Witness- Jailer
Notes
Transcript
Witness- Jailer
Wise men/ Herod/ Baby Jesus - Herod orders all babies to be killed.
The spiritual battle is always affecting the physical world around us.
Elisha’s Servant- seeing the spiritual battle. 2 Kings 6
Battle going on in this world. Battle for men's souls. Witnessing is essential part of this battle. People must hear the truth. Some receive it and some don't. But we must be telling the Word of God to others.
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.
34 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.
3 Ways Satan Tries to Silence Our Witness
3 Ways Satan Tries to Silence Our Witness
1- Misaligns Priorities (16-19)
1- Misaligns Priorities (16-19)
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.
19 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.
material gain over dignity of human life. Personal Rights over Other’s Rights
Economy is not most important. Both parties have that wrong.
Yes, it is important to a stable country.
However, the importance of the individual has to be at the forefront.
Jesus died for all.
He loved all while on this earth.
"All men are created equal". Essential to our government. Essential for justice.
2- Skews Accusations (20-21)
2- Skews Accusations (20-21)
20 And when they had brought them to the magistrates, they said, “These men are Jews, and they are disturbing our city.
21 They advocate customs that are not lawful for us as Romans to accept or practice.”
They Bring Accusations to those in Authority.-- (20-21)
It's not why they were upset but they knew it would get the attention of those in authority.
Satan is the great accuser-
Job 1:6-12
6 Now there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before the Lord, and Satan also came among them.
7 The Lord said to Satan, “From where have you come?” Satan answered the Lord and said, “From going to and fro on the earth, and from walking up and down on it.”
8 And the Lord said to Satan, “Have you considered my servant Job, that there is none like him on the earth, a blameless and upright man, who fears God and turns away from evil?”
9 Then Satan answered the Lord and said, “Does Job fear God for no reason?
10 Have you not put a hedge around him and his house and all that he has, on every side? You have blessed the work of his hands, and his possessions have increased in the land.
11 But stretch out your hand and touch all that he has, and he will curse you to your face.”
12 And the Lord said to Satan, “Behold, all that he has is in your hand. Only against him do not stretch out your hand.” So Satan went out from the presence of the Lord.
Zec 3:1
1 Then he showed me Joshua the high priest standing before the angel of the Lord, and Satan standing at his right hand to accuse him.
Revelation 12:7-12 (The accuser will one day no longer have opportunity)
7 Now war arose in heaven, Michael and his angels fighting against the dragon. And the dragon and his angels fought back,
8 but he was defeated, and there was no longer any place for them in heaven.
9 And the great dragon was thrown down, that ancient serpent, who is called the devil and Satan, the deceiver of the whole world—he was thrown down to the earth, and his angels were thrown down with him.
10 And I heard a loud voice in heaven, saying, “Now the salvation and the power and the kingdom of our God and the authority of his Christ have come, for the accuser of our brothers has been thrown down, who accuses them day and night before our God.
11 And they have conquered him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, for they loved not their lives even unto death.
12 Therefore, rejoice, O heavens and you who dwell in them! But woe to you, O earth and sea, for the devil has come down to you in great wrath, because he knows that his time is short!”
3- Punishes Mercilessly (22-24)
3- Punishes Mercilessly (22-24)
22 The crowd joined in attacking them, and the magistrates tore the garments off them and gave orders to beat them with rods.
23 And when they had inflicted many blows upon them, they threw them into prison, ordering the jailer to keep them safely.
24 Having received this order, he put them into the inner prison and fastened their feet in the stocks.
tortured without a formal trial.
guarded like they were military traitors.
Attack on Nairobi Mall- Former youth pastor and wife visited often.
Attackers let Muslims go and killed the Christians
4 Ways We Fight the Enemy
4 Ways We Fight the Enemy
1- Prayer (25)
1- Prayer (25)
25 About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the prisoners were listening to them,
Spiritual Battle.
1. Ephesians 6:12
12 For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places.
2- Mercy (28-29)
2- Mercy (28-29)
Acts 16:28-29
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.
Did not leave.
Loved on the jailer.
did not equate him with the enemy. Saw him as a lost soul needing to be saved.
He was just doing his job.
Leaving meant he would die. And he deserved to die. Working with the enemy.
All have sinned...
Wages of sin is death...
We all deserved to die just as this man deserved to die.
again- battle is against flesh and blood.- easy to confuse this.
God showed us mercy- we should show mercy.
Matthew 18:21-22
21 Then Peter came up and said to him, “Lord, how often will my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? As many as seven times?”
22 Jesus said to him, “I do not say to you seven times, but seventy-seven times.
Mercy should always be the choice of believers when it is possible.
When in doubt err on the side of mercy and grace.
3- God's Word (30-32)
3- God's Word (30-32)
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.
"What must I do to be saved"
1. Hebrews 4:12-13
12 For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart.
13 And no creature is hidden from his sight, but all are naked and exposed to the eyes of him to whom we must give account.
2. Ephesians 6:10-20
10 Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might.
11 Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil.
12 For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil 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 firm.
14 Stand therefore, having fastened on the belt of truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness,
15 and, as shoes for your feet, having put on the readiness given by the gospel of peace.
16 In all circumstances take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming darts of the evil one;
17 and take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God,
18 praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication. To that end, keep alert with all perseverance, making supplication for all the saints,
19 and also for me, that words may be given to me in opening my mouth boldly to proclaim the mystery of the gospel,
20 for which I am an ambassador in chains, that I may declare it boldly, as I ought to speak.
3. Obviously this jailer had heard some things that prepared his heart for this time.
a. More than just a jailer feeling sorry for the accused.
4- Justice (35-39)
4- Justice (35-39)
35 But when it was day, the magistrates sent the police, saying, “Let those men go.”
36 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.”
37 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.”
38 The police reported these words to the magistrates, and they were afraid when they heard that they were Roman citizens.
39 So they came and apologized to them. And they took them out and asked them to leave the city.
Nothing wrong with expecting justice -- God is a just God.
Paul and Silas were Roman citizens and could not be punished without a formal trial.
It was assumed that since they were Jews that they were not citizens.
Later Paul will use his citizenship to get him to Rome.
God would rather us show justice than our religious acts to him.
Proverbs 21:3
3 To do righteousness and justice is more acceptable to the Lord than sacrifice.
Because he wants our religion to affect our heart and how we treat others.
Salvation is about change and caring for what God cares for. Your desires are replaced with His desires.
CONCLUSION
Witnessing is always a spiritual battle.
Are you preparing spiritually before your begin witnessing?
Are you putting on the full armor of God?
Will you respond to the work of God in your life today?
Will you respond to the work of God in your life today?