Shake the Ground
Notes
Transcript
RECAP
RECAP
Week 1: Edge of No Return
Shadrach, Meshach, Abednago
Will you stand for what’s right when the culture around you does what’s wrong?
Week 2: No Limit Life
King Josiah
Made a routine in the Word at a young age that empowered him to change his world!
Tonight - Shake the Ground
Tell your friend, “Shake the Ground”
VIDEO: Slapstick Theater - Paul & Silas
WHAT SOUNDS GOOD, ISN’T ALWAYS RIGHT
WHAT SOUNDS GOOD, ISN’T ALWAYS RIGHT
Have you ever had the friend that always has the “great idea” but wants you to be the guinea pig?
– let’s climb that tree! You go first...
– we should watch this movie, no one will find out…
– try this hot sauce, it’s not that hot...
Acts 16:16-18 - screenshot
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. 17 She followed Paul and us, crying out, “These men are servants of the Most High God, who proclaim to you the way of salvation.” 18 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.
Breakdown:
going to a place of prayer
met by a girl with a spirit of divination
Python IMAGE
“Spirit of Python” - operated in smooth talk, specifically healing, prophecy, poetry, and music
the spirit in her cried out TRUTH
Paul and us let this go on for days
Paul gets annoyed and calls the spirit out
Sometimes the enemy wont leave you alone until you take action
The bully on the playground will keep bullying you until you take action (report them, punch them, etc.)
DOING RIGHT DOESN’T ALWAYS RESULT IN RIGHT RESULTS
DOING RIGHT DOESN’T ALWAYS RESULT IN RIGHT RESULTS
Acts 16:19-24
Breakdown:
the girls owners were “spiritual pimps” and now that their product was trashed, they were mad
The Owners, Magistrates (government officials) and the Crowd all strip them, beat them, and call for them to be put in prison
racial prejudice, Acts 16:20, “These men are Jews,” – the fact that they were Jews shouldn’t have anything to do with the crime
the crowd joins in the accusations – the culture was comfortable with a demonic girl walking around, they were comfortable living in darkness.
Lights turned on when it’s been dark for a while – it’s uncomfortable
Paul later records the severity of these beatings:
23 Are they servants of Christ? I am a better one—I am talking like a madman—with far greater labors, far more imprisonments, with countless beatings, and often near death.
2 But though we had already suffered and been shamefully treated at Philippi, as you know, we had boldness in our God to declare to you the gospel of God in the midst of much conflict.
The jailer is ordered to keep them safely
safely = securely; not a comfortable safety
The jailer puts them in the inner prison and put their feet in stocks
Paul & Silas Stocks IMAGE
PRISONS LOSE POWER WHEN PRAISE IS UNLEASHED
PRISONS LOSE POWER WHEN PRAISE IS UNLEASHED
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.
Breakdown:
at midnight
Paul & Silas were prayer & singing hymns to God
they weren’t sulking in their misery; they had joy, not happiness
joy = non circumstantial positivity
happiness = circumstantial positivity
the prisoners were listening
someone is always watching you
Roz Always Watching GIF
the prisoners might’ve been skeptical of these guys, or maybe felt encouraged
suddenly the environment is changed because of their praise
suddenly is the same word used in Acts 2 when the Holy Spirit dropped on the Upper Room!
it’s also the same word used in Acts 4 when the believers prayed for boldness
their personal praise brought freedom & deliverance to their surroundings
praise and worship is contagious!
not praising and worshipping is also contagious
LOCKING OURSELVES IN PRISON
LOCKING OURSELVES IN PRISON
Breakdown:
the jailer wakes up and quickly assesses the situation without investigation
he supposes escape and puts himself in his own “prison” – death, suicide
“we need to stop placing ourselves in prison because of our thoughts or the surroundings of our environment”
FIGHT FROM FREEDOM
FIGHT FROM FREEDOM
KEY VERSE: John 8:31-32
31 So Jesus said to the Jews who had believed him, “If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples, 32 and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”
Breakdown:
abide (to continue, dwell, endure, be present) in God’s Word
truth sets us free
6 Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.
True freedom comes with a relationship with Jesus
31 And they said, “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved, you and your household.”
Quoting Jesus,
16 Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned.
Salvation came to his whole house!
an unfavorable location can bring favorable results
fighting for others freedom will bring your own freedom!