Sermon Notes for 11/3/2013

Believe in the Lord Jesus, and... (Acts 16:25-34)


A. The power and authority of God are revealed

1) God's power and authority revealed through praise (25,26)

About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the other prisoners were listening to them. Suddenly there was such a violent earthquake that the foundations of the prison were shaken. At once all the prison doors flew open, and everybody's chains came loose.


2) God's power and authority kept the prisoners from leaving (27,28)

The jailer woke up, and when he saw the prison doors open, he drew his sword and was about to kill himself because he thought the prisoners had escaped. But Paul shouted, "Don't harm yourself! We are all here!"


B. The power and authority that leads people to submission

1) Believe in the Lord Jesus and you and your family will be saved (29-32)

The jailer called for lights, rushed in and fell trembling before Paul and Silas. He then brought them out and asked, "Sirs, what must I do to be saved?" They replied, "Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved--you and your household." Then they spoke the word of the Lord to him and to all the others in his house.


2) Salvation = joining God's family (33, 34)

At that hour of the night the jailer took them and washed their wounds; then immediately he and all his family were baptized. 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.




Summary
Having been accused and imprisoned unjustly and without due process, Paul and Silas were singing praises to God in the middle of the night. This episode reminds us that we can pray and praise God even during a crisis. God's power and authority are revealed, bringing even the powerful to their knees in awe. It is only when we are in awe of God that we can judge right from wrong and make good decisions. The jailer learned to be in awe of God, and this allowed him and his family to become part of God's family. The first step in encouraging our loved ones to join God's family is for us to pray and praise God. Let us pray for God to reveal his power in our lives.

For Discussion
1) Why didn't anyone escape?
2) Why did the jailer ask Paul how to be saved?

MP3 Audio

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