Salvation Through Suffering
Notes
Transcript
Handout
Sermon Tone Analysis
A
D
F
J
S
Emotion
A
C
T
Language
O
C
E
A
E
Social
Acts 16:6 begins a new chapter in the spread of the Gospel
it started in Jerusalem, then spread into Judea, then Samaria and then out into the uttermost parts of the earth
it is now moving into Europe, making its way towards the capital of the Roman Empire
Summary:
Jesus, by his HS, restrained Paul and his team from speaking the Word in Asia, what is now western Turkey
knowing they had been called to preach they kept travelling until God opened a door for them
that opportunity to preach was finally opened at Troas when the Lord directed them to Macedonia
so they sailed across the Aegean Sea into Europe to Philippi
because there was no synagogue they went outside of the city to the temporary meeting place where they preached to a group consisting largely of women
as Paul preached the Word God God opened the heart of a business woman named Lydia so that she was willing and able to understand
he gave her grace so that she was able to exercise her saving faith along with some from her household
all who heard, believed and repented of their sins were baptized
at the same time that God was working through Paul, Silas, Timothy and Luke to save sinners Satan was working against them through a slave girl in order to keep those sinners under his power and control
he directed a demon possessed fortune telling slave girl to attach herself to Paul’s team and to cry out that they were servants of the Most High God and were proclaiming the way of salvation
imagine Satan doing that!!
Paul wisely recognized Satan’s subtle attack and cast the demon out of the girl
when the owners of the girl realized their source of income had been destroyed by Paul they turned their outrage against them
Satan changed his tactics from subtlety to an outright attack on them
Paul’s teaching on the power of the devil:
19 We know that we are from God, and the whole world lies in the power of the evil one.
11 Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil.
12 For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places.
contrast the power of the devil to Jesus’ promise in Mt 16:18:
“I will build my church, and the gate of hell shall not prevail against it”
in our text today the gates of a prison cannot hold back the gospel from those whom God has chosen to save
Vicious Opposition to the Gospel
Vicious Opposition to the Gospel
Satan’s subtle but devious effort to corrupt the gospel through the fortune telling slave girl was foiled when Paul cast his demon out by the power of the HS
Paul had assaulted Satan’s gates and the Devil fought back
19 But when her owners saw that their hope of gain was gone, they seized Paul and Silas and dragged them into the marketplace before the rulers.
20 And when they had brought them to the magistrates, they said, “These men are Jews, and they are disturbing our city.
21 They advocate customs that are not lawful for us as Romans to accept or practice.”
“they seized … and dragged them into the marketplace before the rulers”
seized: to take hold of; grab
dragged: to seize away ⇔ haul v. — to lead someone away by force against their will; conceived of as drawing a heavy object out of something with great effort.
they were manhandled, dragged and shoved into the marketplace before the rulers
the trumped up charges:
they are Jews - true
The Jews always have been and always will be hated by the world because they are God’s chosen people.
having been separated by God as his chosen people they are Satan’s target
The same is true for believers in the Lord Jesus Christ.
about this time Emperor Claudius ordered all the Jews to leave Rome
this anti-semitism may explain why only Paul and Silas were apprehended, Luke being a Gentile and Timothy a half-Gentile
they are disturbing our city - false
disturb: to throw into great confusion or disorder
this was of course false
up to this point their ministry in Philippi had been relatively quiet
there was no significant Jewish presence to stir up opposition as they did in other cities like Lystra where Paul was stoned
they advocate unlawful customs - partially true
there was a Roman law forbidding its citizens from practicing any foreign religion which had not been approved by the State, however it was rarely enforced
If Paul and his team were to obey the calling of the Holy Spirit they would have to disobey Roman law and accept the consequences.
example of Peter and John before the Sanhedrin
18 So they called them and charged them not to speak or teach at all in the name of Jesus.
19 But Peter and John answered them, “Whether it is right in the sight of God to listen to you rather than to God, you must judge,
40 and when they had called in the apostles, they beat them and charged them not to speak in the name of Jesus, and let them go.
41 Then they left the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer dishonor for the name.
42 And every day, in the temple and from house to house, they did not cease teaching and preaching that the Christ is Jesus.
“the crowd joined in attacking them”
“attacking” is supplied - lit. “the crowd joined against them”
the crowd joined the slave owners in their attack on Paul and Silas
“the magistrates tore the garments off them … beat them with rods”
having been stirred into a mob like frenzy Paul and Silas were physically attacked
all of their outer clothing was ripped off them, they were stripped down to their underwear
they were beaten over and over again with a rod or a cane
this was the first of 3 that Paul would endure for the Gospel (2 Cor 11:25)
Paul’s testimony of his treatment
2 But though we had already suffered and been shamefully treated at Philippi, as you know, we had boldness in our God to declare to you the gospel of God in the midst of much conflict.
Paul and Silas were publicly humiliated in this unjust act of brutality, a strong warning to any who would follow them
When Satan’s subtle attack failed he made a direct physical attack on Paul and Silas.
remember the progression in the level of persecution when the church was first planted in Jerusalem:
Acts 4 - verbal warning - prayed for boldness - the place was shaken, they were filled with the HS and they continued to speak with boldness
Acts 5:17-42 - physical beating - rejoiced in their suffering counting it a privilege to suffer for Christ - did not cease teaching and preaching
Acts 7:54-60 - Stephen was martyred - great persecution - the gospel was spread as they scattered
23 And when they had inflicted many blows upon them, they threw them into prison, ordering the jailer to keep them safely.
the Jews limited their beatings to 40 less 1 in order to protect the person’s honour
the goal under God’s OT law was not the destruction of the person’s standing but to restrain evil and cause others to fear
there were no restraints like this on these Romans who brutally beat Paul and Silas
after the vicious beating Paul and Silas were cast into prison where their feet were fastened in stocks
Paul in his first letter to the Thessalonians described their treatment in Philippi:
2 But though we had already suffered and been shamefully treated at Philippi, as you know, we had boldness in our God to declare to you the gospel of God in the midst of much conflict.
The Gospel Affirmed Through Suffering
The Gospel Affirmed Through Suffering
Acts 16:25-34
“praying and singing hymns to God”
In spite of the severe beating, their unjust imprisonment and being put in stocks they were praying and singing to God!
they were not doing so with loud voices
this was not a deliberate attempt to witness to a captive audience
their focus was on God
he had kept them from preaching in Western Turkey, he had directed them to Philippi, Lydia and many of her household had been saved
perhaps like Peter and John they were rejoicing at being counted worthy to suffer for Christ!
“the prisoners were listening to them”
to overhear v. — to hear, usually without the knowledge of the speakers
Paul and Silas were not loudly praying and singing but were worshipping and praying as they trusted in the Lord.
perhaps they were encouraging one another in the midst of their sufferings
15 Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise,
16 making the best use of the time, because the days are evil.
17 Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is.
18 And do not get drunk with wine, for that is debauchery, but be filled with the Spirit,
19 addressing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody to the Lord with your heart,
20 giving thanks always and for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ,
21 submitting to one another out of reverence for Christ.
16 Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God.
17 And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.
as they did so the prisoners and the jailor were eaves dropping
Questions for Self Examination:
what would an unbeliever think if they were able to eaves drop on your words when you have been shamefully treated? unjustly slandered? ridiculed?
what would an unbeliever think if they were able to eaves drop on your times of bible reading, study and prayer?
“suddenly there was a great earthquake … all the doors were opened … everyone’s bonds unfastened”
remember that they were praying and singing to God
not only were the prisoners listening but God was listening and caused an earthquake as a result
why would God do that???
Before the NT scriptures were completed miracles were God’s means of affirming the preacher and his message.
“when the jailor awoke”
if he had been listening he fell asleep
seeing that the prison doors were open he naturally assumed the prisoners had escaped and drew his sword to kill himself
remember what happened when Peter escaped King Herod’s soldiers: they were executed!
when a man enrolled in the Roman army he swore a military oath to the General and the Emperor called the sacramentum
in it he promised to fulfill his duties on the pain of punishment up to and inclusive of death
discipline in the Roman army was extreme compared to modern standards
a general had the power to execute any soldier under his command
when a soldier had been courtmartialed for dereliction of duty the soldier would be stoned or beaten to death in front of the troops (called fustuarium)
[Read Acts 16:28-34 and make brief comments]
he fell down before Paul and Silas
The same feet the jailer had put into stocks he was now bowing before the pleading to know how to be saved!
v. 31 a summary of the gospel - not enough to be saved
v.32 a more robust teaching of what believing meant and required
the jailer took them into his house where Paul and Silas taught them
signs of salvation:
v.33 washed wounds - ministered to them - showed them love
was baptized (Oct 20)
fed them: showed them hospitality
rejoiced greatly having been saved
v.40 “the brothers” indicates many had come to Christ besides Lydia and the Jailer and their families
Paul’s refusal to go quietly
Paul did not seek revenge but did not want their treatment to become a precedent for the treatment of the new believers.
Satan’s plans were brought to nothing being overruled by God’s sovereign control of persons, events and nature
for those willing to be faithful no matter the cost, God stands ready to work all things together for good!
The Blessing of God’s Sovereign Rule
The Blessing of God’s Sovereign Rule
One of the great blessings of God’s sovereign rule over the universe is his power to bring good out of evil. (Rom 8:28)
especially true when his people are persecuted
28 And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.
Even the fickle and unpredictable wrath of man God is able to use. (Ps 76:10)
10 Surely the wrath of man shall praise you; the remnant of wrath you will put on like a belt.
Nothing can separate us from God’s loving care and protection. (Rom 8:38-39)
38 For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers,
39 nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Joseph’s testimony of God’s overruling hand over his jealous brothers who sold him into slavery
5 And now do not be distressed or angry with yourselves because you sold me here, for God sent me before you to preserve life.
6 For the famine has been in the land these two years, and there are yet five years in which there will be neither plowing nor harvest.
7 And God sent me before you to preserve for you a remnant on earth, and to keep alive for you many survivors.
8 So it was not you who sent me here, but God. He has made me a father to Pharaoh, and lord of all his house and ruler over all the land of Egypt.
20 As for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good, to bring it about that many people should be kept alive, as they are today.
the most wicked crime ever committed was the murder of God’s Son, Jesus
Out of the horrible act of the unjust, cruel murder of Jesus God brought salvation to the world. (Acts 2:22-24)
22 “Men of Israel, hear these words: Jesus of Nazareth, a man attested to you by God with mighty works and wonders and signs that God did through him in your midst, as you yourselves know—
23 this Jesus, delivered up according to the definite plan and foreknowledge of God, you crucified and killed by the hands of lawless men.
24 God raised him up, loosing the pangs of death, because it was not possible for him to be held by it.
over and over again throughout the book of Acts we have witnessed the persecution of the early church (Acts 4,5,7,8,12)
in each case Satan was trying to hinder or silence God’s witnesses in order to stop the spread of the gospel
yet the church was not only strengthened but it grew in numbers!
and so here again we see the sovereign hand of God, overruling Satan’s vicious attack to ensure the spread of the gospel
when Satan’s attempt to infiltrate the church with a demon possessed girl failed he tried to destroy it with persecution
though this resulted in great suffering God turned it around and used it to save the Philippian jailer and many of his household
[pray for awareness of devil’s schemes and willingness to be faithful no matter what the cost and may we see many come to Christ]