A Place of Misery. A Place of Ministry.
Notes
Transcript
Handout
1. The enemy’s disturbance of the mission.
1. The enemy’s disturbance of the mission.
Good things were happening in Philippi and Satan didn’t like it.
I am never surprised when we face struggles as a church.
12 Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery ordeal among you, which comes upon you for your testing, as though some strange thing were happening to you;
13 but to the degree that you share the sufferings of Christ, keep on rejoicing, so that also at the revelation of His glory you may rejoice with exultation.
THIS is so important! … KEEP ON REJOICING!
There WILL be trials and struggles.
I have learned that in every circumstance that comes my way, I can choose to respond in one of two ways: I can wine or I can worship. - Nancy Wolgemuth
(1) A. The disturbance came while attempting to pray.
(1) A. The disturbance came while attempting to pray.
16 Now it happened, as we went to prayer, that a certain slave girl possessed with a spirit of divination met us, who brought her masters much profit by fortune-telling.
Paul and his team were headed the riverside to pray.
They encounter a disturbance.
A slave girl who was demon possessed started harassing them.
This should be a lesson for us.
Those riverside prayer meetings attracted little attention from the people, but the enemy fully understood their power.
He knows prayer can be a great hinderance to his work.
We should never take prayer or the opportunity to pray lightly.
(1) B. The disturbance was persistent.
(1) B. The disturbance was persistent.
17 This girl followed Paul and us, and cried out, saying, “These men are the servants of the Most High God, who proclaim to us the way of salvation.” 18 And this she did for many days.
But Paul, greatly annoyed, turned and said to the spirit, “I command you in the name of Jesus Christ to come out of her.” And he came out that very hour.
She followed Paul and his team for several days.
She was mocking the gospel.
We need to remember that this girl was not the enemy.
She was simply a tool of the enemy.
11 Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. 12 For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places. 13 Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.
The people we think are the enemies are really not the enemy.
They are tools in the enemy’s hand.
We have learned that due to their sin nature they don’t know any better.
We must treat them accordingly.
43 “You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ 44 But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you, 45 that you may be sons of your Father in heaven; for He makes His sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust.
However, this does not mean we let them continue disturbing the work.
She was disrespecting the message.
She was discrediting the messengers.
(1) C. The disturbance was not tolerated.
(1) C. The disturbance was not tolerated.
18 And this she did for many days.
But Paul, greatly annoyed, turned and said to the spirit, “I command you in the name of Jesus Christ to come out of her.” And he came out that very hour.
Paul was greatly annoyed.
LIT: weary of this evil.
I couldn’t help but think that I would not appreciate being the object of Paul being greatly annoyed.
Casting out the demon did not solve Paul’s problem.
Paul did what was right and it didn’t go well.
2. The enemy’s attempted derailment of the mission. (Paul was treated wrongly.)
2. The enemy’s attempted derailment of the mission. (Paul was treated wrongly.)
19 But when her masters saw that their hope of profit was gone, they seized Paul and Silas and dragged them into the marketplace to the authorities.
20 And they brought them to the magistrates, and said, “These men, being Jews, exceedingly trouble our city; 21 and they teach customs which are not lawful for us, being Romans, to receive or observe.” 22 Then the multitude rose up together against them; and the magistrates tore off their clothes and commanded them to be beaten with rods. 23 And when they had laid many stripes on them, they threw them into prison, commanding the jailer to keep them securely. 24 Having received such a charge, he put them into the inner prison and fastened their feet in the stocks.
The girl’s owners were not happy.
Paul had taken away their profit by casting out the demon.
The men now lied to the government about what was going on.
They were racially discriminated against.
These JEWS.
They were falsely accused.
The real reason they were mad was because their income had been taken away.
But they said they were teaching customs that went against Roman law.
They were accused of causing an uprising.
A mob began to grow.
The magistrates give in and have them beaten and put in prison.
Their own legal rights to a trial were ignored.
Notice Paul never brought that up.
(1) A. While being treated wrongly, Paul gave worship and praise to God.
(1) A. While being treated wrongly, Paul gave worship and praise to God.
25 But at midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the prisoners were listening to them.
This is a picture of having your heart set on the right things!
They obeyed God and what did it get them?
A ladies prayer meeting.
A girl attacking their ministry.
Their backs are torn open from a beating.
Wrongly accused and jailed.
Their response is singing and prayer!
"What is the chief end of man?
To glorify God, to glorify God
and enjoy him forever." - Westminster Shorter Catechism
11 “You are worthy, O Lord,
To receive glory and honor and power;
For You created all things,
And by Your will they exist and were created.”
3 And not only that, but we also glory in tribulations, knowing that tribulation produces perseverance; 4 and perseverance, character; and character, hope. 5 Now hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us.
What is our response when we are treated wrongly?
Do we give God the praise and worship he deserves or do we worry about our so called rights?
We would be better off understanding we don’t have rights.
19 Or do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and you are not your own? 20 For you were bought at a price; therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God’s.
We are God’s to do with as He wishes!
(1) B. While being treated wrongly, Paul kept the mission in mind.
(1) B. While being treated wrongly, Paul kept the mission in mind.
26 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 chains were loosed. 27 And the keeper of the prison, awaking from sleep and seeing the prison doors open, supposing the prisoners had fled, drew his sword and was about to kill himself. 28 But Paul called with a loud voice, saying, “Do yourself no harm, for we are all here.”
FIRST… remember… Paul never defended himself. He could have, but didn’t … because he was keeping the mission in mind.
NEXT… what would be our first response if we were wrongly accused and in this position?
Most likely we would have split.
Figuring the Jailer was an evil man and got what he had coming.
BUT… Paul and Silas had the mission in mind… a lost soul that needed Christ!
Their freedom was not their primary concern.
We often say: “Please God, not man,” but that ends when we are the man.
13 For you, brethren, have been called to liberty; only do not use liberty as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another.
This is spiritual freedom… but the application can be made.
We worry so much about our own freedoms and our own rights we miss ministry opportunities.
I see a man who has given up everything to reach A PERSON to Christ.
Our country is more divided than it has ever been. If we can put aside our own agendas and even some freedoms to bridge the gap, we can be a greater influence than ever!
Our light can shine brighter than it ever has.
(1) C. While being treated wrongly, Paul trusted God’s sovereign plan.
(1) C. While being treated wrongly, Paul trusted God’s sovereign plan.
29 Then he called for a light, ran in, and fell down trembling before Paul and Silas. 30 And he brought them out and said, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?”
31 So they said, “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and you will be saved, you and your household.” 32 Then 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 stripes. And immediately he and all his family were baptized. 34 Now when he had brought them into his house, he set food before them; and he rejoiced, having believed in God with all his household.
35 And when it was day, the magistrates sent the officers, saying, “Let those men go.”
36 So the keeper of the prison reported these words to Paul, saying, “The magistrates have sent to let you go. Now therefore depart, and go in peace.”
37 But Paul said to them, “They have beaten us openly, uncondemned Romans, and have thrown us into prison. And now do they put us out secretly? No indeed! Let them come themselves and get us out.”
38 And the officers told these words to the magistrates, and they were afraid when they heard that they were Romans. 39 Then they came and pleaded with them and brought them out, and asked them to depart from the city. 40 So they went out of the prison and entered the house of Lydia; and when they had seen the brethren, they encouraged them and departed.
Many of us probably would have been praying: God get me out of here.
Paul recognized the opportunity for ministry!
The jailer and his entire household is saved.
Can you imagine what young Timothy must have been thinking?
This is how resilient leaders are made!
2 And the things that you have heard from me among many witnesses, commit these to faithful men who will be able to teach others also. 3 You therefore must endure hardship as a good soldier of Jesus Christ. 4 No one engaged in warfare entangles himself with the affairs of this life, that he may please him who enlisted him as a soldier.
Paul trusted God’s sovereign plan… not just for his life, but for eternity.
We talk a lot about God’s sovereign plan in our lives, but God’s sovereignty is more than that!
We also see that Paul trusted God’s sovereignty by when and how he stood up for his rights.
35 And when it was day, the magistrates sent the officers, saying, “Let those men go.”
36 So the keeper of the prison reported these words to Paul, saying, “The magistrates have sent to let you go. Now therefore depart, and go in peace.”
37 But Paul said to them, “They have beaten us openly, uncondemned Romans, and have thrown us into prison. And now do they put us out secretly? No indeed! Let them come themselves and get us out.”
38 And the officers told these words to the magistrates, and they were afraid when they heard that they were Romans. 39 Then they came and pleaded with them and brought them out, and asked them to depart from the city. 40 So they went out of the prison and entered the house of Lydia; and when they had seen the brethren, they encouraged them and departed.
We need to think back to a tiny piece of information we picked up last week.
Philippi is a Roman colony. Paul is a Roman citizen.
The sovereignty of God working in your past to prepare you for what you are in the middle of.
Paul would not leave quietly.
The fact that he was a roman put fear in the men.
He knew that this would impact their actions against others in the future.
It also impacted his own testimony.
Yet, notice, there still was not a fight.