You Never Know (Lessons from the Philippian Jailer)
Notes
Transcript
Handout
INTRODUCTION:
INTRODUCTION:
1. There are many things we can learn from the account of the Philippian Jailer.
1. There are many things we can learn from the account of the Philippian Jailer.
A. You never know who is listening to the message.
A. You never know who is listening to the message.
B. You never know who will be affected by the message.
B. You never know who will be affected by the message.
C. You never know who will be change by the message.
C. You never know who will be change by the message.
2. The Philippian Jailer is a prime example of why we should aways be living the message of God in our lives, because you never know...
2. The Philippian Jailer is a prime example of why we should aways be living the message of God in our lives, because you never know...
A. Who is listening!
A. Who is listening!
B. Who will be affected!
B. Who will be affected!
C. Who will be changed!
C. Who will be changed!
3. As we study this lesson today, let us remember what Paul and the writer of Hebrews wrote about this topic.
3. As we study this lesson today, let us remember what Paul and the writer of Hebrews wrote about this topic.
For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes, for the Jew first and also for the Greek.
For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.
4. Paul and Silas understood the power that is in the Word, so we have this example in God’s Word.
4. Paul and Silas understood the power that is in the Word, so we have this example in God’s Word.
5. As we study this lesson and remember what Romans 1:16 and Hebrews 4:12 says let us keep in mind the Philippian Jailler and the power God's word as it changes his heart.
5. As we study this lesson and remember what Romans 1:16 and Hebrews 4:12 says let us keep in mind the Philippian Jailler and the power God's word as it changes his heart.
BODY:
BODY:
1. YOU NEVER KNOW WHO IS LISTENING TO THE MESSAGE.
1. YOU NEVER KNOW WHO IS LISTENING TO THE MESSAGE.
But at midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the prisoners were listening to them.
1. Paul and Silas were worshiping God in the condition in which they were.
1. Paul and Silas were worshiping God in the condition in which they were.
A. They were in prison, unaware that the prisoners were listening to them.
A. They were in prison, unaware that the prisoners were listening to them.
B. They had received many stripes before being put into prison in stocks.
B. They had received many stripes before being put into prison in stocks.
Then the multitude rose up together against them; and the magistrates tore off their clothes and commanded them to be beaten with rods. And when they had laid many stripes on them, they threw them into prison, commanding the jailer to keep them securely. Having received such a charge, he put them into the inner prison and fastened their feet in the stocks.
2. Paul and Silas were content even in prison, although they were beaten, bleeding and in the horrible, uncomfortable condition of being in stocks.
2. Paul and Silas were content even in prison, although they were beaten, bleeding and in the horrible, uncomfortable condition of being in stocks.
Not that I speak in regard to need, for I have learned in whatever state I am, to be content: I know how to be abased, and I know how to abound. Everywhere and in all things I have learned both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need. I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.
3. Paul and Silas were examples of how we need to live.
3. Paul and Silas were examples of how we need to live.
2 My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials,
3 knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience.
4 But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing.
5 If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him.
A. The prisoners were listening and we are not told what they were thinking, but being that they were in the same conditions as Paul and Silas, we can make an educated guess.
A. The prisoners were listening and we are not told what they were thinking, but being that they were in the same conditions as Paul and Silas, we can make an educated guess.
B. How can these men, being in the same condition as we are, be as happy, joyful, content, and at peace with the circumstances?
B. How can these men, being in the same condition as we are, be as happy, joyful, content, and at peace with the circumstances?
1. It is this type of influence that we can have on the world today, if we copy their attitude.
1. It is this type of influence that we can have on the world today, if we copy their attitude.
6 Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God;
7 and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.
4. We do not know what Paul and Silas prayed for specifically, but they obtained the peace that surpasses all understanding by their prayer, which allowed them to sing.
4. We do not know what Paul and Silas prayed for specifically, but they obtained the peace that surpasses all understanding by their prayer, which allowed them to sing.
A. J.W. McGarvey said in his commentary: “Men do not pray when they are enraged, nor when they are hopeless. The soul must recover from the turmoil of violent passion, before it can offer thoughtful prayer. But still greater composure is necessary to induce a disposition to engage in singing. One in deep distress may be soothed by the music of other voices, but is not inclined to join in the song itself.”
A. J.W. McGarvey said in his commentary: “Men do not pray when they are enraged, nor when they are hopeless. The soul must recover from the turmoil of violent passion, before it can offer thoughtful prayer. But still greater composure is necessary to induce a disposition to engage in singing. One in deep distress may be soothed by the music of other voices, but is not inclined to join in the song itself.”
5. One might have been able to foresee the fellow prisoners listening, looking for relief from their suffering, but who could have foreseen the jailer listening in on the singing and seeing the example of Paul and Silas?
5. One might have been able to foresee the fellow prisoners listening, looking for relief from their suffering, but who could have foreseen the jailer listening in on the singing and seeing the example of Paul and Silas?
A. The prisoners and the jailer were afforded the opportunity to hear the message of Christ because of the joy and peace that was in the hearts of Paul and Silas because of their obedience to God.
A. The prisoners and the jailer were afforded the opportunity to hear the message of Christ because of the joy and peace that was in the hearts of Paul and Silas because of their obedience to God.
28 And do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. But rather fear Him who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.
B. Paul and Silas were thrown into prison and beaten because they were preaching God’s Word.
B. Paul and Silas were thrown into prison and beaten because they were preaching God’s Word.
17 This girl followed Paul and us, and cried out, saying, “These men are the servants of the Most High God, who proclaim to us the way of salvation.”
18 And this she did for many days. But Paul, greatly annoyed, turned and said to the spirit, “I command you in the name of Jesus Christ to come out of her.” And he came out that very hour.
19 But when her masters saw that their hope of profit was gone, they seized Paul and Silas and dragged them into the marketplace to the authorities.
20 And they brought them to the magistrates, and said, “These men, being Jews, exceedingly trouble our city;
21 and they teach customs which are not lawful for us, being Romans, to receive or observe.”
C. They continued to teach, even from jail in stocks, by their song.
C. They continued to teach, even from jail in stocks, by their song.
16 Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom, teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.
6. As we go about our lives today, we never know who is listening to the message of our lives.
6. As we go about our lives today, we never know who is listening to the message of our lives.
7. We learn something about the Philippian Jailer here.
7. We learn something about the Philippian Jailer here.
A. He was listening to Paul and Silas, whether consciously or unconsciously and he was being affected by their message.
A. He was listening to Paul and Silas, whether consciously or unconsciously and he was being affected by their message.
8. Which leads me to my second point today.
8. Which leads me to my second point today.
2. YOU NEVER KNOW WHO WILL BE AFFECTED BY THE MESSAGE.
2. YOU NEVER KNOW WHO WILL BE AFFECTED BY THE MESSAGE.
26 Suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison were shaken; and immediately all the doors were opened and everyone’s chains were loosed.
27 And the keeper of the prison, awaking from sleep and seeing the prison doors open, supposing the prisoners had fled, drew his sword and was about to kill himself.
28 But Paul called with a loud voice, saying, “Do yourself no harm, for we are all here.”
29 Then he called for a light, ran in, and fell down trembling before Paul and Silas.
30 And he brought them out and said, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?”
A. This jailer was a Roman guard. He was charged with keeping these prisoners and he took this job very seriously, because when he saw the doors of the prison open, he thought that all the prisoners were gone and he was going to kill himself.
A. This jailer was a Roman guard. He was charged with keeping these prisoners and he took this job very seriously, because when he saw the doors of the prison open, he thought that all the prisoners were gone and he was going to kill himself.
B. Who would have thought that the jailer would be affected? He dealt with prisoners all the time and I am sure he had heard all of the same things that prison guards hear today and would have been just as callous as the guards today.
B. Who would have thought that the jailer would be affected? He dealt with prisoners all the time and I am sure he had heard all of the same things that prison guards hear today and would have been just as callous as the guards today.
1. We are innocent.
1. We are innocent.
2. We don’t deserve to be here.
2. We don’t deserve to be here.
3. It is not fair that we are suffering like this.
3. It is not fair that we are suffering like this.
C. Paul and Silas did not complain; they prayed and sang praises to God and were the examples that God wanted them to be.
C. Paul and Silas did not complain; they prayed and sang praises to God and were the examples that God wanted them to be.
1 Imitate me, just as I also imitate Christ.
D. The earthquake woke the jailer up. but we know that the jailer knew something about salvation, because verse thirty records his question to Paul and Silas.
D. The earthquake woke the jailer up. but we know that the jailer knew something about salvation, because verse thirty records his question to Paul and Silas.
30 And he brought them out and said, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?”
E. Knowing what Ephesians 5:19-20 and Colossians 3:16 say about song, we can postulate that he learned what he knew about salvation from the song of Paul and Silas.
E. Knowing what Ephesians 5:19-20 and Colossians 3:16 say about song, we can postulate that he learned what he knew about salvation from the song of Paul and Silas.
19 speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord,
20 giving thanks always for all things to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ,
16 Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom, teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.
F. Our responsibility as Christians is to sow and water the Word of God and let God give the increase.
F. Our responsibility as Christians is to sow and water the Word of God and let God give the increase.
6 I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the increase.
G. That is exactly what Paul and Silas did and the power of God’s Word gave the increase.
G. That is exactly what Paul and Silas did and the power of God’s Word gave the increase.
H. We learn something else here about the Philippian Jailer.
H. We learn something else here about the Philippian Jailer.
1. He was willing to allow the message to start to change him.
1. He was willing to allow the message to start to change him.
A. We know this because of the question he asked at the end of verse thirty and the action he performed in verse thirty three.
A. We know this because of the question he asked at the end of verse thirty and the action he performed in verse thirty three.
I. He changed from the jailer who probably believed that they deserved to be there to a man who washed their stripes and was baptized.
I. He changed from the jailer who probably believed that they deserved to be there to a man who washed their stripes and was baptized.
J. Which leads me to my last point today.
J. Which leads me to my last point today.
3. YOU NEVER KNOW WHO WILL BE CHANGED BY THE MESSAGE.
3. YOU NEVER KNOW WHO WILL BE CHANGED BY THE MESSAGE.
31 So they said, “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and you will be saved, you and your household.”
32 Then they spoke the word of the Lord to him and to all who were in his house.
33 And he took them the same hour of the night and washed their stripes. And immediately he and all his family were baptized.
34 Now when he had brought them into his house, he set food before them; and he rejoiced, having believed in God with all his household.
A. Matthew 13:1-23 Jesus tells the Parable of the Soils, which shows that there are four distinctive heart conditions that man can have when the Word of God is proclaimed to them.
A. Matthew 13:1-23 Jesus tells the Parable of the Soils, which shows that there are four distinctive heart conditions that man can have when the Word of God is proclaimed to them.
1. The Philippian Jailer possibly had three of the four soils.
1. The Philippian Jailer possibly had three of the four soils.
2. There is not enough information to conclude that he had the good soil, because we don’t know if he yielded fruit.
2. There is not enough information to conclude that he had the good soil, because we don’t know if he yielded fruit.
A. Three of the four types of soil become Christians and only one remains Christian.
A. Three of the four types of soil become Christians and only one remains Christian.
1. The stony soil receives the word immediately, springs up and then dies.
1. The stony soil receives the word immediately, springs up and then dies.
2. The thorny soil springs up and then is choked.
2. The thorny soil springs up and then is choked.
3. The good ground—the seed grows, yields a crop.
3. The good ground—the seed grows, yields a crop.
B. This should scare us because being Christian is more than starting the race it is finishing it.
B. This should scare us because being Christian is more than starting the race it is finishing it.
7 I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.
B. We know that the Philippian Jailer was changed by the message.
B. We know that the Philippian Jailer was changed by the message.
1. Our responsibility is to preach, teach and live the message; it is not to decide who hears or responds to the message.
1. Our responsibility is to preach, teach and live the message; it is not to decide who hears or responds to the message.
A. If we live our responsibility, people will respond to the message of Christ.
A. If we live our responsibility, people will respond to the message of Christ.
1. How they respond is not our responsibility, but you never know who will be changed by the message.
1. How they respond is not our responsibility, but you never know who will be changed by the message.
2. Take Paul, for example. People did not believe that he could change.
2. Take Paul, for example. People did not believe that he could change.
21 Then all who heard were amazed, and said, “Is this not he who destroyed those who called on this name in Jerusalem, and has come here for that purpose, so that he might bring them bound to the chief priests?”
Conclusion:
Conclusion:
1. If you live the life of a Christian, people will be affected by it.
1. If you live the life of a Christian, people will be affected by it.
A. Remember, you never know…
A. Remember, you never know…
1. Who is listening to the message.
1. Who is listening to the message.
2. Who will be affected by the message.
2. Who will be affected by the message.
3. Who will be changed by the message.
3. Who will be changed by the message.
2. Two questions to leave you with today:
2. Two questions to leave you with today:
A. Are you the Philippian Jailer?
A. Are you the Philippian Jailer?
B. Who will be your Philippian Jailer?
B. Who will be your Philippian Jailer?