What Matters Most
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Acts 16:1-40
Introduction:
When you have good news, you just can’t help but share it. When I found out the Garmin watch was almost 50% off. Had to tell everyone, don’t ask me where it is now. When that little girl Cleo smith was found. Just couldn’t believe it, I was telling all my mates. When Joy and I had our firstborn 17 October 2016 I couldn’t help but share that news. It was on facebook. It was on Instagram. I was texting, calling people near and far. Andrea has arrived. Great news. It was just so good. When you have good news, you just can’t help but share it. As followers of Jesus, we have good news. We have the best news. Jesus offers eternal life, forgiveness from sins, we can be right with God. What’s better than that? So, why do we find it so hard to actually do it? When it comes to sharing about Jesus, the theory and the practise so often does not align. There’s always something that gets in the way to sharing the Gospel. There’s always a barrier. Why is that? Is it because our society calls Christianity dangerous? More and more Christians are viewed as not just weird, but even evil. So we are afraid? Is it that we think the rich don’t need Jesus, they have everything already. Or the poor are too busy making ends meet to think about Jesus? The young don’t want to hear, the old are hardened by life’s disappointments. Your boss, well you don’t want to lose your job and your colleges you don’t want to make the relationship weird. Mums and dads are just too tired from raising kids and children, well let’s not brainwash them. Teenagers, let’s not go there. And I haven’t even mentioned our inner battles like people pleasing tendencies. If you think hard enough there’s always a barrier. There’s always an excuse. There’s never a right time.
Tension:
Friends we know the Gospel is good news – you can be saved by grace by trusting in Jesus – we heard this last week – it’s free gift but there seem to be so many barriers for us when it comes to sharing the Gospel. In Acts 16 this morning we meet 3 different people. Three people from different walks of life. They all appear to have huge barriers to the Gospel. For us it’s like huge insurmountable barriers to believing in Jesus. There are probably many reasons why you wouldn’t share the Gospel with these three. about this: anyone can be saved by believing in Jesus. Anyone can be saved by believing in Jesus.
1. The Gospel continues to go out (16:1-10)
But first, how let’s travel with Paul and the team on their mission trip. The beginning of Acts 16 the first 10 verses really details their movements from place to place as God’s Spirit guides them. Paul, Silas and the new recruit Timothy travel around Derbe and Lystra delivering the decisions reached from the council. Gentiles are saved by grace in Christ alone! it’s so encouraging because the churches are strengthened in the faith and lots more people come to know Jesus. From there, they go through Phrygia and Galatia verse 6. We don’t know why but the Holy Spirit stops them from going into Asia to speak the word. In verse 7 they come to the border of Mysia, and they try to enter Bithynia. Again, we don’t know why but the Spirit of Jesus did not allow them to go in. Instead, they come to Troas verse 8. God is not doubt in control of their whole journey. He directs them. It’s very clear. It’s God’s schedule. Here in Troas, Paul gets a vision. verse 9
And a vision appeared to Paul in the night: a man of Macedonia was standing there, urging him and saying, “Come over to Macedonia and help us.”
Paul and team realise God had called them to preach the Gospel there. There is no doubt in their minds. And notice here that it seems like Luke joins the mission team. verse 10 take a look at the we and us.
And when Paul had seen the vision, immediately we sought to go on into Macedonia, concluding that God had called us to preach the gospel to them.
Well, Paul, Silas, Timothy and now Luke sail from Troas to Samothrace, a rocky island and the following day to Neapolis the modern day port of Northern Greece. It’s beautiful place. From there they get to their destination, Philippi. Verse 12, and from there to Philippi, which is a leading city of the district of Macedonia and a Roman colony. The Gospel continues to go out. It’s at God’s schedule, and here it’s the first time it comes comes to modern day Europe. Jesus’ words in Acts 1:8 are coming true aren’t they? The Gospel has gone from Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, it’s gone to the Gentiles in Antioch Syria, further out to Antioch Pisidia and now making it’s way to Europe, Philippi - a Roman colony. It is continuing to spread further and further out. The Gospel cannot be stopped. Not only that, here in Acts 16, Luke wants us to know that all types of people, doesn’t matter who you are, anyone can come to know Jesus. God can save anyone.
2. God can save anyone (16:11-40)
2.1 Lydia – the successful business woman (16:13-15)
First we meet Lydia – the successful business woman
Come to verse 13
Acts 16:13–14 (ESV)
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.
They meet Lydia at a place of prayer. It’s the Sabbath. Why didn’t they go to the Synagogue? It seems weird. Well, it appears that was no synagogue. To have a synagogue, you need 10 Jewish men willing to have a synagogue. There weren’t 10 Jewish men willing to have one. So, Paul and the team go to the next best place, a place of prayer. This is a place where Jewish women would conduct a service of prayer. This is the place they were given the opportunity to speak.
Here they meet Lydia. She’s from a city called Thyratira, which is modern day Turkey. She’s Turkish. Thyratira was a place was famous for their purple dye. It’s extracted from a plant called Madder. She’s a dealer of purple cloth with this purple dye. You will know purple signifies royalty. It’s used for royal robes. It seems as if she exported expensive royal clothing. The rag trade. More than that, she’s a worshiper of God. She’s a gentile but she worshiped the Jewish God.
Now, if you think about it, there are plenty of barriers stopping Lydia from becoming a follower of Jesus. Think with me. She’s rich. Why would she need God? She’s made it as a business woman involved in the rag trade. She’s independent. She’s made it on her own. She’s successful. She’s got a huge place, otherwise how can she host Paul and the team? And yet she’s interested in Judaism. Why would she need God?
It reminds me of some friends I used to play indoor soccer. There are women on the team that are rich. They are independent. Well spoken Lawyers. I often think to myself, why would they believe in Jesus? They have it all. But notice what God does for Lydia. He changes her heart. Verse 14 second half
Acts 16:14–15 (ESV)
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.
God opened her heart. I want you to hear that. She paid attention to Paul’s words about the Gospel. Paul shared the Gospel. They don’t judge her status. They don’t place a barrier to the Gospel. They simply share it. God does the work. He works a miracle. Rich independent successful Lydia comes to faith in Jesus. It gets better. Her family hear the Gospel and they all get baptised. Don’t doubt how God can work even in your family. Lydia offers hospitality to the missionary team. It’s wonderful, isn’t it? God saves Lydia and her household. God can save anyone.
2.2 The anonymous slave-girl (16:16-18)
Well, if Lydia the successful businessman can be saved – we see that the next person is completely opposite to Lydia. God sets the anonymous slave-girl free. come to verse 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.
Can you see how this girl is on the opposite end of the spectrum to Lydia. Lydia’s from Turkey. This girl is a local from Greece. Lydia was independent. The slave girl was owned by others. Lydia is rich and successful. This girl is a slave who owns nothing. She’s controlled by her owners. Lydia is a worshipper of the true God but this anonymous girl is possessed by some kind of Spirit. But she’s valuable. Why? She can predict the future. And her owners exploit her for gain. Hear what she predicts, verse 17
acts 16:17-18
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.
Friends, there are plenty of barriers for this slave girl to come to know Jesus. She’s into some occult, like devil worship. Not sure about you, if I saw this i’d probably back away pretty quickly. She’s possessed. It’s pretty full on. It’s a bit scary. And, I wouldn’t want to get on the wrong side of her owners. They are not decent folk. They exploit her for gain. But Paul doesn’t have much choice. The evil spirit rightly cries out that Paul and the team are God’s servants. It keeps doing this over and over and over again. For days. They get in the way of Paul’s mission. It’s frustrating. He’s frustrated. It’s hard to preach the Gospel if you’re been heckled like this. So after days, Paul can’t stand it anymore he says I command you in the name of Jesus Christ to come out of her. And it did.
Now, I’ve done lots of things when I’m annoyed I’ve never done cast out a demon. That’s what Jesus does! Her life was transformed. She was set free. Free from a spirit that possessed her. God overcame all barriers through Jesus. He’s done a miracle. God has set her free. I think the fact that she was set free in between Lydia the rich business man and the Jailer we’ll see next makes me think she became a follower of Jesus. God can save anyone – that’s the point.
2.3 The jailer (16:19-40)
But even though he can save anyone, it doesn’t mean this life will be smooth sailing. And we see this here. The problems get worse for Paul and Silas. They set her free, but they get locked up. Her owners are angry. They’ve just lost their income stream. So they haul Paul and Silas to the authorities make up some dodgy lies to the magistrates. Paul and Silas are stripped. Publicly humiliated. Thrown into jail verse 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. 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.
It is at this point, we meet the third person; the jailer. What does he do? His job. He is ordered to keep them safe in jail - verse 24
Having received this order, he put them into the inner prison and fastened their feet in the stocks.
Now, again can there are plenty of barriers for the jailer to come to faith in Jesus. He is probably an ex Roman solider. He is a Gentile. The guy is working class. He’s not religious. He is a public servant who is tough, down the line, no nonsense type fellas dealing with prisoners day in and day out. He’s not interested in Judaism, not into occult. He’s just not the type of bloke we think would be interested in Jesus. But again, God has other plans. Come to verse 25
acts 16:25-28
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.”
God powerfully works a miracle. He sends an earthquake. It’s way bigger than the one we had a few months ago. Remember that? that freaked me out for a second there, but here imagine it, the foundations of the prison were shaken, doors and their bonds were unfastened. Wow.
At this point, the jailer thinks he’s failed his job. He thinks he’s a dead man walking so he tries to kill himself. Paul says stop! we’re fine, we’re here! And at this point, the jailer realizes something crucial. The spiritual penny drops. He realises that he needs to be saved by the one who sent the earthquake. God. He’s not worried about the earthquake, or his employers. He worries because he is not right with God. That’s his greatest problem. It’s with the creator of the universe, God. God who’s coming to judge him.
acts 16:29-30
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?”
Sirs what must i do to be saved? See what he says it takes great humility. He needs to be saved. He’s afraid. He has been humbled. What must I do to be saved? That’s the key question for him. That’s the question we need to all ask ourselves. What’s the answer? Believe in the Lord Jesus verse 31
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.
Friends, God has overcome every barrier. God has rescued this jailer. He does what they say. He believed in Jesus, his Lord and Saviour. Again, like Lydia’s household, this jailers family come to trust Jesus as well. Friends, this is good news. you need to be right with God. you are in danger if you don’t trust Jesus. He is coming to judge. he rules this world. Have you believed in the Lord Jesus? Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved. Come to trust in Him. He will save you.
Here’s what’s so amazing about the Gospel. It’s that we don’t do anything. we just believe in the finished work of Jesus. His life death and resurrection. Jesus has done it all. And i love the illustration: we’re like men and women drowning in the sea, Jesus comes in picks us up takes us to safety. Jesus doesn’t say oh just move your arms this way, kick your feet that way. i’m drowning! it’s just believing in Jesus, it’s not what we do. He teaches us how to live for him after he saves us.
The story finishes up with magistrates trying to set Paul and Silas free quietly. But Paul won’t have a bar of it. They can’t get away with it so easily. Why? Well Paul and Silas are Roman citizens. They have legal rights. The magistrates were wrong. It was illegal to flog them send them to jail without a trial. Paul and Silas get them to publicly escort them out of jail. This is to show that they cannot illegally persecute Christians. They needed to treat Christians within the bounds of the law.
3. Do you believe that God can save anyone?
I hope you can see friends that God has shown us in Acts that the Gospel is spreading. It’s unstoppable. Despite their suffering. It’s going to the endsof the earth. In Acts 16, it’s come to modern day Europe. Here we see that God saves all kinds of people. In Lydia, a rich successful independent woman, her household. In a slave girl, freed from an evil spirit. In a jailer, a gentile non religious blue collar worker. All kinds of barriers are broken down. God can save anyone. From Asians to Greeks, Indians and Aussies, women and men, slaves and free, rich and poor, educated and labourers. All these barriers, God can overcome. God works by his Spirit to bring people to faith.
So do you believe that? Do you believe that God can save anyone?
Like honestly, do you believe that God can save your grandchild who you see currently wants nothing to do with Jesus? Do you believe that God can save your grandfather who yes, has been hardened by life’s suffering, but he needs Jesus? Do you believe that the greatest issue with the politicians is not how many case numbers they report, but the fact that they don’t know our Lord and Saviour Jesus? Is that your hearts yearning? They are headed to an eternity without Christ. Because if you do, then pray. Pray earnestly pray for your friends, family, neighbors, work colleagues, politicians. God can change hearts.
Yes, humanly speaking it’s impossible for your rich friend, the mum and dad who’s just working for the man to know Jesus. It’s impossible. But God can open Lydia’s heart. God can open your friends heart. God can set them free. God can work a miracle by his spirit. God can break down the barriers. He can do it.
So come on, tell others. If you are like me, I have to keep reminding myself this, don’t worry about perception. Don’t worry so much and just go for it. Be faithful. Be bold. The time is short. Stop thinking about the barriers. Trust God. Pray, then get on with sharing this good news of the Gospel. Friends, God can save anyone. We just need to share the good news, pray and ask God to save. Anyone can come to know Jesus so let’s speak about him to a world that needs him. Let’s pray