What type of Testimony are we?

Acts 16: 25 - 31

Opening service: These last few weeks we’ve been focusing on the theme of identity within our Bethel Youth bible study group.

Getting the youths to understand more about their faith but also more about their personal identity within Christ.

So this week was our last week on this theme and as I was reading the book of Acts, there is a very simple but powerful question that gets asked to Paul.

And Paul provides an even more simpler answer and I believe the question and the answer encompasses what it means to have an identity in Christ and our individual purpose.

Let’s open our bibles and read the word of God in Acts 16 and we’ll be looking at verses 25 to 33. SCRIPTURE:

Acts 16:25–33 “25 About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the prisoners were listening to them, 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 everyone’s bonds were unfastened. 27 When the jailer woke and saw that the prison doors were open, he drew his sword and was about to kill himself, supposing that the prisoners had escaped. 28 But Paul cried with a loud voice, “Do not harm yourself, for we are all here.” 29 And the jailer called for lights and rushed in, and trembling with fear he fell down before Paul and Silas. 30 Then he brought them out and said, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?” 31 And they said, “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved, you and your household.” 32 And 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 wounds; and he was baptized at once, he and all his family.”

CONTEXT:

So as we have just red, Paul and Silas are in prison.

Chapter 16 is essentially where they start their second missonary joutney.

Initially Paul planned to go visit the churches he had already planted.

Up to this point a few things have taken place, at the start of the chapter it says how the Holy spirit forbade them to preach the Gospel in Asia. Which led them to enter into Europe and more specifically they are now in Macedonia.

Paul meets a lady called Lydia who gets baptised and her family also gets baptised.

A few verses prior it speaks about how Paul encounters a fortune teller that the bible teaches us that she was a slave as her ability to fortune tell made great wealth for her master.

This girl essentially starts to follow Paul & Silas chanting these These men are servants of the most high! Which the bible tells us that Paul turns around casts the demon out in the name of Jesus and the spirit leaves.

The masters were frustrated because now it meant that he had cost them money as they girl would no longer have the ability to fortune tell and make them money.

Which brings us to our verse that we have just red today. Paul and Silas in prison and at midnight they began to pray and worship.

PREACHING:

Similar to what we’ve done here today, we’ve sang and worshipped God. The bible says that Paul and Silas after being beaten, attacked and humilated as their clothes were torn away from them & thrown into prison, not only did they not fight back, or curse and have self pity.

They began to enter into a time of prayer.

Psalm 119:62 ESV

62 At midnight I rise to praise you, because of your righteous rules.

It was what they were accustom in doing, so didn’t matter the situation at hand, they were going to do what they had always done. They didn’t care who was around and the circumstances or the environment.

They began singing, this wasn’t a lazy mutering quietly a few words, or sing the most popular secular song to kill the time and because a song is going trendy and everyone is playing and singing it.

James 5:13 ESV

13 Is anyone among you suffering? Let him pray. Is anyone cheerful? Let him sing praise.

NKJV > Let him sing Psalms > Paul and Silas were likely singing and reciting one of the psalms.

The bible says they sang hymns and began to worship God. They started to proclaim the gospel, they started to declare and praise God.

And the word says that whilst they were praying and praising, the prisoners were all listening.

Can you imagine the prison atmosphere and the prisoners reaction? Here you have a group of men that just had their clothes turned of their backs, they were beaten aggressive and excessively, body all bruised and blood running through their faces and body. And they begin to pray and worship God. The Prisoners must have been confused. They probably thought what about any of this is good, what about this is worth praising and worshipping? How can you be so cheerful and excited?

Look at what just happened: 1. Your original plans got changed and redirected 2. You was obedient and came to a place you don’t know 3. You got humilated and beaten 4. You’re now locked up in a prison None of this looks GOOD.

I imagine we have encountered some of these moments in our life.

Uncles, Aunties, Cousins, Siblings and friends or even our partners looking at our lives saying man your life isn’t even better than ours.

If your life isn’t more enriched than mine and you’re a child of God than what’s the point?

But then we continue reading and it says in Acts 16:26

Acts 16:26 ESV

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 everyone’s bonds were unfastened.

But church we serve a living God that is merciful and only by his grace we are able to truly taste and learn more about his glory.

And as they waited there praising, an earthquake comes and everyone is freed.

The wildest thing happens, as this earthquake took place and all the chains are essentially released and doors are bust open. The word of God says that ALL THE PRISONERS STAYED.

The most miraculous thing had just occurred, the most timely earthquake that somehow caused only enough destruction to shake the foundation of the prison and somehow this caused the chains to be lose and the doors to be wide open.

And the prisoners stayed. They didn’t run.

These were people that for the first time had heard the word of God and not only hearing the word of God but hearing someone proclaim that Jesus was the only one true King and repentance to all those who believe in him.

This was different to the the King that they knew and served, the Gospel of Jesus contradicted the message of Caesars.

They were so focused on the message that they wanted to remain and stay their, they wanted to stay in environment to learn more about Jesus.

Someone of us are exactly where we’re meant to be because God is using us as a testimony for someone in our lives.

Someone that is just watching tentatively how you pray, how you worship, how you still found joy and smile throughout your day when you’ve gone through hardship.

What might have started as something they found irritable and annoying, now has turned into curiosity and they are staying close enough that they start seeing you transform and change.

Sons & Daughters watching how we act when we are frustrated and stressed out. Friends & Family watching how you worship throughout your day. Husbands/Wives that are going through similar or same difficulties as you but one is sour and angry & that other is joyful and patiently waiting on God.

The Jailer probably thought that he was also witnessing a miracle, because who in their right mind would have stayed after given the opportunity to escape.

Acts 16:27–28 “27 When the jailer woke and saw that the prison doors were open, he drew his sword and was about to kill himself, supposing that the prisoners had escaped. 28 But Paul cried with a loud voice, “Do not harm yourself, for we are all here.””

Here we have two similar situations, Paul and Silas & The Jailer, they both experienced low point in their lives and Jailer saw the obstacle so big that he was ready to kill himself. Paul & Silas was

Under Roman law, prisoners that escaped the jailer would essentially face the same punishment as the prisoners which likely would have been death.

He assumed that the prisoners had escaped and saw that was the worst thing that could have happened and said man this is too big of a problem, I might as well go out on my own terms.

He draws his sword and was ready instantly in that moment to kill himself.

You might be facing like that in this moment, maybe nothing might be going your way.

You might be feeling your siuations or circumstances might be so big that its consuming and maybe you might be thinking you’re at the last leg. Something has to give.

But we are reminded in John 16:33:

John 16:33 ESV

33 I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.”

It doesn’t matter what you’re facing right now or what problems you think might be too big. The God you serve is greater, he has overcome the world and today we can walk with confidence that his word will have the final say.

Acts 16:29–31 ESV

29 And the jailer called for lights and rushed in, and trembling with fear he fell down before Paul and Silas. 30 Then he brought them out and said, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?” 31 And they said, “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved, you and your household.”

When the Jailer thought all hope was lost and he was ready to end everything, Paul crys out calling him not to harm himself.

This was Paul pleading for this man, the man that would have been involved in his poor treatment at the prison. Yet again in that moment he crys out. His love for this man to not only kill himself but also the opportunity to hear the gospel.

Their identity was rooted in Christ, they were immitators of Christ, missionarys that simply didn’t only spread the gospel of Jesus but they lived it.

Then comes rushing in, amazed at what he was witnessing and he fell down trembling with fear.

Proverbs 9:10 ESV

10 The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and the knowledge of the Holy One is insight.

He was convicted by the Holy Spirit and in that moment he wanted to know what must he do to be saved.

He didn’t ask how is it humanly possible that your chains became undone and prison gates were open

He didn’t question the prisoners why they stayed when the doors were open

He didn’t question Paul and Silas asking him how did they manage to do this

He ONLY asked what must he do to be saved?

Maybe he thought that this was something that was earned, through his own ability and strength he could also earn this right to be saved.

But we know that salvation isn’t something that can be bought with our own works. It’s something that is given freely but has to be accepted through faith and belief.

In which they responded:

Acts 16:31 “31 And they said, “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved, you and your household.””

They didn’t start questioning him about his theology

They didn’t ask him about his personal belief on the holy trinity

They didn’t quiz him to find out if he was an outstanding citizen

They didn’t even hold a grudge and say YOU! The Guy that threw us into prison without any cause.

Their response was as simple and as profound as the question: Believe in the Lord Jesus and you & your household will be saved.

Some of you might be here today asking what is your purpose?

Matthew 5:16 ESV

16 In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.

Our purpose is to live as living sacrifices, as testimony and reflection of Christ so they can get to know more of Christ.

The Jailer and his family was likely some of the first european converts. They probably hadn’t heard the gospel before.

Some of you might be like Paul, you might be the only one in your family that knows the word of God and family members or friends that may have heard parts about God but they don’t know, they don’t have relationship.

You have the opportunity to be living testimonies and be ready so when they are ready and just like the prisoners are watching and listening to you proclaim the gospel. Your testimony will give glory to the father and seed would have been planted.

Acts 16:32–33 ESV

32 And 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 wounds; and he was baptized at once, he and all his family.

We might not know or sometimes understand God’s plan

Paul and Silas had a different plan and as the journey progressed he encountered various obstacles and also blessings.

But God’s plan is always greater

Had he not been obedient a family wouldn’t have been saved and wouldn’t have formed the first initial Christian community in Philippi’s with the Jailer’s family and Lydia which was also baptized earlier in the chapter.

We might not know or understand God’s plan in our lives right now, but with our identity rooted in Christ we know our purpose.

Paul and Silas was just being obedient to God’s command to go out and make disciples & Baptised in the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit.

I don’t know if anyone here today that isn’t baptised, but has in their heart already accepted that our Lord God Jesus Christ as the only saviour and believes in him. Show of hands.

Baptism is a form of obedience to the word of God.

It doesn’t matter if you have been attending church for years and you still haven’t been baptised or if you have only been attending church for the last few weeks/months but you have accepted Christ in your heart.

If you haven’t been baptised and would like to be baptised please show your hands so we can pray and speak after service.