We are truly free by being with God

STUDY: # 848 CHURCH IN THE HOMES FROM: March 3-9, 2015

TOPIC: "We are truly free by being with God" Acts 16: 20-34 Paul and Silas were Jews. Those men despised them because of this; playing along with the anti-Semitism of the culture. Their pride as Roman citizens was evident ("...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." Acts 16: 20, 21). Rome was a large empire that had subdued all its surrounding territories. It had also taken and dominated over Israel, land of the Jews. But at that moment, Paul did not take advantage of also being a Roman citizen. He suffered what he knew he must go through; for he understood what he had to endure. Paul loved Jesus with all his strength. His desire and passion to serve the Lord were limitless. As a consequence of freeing the girl from the demons of fortune-telling, Paul had huge problems (Acts 16: 16-18). We can see how cruel and unjust these men were by the way they got Paul and Silas detained and punished. ("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 safely." Acts 16: 22-23). Not only were they imprisoned, they were placed in the innermost cell and put in stocks (the stocks was an instrument made of two thick pieces of lumber to hold an inmate by the throat, hands and/or feet to immobilize him). ("When he received these orders, he put them in the inner cell and fastened their feet in the stocks." Acts 16:24). The tragedy is that they were arrested and mistreated for doing good. Whenever the gospel attacks the vested interests of men, there are problems. When you speak the truth to those who already have their beneficial interests this will cause them problems, and as a result cruel attacks will emerge. The men of God had their clothing torn, they received whippings. Paul and Silas’ bodies endured many beatings. Our brothers did well, and received great afflictions. Not only did they receive beatings, but they were imprisoned. There was nothing to heal their wounds, nor was there air-conditioning in that room. No one could console them, their only companion was pain. The jailer was given orders to secure them as if they were the worst bandits. He followed orders, placed them deep within the prison, and fastened their feet in the stocks. It seemed as if the young woman who was possessed wanted to befriend Paul and Silas, by saying: ("These men are servants of the Most High God, who are telling you the way to be saved." Acts 16:17). But Paul disliked the devil’s voice praising him. The devil continued with an attack of persecution upon them. Alliance or persecution, these are the alternatives the devil uses. He will bring and introduce a false friend into our lives, and if this fails, he will launch an open war. The devil’s attacks are always premature, from early on. But in this case, the devil was totally defeated and everything worked out to boost the Lord’s works. The Apostle Paul and Sila’s joy was totally independent from the earthly circumstances they were experiencing. A non-believer can sing after passing a difficult situation. But the believer is different: HE WILL SING IN A CRUEL JAIL! The prisoners heard the prayers and hymns praising God ("About midnight Paul

and Silas were praying, and singing hymns to God, and the prisoners were listening to them" Acts 16:25). The prison was rattled by a great, and severe earthquake that tore the doors wide open, loosened the shackles and the prisoners’ chains, but did not crumble the building. ("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." Acts 16:26) As a result, the jailer awakened. Seeing the doors wide opened, he assumed all the prisoners had escaped. It would’ve been the obvious for any prisoner to do. But not for Paul. Knowing that he would be killed for their escape, the jailer took his sword to himself. Roman law dictated that if a prisoner escaped, the jailer had to suffer the consequence. Paul then tells him that there is no reason to suicide because all the prisoners were still there. Because of this the jailer was deeply convicted of his sin. He asked, what must I do to be saved? They said, "Believe in the Lord Jesus Christ and thou shalt be saved, and thy house." (Acts 16: 27-31) THIS WAS PAUL! He was able to sing hymns while immobilized in a trap, within a dungeon, at midnight, and after a vicious beating. THERE IS SOMETHING YOU CAN NOT TAKE FROM A CHRISTIAN, AND THAT IS GOD AND THE PRESENCE OF JESUS! When you are with God you will be free even in a prison! And there will be light even at midnight! Paul was unable to hold a grudge. He was willing to open the doors of salvation to the jailer who had put him in the stocks and in the worst dungeon. We can immediately see the results of the jailer’s conversion! He washed the prisoners’ wounded backs, a product of being whipped and beaten, and fed them. IF FAITH DOES NOT MAKE US COMPASSIONATE AND KIND, IT IS NOT SINCERE! God does great work in the lives of those who believe and open their hearts to Him; no matter what the circumstances may be. We are always free in Christ! Amen.