WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:02.799 Welcome to DeSoto Hills Baptist Church. 00:00:02.959 --> 00:00:07.200 Our Sunday morning services are weekly at 9 and 10 30 a.m. 00:00:07.519 --> 00:00:11.439 You're listening to an audio recast of this past week's service. 00:00:11.599 --> 00:00:12.960 We hope you enjoy. 00:00:13.199 --> 00:00:14.320 God bless. 00:00:19.440 --> 00:00:20.559 Acts chapter 16. 00:00:20.640 --> 00:00:36.159 I'm going to start reading in verse 19 this morning as you turn there and tell you as I was thinking through this message and thing at things this week, the last couple weeks, a saying of my dad's just kept coming back. 00:00:37.039 --> 00:00:48.799 It was when when Clay, my brother, and I would get into an argument, we'd get in some kind of kind of fight, dad would always come in there, and you know the typical question is, what's going on? 00:00:49.280 --> 00:00:54.719 To which immediately our response is not what's happening, but whose fault it is. 00:00:55.039 --> 00:00:56.320 He started it. 00:00:56.719 --> 00:00:58.079 No, he started it. 00:00:58.479 --> 00:00:59.679 You know that. 00:01:00.000 --> 00:01:08.799 And my dad always, I don't care if Ronald Reagan started it, I'm gonna end it. 00:01:09.760 --> 00:01:11.280 Almost every time. 00:01:11.680 --> 00:01:14.000 Now it wasn't always Ronald Reagan. 00:01:14.239 --> 00:01:15.680 Most of the time it was. 00:01:15.840 --> 00:01:19.200 Look, if you want to use this at some time, feel free. 00:01:19.519 --> 00:01:25.840 But I used it at one point with some kids, and I said, Ronald Reagan, and they said, Who? 00:01:26.079 --> 00:01:28.640 So you might want to update the name a little bit. 00:01:29.760 --> 00:01:40.159 But as we as we come to this passage today, and as we as we look here, understand this, and we're gonna see this. 00:01:40.719 --> 00:01:48.400 And our salvation from beginning to end, it's God. 00:01:49.760 --> 00:01:54.799 God begins our salvation, and He's gonna complete it. 00:01:55.120 --> 00:01:57.760 He's gonna carry it out to the very end. 00:01:58.000 --> 00:01:59.599 He's gonna end it. 00:01:59.920 --> 00:02:01.760 He's gonna bring it to completion. 00:02:01.920 --> 00:02:05.439 And what we're gonna we're gonna see that in our passage today. 00:02:05.599 --> 00:02:08.240 Now let's remember what's happening in Acts at this point. 00:02:08.400 --> 00:02:16.960 Last week we looked at two ladies, a lady named Lydia, and then a young slave lady who was demon-possessed. 00:02:17.120 --> 00:02:25.840 Lydia, we talked about how God opened her heart and she heard the message of the gospel and God opened her heart and she believed in him. 00:02:25.919 --> 00:02:34.719 And then we see in this young demon-possessed lady who had a spirit of divination, which means she was a fortune teller. 00:02:35.120 --> 00:02:47.599 We saw when Paul finally got annoyed enough through the power of Jesus, we saw him cast, Jesus cast the demon out through using Paul. 00:02:48.639 --> 00:02:51.759 And we saw how her life was dramatically changed. 00:02:51.919 --> 00:02:59.039 Now, this is not the point today, but just let me let me chase a rabbit for just a second at the beginning of this. 00:02:59.599 --> 00:03:21.360 Man, it is a sad situation when we see this young lady who is possessed by a demon and then is freed, and people become angry because she has been freed and can no longer make her money, make them money. 00:03:21.680 --> 00:03:22.879 So what happens? 00:03:23.599 --> 00:03:29.280 Her owners are gonna get upset because she can't make them money anymore, and they become so angry. 00:03:29.360 --> 00:03:48.560 And listen, when we become so focused on our own prosperity and our own things, where we lose sight of people who are created in the image of God and God's justice and God's righteousness being carried out, and we we are so focused on instead of people, we're focused on prospering. 00:03:49.199 --> 00:03:51.120 It is a sad day. 00:03:51.439 --> 00:03:53.520 It's where they found themselves. 00:03:54.319 --> 00:03:58.319 So what they're gonna see, we're gonna see in this passage today. 00:03:58.639 --> 00:04:06.560 But as we move on, we we see that Paul and Silas in this passage are gonna suffer persecution. 00:04:07.120 --> 00:04:13.360 But all the while that they are suffering persecution, God is sovereignly at work. 00:04:14.479 --> 00:04:26.319 And while we may not suffer the same kinds of persecution that Paul and Silas faced, we all have to admit that we go through difficult times. 00:04:27.120 --> 00:04:33.519 We go through times that are hard and straining and strenuous and taxing. 00:04:34.319 --> 00:04:45.519 We go through those times and hopefully as we go through those, we will recognize that regardless of our circumstance, God is sovereignly at work. 00:04:46.480 --> 00:04:55.680 So the challenge for us today as we read this passage is this believe in the Lord Jesus Christ, and you will be saved. 00:04:55.920 --> 00:05:02.000 Now listen, that salvation that we're talking about here is not just a salvation from our sins and death. 00:05:02.160 --> 00:05:03.600 It is salvation from that. 00:05:03.759 --> 00:05:14.399 Yes, absolutely it is that, but it is also a continual salvation that brings us into a right and proper relationship with God. 00:05:14.879 --> 00:05:31.519 In Romans chapter 8, in Romans 8, verses 28 through 30, Paul says this, and we know that for those who love God, all things work together for good for those who are called according to his purpose. 00:05:31.680 --> 00:05:56.000 For those whom he foreknew, he also predestined to become to be conformed to the image of his son, in order that he might be the firstborn among many brothers, and those whom he predestined, he also called, and those whom he called, he also justified, and those whom he justified, he also glorified. 00:05:56.240 --> 00:06:04.879 Here, God is conforming us to the image of his son, and that is salvation. 00:06:05.839 --> 00:06:19.360 And he is working sovereignly in our lives to conform us to that image of him, and what we need to do is believe in the Lord Jesus Christ and be saved. 00:06:20.240 --> 00:06:22.000 So that's the challenge. 00:06:22.319 --> 00:06:28.800 So the question that we seek to answer this morning is how do we see God at work? 00:06:30.000 --> 00:06:37.199 If he is sovereignly working, in this passage, how do we see him at work? 00:06:37.680 --> 00:06:43.439 So I'm gonna invite you to stand with me if you are able as we read Acts chapter 16. 00:06:43.600 --> 00:06:47.839 We're gonna begin in verse 19 and read through the end of the chapter. 00:06:51.680 --> 00:07:02.079 And 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. 00:07:02.240 --> 00:07:08.720 And when they had brought them to the magistrates, they said, These men are Jews, and they are disturbing our city. 00:07:08.879 --> 00:07:14.319 They advocate customs that are not lawful for us as Romans to accept or practice. 00:07:14.560 --> 00:07:22.639 The crowd joined in attacking them, and the magistrates tore the garments off them and gave orders to beat them with rods. 00:07:22.959 --> 00:07:30.240 And when they had inflicted many blows upon them, they threw them into the prison, ordering the jailer to keep them safely. 00:07:30.480 --> 00:07:36.800 Having received this order, he put them into the inner prison and fastened their feet in stocks. 00:07:37.120 --> 00:07:55.759 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. 00:07:56.000 --> 00:08:03.759 When the jailer woke and saw that the prison doors were opened, he drew his sword and was about to kill himself, supposing the prisoners had escaped. 00:08:04.000 --> 00:08:09.759 But Paul cried with a loud voice, Do not harm yourself, we are for we are all here. 00:08:10.560 --> 00:08:16.720 The jailer called for lights and rushed in, and trembling with fear, he fell down before Paul and Silas. 00:08:16.800 --> 00:08:22.319 Then he brought them out and said, Sirs, what must I do to be saved? 00:08:22.800 --> 00:08:31.360 And they said, Believe in the Lord Jesus Christ, Jesus, and you will be saved, you and your household. 00:08:31.600 --> 00:08:42.799 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 was baptized at once, he and all his family. 00:08:42.960 --> 00:08:52.000 Then he brought them up into the house and set food before them, and he rejoiced along with his entire household that he had believed in God. 00:08:52.639 --> 00:08:57.840 But when it was day, the magistrates sent the police, saying, Let those men go. 00:08:58.000 --> 00:09:05.120 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. 00:09:05.279 --> 00:09:18.960 But Paul said to them, They have beaten us publicly, uncondemned, men who are Roman citizens, and have thrown us into prison, and do not and they and do they now throw us out secretly? 00:09:19.279 --> 00:09:19.600 No. 00:09:20.240 --> 00:09:23.120 Let them come themselves and take us out. 00:09:23.360 --> 00:09:29.600 The police reported these words to the magistrates, and they were afraid when they heard that they were Roman citizens. 00:09:29.840 --> 00:09:34.799 So they came and apologized to them, and they took them out and asked them to leave the city. 00:09:35.120 --> 00:09:44.720 So they went out of the prison and visited Lydia, visited Lydia, and when they had seen the brothers, they encouraged them and departed. 00:09:44.960 --> 00:09:46.159 Let's pray. 00:09:48.320 --> 00:09:50.720 Dear God, we thank you for your word. 00:09:53.279 --> 00:09:57.519 We thank you how you have chosen to reveal yourself through it. 00:09:58.720 --> 00:10:04.000 And so, God, we pray that now we will see you. 00:10:05.759 --> 00:10:11.120 See you sovereignly at work in our lives and believe. 00:10:12.720 --> 00:10:14.480 God, help us as only you can. 00:10:15.120 --> 00:10:17.679 Jesus is in your wonderful name that we pray. 00:10:18.000 --> 00:10:18.639 Amen. 00:10:19.039 --> 00:10:20.159 You may be seated. 00:10:27.279 --> 00:10:33.360 So again, we seek to answer how do we see God at work? 00:10:33.600 --> 00:10:41.840 Well, if we're going to see him at work, let's first see the persecution that Paul and Silas faced, and let's try to understand that a little bit better. 00:10:42.000 --> 00:10:59.679 What we what we find is Paul and Silas, they just Jesus cast this demon out of this slave girl at Paul's word, and so now the owners, they're they're mad, they're upset, that they can profit no longer from this girl. 00:11:00.000 --> 00:11:06.480 So they grabbed, they seized Paul and Silas, and they dragged them to court. 00:11:06.960 --> 00:11:08.879 Now, court was a little bit different. 00:11:09.039 --> 00:11:13.200 The court that you see is a little bit different than what we have today. 00:11:13.519 --> 00:11:17.519 Typically, this is how what it would look like in a Roman city. 00:11:17.600 --> 00:11:22.720 They would go kind of to the courtyard there, and there would be two magistrates. 00:11:23.200 --> 00:11:26.320 Uh in verse 19, they they call them rulers. 00:11:26.399 --> 00:11:29.440 It's probably the same thing in verse 20 when they call them magistrates. 00:11:29.519 --> 00:11:38.639 There would be two there who would try, who would hear civil cases throughout the day, and their goal, their call was to keep the peace. 00:11:39.039 --> 00:11:44.879 And so they would come and hear these things, and Paul and Silas are dragged before these men. 00:11:44.960 --> 00:11:50.240 Now there's two other, there's one other kind of person that we need to see here in our passage. 00:11:50.320 --> 00:11:51.759 They call them police. 00:11:52.240 --> 00:11:53.759 You hear them later. 00:11:53.840 --> 00:12:02.000 It's the police who went and told them to let Paul and Silas go, and it was the police that went back to the magistrates with Paul's word. 00:12:02.159 --> 00:12:03.600 It's probably these same police. 00:12:03.679 --> 00:12:07.440 They're kind of the enforcers of the civil court. 00:12:07.519 --> 00:12:12.960 It was probably those same guys who flogged Paul and Silas that we're going to get to in just a moment. 00:12:13.519 --> 00:12:21.200 So they are brought before these men, and they're really brought three charges against them. 00:12:21.679 --> 00:12:25.200 Now they're circumstantial at best, but there's three charges. 00:12:25.440 --> 00:12:27.840 The first charge is that they were Jewish. 00:12:28.159 --> 00:12:29.759 Well, this is true. 00:12:30.000 --> 00:12:37.279 Okay, they were Jewish, but it wasn't illegal at that point to be a Jew. 00:12:38.080 --> 00:12:46.320 Now, there comes a time in the Roman Empire where the Jews have to disperse and they're disbanded and it becomes illegal, but at this point it's not. 00:12:46.639 --> 00:12:49.679 So the first charge of being a Jew, there's nothing to it. 00:12:49.759 --> 00:12:54.320 But but the guys who brought Paul and Silas, they knew what they were doing because here's what they knew. 00:12:54.480 --> 00:13:05.440 They knew if they claimed that they were Jews, what it would bring is it would bring from the crowd who was gathering around them, it would bring some racial racial tension into the mix. 00:13:05.679 --> 00:13:12.159 Because while it wasn't illegal to be a Jew, there were many who did not like the Jews in the Roman Empire. 00:13:12.399 --> 00:13:16.639 So what's happening is they're stirring up this crowd. 00:13:16.879 --> 00:13:21.519 The second charge they bring is that they are disturbing the city. 00:13:21.759 --> 00:13:27.519 Now, to this point, here's what Paul and Silas have done. 00:13:27.759 --> 00:13:46.879 They came into Philippi, they found ladies, women who had been meeting by the riverside to pray, and they began to have conversations with them about Jesus Christ, to which Lydia last week we saw that God opened her heart and she believed. 00:13:47.360 --> 00:13:59.679 The only other interaction that they've had that we've seen besides that is they cast this demon out of this young lady, which really hasn't affected or disturbed the city. 00:13:59.919 --> 00:14:03.519 It's only affected and disturbed her owners. 00:14:04.480 --> 00:14:10.879 She's really the only people who have been affected by this, other than the lady, doesn't have, isn't demon-possessed anymore. 00:14:11.440 --> 00:14:19.679 But again, what these gentlemen are trying to, I don't know if we could call them gentlemen, these men are trying to do is stir up the crowd. 00:14:20.000 --> 00:14:21.519 And they're doing it. 00:14:21.759 --> 00:14:24.639 The crowd is, oh, they're Jews. 00:14:24.879 --> 00:14:27.600 No, they're stuck, they're disturbing the city. 00:14:28.159 --> 00:14:30.399 And so it's just stirring them up. 00:14:30.639 --> 00:14:40.399 And then the third charge is he they charge them of advocating customs that are not lawful for us as Romans to accept or practice. 00:14:43.279 --> 00:14:45.200 That is not a charge. 00:14:46.080 --> 00:15:01.440 There's nothing at this point that the Jews believed in the Roman Empire that was unlawful, that went against any teaching of the Roman Empire, other than they just didn't like that the Jews were monotheistic instead of polytheistic. 00:15:01.759 --> 00:15:04.960 They couldn't understand why the Jews had only one God. 00:15:06.320 --> 00:15:10.799 And so at this point, there's really been nothing illegal but what is happening. 00:15:11.039 --> 00:15:12.000 See the picture. 00:15:12.480 --> 00:15:20.799 As the magistrates are standing in court, what is happening is crowds have begun to gather around and they are becoming riotous. 00:15:21.120 --> 00:15:27.440 So what the magistrates, remember, their job is to keep law and order, is to keep the peace. 00:15:28.000 --> 00:15:38.720 So as they see what's happening, it says that they rip their clothes off, rip the clothes off of Paul and Silas and order them to be flogged. 00:15:39.600 --> 00:15:48.960 Now, this looks, what this would look like is these police, they would have rods. 00:15:56.960 --> 00:16:02.720 It would be a bunch of rods that were tied with a ribbon or some way. 00:16:11.039 --> 00:16:24.240 Paul probably, it's probably one of the times in 2 Corinthians chapter 11, verse 25, he talks about, he tells the Corinthians, there are three times I was beaten with rods. 00:16:24.720 --> 00:16:29.679 This is this is probably one of those times that he is beaten. 00:16:30.639 --> 00:16:40.000 Then they take Paul and Silas and they go to the jailer and they say, they they tell the jailer to keep them safely. 00:16:40.159 --> 00:16:41.759 Let me let me get back to Acts. 00:16:41.919 --> 00:16:47.440 He they tell them to inflict many blows upon them. 00:16:47.519 --> 00:16:51.519 They threw them in a prison, order the jailer to keep them safely. 00:16:51.759 --> 00:16:53.200 That's what he means. 00:16:53.519 --> 00:16:55.600 You better not let them escape. 00:16:59.919 --> 00:17:10.640 So the jailer, under that compulsion, takes them to the innermost cell and puts them in stocks. 00:17:11.759 --> 00:17:17.839 Now, the stocks are things that were used, could have been used uh throughout the Roman Empire for torture. 00:17:17.920 --> 00:17:21.279 They use them for that sometimes to stretch people's legs. 00:17:21.920 --> 00:17:22.720 It's a wooden thing. 00:17:22.799 --> 00:17:28.079 They're not really, we don't really think they're using them for torture in Paul and Silas here. 00:17:28.400 --> 00:17:30.319 He just doesn't want them to escape. 00:17:31.039 --> 00:17:35.759 So he puts them in the stocks that are probably attached to these walls. 00:17:36.960 --> 00:17:47.839 And they're beaten, hurting, in stocks, in prison, for doing nothing wrong. 00:17:50.400 --> 00:17:52.079 But hear their heart. 00:17:53.759 --> 00:17:56.160 It tells us about midnight. 00:17:57.279 --> 00:18:05.039 About midnight, Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God. 00:18:05.680 --> 00:18:07.759 Can you imagine that peace? 00:18:09.359 --> 00:18:12.240 Can you imagine that confidence? 00:18:12.720 --> 00:18:24.079 Not confidence in themselves, not confidence in what they were doing, but confidence that God was sovereignly working. 00:18:25.119 --> 00:18:28.160 Later in the book of Philippians. 00:18:29.279 --> 00:18:33.359 In Philippians chapter 4, remember they are in Philippi here. 00:18:34.079 --> 00:18:35.440 That's where they are. 00:18:35.680 --> 00:18:41.680 And in Philippians chapter 4, verses 4 through 7, Paul pins these words. 00:18:42.000 --> 00:18:44.960 He's left Philippi and he's writing back to them. 00:18:45.039 --> 00:18:48.240 And he pins these words in verse 4 through 7. 00:18:48.799 --> 00:18:51.359 Rejoice in the Lord always. 00:18:51.759 --> 00:18:54.480 Again, I will say, rejoice. 00:18:55.279 --> 00:18:59.039 Let your reasonableness be known to everyone. 00:18:59.519 --> 00:19:01.200 The Lord is at hand. 00:19:02.000 --> 00:19:04.480 Do not be anxious about anything. 00:19:04.720 --> 00:19:20.880 But in everything, by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving, let your request be made known to God, and the peace of God which surpasses all understanding will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. 00:19:21.599 --> 00:19:27.599 Now imagine you are a member of the congregation at Philippi. 00:19:28.799 --> 00:19:30.720 And you know the story. 00:19:31.519 --> 00:19:36.880 You saw Paul and Barnabas, Paul and Silas be stripped of their clothes. 00:19:37.200 --> 00:19:40.000 You saw them flogged with rods. 00:19:40.160 --> 00:19:42.640 You saw them cast into prison. 00:19:42.799 --> 00:19:51.759 And you heard the stories how at midnight they were praying and they were singing praises to God in the midst of their persecution. 00:19:51.920 --> 00:19:52.960 Why were they able? 00:19:53.119 --> 00:19:54.079 How were they able? 00:19:54.240 --> 00:19:56.960 Paul pins and tells them how he was able. 00:19:57.119 --> 00:19:58.960 Rejoice in the Lord always. 00:19:59.119 --> 00:20:01.680 Again, I will say, rejoice. 00:20:01.839 --> 00:20:06.960 Let your reasonableness be known to everyone. 00:20:07.200 --> 00:20:08.480 The Lord is at hand. 00:20:08.640 --> 00:20:13.519 Now listen, they're in prison, they're in stocks, they've been beaten. 00:20:13.839 --> 00:20:20.720 Do not be anxious about anything, but by everything. 00:20:21.759 --> 00:20:28.319 With prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, which is what they are doing. 00:20:28.559 --> 00:20:32.160 They are praying and singing praises to God. 00:20:33.599 --> 00:20:35.440 And hear what happens. 00:20:36.559 --> 00:20:45.759 And the God of peace, which surpasses understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. 00:20:47.119 --> 00:21:02.640 What's happening in that prison is even though they are suffering major persecution, the peace of God is guarding their hearts and their minds. 00:21:03.759 --> 00:21:08.240 Because they are believing in the Lord Jesus. 00:21:09.279 --> 00:21:11.519 So we see the persecution. 00:21:12.319 --> 00:21:18.559 So let's move on then and see how is God working here? 00:21:20.160 --> 00:21:23.279 How is God working in this persecution? 00:21:23.839 --> 00:21:30.960 Well, at the end of verse 25, we, as they are praying and singing, there's a little phrase that I don't want us to miss. 00:21:31.920 --> 00:21:36.160 It says, and the prisoners were listening to them. 00:21:37.279 --> 00:21:40.640 Now, that doesn't sound like much. 00:21:41.920 --> 00:21:48.559 I mean, you you have you ever been in a place let me give you an example. 00:21:49.279 --> 00:21:50.720 I love to sing. 00:21:51.759 --> 00:21:55.839 I don't do it well, but I love to do it. 00:21:56.160 --> 00:21:59.839 To the point that I come in a lot of mornings singing. 00:22:00.240 --> 00:22:01.039 Singing. 00:22:01.519 --> 00:22:10.079 I was given a shirt this year by the ladies in the office for Christmas that said, just because I can't sing doesn't mean I won't. 00:22:11.599 --> 00:22:12.880 Love to sing. 00:22:13.759 --> 00:22:16.160 And listen, bless their hearts. 00:22:16.319 --> 00:22:22.799 When I start singing here in the office, it's not that big. 00:22:23.119 --> 00:22:25.440 Not many places to go to get away from it. 00:22:25.680 --> 00:22:27.200 They're going to hear it. 00:22:28.000 --> 00:22:30.160 But it doesn't mean they're listening. 00:22:32.960 --> 00:22:38.799 We have seen in Scripture God working through listening ears. 00:22:40.079 --> 00:22:43.599 Just last week in Lydia. 00:22:43.759 --> 00:22:46.400 Go back to chapter 16, verse 14. 00:22:47.039 --> 00:22:58.799 It says, and 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. 00:22:58.960 --> 00:23:05.759 And the Lord opened her heart to pay attention to what was said by Paul. 00:23:06.720 --> 00:23:08.319 She was listening. 00:23:09.519 --> 00:23:11.359 God opened her heart. 00:23:11.680 --> 00:23:13.039 She believed. 00:23:19.440 --> 00:23:22.400 Now, I'm not advocating that they became believers. 00:23:22.480 --> 00:23:24.960 I have no idea scripture doesn't tell us. 00:23:25.119 --> 00:23:28.000 But I believe they were listening because something is about to happen. 00:23:28.079 --> 00:23:29.680 We'll get there in just a moment. 00:23:30.000 --> 00:23:37.359 But as Paul and Silas were singing, and as the prisoners were listening, God sent an earthquake. 00:23:38.079 --> 00:23:48.240 An earthquake that made the whole foundations of the prison tremble to the point that the doors to the all the cells came open. 00:23:49.119 --> 00:24:06.720 The jailer comes down and sees all the doors open, and he's literally about to fall on his sword because he knows it would be better to kill himself than to suffer the punishment that he would have to suffer for all the prisoners escaping under his watch. 00:24:06.880 --> 00:24:12.480 So he's about to fall on the sword, and Paul stops him and says, Hey, stop. 00:24:13.039 --> 00:24:14.400 We're all here. 00:24:15.599 --> 00:24:18.160 Not just Paul and Silas. 00:24:19.759 --> 00:24:21.039 Everybody. 00:24:23.519 --> 00:24:25.599 Doesn't that seem strange? 00:24:28.160 --> 00:24:32.880 I mean, I know all of y'all are good people and you wouldn't wind up in prison. 00:24:33.599 --> 00:24:35.200 Fingers crossed. 00:24:35.839 --> 00:24:37.440 But imagine you did. 00:24:39.599 --> 00:24:43.200 And something happened, and the cell door came open. 00:24:44.160 --> 00:24:46.000 You're probably not staying. 00:24:48.240 --> 00:24:51.119 Now I don't know exactly why they stayed. 00:24:51.279 --> 00:24:53.119 Scripture doesn't really tell us. 00:24:56.079 --> 00:24:57.599 But I have to believe. 00:25:03.599 --> 00:25:08.559 And God was working in their life. 00:25:10.559 --> 00:25:22.240 So the jailer, seeing this, seeing what was happening, he calls for lights. 00:25:22.799 --> 00:25:33.359 They come in and he sees all the prisoners there and in their prison, and he falls down at the feet of Paul and Silas and says, What must I do to be saved? 00:25:33.839 --> 00:25:39.200 Now there's debate about exactly what he meant by this question. 00:25:40.000 --> 00:25:48.240 He could have meant, What must I do to be saved from being killed by the government because y'all stayed here? 00:25:48.799 --> 00:25:51.039 What can I do to keep you here? 00:25:52.400 --> 00:25:55.039 I don't think that's what he's asking, though. 00:25:56.079 --> 00:25:59.920 Because he falls down at his feet and says, What must I do to be saved? 00:26:00.079 --> 00:26:03.359 And Paul and Silas respond with, believe. 00:26:04.640 --> 00:26:08.720 Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved. 00:26:09.039 --> 00:26:12.319 You and your household. 00:26:15.519 --> 00:26:17.680 Salvation is such a simple thing. 00:26:20.319 --> 00:26:27.279 It's not a simple thing that happened, but it is a simple thing for us to take part in. 00:26:28.880 --> 00:26:31.359 Listen, let's break it down. 00:26:32.160 --> 00:26:38.640 Scripture tells us that we are sinners, that we've all sinned and fallen short of the glory of God. 00:26:39.119 --> 00:26:48.079 Scripture tells us in Romans 6.23 that because we are sinners, what we deserve, the wages of our sin, what we deserve is death. 00:26:48.720 --> 00:26:51.599 He's not talking about just physical death here because guess what? 00:26:51.680 --> 00:26:53.680 That's all going to happen to us. 00:26:54.640 --> 00:26:57.039 He is talking about something bigger than physical death. 00:26:57.119 --> 00:27:01.279 He is talking about spiritual death where we are separated from God. 00:27:03.839 --> 00:27:07.039 Because we are sinners, that's what we deserve. 00:27:07.200 --> 00:27:10.480 But the verse 23 doesn't end with what we deserve is death. 00:27:10.559 --> 00:27:22.480 What he goes on to say is, for the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. 00:27:23.279 --> 00:27:29.359 What he gives us, what he offers us, is eternal life. 00:27:29.839 --> 00:27:34.559 We are sinners bound for hell, bound to be separated from God. 00:27:34.720 --> 00:27:44.240 And what Jesus does is he comes and he lives a perfect life and he dies on the cross, taking the punishment of our sin, taking what we deserve. 00:27:44.480 --> 00:27:46.559 He takes it upon himself. 00:27:47.119 --> 00:27:48.240 He is buried. 00:27:48.559 --> 00:28:02.559 He arises three days later and defeating our sin, defeating the death that we deserve, and then places on us his righteousness when we believe. 00:28:04.160 --> 00:28:07.920 Not when we turn over a new leaf and get our life in line. 00:28:08.720 --> 00:28:24.799 Not when we've gone to Sunday school for so many years, not when we've been a member of a church for so many years, not when we've helped so many poor people, not when we've given so much money, not when we've done anything other than believe in the Lord Jesus Christ. 00:28:25.920 --> 00:28:33.839 He tells us in Romans 10, all who call on the name of the Lord will be saved. 00:28:34.240 --> 00:28:46.079 We simply have to give our life to him, believing that he did die, that he did rise, and he does give us his righteousness. 00:28:47.279 --> 00:28:51.200 Believe, and you will be saved. 00:28:52.319 --> 00:28:53.920 And the jailer did. 00:28:59.359 --> 00:29:11.119 And then this morning we quickly see at the end here how that God was working in this too to protect the church. 00:29:11.440 --> 00:29:15.039 You may say, Grant, how is he protecting the church in this? 00:29:15.839 --> 00:29:16.960 Don't miss that last part. 00:29:17.039 --> 00:29:22.480 A lot of times when we hear this story, we read about the jailer and we start celebrating so much that we miss the last. 00:29:22.640 --> 00:29:23.680 Don't miss it. 00:29:24.160 --> 00:29:28.079 The magistrates the next morning, they get up and said, okay, let's let them go. 00:29:28.240 --> 00:29:30.880 I mean, they probably hadn't done anything wrong, actually. 00:29:31.039 --> 00:29:31.839 Let's just let them go. 00:29:31.920 --> 00:29:35.440 So they send the police to say, hey, just just quietly let them go. 00:29:35.519 --> 00:29:36.480 Just release them. 00:29:36.640 --> 00:29:40.400 So the jailer comes to Paul and Silas and says, Hey, you can you can go. 00:29:40.559 --> 00:29:41.200 Just get out. 00:29:41.279 --> 00:29:43.359 And Paul says, Are you kidding me? 00:29:44.000 --> 00:29:44.799 Uh-uh. 00:29:46.480 --> 00:29:48.079 We are Roman citizens. 00:29:48.240 --> 00:29:49.119 Wait, what? 00:29:50.799 --> 00:29:53.839 Because to be a Roman citizen carried a big thing. 00:29:54.640 --> 00:29:55.680 It was a big weight. 00:29:55.759 --> 00:30:00.799 If you were actually a Roman citizen, there were laws made to protect you as a Roman citizen. 00:30:00.880 --> 00:30:01.519 And guess what? 00:30:01.599 --> 00:30:04.640 The magistrates just broke about every one of them. 00:30:05.519 --> 00:30:07.599 He says, We are Roman citizens. 00:30:07.920 --> 00:30:12.319 You threw us in jail publicly when we had done nothing wrong. 00:30:12.640 --> 00:30:14.880 Now we're not leaving quietly. 00:30:15.279 --> 00:30:17.519 You go tell them to come come here. 00:30:18.480 --> 00:30:21.920 So the magistrates come, listen, with hat in hand. 00:30:22.160 --> 00:30:26.799 There is nothing they can do but say, guys, I we are sorry. 00:30:27.920 --> 00:30:29.599 We didn't realize. 00:30:30.720 --> 00:30:32.559 You say, how is this protecting the church? 00:30:32.720 --> 00:30:34.640 Well, here's how it's protecting the church. 00:30:34.960 --> 00:30:38.000 See what Paul and Silas actually do when they leave. 00:30:38.240 --> 00:30:42.160 They go to Lydia's house and encourage the believers. 00:30:42.319 --> 00:30:45.119 I promise you, people are watching where they go. 00:30:46.240 --> 00:31:13.119 And now this young church, who is really a fledgling church, just starting, you have to believe, and every commentator that I read pointed to this, you have to believe that now those magistrates are going to proceed and handle those people very carefully in fear that Paul and Silas would come back and press the issue. 00:31:13.519 --> 00:31:34.720 This young church is going to have at least a little bit of time where they can grow, where they can evangelize, where they can share the gospel unhindered by the civil government because of the mistake, and because Paul and Silas were treated so harshly. 00:31:36.319 --> 00:31:41.359 Even through their persecution, God protected the church. 00:31:41.680 --> 00:31:44.559 He was working. 00:31:54.799 --> 00:31:55.440 Sure. 00:31:58.240 --> 00:32:01.839 Sure, this jailer believed. 00:32:02.880 --> 00:32:08.319 Lydia and this young slave girl believed and they were saved. 00:32:08.400 --> 00:32:11.039 And Paul and Silas were put in jail. 00:32:11.200 --> 00:32:16.640 And because they were thrown in jail, this jailer believed. 00:32:16.960 --> 00:32:22.799 And because now they were thrown in jail unrighteously, this church is going to be protected. 00:32:22.960 --> 00:32:25.039 But what does this mean for me? 00:32:25.200 --> 00:32:26.720 How can I take this? 00:32:26.799 --> 00:32:29.200 And what can I do with this? 00:32:31.359 --> 00:32:35.359 If we turn back to Paul's letter in Philippians. 00:32:37.039 --> 00:32:41.039 Again, he's writing back to them after all of this happened. 00:32:41.599 --> 00:32:48.000 In chapter one, starting in verse 3, hear what Paul writes. 00:32:48.880 --> 00:32:52.640 I thank my God in all my remembrance of you. 00:32:53.440 --> 00:33:01.680 Always in every prayer of mine for you all, making my prayer with joy because of your partnership with the gospel. 00:33:01.839 --> 00:33:12.400 Hear this, from the first day, Lydia, the young slave girl who had been, the demon had been cast out of. 00:33:13.039 --> 00:33:18.559 This jailer and his household, from the first day they have been partners with Paul. 00:33:18.720 --> 00:33:26.559 They have moved with him and they have worked with him and they have spread the gospel with him, and he is thanking God for them. 00:33:27.359 --> 00:33:29.200 Now look at verse 6. 00:33:30.640 --> 00:33:43.599 And I'm sure of this: that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ. 00:33:47.440 --> 00:33:55.440 See, salvation is a work of God from beginning to end. 00:33:57.680 --> 00:34:03.359 If you have never trusted Christ as your Savior, listen. 00:34:05.200 --> 00:34:18.000 As He opens, as He opens your heart, oh you open your heart and believe and be saved. 00:34:19.119 --> 00:34:23.039 And if you are a believer, hear the message. 00:34:26.559 --> 00:34:29.760 You're continuing in this salvation. 00:34:30.239 --> 00:34:33.119 You're growing in your salvation. 00:34:33.679 --> 00:34:40.559 You're becoming conformed to the image of Jesus Christ is not a work of you. 00:34:42.079 --> 00:34:43.840 It is a work of God. 00:34:45.119 --> 00:34:47.679 And he's going to bring it to completion. 00:34:48.880 --> 00:34:50.800 So what do we need to do? 00:34:51.599 --> 00:34:53.119 Simply obey. 00:34:54.079 --> 00:34:55.519 And let him work. 00:34:57.440 --> 00:35:00.000 Simply do what he's called us to do. 00:35:00.880 --> 00:35:02.960 And watch him work. 00:35:04.719 --> 00:35:06.960 Watch him bring it to completion. 00:35:07.760 --> 00:35:15.840 Understanding that everything that happens is him working to conform us to his image. 00:35:21.599 --> 00:35:22.880 He is moving. 00:35:24.719 --> 00:35:28.000 We need to believe and be saved. 00:35:28.480 --> 00:35:30.960 So we enter this time of invitation. 00:35:31.360 --> 00:35:36.719 If you've never trusted Christ as your Savior, I pray that today will be the day. 00:35:37.039 --> 00:35:49.679 If you have, but for the moment you've tried to pull it back and wrestle it away from him, which we do all the time and say, hey, no, God, I'm going to conform myself to the image of Christ. 00:35:49.840 --> 00:35:50.639 No, you're not. 00:35:50.880 --> 00:35:52.239 Not going to happen. 00:35:52.559 --> 00:35:53.440 Stop. 00:35:54.400 --> 00:35:55.519 Believe. 00:35:56.480 --> 00:35:59.440 Believe in the Lord Jesus Christ and let him save you. 00:35:59.679 --> 00:36:02.719 Conform you to the image of Jesus. 00:36:03.199 --> 00:36:04.800 Just simply obey. 00:36:05.039 --> 00:36:08.880 Maybe this morning you need to come and kneel at these steps and relinquish that. 00:36:09.039 --> 00:36:14.159 Or maybe just from your prayer, a prayer at your seat, you need to relinquish that. 00:36:14.480 --> 00:36:17.840 If you're looking for a church home, we would love to have you here. 00:36:18.079 --> 00:36:21.920 However, God is moving and working in your life. 00:36:23.280 --> 00:36:29.920 Let him move and work and answer his call in just a moment as we stand and sing our hymn of invitation. 00:36:30.239 --> 00:36:31.679 Let's pray together. 00:36:32.000 --> 00:36:33.360 God, we love you. 00:36:34.800 --> 00:36:43.679 We thank you for today, and we thank you for this opportunity that we have now to respond to your word. 00:36:45.519 --> 00:36:47.039 God, open our hearts. 00:36:48.159 --> 00:36:50.480 Give us listening ears. 00:36:53.119 --> 00:36:56.079 Help us to respond to you. 00:36:56.719 --> 00:36:58.639 However, you are calling us. 00:36:59.360 --> 00:37:00.239 We love you. 00:37:00.800 --> 00:37:02.960 Jesus is in your name we pray. 00:37:03.280 --> 00:37:03.920 Amen. 00:37:05.440 --> 00:37:07.679 Thanks for listening to this week's sermon. 00:37:07.840 --> 00:37:13.599 If you have any questions for our pastor, feel free to reach out at DeSotoHills.com.