Committed To Preach (part 2)

As I studied this week I noticed something interesting. Up until the passage we will look at today, the only recorded words from this group were Paul telling the demon to come out of the girl.

Imagine with me that you see someone walking while looking at their phone. Not too hard to imagine. They are walking on this path but they are so engrossed in their phone that they don’t notice the cliff ahead (S). Now you are behind them, but not close enough to stop them. What do you do?

I think most of us would shout to get their attention, right? Because if we don’t speak, they are going to die.

Every single day, people are heading into eternity without Christ. If we do not speak, if we do not warn them, they die. Jude talks about having compassion on some and grabbing hold of others to pull them from the fire. We need to be serious about bringing people to Jesus. We need to open our mouths, we need to speak the gospel of Jesus Christ, calling men and women back from the edge. We need to pull them from the fire.

Our passage this morning is about speaking the gospel.

Last week we discussed the need for confidence in God if we are going to be committed to preach. Confident in His placement, purpose, and power. Today we will learn that…

Commitment to preach means we are ready to speak at every opportunity.

Unwillingness to verbally proclaim Christ demonstrates a lack of commitment.

Be ready to speak.

BUT…

Don’t speak until you have something to say.

This passage gives us three areas in which we must be ready to speak.

When we speak of our God, lives are transformed.

Area #1. We must be…

1. Ready To Speak God’s Praise vv. 25-28

When we speak God’s praise in the midst of darkness, in the middle of difficult circumstances, we make two discoveries.

When should we praise God?

Just out of high school my brother had something he really wanted to do. He wanted to make a music album. He saved up thousands of dollars and him, myself, and another friend wrote some songs. We then spent several months in a studio recording the album (S). Don’t get too excited, it wasn’t that great. lol. However, there are a few songs that have stuck with me over the years.

One of them is called “All The Time”. The chorus goes like this “Don’t just praise the sovereign God above when all things go your way. Praise Him for the darkest night along with brightest day. The loving Father has a plan for pleasure and for pain. So praise Him all the time, in the sunshine and the rain.”

That is the kind of praise we see here. Praise for God regardless of trial, suffering and persecution.

When we speak God’s praise in the midst of darkness, in the middle of difficult circumstances, we make two discoveries.

First we discover that…

a. Praising God brings freedom vv. 25-26

Secondly, we discover that…

READ vv. 25-26

We saw last week that they have been stripped, excessively beaten, and put in stocks.

They respond to this persecution with prayer and singing!

These actions are only possible if we understand the sovereignty of God. Prayer is always an act of submission. It is a recognition of our God’s power and our insufficiency.

Paul and Silas could do nothing to change their circumstances. So they appeal to the only one who can.

If you are overwhelmed. If you are burdened. If you are imprisoned and chained. Pray.

; (S).

;

1 Peter 5:7 NKJV

casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you.

Philippians 4:6 NKJV

Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God;

Cast your burdens on the one who cares! Don’t be anxious, give it to Jesus!

When we unburden ourselves, we are then able to bring praise to our God.

I want you to notice an important grammatical note. Is the word “hymns” singular or plural? Plural! As in more than one!

Paul and Silas are not praying and singing because they expect release. Paul and Silas are casting their burdens on Christ and are so liberated that they burst forth in song!

This is what happens when we give everything to the Lord in prayer. We are set free spiritually.

The

The spiritual freedom of Paul and Silas does not depend on their physical freedom. And neither does yours or mine.

The last line in v. 25 is very significant. “The prisoners were listening to them.”

Beloved, we are being watched.

My family has experienced some tragedy. Several years ago my oldest brother and his family had their baby die in the womb only a couple weeks before delivery. Not long after my older brother and his family had their three month old little girl go home to be with Jesus. Both of those funerals were packed with people who were not believers. People from their communities came because of the impact those families had on the community. They were watching to see how this trial would be endured.

When we go through trials, an unsaved world watches to see if our faith is real.

When people watch you and me, do they see a faith that endures the test?

says (S)…

Matthew 5:16 NKJV

Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.

Paul and Silas show us how to endure trials. We endure with praise.

When we praise God in the middle of suffering, amazing things happen.

In this instance, God sends an earthquake.

READ v. 26

This is not a normal result of earthquakes. Doors don’t open, chains don’t fall off.

This is a supernatural event.

I believe that God wants everyone in this city to know that when you serve Him and praise Him in trials, He delivers.

I want to be clear, the deliverance being spoken of here is a literal, physical deliverance.

That being said I want to make a non-physical application.

There are chains that can bind us that are not made of metal.

You may be here this morning and you are bound with chains of bitterness, of unforgivenss, of unfulfilled expectations. You have been hurt, you have suffered, life has not worked out the way you wanted. Beloved, You can be free of those chains!

Freedom is found in Christ! Pray, sing praises, and let go of that bitterness, forgive, trust in our loving heavenly Father.

We don’t have to live in bondage.

We serve a chain-breaking God! Turn to Him! Break the chains.

When we praise God there is freedom. Now remember, Paul and Silas experienced spiritual and emotional freedom before physical freedom came. We can have peace and joy in the middle of a trial as long as our focus is on Christ!

True freedom is internal.

Submission to the Lord of all brings true freedom.

That’s what we discover first, that praising God brings freedom. Secondly, we discover that…

Secondly, we discover that…

b. Praising God brings compassion vv. 27-28

What do I mean here? Here’s this jailer who put them in the stocks after a beating. Paul could have let him die. Instead, Paul is moved with Godly compassion, and he calls out.

READ vv. 27-28

This jailer was required to account for all the prisoners. It was common for jailers to be given the sentence of any who escaped. When he sees they are gone, he figures death is his best way out.

There’s is a minor lesson here about assumptions. Get facts, don’t assume.

We saw in the previous verses that Paul and Silas have changed their focus. They have taken their eyes off of self and fixed them on Christ! As a result they see this as the gospel opportunity it is.

Paul and Silas have changed their focus. They have taken their eyes off of self and fixed them on Christ! As a result they see this as the gospel opportunity it is.

What do I mean? Here’s this jailer who put them in the stocks after a beating. Paul could have let him die. Instead, Paul is moved with Godly compassion, and he calls out.

How many of us would see unlawful punishment and imprisonment as a gospel opportunity?

When our eyes are full of self, we are blind to what God is doing.

If we want to see the opportunities around us, we must be like Paul and Silas. We must stop thinking about ourselves and look for what God is doing.

Paul sees this as a divine appointment and so he stops this jailer from killing himself.

Paul tells him not to harm himself because all the prisoners where there.

How does Paul know they are all there? They must have been in there with Paul and Silas.

Paul has a gospel opportunity. But this opportunity would have been missed had he not let go of any bitterness, anger, or hate.

Bitterness whispers to us that our poor treatment of others is going to hurt them and bring us satisfaction. But in reality bitterness is like drinking poison expecting the other person to get sick. Sinful attitudes prevent us from seeing what God is doing.

Compassion for the lost is born out of a forgiving heart.

Holding onto pain blinds us to God’s purpose.

He knows what He is doing. We must trust Him, forgive, and have compassion for those in need of Jesus.

Praising God brings freedom and compassion. And so we must be ready to speak God’s praise.

Area #2. We must be…

2. Ready To Speak God’s Purpose vv. 29-34

(Message or gospel) God’s purpose is for people to be saved!

Can anyone tell me what Nike’s motto is? Just Do It. (S).

This is what they are all about. Empowering athletes to give peak performance.

Everyone knows their motto, their purpose.

Are we as familiar with God’s purpose in regards to the lost?

Are we willing and able to share it?

To know, understand, and share God’s purpose requires that we grasp two basic principles. Principle #1…

a. God’s purpose is simple vv. 29-31

READ v. 29

This man falls before Paul and Silas and is probably in front of the other prisoners as well.

He demonstrates humility. In coming to Christ humility is essential. We must recognize our need of Him.

READ v. 30

The one who had placed them in the stocks of the inner prison now leads them out.

When he has them out he asks a question. The fact that he asks this questions tells us that Paul and Silas had probably been singing and praying some powerful things.

He is asking what action he needs to take to be saved. What is necessary for salvation?

This is a vital question!

In fact I would argue that this is THE vital question.

How are we saved? What works are required? What must we do?

These questions are often what get people into trouble. There is an assumption here. An assumption that works are necessary in order to be saved.

Paul answers this question in the next verse.

READ v. 31

Paul’s answer is very informative. What is required for salvation? Belief in the Lord Jesus Christ. Not works, not lordship, not baptism, faith alone! ; ; (S).

; ;

Ephesians 2:8–9 NKJV

For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast.

Romans 4:5 NKJV

But to him who does not work but believes on Him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is accounted for righteousness,

Paul’s answer is very informative. What is required for salvation? Belief in the Lord Jesus Christ. Full name reflects deity, humanity, and purpose.

Titus 3:5 NKJV

not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy He saved us, through the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Spirit,

By these verses it is clear that belief is not a work. We are not saved by anything we do, we are saved by faith.

Back in , notice who Paul says to believe in? The Lord Jesus Christ.

This use of Jesus’ full name and title reflects deity, humanity, and purpose.

In order to save, our faith must be in the Jesus of the Bible, not the Jesus of pop culture, false religions, or imagination. Our faith must be in the incarnate One. The God-man, born of a virgin, sinless in life, and resurrected from death! The One who is the Bread of Life, the light of the world, the door, the Good Shepherd, the resurrection and the life, the way the truth and the life, and the true vine.

It is faith in the Lord Jesus Christ and in Him alone that saves us!

When Paul mentions the man’s household, it is not suggesting that the jailers faith will save his household, but that the household will be saved the same way. Through faith in Jesus Christ. This point will be made more clearly in v. 34. They would all be saved in the same way as the father. The way laid out here in this verse.

Not that his faith will save his household, but that the household will be saved the same way. Through faith in Jesus Christ.

The true gospel message is simple.

Believe in Jesus as the Savior and you are saved.

vv. 30-31 – This is the all-important question and answer. What is required for salvation? Not works, not lordship, not baptism, faith alone! Q – Does the salvation of the Father save the family? No! V. 34. They would all be saved in the same way as he. The way laid out in v. 31

If we are committed to preach, this is what we preach.

If we hear a gospel that is more complicated than that, we know it is a false gospel.

There is only one gospel, salvation by grace alone, through faith alone, in Christ alone.

That is what Paul declares to this jailer.

That is our first principle, God’s purpose is simple. In order to speak God’s purpose we must understand… Principle #2…

b. God’s purpose is stated vv. 32-34

READ v. 32

Where do we find the gospel? In the Word! This is really, really important.

Paul did not go to this city and make up a gospel. He preached what had been revealed. This is something he addressed in what I believe to be his first epistle, Galatians. (S).

Galatians 1:11–12 NKJV

But I make known to you, brethren, that the gospel which was preached by me is not according to man. For I neither received it from man, nor was I taught it, but it came through the revelation of Jesus Christ.

Paul got the message he preached directly from Christ!

Word = logos. Message. They spoke the Lord’s message. What is the Lord’s message? BANNER.

They told the message to everyone in the house. This helps us understand v. 31. ; , 17 tell us that you must hear the gospel in order to believe it.

So Paul and Silas preach the gospel to everyone in the house.

READ v. 33

The jailer takes Paul and Silas to his house and he cares for them. Then he and his family of believers are all baptized.

They are baptized because they have believed. Baptism in the early church was immediate more often than not. It signified a change of identity and served as a public declaration of their faith as well as a public separation from any other faith.

This is how essential they believed baptism was. They believe and are immediately baptized.

Twice in this chapter we have been told that everyone in the household was baptized. This has led some to claim that we see infant baptism here. However, v. 34 rules that out when it states that they all believed. Infants cannot believe.

Alberto Valdes made a great point about this in his commentary on Peter’s message in .

The Grace New Testament Commentary B. God Again Appeals to the Jewish Nation (2:4–47)

The qualification those who gladly received his word rules out infant baptism. Infants, if present, would not have the ability to reason and respond to Peter’s persuasive message.

The Biblical accounts of baptism are always believers. Infants cannot believe, therefore infant baptism is not a Biblical practice. However, it is also not forbidden in Scripture. As long as we are not saying that the baptism of infants saves them or makes them more likely to be saved, it isn’t a sin issue. Although, it seems to me that it would still be very confusing. I myself, would not participate in an infant baptism.

READ v. 34

[1] Alberto S. Valdés, “The Acts of the Apostles,” in The Grace New Testament Commentary, ed. Robert N. Wilkin (Denton, TX: Grace Evangelical Society, 2010), 494.

Alberto S. Valdés, “The Acts of the Apostles,” in The Grace New Testament Commentary, ed. Robert N. Wilkin (Denton, TX: Grace Evangelical Society, 2010), 494.

The jailer feeds Paul and Silas. I think it is safe to assume that this is not typical jailer behavior. The gospel of Jesus Christ has changed this man’s heart. He is now a new creation, the old has passed away. The new has come.

v. 34

They rejoice because they have believed. Salvation brings joy!

Let me meddle a little bit and ask a question. Is your salvation bringing you joy today? It should. But is it?

This verse makes it clear that they all believed and thus were baptized. They were not baptized for salvation but because of it.

God’s purpose for the salvation of the lost is clearly and simply stated within the pages of Scripture.

The gospel is defined by God in His Word.

If we would know what we are to proclaim, we must find it in Scripture.

If you hear a gospel presentation that doesn’t mesh with the clear Word of God, that is a false gospel and it must be rejected.

When we have the opportunity, we speak. We speak the simple truth of salvation revealed in God’s Word.

We must be ready to speak God’s praise and ready to speak His purpose. Finally, area #3 we must be…

c. God’s program includes identity vv. 35-37

3. Ready To Speak God’s Program vv. 35-40

A few years ago I was able to get the desk in my office. It is a large desk so it had a lot of parts and it took quite awhile to put together.

I had the directions and I followed everything it said. But when I got to the end, I had quite a few extra parts.

I panicked a little. I looked back through the directions to see if there were any pages stuck together or anything I missed.

About the third time through the directions I finally noticed a small notation that said, “extra parts included for replacements.”

Apparently this has become somewhat of a new thing. Companies send a few extra parts just in case. These kits are now designed that way.

You and I have a designer for our lives. But our designer does not believe in extra parts.

His program includes all that we are. When He chooses to use us, He uses everything about us.

That is what we see in these last few verses. God’s program for us includes two elements that we might be tempted to overlook.

Element #1…

He will use us how we are. Paul and Silas as Romans.

a. God’s program includes identity vv. 35-37

d. God’s program includes safety vv. 38-40

READ v. 35

We don’t know what motivated this release. I tend to think that it was the magistrates plan all along to keep them overnight and then release them.

The point is that the leaders of Philippi, who had put Paul and Silas here in the first place, were letting them go.

READ v. 36

According to v. 27 this is the man who had just come to Christ. He seems rather excited that they are being released. He tells them to depart and go in peace. Paul, however, has something else in mind.

READ v. 37

Two important words here.

“Openly” which has the idea of being public. And “uncondemned” which literally means untried. There was no legal investigation into the charges brought against Paul and Silas. Instead, they were simply beaten and imprisoned.

Uncondemned – ἀκατάκριτος (akatakritos) Uncondemned. Untried adj. — having not yet been subject to a legal trial (or investigation). Substantival adjective, accusative, plural, masculine.

Paul now objects to these public actions being followed by a secret release.

Paul upholds the law of the Romans here. What they had done in beating Paul and Silas was illegal.

Paul’s demand is for the magistrates, the leaders of Philippi, to come themselves and get them out.

What I want to focus on here is how Paul uses their status as Roman citizens in this situation.

He doesn’t always do this, but He does here.

When God chose Paul, He chose him as a Roman citizen. This citizenship helps Paul here and it will help him again later.

God will use us how we are. Paul and Silas are used by God as Romans.

He will use us how we are. Paul and Silas as Romans.

We need to use the resources God has given us. If you have citizenship in a different country, use that. If you are a minority, use that. If you speak a language other than English, use that. Education, work skill, musical ability, athleticism, intellect. All of these things are a part of God’s plan and He will use them! (p. 1315).

(p. 1315)

1 Corinthians 7:17–24 NKJV

But as God has distributed to each one, as the Lord has called each one, so let him walk. And so I ordain in all the churches. Was anyone called while circumcised? Let him not become uncircumcised. Was anyone called while uncircumcised? Let him not be circumcised. Circumcision is nothing and uncircumcision is nothing, but keeping the commandments of God is what matters. Let each one remain in the same calling in which he was called. Were you called while a slave? Do not be concerned about it; but if you can be made free, rather use it. For he who is called in the Lord while a slave is the Lord’s freedman. Likewise he who is called while free is Christ’s slave. You were bought at a price; do not become slaves of men. Brethren, let each one remain with God in that state in which he was called.

openly = public.

We need to use the resources God has given us.

Who we are, our identity? God will use that.

God chose you as a complete person and He wants to use all of you.

v. 37 – Use the resources God has given. This is interesting. Paul upholds the law of the Romans here. What they had done in beating Paul and Silas was illegal.

Will we use our gifts, talents, and abilities in the service of our Master?

Part of God’s program was for Paul and Silas to use their identity as Roman citizens to accomplish their mission in Philippi.

God’s program for each of our lives includes our identity. That is the first element. Element #2…

Element #2…

Conclusion

b. God’s program includes safety vv. 38-40

READ v. 38

Hearing that Paul and Silas are Romans puts fear into these magistrates. This, I believe, is part of God’s purpose here. We will see why in a moment.

READ v. 39

They do exactly what Paul wanted. They come and get them. Then they ask them to leave. Not command, not demand, ask.

Why does Paul go through all this? If he has a “get out of persecution free” card, why has he not used it before?

READ v. 40

They go to Lydia’s house and visit this new body of believers in Philippi. This would send a clear message to the magistrates that those in this fellowship were also Romans. In this way there is a measure of safety and protection for this new church.

The fear of the magistrates would protect the church.

The safest place for the child of God is right in the center of His will.

When we are walking in the Spirit, we are safe no matter where He leads.

Safety is about ownership, not circumstance.

You belong to Jesus! That is what makes you safe.

You could be led by the Spirit into a tribe of cannibals and be safer than anyone in the US because that is where God has placed you!

We have been bought with a price and called by God to fulfill His mission. Until His task for us is completed, we are safe! (S).

2 Timothy 1:9 NKJV

who has saved us and called us with a holy calling, not according to our works, but according to His own purpose and grace which was given to us in Christ Jesus before time began,

We have been called according to God’s purpose and grace! Until that purpose is fulfilled, keep walking with Christ.

And so, beloved, serve Him with boldness, because you are safe.

Conclusion

As we wrap up this chapter we have learned that God calls us and leads through closed doors. We have learned that commitment to proclaim Christ relies on our confidence in God. And we have learned that commitment to preach means we have to open our mouths.

Praising God brings freedom and compassion. Therefore…

Praising God enables us to accomplish our mission.

God’s purpose is simple and it is stated. Therefore…

The gospel must be proclaimed with absolute clarity.

God’s program includes identity and safety. Therefore…

Serve the Lord with boldness using all that He has given.

My dear brother’s and sisters in Christ.

We live in a blood-bought freedom that gives us compassionate hearts.

We proclaim a simple gospel that is an invitation to all.

We have been chosen for a task that will be completed.

May our lives be transformed as we are used to bring transformation to others.

“Here Am I Lord”

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