landed at Miletus, he sent a message to the elders of the church at Ephesus, asking them to come and meet him. 18 When they arrived he declared, "You know that from the day I set foot in the province of Asia until now 19 I have done the Lord's work humbly and with many tears. I have endured the trials that came to me from the plots of the Jews. 20 I never shrank back from telling you what you needed to hear, either publicly or in your homes. 21 I have had one message for Jews and Greeks alike—the necessity of repenting from sin and turning to God, and of having faith in our Lord Jesus. Paul called for the leaders at the church in Ephesus to come meet him and began to testify of his labor of love for Father God’s Kingdom. I love the focus of his message regardless of who he was ministering to (verse 21); Repentance and Faith. Friends, it’s time we quit majoring on the minors and major on getting people to repent and then live by faith in what Jesus did for us. Repentance, receiving forgiveness for our sins and turning from our old lifestyle. Father God changes us but we also must be wise and change some things ourselves like who we hang out with, where we hang out, etc…. We are not saved by works but when we truly get saved our works will change. Living by Faith in Jesus was the second message Paul focused on sharing. For the Jews it was a hard message to accept because under the law there is a lot of works (sacrificing animals, etc) but under grace the one sacrifice Jesus made was sufficient and we receive it by faith not works. Our works follow our faith. Living by faith, knowing Jesus not only took our sins and the shame of our sins but He also took the curse of sin. Now we are free and are entitled to the blessings of Father God. 22 "And now I am bound by the Spirit to go to Jerusalem. I don't know what awaits me, 23 except that the Holy Spirit tells me in city after city that jail and suffering lie ahead. 24 But my life is worth nothing to me unless I use it for finishing the work assigned me by the Lord Jesus—the work of telling others the Good News about the wonderful grace of God. What a powerful testimony! I know I’m destined to go to Jerusalem where imprisonment and suffering awaits me but I’m willing to go because that is the will of the Lord for my life and I know I will have opportunity to tell others about the Good News and about the Grace of Father God. The temporality pain and hardship is nothing to be compared with the eternal joys which await me. In fact my life is not worth living unless I finish the work assigned to me, finish the purpose for which I was born so I press forward. Paul had the mentality of Jesus when He prayed in the garden I don’t want to die the death I was destined to die but NEVERTHELESS not my will but thy will be done. Paul pinned these words, to be absent from this body is to be present with Christ so he knew death was not an enemy but rather his transport into paradise. 25 "And now I know that none of you to whom I have preached the Kingdom will ever see me again. 26 I declare today that I have been faithful. If anyone suffers eternal death, it's not my fault, 27 for I didn't shrink from declaring all that God wants you to know. These were sad words because of the bond between Paul and the church at Ephesus when Paul said we will never see each other again. Then he said words that we all need to strive after, if anyone suffers eternity in hell it’s not my fault because I told you the truth in love caring for your eternal souls. Whatever Father God wanted me to tell you I told you so your blood is not on my hands. It’s sobering to think about someone else’s blood being on our hands because we refused to share the truth with them. It’s more than sobering to think about someone spending eternity in hell because we were not obedient in sharing the full gospel with those the Holy Spirit put in front of us. I want to be able to say like Paul, if you spend eternity in hell, it was not my fault because I was obedient to the calling Father God had on my life. In this pleasure sin driven world it’s not a time to water down the gospel but we must preach it, live it, tell it without compromise. Prayer Thoughts: Father in Jesus Name, continue to give me the boldness to tell the truth in love to everyone you have ordained me to witness to. I don’t want to stand before you with their blood on my hands. Help me to see everyone through your eyes with your love.
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Before we get into this week’s devotion, let me say how thankful we are that so many allow this devotion to be part of their weekly lives. Every Sunday I see people before service reading it, while others read it online, etc.
Last week Paul was about to leave the church at Troas so they were having an all-night service before he departed, not knowing if they would ever see him again. Instead of having just physical food and fellowship they were investing their last few hours fellowshipping in natural food and spiritual food. Let’s pick up the story in this setting: Acts 20:8 The upstairs room where we met was lighted with many flickering lamps. A good reminder that you don’t have to have a perfect setting to have church. The early church did not have AL Power or T-Mobile but they knew how to have church and how to host the Presence of the Lord. 9 As Paul spoke on and on, a young man named Eutychus, sitting on the windowsill, became very drowsy. Finally, he fell sound asleep and dropped three stories to his death below. Forget the part about Paul preaching on and on and on because many may feel that way about preachers today. Paul preached so long till Eutychus, who was sitting next to the window in the upper room, which was on the third floor, went to sleep and fell out the window. Can you imagine the chaos? Paul preaching for hours and then a sudden sound of someone shouting Eutychus has fallen out of the window! His family and friends undoubtedly screaming and running down the stairs. Paul stops preaching and runs down the stairs with them to find him dead. Panic sets in, this church service is canceled! Seemingly defeat has invaded the atmosphere but God! 10 Paul went down, bent over him, and took him into his arms. "Don't worry," he said, "he's alive!" The anointing and life in Paul was greater than the death in Eutychus. When Paul grabbed him, life came back into him and what the devil had meant for destruction turned into an everlasting testimony and a lot of fun conversation. Can you imagine how they joked with Eutychus every time he sat near that window where they met for church weekly? I can only imagine the conversation and laughter. Friends, what a miracle! What should have destroyed the service turned into a celebration of Father God’s power. 11 Then they all went back upstairs, shared in the Lord's Supper, and ate together. Paul continued talking to them until dawn, and then he left. 12 Meanwhile, the young man was taken home unhurt, and everyone was greatly relieved. Notice the first thing they did was to re-assemble and partake of communion; remembering what Jesus had done for them through His death, burial and resurrection. Then they ate and fellowshipped together before Paul taught for a few more hours before leaving Troas. I love verse twelve as it bears witness of Eutychus falling three stories, that he went home unhurt, GLORY TO GOD! 13 Paul went by land to Assos, where he had arranged for us to join him, while we traveled by ship. 14 He joined us there, and we sailed together to Mitylene. 15 The next day we sailed past the island of Kios. The following day we crossed to the island of Samos, and a day later we arrived at Miletus Don’t take these verses lightly, this was not easy travel in those days; there were neither cars, buses, trains nor were there cruise ship comfort on their boats. Just the travel was enough to physically and mentally weaken a person but Paul was up to the challenge because we see in the next verse he was on a timetable. 16 Paul had decided to sail on past Ephesus, for he didn't want to spend any more time in the province of Asia. He was hurrying to get to Jerusalem, if possible, in time for the Festival of Pentecost. It was important to him to be at the Feast of Pentecost because it was Father God’s feast. He wanted to celebrate this year in Jerusalem if possible. He wanted to celebrate because it was Father God’s set time to: 1. Time to thank Father God for His Blessing (His Provision) 2. Time to thank Father God for the Torah (Revelation through His Word) 3. Time to thank Father God for and receive a Fresh Touch from the Holy Spirit (His Power) Prayer Points: Father never let the distractions of this life interrupt my personal and corporate time with You in Jesus Name! Just as it is today, the early church consisted of real people with real emotions, real problems and real life. Don’t ever read the Bible as fictional but place yourself in the setting. The setting today comes right after the idol worshippers had tried to stop the gospel from being spread so it’s not a great environment for an early church.
Acts 20:1 When the uproar was over, Paul sent for the believers and encouraged them. Then he said good-bye and left for Macedonia. During this persecuted time, the Holy Spirit directs Paul to leave for Macedonia. What a shock, what a let-down for the church in Ephesus but God always has a plan and we read later that the church there is still successfully building the kingdom. I can’t imagine the tears and the disappointment as Paul was leaving them but God always has a plan. They were human and undoubtedly attached to Paul and his ministry. 2 While there, he encouraged the believers in all the towns he passed through. Then he traveled down to Greece, 3 where he stayed for three months. He was preparing to sail back to Syria when he discovered a plot by some Jews against his life, so he decided to return through Macedonia. Paul was radical for Jesus from the time he was converted on the Damascus Road; always traveling, teaching, preaching and walking under an open heaven. Seemingly everywhere he went two things happened: 1. Riot 2. Revival. There were so many threats on his life but just like Jesus no one was able to kill him before his time. 4 Several men were traveling with him. They were Sopater son of Pyrrhus from Berea; Aristarchus and Secundus from Thessalonica; Gaius from Derbe; Timothy; and Tychicus and Trophimus from the province of Asia. 5 They went on ahead and waited for us at Troas. As I’m writing this, I’m thinking about how it must have been to have ministered with such a wonderful man of God. May we never take for granted those Father God has placed around us. We should value their calling and anointing. 6 After the Passover ended, we boarded a ship at Philippi in Macedonia and five days later joined them in Troas, where we stayed a week. Once again, Paul observed Passover not because he was a Jew but rather a Christian who wanted to observe the Lord’s Feasts. Then it sounds like they had a week long revival. 7 On the first day of the week, we gathered with the local believers to share in the Lord's Supper. Paul was preaching to them, and since he was leaving the next day, he kept talking until midnight. Notice, they met on the first day of the week which was Sunday and they also partook of the Lord’s Supper. Communion is a supernatural weapon the Lord has given us. I urge you to take communion in your daily time of intimacy with the Lord and as you do your personal time with Him will go to the next level spiritually. Notice the hunger of those who were in this meeting, he was teaching until midnight and we read later that they were there until dawn. Two requirements for revival: 1. Humility 2.Hunger Humility: the Bible says for us not to think more highly of ourselves than we should. Yes, we should know who we are in Christ but we also should recognize the Christ in others; never becoming prideful or self-exalting, since it’s Father God who exalts. With Father God we can do anything but without Father God we can do nothing and we must remember that. Hunger: the Bible says in Matt 5:6 Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled. No one should ever think they are so close to the Lord that they have arrived. Our love and our hunger for Father God should keep us seeking Him more and more not less. Without humility and hunger you will never experience true revival personally or as a church corporately. There is always more of Him to be obtained but we must decrease so He can increase. Prayer Points: Father, let us decrease so you can increase in us. We desire more of you and less of us and we desire a revival that will totally change the spiritual atmosphere which will change the physical state of where we live. We realize Father God that you are our only hope of change. Start with me Lord, send another Awakening to America in Jesus Name! Click here to edit. We are beginning to see a pattern in the early church and it’s still true today; where there is real revival there is persecution and riots but GREATER is the ONE WE SERVE. A spirit of revival stirs up spirits of religious tradition. Too many times people want what used to be instead of what Father God is doing today and that’s the way it was in the early church. Father God was doing something new and those bound in traditions were not able to accept the new so they persecuted those who were willing to move with the Spirit of the Lord. Watch it again today in this devotion:
Acts 19:23 About that time, serious trouble developed in Ephesus concerning the Way. 24 It began with Demetrius, a silversmith who had a large business manufacturing silver shrines of the Greek goddess Artemis. He kept many craftsmen busy. So we see the trouble started when the move of the Spirit started affecting people personally (personal agenda and influence) and many times it may be influential people whether it’s a church, community, or family etc. The enemy always has a desire to stir confusion in families so he desires to use people with influence and in this story he is using a business man named Demetrius who employs a lot of people in his region and probably is well thought of. He has a business of building worship shrines to the Greek goddess Artemis. A little history concerning Aremis (Nelson’s Dictionary) Diana (Acts 19:24,27-28,34-35), in Roman mythology, was the goddess of the moon, hunting, wild animals, and virginity. Diana is the same as the Greek goddess Artemis, virgin goddess of the hunt and the moon. When Paul preached in Ephesus, the Ephesians were in an uproar because the gospel threatened to destroy the profit of the artisans who crafted silver shrines of Diana. 25 He called them together, along with others employed in similar trades, and addressed them as follows: "Gentlemen, you know that our wealth comes from this business. 26 But as you have seen and heard, this man Paul has persuaded many people that handmade gods aren't really gods at all. And he's done this not only here in Ephesus but throughout the entire province! I’ve learned over a few years of ministry when the enemy starts to use someone to cause division they always find others to join in on their personal crusade and justify why they are doing what they are doing. Over the years I’ve watched it in families, in businesses and in many different churches so one way I check myself is this, am I talking to anyone about anything that would cause division in my personal family, our church or our region (because I want to sow good so I can reap good). Notice his wording, “you know OUR wealth and as you have seen and heard”, notice how manipulative his wording is. Then the accusations stated that, “Paul had persuaded”, but the truth was, the Holy Spirit persuaded people they were wrong in their beliefs. Let’s read on. 27 Of course, I'm not just talking about the loss of public respect for our business. I'm also concerned that the temple of the great goddess Artemis will lose its influence and that Artemis—this magnificent goddess worshiped throughout the province of Asia and all around the world—will be robbed of her great prestige!" Hopefully you can see more manipulation, which is the spirit of Jezebel, because now he turns his reason for the upheaval on not just losing his personal influence and finance but supposedly protecting the temple of the great goddess. He knows he is making the god they worship so I’m sure he knows Artemis is not a great god but it gives him more leverage. 28 At this their anger boiled, and they began shouting, "Great is Artemis of the Ephesians!" 29 Soon the whole city was filled with confusion. Everyone rushed to the amphitheater, dragging along Gaius and Aristarchus, who were Paul's traveling companions from Macedonia. Now we see the riot started against those contending for revival. They are now mad over things that have been twisted and notice the whole city is filled with confusion. We know the Bible plainly says Father God is not the author of confusion. They are to the point of physical violence, but God still has a plan. Remember friends, when in conflict never forget the God you serve. Prayer Points: Father God search my heart, know my thoughts and if there is anything in my heart that would hinder revival in this region, in my family, or in my church please reveal it & remove it from me in Jesus Name! We read in one of our previous devotions where Paul was doing unusual signs, miracles and wonders as the power of Father God worked in him and through him. Learn this truth, everything that is miraculous is not from heaven because if there is a REAL MOVE of the Holy Spirit, the devil will always send a counterfeit move that looks like the real deal.
Paul was casting out devils in the name of Jesus so some Jews who were trying to make money from casting out devils decided to duplicate what Paul was doing. I think it is hilarious but yet we need to take heed to important lessons we can learn from this group of Jews. Acts 19: 13 A group of Jews was traveling from town to town casting out evil spirits. They tried to use the name of the Lord Jesus in their incantation, saying, “I command you in the name of Jesus, whom Paul preaches, to come out!” 14 Seven sons of Sceva, a leading priest, were doing this. 15 But one time when they tried it, the evil spirit replied, “I know Jesus, and I know Paul, but who are you?” 16 Then the man with the evil spirit leaped on them, overpowered them, and attacked them with such violence that they fled from the house, naked and battered. I’ve always thought this would make a good comical part of a movie but yet it’s so real. These seven sons of a leading priest had heard Paul command demons to come out of people using the powerful name of Jesus so they thought they had found another religious ritual that would produce the power of God. Lesson 1: There are no formulas. There is only obedience to the leading of the Holy Spirit when it comes to the supernatural. Very seldom did Jesus heal the sick the same way; sometimes He would simply speak to the sickness, another time He would lay hands on the sick, another time He would make new eyes out of dirt by spitting in it, another time He told the lepers to just go show themselves to the high priest. The reason is that Jesus never wanted the supernatural turned into a formula. Never think that the creator will give the creation a formula to control and manipulate His power and His presence. Yes, there are keys but never a certain way to manipulate the presence of the Lord. Keys like praise and worship sets the atmosphere for the presence of the Lord, prayer and fasting allows us to prepare our bodies for His service but only as we do it with pure hearts and clean hands and not with a manipulative spirit. Too many only pray, only praise, only fast when they have to have a breakthrough but real praise, real worship, real prayer, real fasting is when we just want less of us and more of Him. The seven sons of Sceva wanted a formula (ritual) not a relationship with Jesus Christ. They wanted to use His name, demonstrate His power without taking time to know Him. Lesson 2. You can know and say the right words and still have no power backing your words up and that’s all they are, WORDS without the anointing! The power to operate in the supernatural (such as casting out devils, healing the sick, etc.) comes from two things: 1. Relationship with Father God which only comes through the blood of Jesus. The more you know Him, it produces hunger and humility which are keys to flowing in the supernatural. 2. Obedience to the Holy Spirit! We are commanded to never lay hands on any person suddenly (1 Tim. 5) but we should be led by the Holy Spirit because He knows the will and purposes of the Father and also the condition of the person we would like to pray for and help. Sometimes the person we desire to help is not ready for help, does not really want help or the timing may not be right. We must be led by the Spirit! So the seven sons of Sceva find a demon possessed man and start saying in the name of Jesus whom Paul preaches come out and the demon answers back, “Paul I know, Jesus I know but who are you”? Then it gets worse, the demon comes out of the man and jumps on them, overpowers them, strips them of their clothes and they run out the door hurt, confused and defeated. Catch it, the greatest thing on earth is knowing heaven knows your name but don’t you love the fact that the demonic forces of hell not only knew about Jesus but knew Paul and when Paul spoke they had to listen (that’s Kingdom Power and Authority). The demons knew Paul because Paul took the time to know Jesus personally through prayer, fasting and study. Prayer points: Father in Jesus Name, I don’t want to just know about you but I want to know you personally. Anything in my life that would hinder the flow of the supernatural in my life, I repent of and turn from now in Jesus Name. Use me to help build your Kingdom! Acts 19:11 God gave Paul the power to perform unusual miracles.
As a whole 21st Century Christians are missing this in their everyday lives. Miracles were a common occurrence in the early church and many times miracles were happening anywhere, not just in church, because they knew there were the church. Jesus did not save a building. He came to save people so the presence of the Lord could live within us. When He lives in us, He will live through us, demonstrating His will and purpose for fallen humanity. I want you to know right now that YOU are chosen and destined to do great things in the kingdom of Father God. He saved you to save others, He healed you so you can heal others, He brought you through so you help bring others through and He freed you so you can free others. The catch is this, when we are not busy doing what He desires us to do, we begin to grow cold and complacent. Soon luke-warmness sets it and a critical spirit wraps its destructive grip around us and we are not praising like we once did, not praying like we once did, not witnessing like we once did and it begins a downward spiral. Father God wants us to live a supernatural lifestyle where miracles, signs and wonders are not uncommon but common. We serve a Father God who loves to do great things for and through His people. It wasn’t Paul but rather the power of God, the anointing of the Holy Spirit who was performing the usual miracles but God needs clean vessels to use. Vessels that are willing to sell out completely for the sake of the gospel, vessels that will say no to sin and yes to the will of God day by day. We are saved by the powerful blood of Jesus Christ but that same blood also has the power to help us say no to sin and to live lives that will allow the Holy Spirit to flow through us. Paul, who was Sau,l was transformed on the Road to Damascus but the power that transformed him also kept him as he yielded his will daily. I need to say this: we, as Christians, have a responsibility to live for Jesus daily and not just to be super Sunday saints. I love grace, I need grace, I preach grace but I also know that we have to learn to say no to sin and yes to His will daily. We can’t live impure, immoral lives and expect His anointing to dwell and work in our lives. Too many people are trying to live like the world, talk like the world, act like the world, be like the world all week and then transform into someone else on Sunday but the Kingdom of God does not operate that way. Yes, we need grace because we are human but we do not live a life of intentional sin. Lifestyle is what we are talking about, not missing the mark! When we were born again we began a new relationship with Father God and our hearts now want to please Him. It’s not about what I can or can’t do, it’s about I love Him so much because of what He did for me, I want to please Him. It’s not about rules and regulations it’s about RELATIONSHIP and I want to honor Him with my lifestyle. He loved me and proved His love for me and while I was a sinner, Jesus died for me. Before I ever made a mess He loved me despite my mess so I, in return, want to die (to myself) for Him. He died for us, may we die for Him. 2 Timothy 2: 21If a man therefore purge himself from these, he shall be a vessel unto honour, sanctified, and meet for the master's use, and prepared unto every good work. Let’s strive to keep our vessel clean, set apart and purge ourselves of ourselves. Back to Acts; 12 When handkerchiefs or aprons that had merely touched his skin were placed on sick people, they were healed of their diseases, and evil spirits were expelled. What an anointing Paul carried that even cloth, when it touched his skin, had enough power to cast out devils and heal people of their diseases. I remember reading how Smith Wigglesworth had stayed with a family for a few nights (sleeping in the master bedroom) and the husband was unsaved. He told the wife, when I leave don’t wash the sheets. That night when the husband laid down, he felt so convicted, it was like he was burning, till he got on his knees and gave his heart to Jesus. That is the anointing we need to walk under in these last days. Prayer Points: Father help me to rid myself of me; less of me and more of you. Let me decrease so you can increase. By the power of the Holy Spirit teach me to control my flesh and walk daily in the Spirit in Jesus Name! This week we jump into Acts 19 which talks about Paul’s third missionary journey.
Acts 19:1 While Apollos was in Corinth, Paul traveled through the interior regions until he reached Ephesus, on the coast, where he found several believers. 2 “Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you believed?” he asked them. “No,” they replied, “we haven’t even heard that there is a Holy Spirit.” Never doubt this truth, Father God has believers all over this world. As I’m writing this, one of our very own is in Burma, another in Mexico sharing the good news of Jesus and making believers. God’s plan for man will come to pass! These believers who believed in Jesus had not been taught about the baptism of the Holy Spirit. 3 “Then what baptism did you experience?” he asked. And they replied, “The baptism of John.” John’s teaching pointed to the Messiah but Paul was saying there is so much more than just being baptized in water. The One John said would come, has come and has died and has been resurrected and has ascended to heaven and now the Holy Spirit has come to endue us with power. 4 Paul said, “John’s baptism called for repentance from sin. But John himself told the people to believe in the one who would come later, meaning Jesus.” 5 As soon as they heard this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.6 Then when Paul laid his hands on them, the Holy Spirit came on them, and they spoke in other tongues and prophesied. 7 There were about twelve men in all. Don’t you love it? After Paul spoke, the Holy Spirit was just waiting to fill them and all He needed was a hungry heart. Notice Paul laid his hands on them and immediately they were filled with the Holy Ghost and began to speak in tongues, even some prophesied. There was twelve men which is a number of authority. Without a doubt these twelve brought revival to their region. Divine Appointments! In these next verses we see Paul still ministering in Ephesus. 8 Then Paul went to the synagogue and preached boldly for the next three months, arguing persuasively about the Kingdom of God. The greatest opposition to the Kingdom of God is religion (religious spirits). Notice Paul had to preach boldly in the synagogue (church) for three months strongly teaching Kingdom truths about Jesus coming, dying and resurrecting and those stuck in religion did not want to change their traditional way of thinking. Most do not realize how powerful religious tradition is but let’s read about it. Mark 7:13 And so you cancel the word of God in order to hand down your own tradition. And this is only one example among many others." NLT Mark 7:13 Making the word of God of none effect through your tradition, which ye have delivered: and many such like things do ye. KJV A religious spirit destroys, condemns, tries to control and complains because it is in rebellion to the Kingdom of Father God. We must never major on the minors and minor on the majors. Religious people in the days of Jesus would fuss over Him healing on a Sabbath, more worried over custom than a person. Even Pentecostal churches have many religious traditions which can be contrary to what Father God wants to do. 9 But some became stubborn, rejecting his message and publicly speaking against the Way. So Paul left the synagogue and took the believers with him. Then he held daily discussions at the lecture hall of Tyrannus. 10 This went on for the next two years, so that people throughout the province of Asia—both Jews and Greeks—heard the word of the Lord. A religious spirit is a stubborn spirit which rejects any truth or any message other than their own. You can spot a stubborn religious spirit by how they speak out against things, especially change. Finally, Paul had enough and left the synagogue and took the believers with them and had church in a lecture hall for the next 2 years and revival broke out among all the people, Jews and Gentiles all over the region. Prayer Points: Father God search my heart for any spirit that not of The Holy Spirit so my heart can be clean before you and so you can flow in me and through me to touch others in Jesus Name! Acts 16 has been exciting to break down over the past few weeks and today we will bring it to a conclusion so we can continue our study in the book of Acts.
Acts 16:35 The next morning the city officials sent the police to tell the jailer, "Let those men go!" 36 So the jailer told Paul, "The city officials have said you and Silas are free to leave. Go in peace." I love it when Father God shows out and it changes the mindsets of people. The leaders who had Paul and Silas beaten and cast into prison now sent word to let them go, but go in peace. Just no more earthquakes, not even any more supernatural signs just go in peace. 37 But Paul replied, "They have publicly beaten us without a trial and put us in prison—and we are Roman citizens. So now they want us to leave secretly? Certainly not! Let them come themselves to release us!" This verse shows us that there are times when we need to not only walk in heavenly citizenship but also our earthly citizenship. Paul said, wait one minute, they did this to us publically without a cause and we are Romans citizens so they will release us publically. America is falling because too many Christians do nothing as citizens of the United States. Some were born with the ability to lead our nation, our state, our county or our town and we must fulfill that call upon our lives but we all are called to have a voice in our region religiously and politically. Separation of church and state was meant to keep the government out of the church not the church out of the government. Every Christian has two duties as we represent the Father’s Kingdom in the kingdom we live in and that is to pray for our country and leaders and secondly vote to voice our belief system. I firmly believe if you do not vote in the elections you should never fuss over the outcome. I love our country and let’s do what we can to turn it back into “One Nation Under God” and “In God We Trust”. 38 When the police reported this, the city officials were alarmed to learn that Paul and Silas were Roman citizens. 39 So they came to the jail and apologized to them. Then they brought them out and begged them to leave the city. 40 When Paul and Silas left the prison, they returned to the home of Lydia. There they met with the believers and encouraged them once more. Then they left town. Because Paul stood up and said, I’m not only a child of Father God but I’m a Romans citizen and I don’t deserve to be treated like this, the name of the Lord was lifted up. Christians have rights not only as Christians but also as a natural citizen. When I got saved, I did not forfeit my right as a citizen of the United States, I actually became a better citizen of the United States. The truth is this; we have dual citizenship, Glory to God! We have rights as a child of Father God and we have rights as a natural born citizen. The City offices not only came and personally released Paul and Silas but apologized to them and then begged them to leave the city. So Paul and Silas left the prison and went and had a home meeting at Lydia’s house to encourage them again and then they left the town on their own free will. I think we see Psalms 23 taking place at the end of this story. Ps 23:1 The Lord is my shepherd; I have all that I need. 2 He lets me rest in green meadows; he leads me beside peaceful streams. 3 He renews my strength. He guides me along right paths, bringing honor to his name. 4 Even when I walk through the darkest valley, I will not be afraid, for you are close beside me. Your rod and your staff protect and comfort me. 5 You prepare a feast for me in the presence of my enemies. You honor me by anointing my head with oil. My cup overflows with blessings. 6 Surely your goodness and unfailing love will pursue me all the days of my life, and I will live in the house of the Lord forever. NLT Even when Father God did not rescue Paul and Silas from the prison, He was still all they needed and they have supernatural peace and strength. He took them on this path to bring honor and glory to His name. Their story would have not been so powerful if God had not let them go through the beating and through the jail. It’s what we go through that becomes our testimony to lead someone else out from the prison they are in. Then we see Father God preparing a table for them in front of those who had beat them. Prayer Points: Father God help me be willing to go through what you know I’m able to bear for you to get the glory and see your Kingdom expand in Jesus Name! The greatest miracle of all miracles is when a person or a family gives their lives to Jesus, making Him Savior and Lord. Paul and Silas went through a lot to be in the position to lead this jailer to Christ but soon every stripe, every bruise, every pain from the mistreatment in their bodies would be forgotten as they lead this family to Jesus.
Remember the jailer asked, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?” To which Paul and Silas gladly replied. Acts 16:31 They replied, "Believe in the Lord Jesus and you will be saved, along with everyone in your household." Believe is the key word in the reply from Paul and Silas. Believe: GREEK>pisteu/w, to have faith (in, upon, or with respect to, a person or thing), i.e. credit; by implication, to entrust (especially one's spiritual well-being to Christ): KJV - believe (-r), commit (to trust), put in trust with. (Strong’s Concordance) One of the definitions is to commit. Friends, if you really believe Jesus is the Messiah and that He truly is the only way to eternal life then you will commit yourself to live by His Word with the power of the Holy Spirit helping you. Jesus plainly tells us that if we love Him we obey Him and His Word. Too many people claiming to get saved but have no commitment to the things of God, the body of Christ (church), or the Word of God. Friend, when we truly get born again something changes, our lives are changed. We are living in a day where the harvest is white and we as Christians must know how to lead people to Father God. Always start with Romans 3:23 which reminds us, that ALL have sinned and come short of the glory of God. It is very important to the one you are witnessing to, to know that you do not think you are better than them so this verse will take the tension out. Then use Romans 6:23 which tells the good news that the wages of sin is death (Jesus died in our place) but the Gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ. Explain how death is the eternal separation from Father God’s presence forever and forever. Eternal separation from everything that is good. Sin separates, God’s love unites. Sin destroys but God restores. Stress the goodness of Father God who gave His only Son so we could be sons and daughters of Father God. After sharing Romans 3:23, Romans 6:23 then begin to share Romans 10:9, 10, 13 which allows them to be saved right where they are standing. We confess with our mouth, believe in our heart which allows us to become children of Father God. Verse 13 declares that whosoever calls upon the name of the Lord shall be saved. Friends, there is nothing that compares to leading someone personally to Jesus. We are called to Go and Grow! Then we read: 32 And they shared the word of the Lord with him and with all who lived in his household. 33 Even at that hour of the night, the jailer cared for them and washed their wounds. Then he and everyone in his household were immediately baptized. It’s so important that we know the Bible so we can share His Word with those we are witnessing to. You don’t have to be a bible scholar and yes your personal testimony is powerful but we must be students of the Word so we can give them a firm foundation to stand on. Remember it’s probably around 1 to 2 AM and they are sharing the good news; they are tired but still sharing, they are bloodied but still sharing and then we read after they shared the word with him and his family that the jailer cared for them by washing their wounds. Then everyone in the household was baptized early that morning. 34 He brought them into his house and set a meal before them, and he and his entire household rejoiced because they all believed in God. It could have been around 4 to 5 AM and they had been up all night but they took time to cook a meal and eat rejoicing over what had just happened to their family. There is nothing like a whole family getting saved which creates real joy, real excitement, and real celebration. Heaven is real, but so is hell and both are eternal and people are making choices daily on where they will spend their eternity. When a person wakes up in eternity, it’s too late to change their choice. Father God has entrusted us to help people make a good choice and we must make His mission a priority in our lives. Prayer Points: Father God help me to become eternity conscious. Help me to see those in my mission field the way you view them and give me a Godly compassion for those who are lost in Jesus Name! We pick up the story concerning Paul and Silas as an earthquake has shattered the prison foundation and left all the prison doors open as Paul and Silas prayed and sung praises in their midnight hour. Now we read; Acts 16:27 The jailer woke up to see the prison doors wide open. He assumed the prisoners had escaped, so he drew his sword to kill himself. 28 But Paul shouted to him, "Stop! Don't kill yourself! We are all here!"
Every jailor was made responsible for his prisoner, under the same penalty to which the prisoner himself was exposed. The jailor, awaking, and finding the prison-doors open, taking it for granted that all the prisoners had made their escape, and that he must lose his life on the account, chose rather to die by his own hand than by that of others. For it was customary among the pagans, when they found death inevitable, to take away their own lives. This custom was applauded by their philosophers, and sanctioned by some of their greatest men. (from Adam Clarke's Commentary) First of all notice the jailer was asleep because the earthquake woke him up. It never pays to sleep on the job. Suddenly awakened and seeing all the prison doors open, his quick evaluation of the scene led him to kill himself but Paul screamed, “Don’t kill yourself, we are ALL HERE”! I need to ask a very important question right here: could it have been Paul and Silas went through what they had to endure because a jailer and his family needed salvation? It wasn’t just about the demonic fortune telling young lady being delivered, but it was also about a prison full of prisoners and a jailer receiving the wonderful news of the power of the Gospel. Paul and Silas suffered a lot because of the Gospel of Jesus Christ and so will we when we truly fulfill what Father God has destined us to do. What is the price of a soul? Is it worth us shining for Jesus and what we believe in the Midnight Hour? We show the glory of Father God brighter in our midnight hours than any other time in our lives! Are we really willing to do what it takes to bring the glory of God in dark places? No, it wasn’t fair what Paul and Silas went through, being falsely accused, beaten, and thrown into an inner prison but it had a purpose. We need to remember that as children of Father God, nothing is wasted in our lives, not even one hardship. Father God is never surprised about where we are and what is going on, but rather He has already gone into our future, causing everything to work together for our good if we don’t give up too soon. I’m so thankful for the mercy, grace and love of Father God who is not willing for any to perish but desires everyone to come to repentance. Just like he did not forget the woman at the well but went out of His way to lead her to repentance and restoration, He did not forget the prison guard and his family. 29 The jailer called for lights and ran to the dungeon and fell down trembling before Paul and Silas. 30 Then he brought them out and asked, "Sirs, what must I do to be saved?" As a result of the sufferings of Paul and Silas, we see a man, without hope about to commit suicide, get a life change. His first objective after hearing hope from Paul’s voice was to shine light in the darkness. Those who are lost, unsaved and don’t know Jesus have a darkness problem and they need a voice (your voice, my voice) in their darkness. You never know how powerful your voice is until you yield it to the Lord. As you go (Mark 16) then you will grow. Then all of a sudden the once hopeless man asked the most important question of all time, “Tell me how I can be saved”. I want to emphasize the importance of being a light and being a voice in the lives of those around us even when we are walking in a midnight hour of our lives. Our actions and reactions in our midnight hour are more effective than any words we would ever say when we are on a mountain top experience with Father God. People know that God is good when everything is fine, but when they find out God is still good during our midnight season by our words and actions; it brings glory to Father God. Our light should shine the brightest in the midnight, not easy but as we mature in the Word we know ALL THINGS DO WORK OUT FOR OUR GOOD! Prayer Points: Father God help me not be so self centered during the midnight times of my life that others can’t see your light shining through me and want to serve you. Help me to Reach One More! |