THANKFULNESS, SOLD OUT FOR JESUS
Acts 16:23-34
THE TEXT
Acts 16:22-34
22 A mob quickly formed against Paul and Silas, and the city officials ordered them stripped and beaten with wooden rods. 23 They were severely beaten, and then they were thrown into prison. The jailer was ordered to make sure they didn't escape. 24 So the jailer put them into the inner dungeon and clamped their feet in the stocks.
25 Around midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the other prisoners were listening. 26 Suddenly, there was a massive earthquake, and the prison was shaken to its foundations. All the doors immediately flew open, and the chains of every prisoner fell off! 27 The jailer woke up to see the prison doors wide open. He assumed the prisoners had escaped, so he drew his sword to kill himself. 28 But Paul shouted to him, "Stop! Don't kill yourself! We are all here!"
29 The jailer called for lights and ran to the dungeon and fell down trembling before Paul and Silas. 30 Then he brought them out and asked, "Sirs, what must I do to be saved?"
31 They replied, "Believe in the Lord Jesus and you will be saved, along with everyone in your household." 32 And they shared the word of the Lord with him and with all who lived in his household. 33 Even at that hour of the night, the jailer cared for them and washed their wounds. Then he and everyone in his household were immediately baptized. 34 He brought them into his house and set a meal before them, and he and his entire household rejoiced because they all believed in God.
Holy Bible, New Living
THE WORLD’S CELEBRATION OF THANKSGIVING
Thanksgiving is the time we plan to get together with family and friends to
Celebrate the first year in America by the English setters at Plymouth
Rock. THey came for religious freedom. Half the first group who came by
Ship died. Along with American Indians they celebrated their first year
Of survival.
The Thanksgiving holiday is not much about thankfulness anymore. It just a another day off. We plan trips to visit family and friends. We spend time preparing a meal with turkey and ham and all the fixing. Before the meal
We say a prayer and may be recite what we are thankful for. Back to the TV watching football. It was a good time but Jesus only got a few minutes of prayer. The true meaning of thankfulness is lost in the preparation, the meal and football.
GOD’S DESIGN FOR THANKSGIVING
Paul and Silas on a missionary journey traveled to Philippi a Roman Colony. On the Sabbath met a group of woman at riverbank. One of the
Women was Lydia a seller of purple and a worshiper of God accepted
Christ and invited Paul and Silas to stay at her house
Paul and Silas traveled the city proclaiming the Gospel but were followed by a demon possessed woman, Acts 16:16 . She was a fortune-teller who earned a lot of money for her masters. 17 She followed Paul and the rest of us, shouting, "These men are servants of the Most High God, and they have come to tell you how to be saved."
Paul was distracted by her and call the demon out of her. The owners
Having lost their means of income caused a ruckus in the city and caused Paul and Silas to beaten and thrown into the darkest part of prison
And chained by feet to their cell. A guard was posted to make sure they
Did not escape
THE MIDNIGHT SONG AND PRAYER OF THANKFULNESS
God works in ways to make himself known in the darkest corner of the
World. It was the work of the devil that Paul and Silas were beaten and thrown in jail. It was the thankfulness in their hearts that wouldn’t allow their voices to be silent. When they began praising the Lord, the first miracle happen. An earthquake shook the person and all doors opened and chains fell off all the prisoners who had been listening to praise service. In the inner darkness God was working to bring light to the prisoners and the
Guard.
This was a powerful prayer. Consider the reasons for the prayer
WHAT DID PAUL AND SILAS HAVE TO BE THANKFUL FOR?
It was a joyful prayer
It was a prayer of deliverance
It was a prayer of thanksgiving
It was a prayer that brought comfort
It was a prayer of faith in Jesus
It was a prayer of conviction
It was a prayer of healing
It was a prayer of forgiveness
It was a prayer for salvation
It was a prayer that broke chains and open doors
It was a prayer that needed immediate attention
When the jailer found out the cells were open, his change began
SALVATION, THE PRISON MINISTRY
When the jailer found out the cells were open, his change began
Acts 16:27-30
He assumed the prisoners had escaped, so he drew his sword to kill himself. 28 But Paul shouted to him, "Stop! Don't kill yourself! We are all here!" 29 The jailer called for lights and ran to the dungeon and fell down trembling before Paul and Silas. 30 Then he brought them out and asked, "Sirs, what must I do to be saved?"
It was the suffering of Paul and Silas and their faith that brought the jailer to his knees. He was brought to the light out of deep darkness.
THANKFULNESS TO GOD BRINGS FAVOR TO YOU
Acts 16:31 They replied, "Believe in the Lord Jesus and you will be saved, along with everyone in your household." 32 And they shared the word of the Lord with him and with all who lived in his household. 33 Even at that hour of the night, the jailer cared for them and washed their wounds. Then he and everyone in his household were immediately baptized. 34 He brought them into his house and set a meal before them, and he and his entire household rejoiced because they all believed in God.
Sometimes it is the hardships God allow in our lives that bring us to the lost
Who need salvation. The miracles are changed lives. The chains of sin are broken and freedom in the Lord Jesus is given.
Notice the process of salvation
The shed blood of Paul and Silas
Praise and worship cause God to break the chains of bondage
Confessing of the Jailer
The Gospel proclaimed by Paul and Silas
Jesus through Paul and Silas invited to the home of the jailer
Jailers change heart noted by washing and of wounds feeding of
God’s Ministers
The baptism of new believers
Paul and Silas released to serve another day
Thanksgiving is not a noun, it a verb, it is shown in action
Thanksgiving starts in the heart that drives you to serve the Lord.
The evidence of our thankfulness is in our service
It not in a meal that goes in one end and come out the other
It is what we do for others in need to glorify the Lord
Thanksgiving removes the devils distractions to do the work of the Lord
Thanksgiving endures hardships so others can be encouraged
Thanksgiving is not based on circumstances but love
Thanksgiving is focused on the goodness of the Lord
Thanksgiving is remembering what God has done
Thanksgiving recognizes what God is doing through trials
HAPPY THANKSGIVING TO YOU
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