A Divine Pivot

Text

Acts 16:31–34 MSG

They said, “Put your entire trust in the Master Jesus. Then you’ll live as you were meant to live—and everyone in your house included!” They went on to spell out in detail the story of the Master—the entire family got in on this part. They never did get to bed that night. The jailer made them feel at home, dressed their wounds, and then—he couldn’t wait till morning!—was baptized, he and everyone in his family. There in his home, he had food set out for a festive meal. It was a night to remember: He and his entire family had put their trust in God; everyone in the house was in on the celebration.

Introduction

Beloved, if I were to poll this room, I would find some parents with the trajectory of their lives altered by the news of an impending bundle of joy. Now, Parents, I am sure you don’t regret the birth of your children, but I feel safe saying that at some point some of you may wonder what could have been. Maybe you are not a parent, but you may have turned down an opportunity of a lifetime to meet the need of a family member or close friend.

My brothers and sisters, I was going to college to major in political science. I wanted to be a Civics teacher. I never wanted to be a preacher/pastor. I was called to ministry at 12 years old, but ran from the calling of GOD for 6 years. “Why did I run from my calling,” you ask? I ran from ministry, because preaching and pastoring puts me in conflict with my very nature. I am, by my very nature, an introvert.

As an introvert, I prefer small group of familiar faces and a lot time in solitary isolation. My wife will attest that I can spend hours relaxing in my room,by my lonesome, with my video game, reading a book, or watching television. I come out from time to time to spend time with her, and then back to my isolation I go.

Preaching/Pastoring requires meeting new people and talking in front of small to large crowds. Beloved, if I am to be honest in almost 25 years later, my pinky-fingers and pinky-toes still get frigged every time I stand to preach the word of God. Beloved, as much as I would prefer to stay in shell, I can’t help to do the exact opposite. “ Why is that,”you ask? Church, I can’t help but remember John 3:16. John 3:16

John 3:16 KJV 1900

For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

I can’t help but remember Romans 5:8

Romans 5:8 TPT

But Christ proved God’s passionate love for us by dying in our place while we were still lost and ungodly!

Because of this, I can’t help but answer the clarion call from Heaven put out by the Apostle Paul in Romans 12:1

Romans 12:1 KJV 1900

I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.

I can’t help but take the advice of the writer of Proverbs. Proverbs 3:5-6

Proverbs 3:5–6 KJV 1900

Trust in the LORD with all thine heart;

And lean not unto thine own understanding.

In all thy ways acknowledge him,

And he shall direct thy paths.

Church, it is because of all of this that I am learning to be prepared for whenever GOD calls for me to make a “Divine Pivot.”

So, what is a divine pivot? Essentially, it is a sudden and unexpected change in direction that comes from God. It can happen in any area of our lives, resulting from our obedience to God or even our disobedience. In this sermon, we'll look at four points to help us understand the concept of a divine pivot and how it can impact our lives and others.

Church, will you journey with me through this tale of Surrender, Sacrifice, and Salvation?

Let’s go to work!

Background

Here we find The Apostle Paul and his protege Silas on the apostle's second of four missionary journeys. When they set out, they had an itinerary. Acts 16:6–10 “And they went through the region of Phrygia and Galatia, having been forbidden by the Holy Spirit to speak the word in Asia. And when they had come up to Mysia, they attempted to go into Bithynia, but the Spirit of Jesus did not allow them. So, passing by Mysia, they went down to Troas. And a vision appeared to Paul in the night: a man of Macedonia was standing there, urging him and saying, “Come over to Macedonia and help us.” And when Paul had seen the vision, we immediately sought to go into Macedonia, concluding that God had called us to preach the gospel to them.”

We see in Acts 16:6-10, trusting God's Directions, how God led Paul and his companions on their mission. They were directed by the Holy Spirit, even when the directions seemed unclear. They trusted God's leading, and as a result, they were able to spread the gospel in new places and see many lives changed.

The text says Paul and Silas preached a potent and powerful word from on high. The word pricked the heart of a wealthy dealer of purple fabric named Lydia. The word preached was so formidable and inspiring that Lydia and her entire house were baptized. Lydia was so impressed that she begged Paul and Silas to tarry there in Philippi , a little while longer. She went as far as to let them stay in her home. Again, the apostle acquiesced and capitulated to Lydia’s appeal.

At Lydia’s request, our heroes continued their kingdom work in Philippi. The text tells that a demonic possessed, fortune telling woman began to follow them for many days. This demonically possessed damsel repeatedly shouted, “ These men are the servants of the most high GOD.” The Apostle became so annoyed that he turned around and exercised the demon.

Beloved, be mindful that this demonically possessed woman was not free. Verse 16 identifies this fortune telling woman was involuntarily employed by someone. This woman was a slave. So, Paul didn’t just free this woman for her demonic captivity, but he negatively affected her owner’s fiscal bottom line.

Paul took food out of this man’s family’s mouths. He, in essence, burned down this man’s business. As you know, nothing infuriates a man more than another man messing with his money.

The texts says that owner was “ Hotter than Fish Grease”. The owner owner was “Big Mad”. He was so made that he snatched up Paul and Silas and dragged them to the marketplace to see the magistrate known as a duoviri ( due.vor. ree). The duoviri would not normally look for criminals, but they would wait on a raised platform near the city's north entrance for the accuser to bring charges.

The man knew that he most likely would not win on the grounds of property damage, so he accused our hero of the severe crime of disturbing the peace or rabble-rousing. The duoviri listen to a one-sided from the owners, and they sentence Paul and Silas without due process. Our heroes found themselves having their clothing torn from their bodies, their bodies were beaten severely, and they were thrown into maximum security.

As if the public humiliation, abuse, and jail sentence wasn’t enough, the authorities decided to add insult to injury. The duoviri ordered Paul and Silas to be placed in the lowest part of the jail devoid of light. Not only were they in a place devoid of light, but they were bound with fetters (chains). Can I pause parenthetically to make my first point. Divine Pivots can come from unexpected situations and often involve some necessary discomfort.

Divine Pivots can come from unexpected situations and necessary discomfort.

Beloved, I want to submit to you today that in order to effect change, somebody’s world must be affected. Here, we find Paul and Silas suffering for the kingdom's sake. We find Paul and Silas undoubtedly in excruciating pain. Remember, they were publicly humiliated, physically pummeled, and left to lick their wounds in dark isolation with their movement restricted.

I have a funny feeling and a sneaking suspicion that some of you have been wounded, humiliated, and let down. You felt or feel like no one cares. You feel or felt all alone. First, let me inform you that it’s okay to cry. It is okay to express your hurt. It’s okay to be angry. It’s okay to not be okay with what happened or is happening to you. However, we must be mindful that some of our Divine Pivots require faith and obedience, and bring about God's purpose and glory.

The bible does not tell us about the conversation between Paul and Silas from when they entered their cell until midnight.

However, I would be a good baptist preacher if I didn’t use my spiritual imagination.

I can just hear the conversation that was going on between Paul and Silas. Paul is probably beating himself up for not following his first mind and moving on to minister in another place. Silas was probably look at Paul with the meanest side eye. Silas was probably asking Paul some crazy questions. “ Why couldn’t we just leave, man? “Were you mesmerized by Lydia’s smile?” Now she is in her nice plush bed at home, and we are in this dismal place licking our wounds!” “Why, Bro,Why ?”

I know you all are good Christians here, and whatever GOD allows to happen is alright with you all. Can I be transparent for a moment? I must admit that I’m not there yet. I don’t like character assassination. I am not okay with folk lying on me. I am not okay with hitting me.

However, I know that GOD allowed me to temporarily fall to their attacks, so that HE can raise me in their presence so that He gets the glory.

Paul and Silas aren’t the only ones who had their lives affected to effect change. You don’t believe me?

• Ask Fannie Lou Hamer! If she didn’t stand up and declare that she was “ Tired of being sick and tired of being sick and tired,” If she never experienced the savage beating at the hand of the police, so that I can have to right to vote.

• Ask Claudette Colvin and Rosa Parks, who refuse to get out of their seats on the bus, just months apart, face physical and emotional abuse, so that I can sit anywhere on a bus.

• Ask Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Coretta Scott King, and family who had a dream, pushed to make that dream a reality, experienced jail, physical and mental abuse, erroneous incarceration, house bombing ,so that I can experience the rights to me as not only as resident of the country, but also as a member of the human race.

While we aren’t where we or they would desire us to be, we are far better than we used to be. I guess the question I need to ask you today is, what are you willing to sacrifice for the Kingdom? How sold out or dedicated are you for the cross.

Church, you know that only what you do for Christ will last. That simply means that the lessons taught, the gestures of kindness to your brothers and sisters of the kingdom, will be remembered long after you have died, and your name as gone from the memories of the living.

Now that we have looked at the suffering, explain that the pain was necessary, and that is okay not to okay with the pain, let’s look at our second divine pivot.

Divine Pivots requires Faith

I told you all that Paul and Silas were in pain and tethered to their misery, but some change in the midnight hour. A transition took place in the spirits. Paul and Silas switch from a pity party to a praise party. This is a message for someone in this church today. This is a message for someone watching via the World Wide Web.

It’s time to change your song from “Woe is Me”to “Oh to be kept by Jesus”. It is time for someone to change their song from “Love Don’t Live Here Anymore” to “Oh How I Love Jesus”. It time to change you song from, “ The One That GOD Forgot” to “ The God of the Mountain Is Still God In The Valley.”

Look at you neighbor. Tell your neighbor, “ Things change when you change your song.” The text says that around verse 25, the soundtrack of their experience switched from the blues to Praise and Worship. The text says that they started praying and singing the praises of GOD. The bible says that not only did GOD hear them, but all of the other prisoners heard them too. When Paul and Silas began to praise and worship GOD, there was a shift in the atmosphere. The Bible said the earth could resist joining in the worship, so she began to rock.

Her rocking broke some chains! Her rocking opened some door! Can I pause here again? Somebody is confined in a dark place. Someone is vexed and perplexed by the situation that they find themselves in. I know you sitting here smiling at us, but crying inside. You don’t know how to get out of it. I urge you to change your song. I urge you to talk to GOD. I guarantee you will find that your atmosphere and circumstances will shift. Yolks will be destroyed, and chains will be broken. I declare that prayer and worship is liberating. Why is it so liberating? Well, Psalm 22:3 tells us that GOD inhabits the praises of His people. Paul reminds us in is second epistle to Corinthian Church, in 2 Corinthians 3: 17

2 Corinthians 3:17 ESV

Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom.

You find this revelation to manifest itself through the bible.

• In Daniel 3, We find that we can come out of a fiery situation unscathed if we bring faith and the favor of GOD with us. At least that’s what Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah told me. Oh, I’m sorry. You know them by Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, the derogatory names given to them by their captors.

• In Daniel 6, Daniel shows how you can have a predator dispatched to devour you, with GOD on your side, that predator can be turned into a posturepedic for you to get a good night sleep.

• In Genesis 34-50, you find Joseph remind us that you overcome heartache and pain of familial betrayal, as you journey from the Pit dug for your destruction to palace and being responsible for the same family’s survival.

Now that we see how the presence of The Lord can shift our situation when we bring Him with us, let’s look at my point. Divine Pivots bring about God's purpose and glory.

Divine Pivots bring about God's Purpose and Glory.

The bible says that when Paul and Silas were released, so were the rest of the prisoners. This wouldn’t bode well for the jailer. Not just Paul and Silas, but all of the prisoners gone. Certainly, death would have been a better experience for the jailer than what his superiors would bring upon him.

The text says the jailer drop the sword, and called for a light. He validated the declaration that Paul made in the dark. The Bible says that the jailer brought Paul and Silas out into what would most likely have been the prison courtyard. He realized that these two were under some divine protection. This caused him to ask the one question all believers should want to hear. The jailer asked, What must I do to be saved?”

Paul and Silas could have taken the opportunity to leave. They could have taken the time to create a jailhouse insurrection or uprising with the help of the other prisoners. However, they chose not to waste an opportunity to fulfill the great commission.

Matthew 28:19–20 KJV 1900

Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.

Paul and Silas elected to share the Gospel of Christ with the jailer. That at that very moment, the jailer believed in the Lord Jesus. The jailer was so moved that he took our two heroes into his home. The jailer had Paul and Silas treated. The Apostle and his understudy preached to the jailer household. The Bible said they all believed and were baptized.

Beloved, I don’t know if you caught that. Paul and Silas' suffering was to allow GOD to reveal himself to the prisoners, the jailers, the household, and anyone who hears their story.

I’m really trying to say something here. Beloved, even in the darkest of times, God is at work. He can use our trials and hardships as a divine pivot to bring about his purposes and lead us to new opportunities for growth and witness.

Beloved ,I know its easy to complain, to become depressed, and get down on yourself,because of life’s twist and turn. I urge you to hold on, because you, me, we are a fix race. Jeremiah 29:11

Jeremiah 29:11 ESV

For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope.

Romans 8:28 ESV

And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.

Beloved, GOD called for Paul and Silas were giving a destination without details. Who knows if they would have gone if they were told of the pain and agony that awaits them. We know that if they had not gone , many would not have come Christ.

The same can go for you and me. We will be called to make a Divine Pivot. We will provide a destination without details. However, the journey will pay off end . We come out with another example of GOD’s way-making, miracle working,and promise-keeping power, and those around us will come asking out we made it over.

That’s when we get the opportunity to tell our story.

We can tell them that :

Sometimes there are obstacles in the road

That can leave you feeling low

And you don't know how to move forward

And sometimes there are turns you wanna take

But the way gets hard to trace

Now you're wondering how did you get here

But don't you give up

Until you see

How God is ordering your steps

So you can walk into your season

We can take the opportunity to tell them

He that has begun

A great work in you

Is faithful to perform it

God is faithful to perform it

He that has begun

A great work in you

Is faithful to perform it

Our God is faithful.