Subject – Paul Witnessing thru Adversity
by Rick Welborne
Acts 16:22-31 (NKJV)
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.
25 But at midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the prisoners were listening to them.
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."
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."
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.
25 But at midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the prisoners were listening to them.
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."
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."
--Obviously Paul has had an incredible experience with God and he is born again…a total transformation from trying to destroy the church to trying to build God’s Kingdom.
--He is traveling everywhere and sharing the gospel of Jesus to anyone who is willing to listen. He is baptized in Holy Spirit power and is reaching many for Christ.
--As we shared last week, Holy Spirit can lead us exactly where He wants us to go…Paul was going to Asia and Holy Spirit would not let them go…they tried to go to Bithynia and the Spirit forbade it.
--Finally, in a vision Paul sees a man from Macedonia pleading with him to come over and help them. Paul sets sail to Macedonia to do what God was leading him to do. Does or can God do that today? Yes!
--On one of our mission’s trips to Mexico from Covington, La. God led us in a similar way to minister where He wanted. In July we are in a dark blue school bus traveling around Mexico preaching the gospel. Hot!!!!
--We had driven a couple of hours from where we were staying and were out in the middle of nowhere when we saw a tiny sign for a town (village) down this dirt road…we felt we should go down the road.
--The road was dusty and rough…without a/c we were not about to put the windows up…Our driver shouts we are about to hit a dust storm…we don’t care we will leave our windows open…not dust but flying ants.
--That was the most Pentecostal I had ever seen 30 teenagers…large flying ants all over them. We survive and move on finally arriving at first village and Holy Spirit says “Not here.”
--We drive another hour to the next village…Not here! Everyone is getting anxious and thinking I have lost my mind. It is getting late but we keep driving…About dark we arrive at a village at the base of a mountain.
--Everyone in the village is out in the street…I ask thru the interpreter what are they waiting for? They say someone ran thru the village that morning shouting Good News is coming to us today. We set up everything.
--A layman, did I say he was a layman (filled with Spirit) is lined up to preach. He wants to defer to me and I say no. He shares scriptures about Jesus and salvation…we give an altar call and everyone responds…wow!
--Holy Spirit is not done yet…instruct them on how they need Holy Spirit power in their lives to live for God. I do! Thru the dimly lit crowd you could see their hunger…I said when I count to three Spirit will fall…He did!
--Because Holy Spirit led us all the way there, an entire village was saved and baptized in Holy Spirit that evening…we left as much literature as we could and left there rejoicing. Meanwhile back to my message:
--Paul cast out the demon that was in a young girl who brought her master much money by divination…there is an uproar and Paul and Silas are cast into the inner prison and placed in stocks. Faced with adversity.
1. Being a passionate witness does not mean the absence of adversity.
Acts 16:22-23 (NKJV)
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.
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.
--Let me say here in response to the crowd rising up against them that witnessing for Christ will more than likely mean that you are going against the grain…against societal norms.
--They want very much to shut us up…no prayer in school…don’t say Merry Christmas…can’t talk about religion in the workplace…separation of church and state.
Focus on the Family: The First Amendment's guarantees were intended as a check on the power of government. They were never intended as a check on religion's influence on the government.1 One of the strengths of our Constitution and the success that we have enjoyed as a country derives from our "unalienable rights" endowed by our Creator. The whole purpose of government is, according to the Declaration of Independence, "to secure these rights." John Adams spoke of the special role that religion and morality play in the successful outworking of the Constitution's provisions: "Our Constitution was made only for a moral and religious people. It is wholly inadequate to the government of any other."
--The early church was never caught off guard when they were persecuted and we should not be surprised when they come after us. Jesus told us that because they persecuted Him, they would persecute us.
--When something goes wrong with believers in America you would think the whole world is falling apart. Why, Lord, is all this happening to me? I thought you loved me! Why have I been left to myself?
2 Timothy 3:12-14 (NLT)
12 Yes, and everyone who wants to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution.
13 But evil people and impostors will flourish. They will deceive others and will themselves be deceived.
14 But you must remain faithful to the things you have been taught. You know they are true, for you know you can trust those who taught you.
12 Yes, and everyone who wants to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution.
13 But evil people and impostors will flourish. They will deceive others and will themselves be deceived.
14 But you must remain faithful to the things you have been taught. You know they are true, for you know you can trust those who taught you.
--You must decide before you open your mouth to share Christ that not everyone you share with will be receptive or responsive…it is not your job to save them…it is your job to tell them.
--Once I shared Christ with what looked like a former lineman for the NFL…he grabbed me by my shirt and pulled me up to his face…My wife ran off with a preacher and I am mad at God and preachers.
--First of all, I was not that preacher, and secondly, that was not God’s will for them to do that to you…I am so sorry you had to go through that. Yes, I was nervous! He later apologized and I shared Christ with him.
2. Being a passionate witness means that you must never lose your worship.
--Who ever made you believe that because you are facing adversity, that because you are being persecuted God is not worthy to be praised. His worth has not changed because of your circumstances.
--Matter of fact, Jesus’ value has just gone up because of your horrible situation…He said…In this world you will have tribulations, be of good cheer because I have overcome the world.
--In the middle east Christians have learned that when persecution is at its worse that they need to run to God and the church…In America, when we face the slightest problem, we leave God and the church. Wrong!
Acts 16:25-26 (NKJV)
25 But at midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the prisoners were listening to them.
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.
25 But at midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the prisoners were listening to them.
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.
--Wait a minute…these guys have been arrested, stripped of their clothes, beaten with rods, they have their feet in stocks (original stocks and bonds – investing in the Kingdom of God) and they are praying and singing.
--We would be singing too…Gloom, despair and agony on me…deep dark depression, excessive misery…we are not facing near what they were facing and we whine when we should be worshiping!
Psalm 34:1-8 (NKJV)
1 I will bless the LORD at all times; His praise shall continually be in my mouth.
2 My soul shall make its boast in the LORD; The humble shall hear of it and be glad.
3 Oh, magnify the LORD with me, And let us exalt His name together.
4 I sought the LORD, and He heard me, And delivered me from all my fears.
5 They looked to Him and were radiant, And their faces were not ashamed.
6 This poor man cried out, and the LORD heard him, And saved him out of all his troubles.
7 The angel of the LORD encamps all around those who fear Him, And delivers them.
8 Oh, taste and see that the LORD is good; Blessed is the man who trusts in Him!
1 I will bless the LORD at all times; His praise shall continually be in my mouth.
2 My soul shall make its boast in the LORD; The humble shall hear of it and be glad.
3 Oh, magnify the LORD with me, And let us exalt His name together.
4 I sought the LORD, and He heard me, And delivered me from all my fears.
5 They looked to Him and were radiant, And their faces were not ashamed.
6 This poor man cried out, and the LORD heard him, And saved him out of all his troubles.
7 The angel of the LORD encamps all around those who fear Him, And delivers them.
8 Oh, taste and see that the LORD is good; Blessed is the man who trusts in Him!
--The other prisoners were listening…the world is listening…people we are around every day are listening to what is coming out of our mouths especially when things are not going so well for us…is their God real?
--Paul and Silas had every reason to be down, to be depressed. Yes, they were in pain and yes, they had plenty to complain about…Trust in God’s plan not in your pain.
--I believe it was Paul who said…Rejoice in the Lord always, I will say it again rejoice. Be anxious for nothing…Don’t worry about anything but by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your request…
3. Being a passionate witness is never forgetting those witnessing your adversity.
Acts 16:26-31 (NKJV)
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."
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."
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."
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."
--How many of us have God rescued from our chains (our situations)? Yes, we were obviously shaken by what we went through…we should never be so shaken that we forget those who are lost.
--How many, like this keeper of the prison, are about to do themselves harm…they have seen God set us free from our mess but they think they have no hope. Divorce, suicide, addiction may seem imminent for them.
--Wow! How the world needs to hear the church say: "Do yourself no harm, for we are all here." We are all here ready to help you find a beautiful future with God.
--Listen to your pastor, once they see what God has done for us and that the church is really there for them, they will cry out like this keeper…Sirs, what must I do to be saved?
--Who would not want to be part of this process? What an awesome feeling to know someone has given their heart to Jesus and you were able to play a part in that.
--This is why your pastor is so passionate about missions…I get so fired up thinking about one of our missionaries sharing Jesus wherever God has them and someone giving their heart to Him!
--That is why I am so passionate about personal evangelism…seeing someone get their heart right with God (like Joe) is exhilarating!
--Saying to someone who is searching, "Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and you will be saved, you and your household."
Acts 16:32-34 (NIV)
32 Then they spoke the word of the Lord to him and to all the others in his house.
33 At that hour of the night the jailer took them and washed their wounds; then immediately he and all his family were baptized.
34 The jailer brought them into his house and set a meal before them; he was filled with joy because he had come to believe in God--he and his whole family.
32 Then they spoke the word of the Lord to him and to all the others in his house.
33 At that hour of the night the jailer took them and washed their wounds; then immediately he and all his family were baptized.
34 The jailer brought them into his house and set a meal before them; he was filled with joy because he had come to believe in God--he and his whole family.
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