Truth Series #3

Role of Sincerity

Question: What if the earthquake wasn’t to free Paul/Silas or anyone else that night who was physically in prison, but instead, the earthquake was to break the chains that bound the prison guard…?

God is using this terrible circumstance, this difficult time of unjust judgment upon the followers of Christ to be strategically and uniquely positioned to reach the jailer, the prison guard.

Acts 16:26–40 KJV 1900

26 And suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison were shaken: and immediately all the doors were opened, and every one’s bands were loosed. 27 And the keeper of the prison awaking out of his sleep, and seeing the prison doors open, he drew out his sword, and would have killed himself, supposing that the prisoners had been fled. 28 But Paul cried with a loud voice, saying, Do thyself no harm: for we are all here. 29 Then he called for a light, and sprang in, and came trembling, and fell down before Paul and Silas, 30 And brought them out, and said, Sirs, what must I do to be saved? 31 And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house. 32 And they spake unto him the word of the Lord, and to all that were in his house. 33 And he took them the same hour of the night, and washed their stripes; and was baptized, he and all his, straightway. 34 And when he had brought them into his house, he set meat before them, and rejoiced, believing in God with all his house. 35 And when it was day, the magistrates sent the serjeants, saying, Let those men go. 36 And the keeper of the prison told this saying to Paul, The magistrates have sent to let you go: now therefore depart, and go in peace. 37 But Paul said unto them, They have beaten us openly uncondemned, being Romans, and have cast us into prison; and now do they thrust us out privily? nay verily; but let them come themselves and fetch us out. 38 And the serjeants told these words unto the magistrates: and they feared, when they heard that they were Romans. 39 And they came and besought them, and brought them out, and desired them to depart out of the city. 40 And they went out of the prison, and entered into the house of Lydia: and when they had seen the brethren, they comforted them, and departed.

STATS...

Look at what Jesus taught.

Luke 6:27–29 NASB95

27 “But I say to you who hear, love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, 28 bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you. 29 “Whoever hits you on the cheek, offer him the other also; and whoever takes away your coat, do not withhold your shirt from him either.

Matthew 18:22–25 KJV 1900

22 Jesus saith unto him, I say not unto thee, Until seven times: but, Until seventy times seven. 23 Therefore is the kingdom of heaven likened unto a certain king, which would take account of his servants. 24 And when he had begun to reckon, one was brought unto him, which owed him ten thousand talents. 25 But forasmuch as he had not to pay, his lord commanded him to be sold, and his wife, and children, and all that he had, and payment to be made.

Luke 9:26 KJV 1900

26 For whosoever shall be ashamed of me and of my words, of him shall the Son of man be ashamed, when he shall come in his own glory, and in his Father’s, and of the holy angels.

Matthew 5:23–24 KJV 1900

23 Therefore if thou bring thy gift to the altar, and there rememberest that thy brother hath ought against thee; 24 Leave there thy gift before the altar, and go thy way; first be reconciled to thy brother, and then come and offer thy gift.

Matthew 5:28 KJV 1900

28 But I say unto you, That whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart.

Look at the miracles Jesus performed

Mark 6:2 KJV 1900

2 And when the sabbath day was come, he began to teach in the synagogue: and many hearing him were astonished, saying, From whence hath this man these things? and what wisdom is this which is given unto him, that even such mighty works are wrought by his hands?

Look at the resurrection.

Acts 3:15 KJV 1900

15 And killed the Prince of life, whom God hath raised from the dead; whereof we are witnesses.

Look at what Jesus claimed.

John 14:6 (KJV 1900)

6 Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.

Three options when considering who Jesus is by what He said about Himself, what He accomplished, and taught.

He is either a 1.) Liar 2.) Lunatic 3.) LORD

Who do you say Jesus is?

Who do you say it to?

How do you say it?

Matthew 16:15–16 KJV 1900

15 He saith unto them, But whom say ye that I am? 16 And Simon Peter answered and said, Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God.

The consistency of how people were taught and responded to the good news was people 1.) Heard the word (Good News) 2.) Believing 3.) Being baptized

What about you? Who do you say Jesus is? How do you show you genuinely follow Him, His teachings, and commands?