Praise God in the Storm and watch the power come.

Intro

Acts 16:16–18 NIV

Once when we were going to the place of prayer, we were met by a female slave who had a spirit by which she predicted the future. She earned a great deal of money for her owners by fortune-telling. She followed Paul and the rest of us, shouting, “These men are servants of the Most High God, who are telling you the way to be saved.” She kept this up for many days. Finally Paul became so annoyed that he turned around and said to the spirit, “In the name of Jesus Christ I command you to come out of her!” At that moment the spirit left her.

Here we see Paul just being human, this woman who was possessed by a demon, was saying true things, good things. She followed them around for days until Paul was so irritated that he turns around and casts the demon out.

Of course now this woman has no special abilities for fortune telling because the evil spirit is gone,but she is free now to live her life. Praise God.

Paul and Silas did a good thing. They helped set this woman free.

Surely God would reward them correct? Surely a time of rest and peace was coming. Because when you do good God gives you good things. Right?

Sometimes when we step out with God, our world seems to fall apart.

Acts 16:19–24 NIV

When her owners realized that their hope of making money was gone, they seized Paul and Silas and dragged them into the marketplace to face the authorities. They brought them before the magistrates and said, “These men are Jews, and are throwing our city into an uproar by advocating customs unlawful for us Romans to accept or practice.” The crowd joined in the attack against Paul and Silas, and the magistrates ordered them to be stripped and beaten with rods. After they had been severely flogged, they were thrown into prison, and the jailer was commanded to guard them carefully. When he received these orders, he put them in the inner cell and fastened their feet in the stocks.

You see the demon was gone, but so was the satanic power. She was no use to her evil employers any more. she could no longer make them money. So they had Paul and Silas beat, and thrown in prison.

They did good and ended up in a hole, chained to a wall.

Sometimes that happens to us doesn’t it. We try to good. to walk in faith but then life gets harder. That’s crazy.

To reach the world we simply need lift Jesus Up

John 12:32 NIV

And I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all people to myself.”

So Paul and Silas are considerably worse off then they were 24hrs earlier. All for doing the will of God. But notice instead of complaining or fighting they lift Jesus up. They begin to worship.

Acts 16:25–28 NIV

About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the other prisoners were listening to them. Suddenly there was such a violent earthquake that the foundations of the prison were shaken. At once all the prison doors flew open, and everyone’s chains came loose. The jailer woke up, and when he saw the prison doors open, he drew his sword and was about to kill himself because he thought the prisoners had escaped. But Paul shouted, “Don’t harm yourself! We are all here!”

As they worship God, the Holy Spirit came and shook the ground they were on and open the doors and chains for them. But note they didn’t run. WHy would they run when the prison doors are opened for them? Because their freedom was not based on a lock and hinge. They were help captive by the power of God and because that they were able to remain after the miracle and profess Christ to the jailer and the fellow prisoners.

So often when we find ourselves in a place of pain or hardship we complain, but if we would look to Jesus and praise him then the world would see Christ.

AS they lifted Jesus high, Christ drew people to Himself.

Let us praise God in the fire so that others may know Jesus!

Acts 16:29–34 ESV

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?” 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.

This week when you and I face trials of all kinds let us rejoice in Jesus! Let us lift His name high! and Lets see what Jesus does.