Saturday 17 August 2013

The Spirit's miraculous works and our sufferings for the Gospel's sake.

August 17, 2013 - Acts 16:16-40

    16-18 One day, on our way to the place of prayer, a slave girl ran into us. She was a psychic and, with her fortunetelling, made a lot of money for the people who owned her. She started following Paul around, calling everyone’s attention to us by yelling out, “These men are working for the Most High God. They’re laying out the road of salvation for you!” She did this for a number of days until Paul, finally fed up with her, turned and commanded the spirit that possessed her, “Out! In the name of Jesus Christ, get out of her!” And it was gone, just like that.
   19-22 When her owners saw that their lucrative little business was suddenly bankrupt, they went after Paul and Silas, roughed them up and dragged them into the market square. Then the police arrested them and pulled them into a court with the accusation, “These men are disturbing the peace—dangerous Jewish agitators subverting our Roman law and order.” By this time the crowd had turned into a restless mob out for blood.
   22-24 The judges went along with the mob, had Paul and Silas’s clothes ripped off and ordered a public beating. After beating them black-and-blue, they threw them into jail, telling the jailkeeper to put them under heavy guard so there would be no chance of escape. He did just that—threw them into the maximum security cell in the jail and clamped leg irons on them.
   25-26 Along about midnight, Paul and Silas were at prayer and singing a robust hymn to God. The other prisoners couldn’t believe their ears. Then, without warning, a huge earthquake! The jailhouse tottered, every door flew open, all the prisoners were loose.
   27-28 Startled from sleep, the jailer saw all the doors swinging loose on their hinges. Assuming that all the prisoners had escaped, he pulled out his sword and was about to do himself in, figuring he was as good as dead anyway, when Paul stopped him: “Don’t do that! We’re all still here! Nobody’s run away!”
   29-31 The jailer got a torch and ran inside. Badly shaken, he collapsed in front of Paul and Silas. He led them out of the jail and asked, “Sirs, what do I have to do to be saved, to really live?” They said, “Put your entire trust in the Master Jesus. Then you’ll live as you were meant to live—and everyone in your house included!”
   32-34 They went on to spell out in detail the story of the Master—the entire family got in on this part. They never did get to bed that night. The jailer made them feel at home, dressed their wounds, and then—he couldn’t wait till morning!—was baptized, he and everyone in his family. There in his home, he had food set out for a festive meal. It was a night to remember: He and his entire family had put their trust in God; everyone in the house was in on the celebration.
   35-36 At daybreak, the court judges sent officers with the instructions, “Release these men.” The jailer gave Paul the message, “The judges sent word that you’re free to go on your way. Congratulations! Go in peace!”
   37 But Paul wouldn’t budge. He told the officers, “They beat us up in public and threw us in jail, Roman citizens in good standing! And now they want to get us out of the way on the sly without anyone knowing? Nothing doing! If they want us out of here, let them come themselves and lead us out in broad daylight.”
   38-40 When the officers reported this, the judges panicked. They had no idea that Paul and Silas were Roman citizens. They hurried over and apologized, personally escorted them from the jail, and then asked them if they wouldn’t please leave the city. Walking out of the jail, Paul and Silas went straight to Lydia’s house, saw their friends again, encouraged them in the faith, and only then went on their way.
The Spirit were with Paul and Barnabas, empowering them to cast out the demons from a slave girl. At the same time, the enemy stirred up the whole city to arrest them, beat them, and put them into jail. Suffering and persecution became a sign for the apostles though the works of the Spirit accompanied them. Nevertheless, the Spirit was still with His servants. Paul and Barnabas, were still filled with the joy of the Spirit. They prayed; they sang hymns; they worshiped the Lord in the jail at the mid-night. Even other jail-mates were attentive to their singing. The Spirit's miraculous work was with Paul and Barnabas, just like that of apostle Peter. Jail was broken and the jailer and his households were brought to faith and baptized. The little church at Philippi, including Lydia, the jailer and his households, and possibly the slave girl who had been possessed by demons, was formed by the Gospel through the apostle's sufferings, and works of miracles.
Dear Holy Spirit, lead me to follow Your way to exalt the name of Jesus in my ministry. Your church is to be established by the Gospel of Jesus through Your miraculous works but also our sufferings for your kingdom. But God assures us that all our sufferings for Your sake will be turned to greater blessings for people in need of salvation. Ministry road is full of oppositions but the presence of Jesus and the empowering of the Spirit are more than sufficient for me and my family. 




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