Acts: Get out of jail free

Speaker: Paul Brown

Notes

Paul & Silas were on holiday (or more a business trip) in Philippi (Acts 16:16-).

On their way to the daily prayer meeting, Paul cast a demon out of a slave girl and caused an upset. They were seized, dragged, falsely accused, stripped, beaten, flogged, imprisoned and put in the stocks. Nice holiday!

But they were angry or depressed or trying to escape. At midnight they were praying and singing praise songs. They were such good company, all the other prisoners were listening!

Then God dealt them a Get Out of Jail Free card - an earthquake that broke their chains and opened the doors but didn't hurt anybody. The result was a jailer becoming a Christian, the Kingdom of God being extended and Paul & Silas sent on their way.

Life can be pretty tough, even when you're doing everything right. You might feel falsely accused or like you've had things stripped away from you, or locked up, but it doesn't mean you're failing (James 1:2-3)

When it's tough, remember that God is good.

God can set us free. We can get imprisoned by fear, sin, materialism, legalism. But we can be set free by Jesus (John 8:36, Gal 5:1), his teachings (John 8:31-32), and by staying in step with the Holy Spirit (2 Cor 3:17).

Are you free? Rejoice? Need to know the freedom from sin and guilt of becoming a Christian? Do it today! Need more freedom in your Christian life? Pray!

Application

How do you think you might have reacted to the circumstances Paul & Silas faced in Philippi? What could have made them so calm and positive? How can we prepare ourselves to "consider it pure joy" as James says?

Have you ever found yourself dealt a surprising Get Out Free card?

Can you identify elements of sin, fear, materialism or legalism in your life that might cause you to be imprisoned in any way? How much of getting free depends on God and how much on you and me? Gal 5:1 tells us to not let it get us again once we're free - what can we do to stop it?

Posted: 19 Oct 2008