Gospel Arrivals and Gospel Reactions

There are certain events in History that have drastic effects on people. events that people describe their feelings of how time stood still and they were left with feelings of awe, shock, loss, or even excitement.

where were you when JFK was shot? The moon landing? 9/11

in as sense, nothing has really changed, but also: everything has changed. you cant go back and be the person you were before this event.

and that is the same kind of reactions we see in this scripture.

we’re going to be looking at Gospel arrivals and gospel reactions and the question we will ask of ourselves is: How has the Gospel arrived in our life? and what has our reaction been?

Context:

Vs. 1-5

Paul begins his second missionary Journey. The first one had been a rousing success, He decides to go back out and strengthen and encourage the christians and churches he helped plant.

Along the way Two people join the party.

Luke - the author - no longer is anything written from an interview, Now Luke has joined the missionaries and the rest of the book first person plural nouns are used.

Timothy - who would be a life long companion for Paul.

Vs 6-10

the group are prevented from going into Asia minor, and stopped from going into Bithynia. Until they get the Macedonian Call

I have come to realize: this is how the providence of God works. It doesn’t come with writing in the sky, or bells and whistles but closed doors which require a waiting on the Lord to show you where you are supposed to go. and His plans and intentions are so much greater that we can possible think.

God does a greater work in Paul’s disappointments and his pain than he would have done otherwise.

Paul wanted to go and plant new churches in several large cities. Instead, God gave him the entire continent of Europe.

Vs.11-12

Arrival at Philippi - Philippi was an important city in the ancient world. It got it’s name from Philip of Macedon who was the father of Alexander the Great but it was also the site of one of the deciding battles of Rome. In 42BC the armies of Brutus and Cassius face the armies of Marc Antony and Octavius declaring Him to be the victor which lead Octavius to become Caesar Augustus.

and because Philippi had a special place in His history he made it a Roman colony.

As a roman colony, it was a place where Roman soldiers would retire, and then bring all their roman customs into the culture of the city.

So it was a place that was brimming with Roman national pride.

Vs.13

Paul follows His classic protocol for evangelism but the jewish population is so scarce, there’s not a synagogue.

It was believed if there were 10 Jewish men, it would be enough to sanction the creation of a synagogue. but thats men only. we have no idea how many were present because they weren’t counted on jewish roles.

but they Go to the riverside because part of the jewish prayers required ritualistic washing. so in the absence of a synagogue you would have to gather at some kind of body of water,

Vs. 14-15

Don’t skip over this:

How does salvation come to us? How are we saved? There’s no mention of an alter call or a sinner’s prayer.

Luke gives credit to where credit is due: God is the one who opens

we are dead in our trespasses and sins and it is God who opens our hearts and places a love for him in our lives.

Vs.16 - 19

Slave girl: Spirit of divination.

The ancient world would call her a Pythos - same word we get python from - a demonic spirit that manifested itself by soothsaying, fortune telling. and just like our modern day psychics or tarot card readers, people would come and pay money to get her predictions.

What she’s saying is correct. but it’s the manner in which she’s saying it.

She’s trying to destroy their testimony of truth with acrimony and mockery.

So Paul pities her state, and is also annoyed at her, because the language of the text says she’s basically stalking them, commands the demons to be quiet.

In the same way that Jesus does in

Matthew 8:28–34 , Mark 3:11-12

But now her master’s cash cow is gone.

they grab Paul and Silas and drag them into the marketplace, which served as a public forum

Vs 20-24

They play on the heavy Antisemitic prejudices of the crowd as well as the Roman pride of the town and have them beaten

rods were long sticks - doubled as canes.

Jewish laws only allowed a certain number of lashes as punishment but there was so such a thing in Roman law

more than likely they’re beaten until their backs are raw.

they’re thrown in prison. which should be enough but after that, the jailer puts them in the inner prison. the deepest darkest part and puts them in stocks.

The way these stocks were designed, was a form of torture. with every movement, the stocks were designed to get tighter and restrict motion.

Now comes one of the most memorable stories of conversion

Vs 25

Believe it was portions of Psalm 113-118

Psalm 113:1–8 ESV

Praise the Lord! Praise, O servants of the Lord, praise the name of the Lord! Blessed be the name of the Lord from this time forth and forevermore! From the rising of the sun to its setting, the name of the Lord is to be praised! The Lord is high above all nations, and his glory above the heavens! Who is like the Lord our God, who is seated on high, who looks far down on the heavens and the earth? He raises the poor from the dust and lifts the needy from the ash heap, to make them sit with princes, with the princes of his people.

The Acts of the Apostles The Philippian Jailer (Acts 16:25–40)

The one thing you can never take away from a Christian is God and the presence of Jesus Christ. With God there is freedom even in a prison, and even at midnight there is light

This is the kind of relationship that testifies to the word the sweetness of Jesus christ.

What is it about a life of comfort, a big house, a brand new car, the newest iPhone, the latest thing, notoriety and recognition that brings glory to God? Nothing.

It’s the Apostle’s deep in the dungeon singing praises to God with their backs ripped apart. it’s the Nate Saints and Jim Elliotts that give their lives for the spread of the Gospel. It’s the family given a tragedy and still holds together, it’s person that suffers with a chronic illness for 20 years and says if I lose even more than this but I still have Jesus, I have everything.

It model’s Jesus life better than anything else we could experience. Jesus sat in the midst of joy, sipping the coming sorrow, so we as his followers can sit in the midst of sorrow sipping the coming joy

Vs. 26-34

Earthquakes were not uncommon in the area. so the jailer would have taken precautions. The door was locked with a large wooden bar. But the bar was lifted. and the chains that tightened with movement were suddenly loosened.

upon seeing the doors unlocked and the chains broken the jailer takes out his sword and he’s about to fall on it.

in the Roman world suicide was not seen as an act of cowardice but as a virtue. it was a sign that you had accepted your punishment.

Paul calls out STOP We’re all here!

Jailer rushes in and makes his confession

some people believe His question isn’t one of salvation, he’s just asking for advice and Paul takes advantage.

but I don’t. I believe after partaking the their beatings, and hearing them praying and singing all night, seeing them all present despite being miraculously freed, and being seconds away not just from death but if Paul had waited one more moment the jailer would have opened his eyes and been in Hell.

He knew Paul and Silas had the answer he needed.

and then immediently his household follows him, They're baptized, and then the jailer offers them food and washes their wounds.

Both of the main characters in this chapter experience the arrival of the Gospel in different ways…

Lydia is a god worshipper. The Jailer is a pagan.

Lydia was a prospering successful business woman. The jailer was a failure who almost took his own life.

Lydia’s heart was gently opened by the Holy Spirit. The Jailer was trembling and frightened.

The Jailer had a miraculous sign. All that Lydia had was the Holy Spirit gently awakening her.

Both heard the Gospel, Both believed. Both of their families were saved.

How did the Gospel arrive in your life?

Here is the more poinent question: What does your life look like now?

When the Gospel arrives in your live it did so unmistakably.

after the arrival of the Gospel is your life now marked with the love of Jesus and the desire to follow him?

what does that look like? it looks like delighting in his word.

abandoning your old way of life in pursuit of something different.

opening your homes because the love of Jesus compels you into hospitality.

seeking forgiveness from the ones you have wronged

standing up for those who are oppressed

and clinging to christ even in the darkest of dungeons of your life.

How has the Gospel arrived in your life?

was it Quietly through his word? or dramatically when you desperately needed him.

did he deliver you from addiction? homelessness? or just a life of pride?

has it changed you?

Even if you’ve never been delivered from something dramatic, can you still say your life has been changed and you have a desire to follow after Jesus and submit to his word?

if you can’t say or are unsure. there’s a final question you need to ask: What must I do to be saved?

believe on the lord Jesus christ and you will be saved.

Every Gospel arrival has a Gospel reaction