Acts 16- Some things we might go through to see God glorified




Acts 16
16 And it came to pass, as we went to prayer, a certain damsel possessed with a spirit of divination met us, which brought her masters much gain by soothsaying:
        Prayer motivates the devil to do what he can to stop you from praying... Have you ever noticed that about the time that you are going to prayer a lot of other things come up that you suddenly remembered that you had to do and it seems that you have to do it right then... Such as sleep, eat something, take a ride, watch t.v., take the dog for a walk, etc. You know the really important things that keep life going strong???

Acts 16 (cont.)
17 The same followed Paul and us, and cried, saying, These men are the servants of the most high God, which show unto us the way of salvation.
        She, he, they or other things will keep following us around and it could be for many days which could go into weeks, months and years and the things can be good things too or appear good to the eye or sound good to the ear yet they are ultimately affecting our work in the Lord to the negative. They must be dealt with sooner or later and normally the sooner the better.

Acts 16 (cont.)
18 And this did she many days. But Paul, being grieved, turned and said to the spirit, I command thee in the name of Jesus Christ to come out of her. And he came out the same hour.
        These things need to be dealt with or we will be grieved by them sooner or later and if it is dealt with properly then we will get the victory...

Acts 16 (cont.)
19 And when her masters saw that the hope of their gains was gone, they caught Paul and Silas, and drew them into the marketplace unto the rulers,
20 And brought them to the magistrates, saying, These men, being Jews, do exceedingly trouble our city,
21 And teach customs, which are not lawful for us to receive, neither to observe, being Romans.
22 And the multitude rose up together against them: and the magistrates rent off their clothes, and commanded to beat them.
23 And when they had laid many stripes upon them, they cast them into prison, charging the jailor to keep them safely:
        But keep in mind though that it will probably get the devil twice as mad and he will seek to bring more of his people into the act to really shut you down.
        You might be falsely accused by others, slandered, beat, etc. even put away for a time, whatever but then hide and watch if you keep the faith in the Lord what will happen next...

Acts 16 (cont.)
25 And at midnight Paul and Silas prayed, and sang praises unto God: and the prisoners heard them.
        Think about this, "At midnight"... Wouldn't that show you that when things look the darkest, bleakest, hopeless is the time that prayer and praise should go forth...
        Remember we talked about praying without ceasing and you do that by walking in the Spirit and the prisoners will hear...
        As truth goes forth, prisoners see their need and because of that...

Acts 16 (cont.)
26 And suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison were shaken: and immediately all the doors were opened, and every one's bands were loosed.
        ...there will be things happening whether in the spiritual or the natural... Explosions are taking place as the word of God goes forth.

Acts 16 (cont.)
27 And the keeper of the prison awaking out of his sleep, and seeing the prison doors open, he drew out his sword, and would have killed himself, supposing that the prisoners had been fled.
        Jesus didn't separate sleeo from death, they were one and the same to him. In other words, he could wake a man out of sleep as easily as he could wake a man out of his death...

Acts 16 (cont.)
28 But Paul cried with a loud voice, saying, Do thyself no harm: for we are all here.
        Physical death to self isn't the answer but death to the sin nature is... WE are not to beat ourselves and do physical harm to our bodies to accomplish his will in our lives...

Acts 16 (cont.)
29 Then he called for a light, and sprang in, and came trembling, and fell down before Paul and Silas,
        A light is needed to expose the unfruitful works of darkness and when we see by that light, we wil come trembling to the feet of his presence. The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge.

Acts 16 (cont.)
30 And brought them out, and said, Sirs, what must I do to be saved?
        When knowledge goes forht and the fear of the Lord is there then the truth will be manifested so they can act on it. Their spirit has been awaken by the word of God and/or the power of God... Remember the word went forth first in prayer and praise then the power came, we should expect the same pattern...

Acts 16 (cont.)
31 And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house.
        Salvation will come for us as we truly believe what the Lord says, as we act upon his call and his drawing us to his side, into his very life...

Acts 16 (cont.)
32 And they spake unto him the word of the Lord, and to all that were in his house.
33 And he took them the same hour of the night, and washed their stripes; and was baptized, he and all his, straightway.
        The man was saved and his whole house, they heard the word of God and acted on it... The fruit of the new life was immediate... He took the prisoners and washed their stripes and then he and his family were baptized ..

Acts 16 (cont.)
34 And when he had brought them into his house, he set meat before them, and rejoiced, believing in God with all his house.
        More fruit going forth from the new life in Jesus...

Acts 16 (cont.)
35 And when it was day, the magistrates sent the serjeants, saying, Let those men go.
        (Magistrate -- one with power in the government to apply a law and put it in force).. Think about this one! Remember this was a corrupt government too just as ours is today.)

Acts 16 (cont.)
36 And the keeper of the prison told this saying to Paul, The magistrates have sent to let you go: now therefore depart, and go in peace.
37 But Paul said unto them, They have beaten us openly uncondemned, being Romans, and have cast us into prison; and now do they thrust us out privily? nay verily; but let them come themselves and fetch us out.
38 And the serjeants told these words unto the magistrates: and they feared, when they heard that they were Romans.
39 And they came and besought them, and brought them out, and desired them to depart out of the city.
        Now Paul uses the law to his advantage...

Acts 16 (cont.)
40 And they went out of the prison, and entered into the house of Lydia: and when they had seen the brethren, they comforted them, and departed.
        He goes to comfort the believers in that city and then he departs... We are called to do what God has shown or called us to do where we are at and if we are called to depart from where we are then the Lord will show us and we are to leave but not until that pont and time...

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