Sermon Notes for 10/27/2013
A New (and Old) Conflict (Acts 16:16-24)
A. People who don't benefit from the truth
1) This persecution was not about Jewish religion (16-18)
Once when we were going to the place of prayer, we were met by a slave girl who had a spirit by which she predicted the future. She earned a great deal of money for her owners by fortune-telling. This girl followed Paul and the rest of us, shouting, "These men are servants of the Most High God, who are telling you the way to be saved."
She kept this up for many days. Finally Paul became so troubled that he turned around and said to the spirit, "In the name of Jesus Christ I command you to come out of her!" At that moment the spirit left her. (16-18))
2) Anger that resulted from the loss of monetary profit (19)
When the owners of the slave girl realized that their hope of making money was gone, they seized Paul and Silas and dragged them into the marketplace to face the authorities. (19)
B. Culture, politics, economics, and religion as means for justifying sin
1) Love and sin are incompatible (19)
When the owners of the slave girl realized that their hope of making money was gone, they seized Paul and Silas and dragged them into the marketplace to face the authorities. (19)
2) Sin uses culture, politics, economics, and religion to oppose the truth (20-24)
They 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." The crowd joined in the attack against Paul and Silas, and the magistrates ordered them to be stripped and beaten. After they had been severely flogged, they were thrown into prison, and the jailer was commanded to guard them carefully. Upon receiving such orders, he put them in the inner cell and fastened their feet in the stocks. (20-24)
Summary
No matter how capable a person is, his or her plans may need to change according to God's will. God's changes to our plans are easy to discern because he speaks to us in many different ways. Our job is to listen carefully by remaining close to God and focusing on understanding his will. There are times when we make mistakes in trying to hear from God, but these experiences can help us become more discerning in the future. As we listen and do what God asks of us, we will see good results in our lives.
For Discussion
1) How did the Holy Spirit keep Paul and his companions from ministering in Turkey?
2) What was the result of following God's direction?
A New (and Old) Conflict (Acts 16:16-24)
A. People who don't benefit from the truth
1) This persecution was not about Jewish religion (16-18)
Once when we were going to the place of prayer, we were met by a slave girl who had a spirit by which she predicted the future. She earned a great deal of money for her owners by fortune-telling. This girl followed Paul and the rest of us, shouting, "These men are servants of the Most High God, who are telling you the way to be saved."
She kept this up for many days. Finally Paul became so troubled that he turned around and said to the spirit, "In the name of Jesus Christ I command you to come out of her!" At that moment the spirit left her. (16-18))
2) Anger that resulted from the loss of monetary profit (19)
When the owners of the slave girl realized that their hope of making money was gone, they seized Paul and Silas and dragged them into the marketplace to face the authorities. (19)
B. Culture, politics, economics, and religion as means for justifying sin
1) Love and sin are incompatible (19)
When the owners of the slave girl realized that their hope of making money was gone, they seized Paul and Silas and dragged them into the marketplace to face the authorities. (19)
2) Sin uses culture, politics, economics, and religion to oppose the truth (20-24)
They 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." The crowd joined in the attack against Paul and Silas, and the magistrates ordered them to be stripped and beaten. After they had been severely flogged, they were thrown into prison, and the jailer was commanded to guard them carefully. Upon receiving such orders, he put them in the inner cell and fastened their feet in the stocks. (20-24)
Summary
No matter how capable a person is, his or her plans may need to change according to God's will. God's changes to our plans are easy to discern because he speaks to us in many different ways. Our job is to listen carefully by remaining close to God and focusing on understanding his will. There are times when we make mistakes in trying to hear from God, but these experiences can help us become more discerning in the future. As we listen and do what God asks of us, we will see good results in our lives.
For Discussion
1) How did the Holy Spirit keep Paul and his companions from ministering in Turkey?
2) What was the result of following God's direction?