Witnessing and Worshiping
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Then what advantage has the Jew? Or what is the value of circumcision?
Much in every way. To begin with, the Jews were entrusted with the oracles of God.
What if some were unfaithful? Does their faithlessness nullify the faithfulness of God?
By no means! Let God be true though every one were a liar, as it is written, “That you may be justified in your words, and prevail when you are judged.”
But if our unrighteousness serves to show the righteousness of God, what shall we say? That God is unrighteous to inflict wrath on us? (I speak in a human way.)
By no means! For then how could God judge the world?
But if through my lie God’s truth abounds to his glory, why am I still being condemned as a sinner?
And why not do evil that good may come?—as some people slanderously charge us with saying. Their condemnation is just.
What then? Are we Jews any better off? No, not at all. For we have already charged that all, both Jews and Greeks, are under sin,
as it is written: “None is righteous, no, not one;
no one understands; no one seeks for God.
All have turned aside; together they have become worthless; no one does good, not even one.”
“Their throat is an open grave; they use their tongues to deceive.” “The venom of asps is under their lips.”
“Their mouth is full of curses and bitterness.”
“Their feet are swift to shed blood;
in their paths are ruin and misery,
and the way of peace they have not known.”
“There is no fear of God before their eyes.”
Now we know that whatever the law says it speaks to those who are under the law, so that every mouth may be stopped, and the whole world may be held accountable to God.
For by works of the law no human being will be justified in his sight, since through the law comes knowledge of sin.
But now the righteousness of God has been manifested apart from the law, although the Law and the Prophets bear witness to it—
the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all who believe. For there is no distinction:
for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,
and are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus,
whom God put forward as a propitiation by his blood, to be received by faith. This was to show God’s righteousness, because in his divine forbearance he had passed over former sins.
It was to show his righteousness at the present time, so that he might be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus.
Then what becomes of our boasting? It is excluded. By what kind of law? By a law of works? No, but by the law of faith.
For we hold that one is justified by faith apart from works of the law.
Or is God the God of Jews only? Is he not the God of Gentiles also? Yes, of Gentiles also,
since God is one—who will justify the circumcised by faith and the uncircumcised through faith.
Do we then overthrow the law by this faith? By no means! On the contrary, we uphold the law.
Intro:
Intro:
AG:
TS: Paul and company arrive in Philippi.
Philippians derives its name from the Greek city where the church to which it was addressed was located. Philippi was the first town in Macedonia where Paul established a church.
Philippi was the first town in Macedonia where Paul established a church.
Literally “city of Philip” Named after Philip 2 of Macedon, Alexander the Great’s Father. Philip had conquered the reign in the 4th century BC and the nearby gold mines.
In Paul’s day, it was part of the Roman province of Macedonia. In 42 B.C., Antony and Octavian defeated Brutus and Cassius at the Battle of Philippi ending the Roman Republic and beginning the age of the Empire. Philippi became a Roman colony and was thus autonomous from provincial rule and her citizens were citizens of Rome.
Apparently there was a small Jewish population since there was no synagogue in which Paul could begin his church planting efforts, so Paul went to where he expected to find fellow Jews.
RS: As we examine this text, we can see how God worked in the first century. God is still sovereign and building His church.
A Strategic Convert
A Strategic Convert
Acts 16:
So, setting sail from Troas, we made a direct voyage to Samothrace, and the following day to Neapolis,
and from there to Philippi, which is a leading city of the district of Macedonia and a Roman colony. We remained in this city some days.
And on the Sabbath day we went outside the gate to the riverside, where we supposed there was a place of prayer, and we sat down and spoke to the women who had come together.
One who heard us was a woman named Lydia, from the city of Thyatira, a seller of purple goods, who was a worshiper of God. The Lord opened her heart to pay attention to what was said by Paul.
And after she was baptized, and her household as well, she urged us, saying, “If you have judged me to be faithful to the Lord, come to my house and stay.” And she prevailed upon us.
EX: Paul began with Jews
There was no synagogue, so he went to the river where he expected to find a place of prayer.
10 Jewish men were required to form a synagogue.
Without that, the Jewish custom was to meet in a place of prayer, often under the open sky near a river or sea.
He found devout women meeting for prayer, worship and Scripture recitation.
One woman, Lydia, was converted who was particularly strategic.
from Thyatira
Seller of purple fabric
a very expensive commodity
Due to the cost, only the very wealthy and royalty could afford it.
The Lord opened her heart an she believed.
She had a large house which enable her to accommodate the new church.
AP: God often works in strategic ways.
I have seen children’s choirs lead to parents being saved when they attend just to watch their children perform.
One convert in a village has opened doors for missionaries to plant strong and healthy churches.
God is at work and does amazing things.
A Satanic Counterattack
A Satanic Counterattack
Acts 16:16-
As we were going to the place of prayer, we were met by a slave girl who had a spirit of divination and brought her owners much gain by fortune-telling.
She followed Paul and us, crying out, “These men are servants of the Most High God, who proclaim to you the way of salvation.”
And this she kept doing for many days. Paul, having become greatly annoyed, turned and said to the spirit, “I command you in the name of Jesus Christ to come out of her.” And it came out that very hour.
But when her owners saw that their hope of gain was gone, they seized Paul and Silas and dragged them into the marketplace before the rulers.
And when they had brought them to the magistrates, they said, “These men are Jews, and they are disturbing our city.
They advocate customs that are not lawful for us as Romans to accept or practice.”
The crowd joined in attacking them, and the magistrates tore the garments off them and gave orders to beat them with rods.
And when they had inflicted many blows upon them, they threw them into prison, ordering the jailer to keep them safely.
Having received this order, he put them into the inner prison and fastened their feet in the stocks.
EX: Satan wasted no time in attacking Paul.
The possessed girl had a spirit of divination.
Through her trafficking with demons, she was considered a fortune teller, and a profitable one at that.
Paul commanded the demon in the name of Jesus Christ to depart and it obeyed.
She was delivered.
She was now no good at fortune telling.
Her owners, threw the city into an uproar.
Drug Paul and Silas before the court and accused them of disturbing the peace of the city.
Even went so far as accusing them of promoting unlawful customs.
Anti-Semitism was alive in Rome.
Emperor Claudius had expelled all the Jews from Rome.
The magistrates (2) were charged with upholding justice.
They failed to investigate, failed to identify the citizenship of Paul and Silas
They had them beaten with bundle of rods and thrown in prison.
The jailor went further an put their feet in stocks.
AP: Satan doesn’t want us to be faithful to God.
He opposes the work just as he always has.
During the temptation of Christ, Satan tried to stop Jesus from completing His task
When Satan couldn’t compromise Jesus, he worked to lead to His condemnation and execution.
Satan works to compromise and condemn Christians.
Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.
A Surprising Chorus
A Surprising Chorus
About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the prisoners were listening to them,
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.
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.
But Paul cried with a loud voice, “Do not harm yourself, for we are all here.”
Acts 16:25-
About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the prisoners were listening to them,
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.
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.
But Paul cried with a loud voice, “Do not harm yourself, for we are all here.”
And the jailer called for lights and rushed in, and trembling with fear he fell down before Paul and Silas.
Then he brought them out and said, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?”
And they said, “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved, you and your household.”
And they spoke the word of the Lord to him and to all who were in his house.
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.
EX: In jail, Paul and Silas have a worship service!
What an unusual response to false imprisonment and a beating!
Praying
Singing hymns
They rejoiced when they suffered not because they enjoyed pain!
It was due to identifying with Christ.
In this you rejoice, though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been grieved by various trials,
so that the tested genuineness of your faith—more precious than gold that perishes though it is tested by fire—may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ.
Not only were they displaying a solid faith, they were ministering to others even in their time of need.
They were ministering to others even in their time of need.
Prisoners were listening to them.
They glorified God and proclaimed Him to all in the prison.
Their act of worship in difficult times was also an opening for the gospel.
They were ministering to others even in their time of need.
God showed up in a mighty way!
Earthquake
Doors opened
Stocks fell off
AP: We can rejoice when we suffer just like Paul and Silas.
Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds,
for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness.
And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.
James 1:2-
A Shocked Convert
A Shocked Convert
And the jailer called for lights and rushed in, and trembling with fear he fell down before Paul and Silas.
Then he brought them out and said, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?”
And they said, “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved, you and your household.”
And they spoke the word of the Lord to him and to all who were in his house.
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.
Then he brought them up into his house and set food before them. And he rejoiced along with his entire household that he had believed in God.
Acts 16:29-35
And the jailer called for lights and rushed in, and trembling with fear he fell down before Paul and Silas.
Then he brought them out and said, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?”
And they said, “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved, you and your household.”
And they spoke the word of the Lord to him and to all who were in his house.
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.
Then he brought them up into his house and set food before them. And he rejoiced along with his entire household that he had believed in God.
But when it was day, the magistrates sent the police, saying, “Let those men go.”
EX: The jailor goes from fear to amazement.
A Roman soldier would pay for loosing a prisoner with his own life.
They jailor was about to end it quickly and avoid the humiliation and pain of a formal execution.
In that moment, Paul halted him.
I would love to have seen his face as he was stunned to find all of the prisoners were still there!
Knowing something supernatural had occured, he asked what it took to be saved.
Look closely at Paul’s answer:
And they said, “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved, you and your household.”
Acts 16:
Wait a minute! Where is the list of required steps.
Where is the mention of attending church, baptism, giving money, doing acts of service, etc?
With his life, both physical and eternal, on the line, Paul said, “believe in the Lord Jesus”
Salvation is by grace through faith and by no other means.
One must believe He is who He claimed to be and He did what He said He would do.
but these are written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name.
Romans
For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures,
that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures,
The same means of faith for the jailor, is good for his entire family, his servants, his guests, etc.
AP: Salvation comes to all the same way as the jailor.
AP:
Believe in the Lord Jesus
Who He is and what He did.
A Shamed Court
A Shamed Court
But when it was day, the magistrates sent the police, saying, “Let those men go.”
And the jailer reported these words to Paul, saying, “The magistrates have sent to let you go. Therefore come out now and go in peace.”
But Paul said to them, “They have beaten us publicly, uncondemned, men who are Roman citizens, and have thrown us into prison; and do they now throw us out secretly? No! Let them come themselves and take us out.”
The police reported these words to the magistrates, and they were afraid when they heard that they were Roman citizens.
So they came and apologized to them. And they took them out and asked them to leave the city.
So they went out of the prison and visited Lydia. And when they had seen the brothers, they encouraged them and departed.
Acts 16:35-
EX: Much to the shame of the court, Paul and Silas reveal their citizenship.
They had committed a serious crime to inflict punishment on citizens of Rome without first having a trial..
Their malpractice could have cost them their offices, and possibly the revocation of Philippi’s status as a colony and all of the privileges associated with it.
They apologized and release Paul and Silas.
This gives Paul and Silas freedom from harassment.
AP: God still turns the tables at times.
Those who Satan would use to bring us harm, often can be converts.
Those same people may end up either on our side, or removed out of the way.
Conclusion:
Conclusion: