[0:00] Welcome to our services today and we seek that the Lord would be pleased to bless us as we come together around his own word.
[0:16] Let us begin our worship by joining together in prayer. Eternal and ever-blessed Lord, our Heavenly Father, we give thanks unto thee for all thy goodness and kindness to us.
[0:39] And we give thanks that we can come together this morning around thine own word. And as we do so, we ask that it may please thee to enlighten us with thine own spirit in leading us unto thine own word.
[1:00] That we would be enabled to be strengthened and encouraged or even rebuked if we stand in need of such today as we come to thy word.
[1:19] Thy word is always a living word. And we pray, O Lord, that we may, through the work of thine own spirit, be conscious this day that thy word is truly a living word.
[1:36] By thy spirit applying thy word into our hearts, that it may be lodged there and bring forth fruit in our lives to the glory of thine own name.
[1:49] We give thee thanks, O Lord, that we can come with confidence and with boldness into thy presence today. For that revelation which thou hast made of thyself through thy Son, that thou art a God who delighteth in mercy.
[2:11] And so we come, O Lord, today and we confess our sins. We acknowledge our sinnership. And we ask, O Lord, that it may please thee to apply to us.
[2:27] This day I knew the efficacy of the finished work of thy Son. In accordance to thine own word. That if we confess our sins.
[2:37] That thou art faithful and just. That thou art faithful and just. To forgive us our sins. And to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. And we are conscious, O Lord, today that that forgiveness has been brought to us through the finished work of thine own Son.
[2:59] Through the shedding of his blood upon the cross. That it is coming to us through the merits of our crucified Christ. And so we pray, O Lord, that we may indeed know the worth of our forgiveness.
[3:18] That we may see the preciousness that belongs to our forgiveness. We pray, O Lord, that thou would bless our homes and our families.
[3:30] Bless those who are ill. Those who are under the hands of physicians. We ask, O Lord, that thine own healing hand may be upon them. Remember, O Lord, those who are unable to do the basic things of life for themselves.
[3:49] Who have to be cared for. We remember them, O Lord, and their carers. And pray that thou wouldst meet with each one of them at their point of need.
[4:02] Bless our young people and our children. O that they may grow up in the fear of the Lord. That they may be witnesses for thee in our communities.
[4:14] We pray, O Lord, that thou would bless thy gospel today. As it is being proclaimed. That it may go forth in the power and demonstration of thy spirit.
[4:27] In convicting and in converting. And in the building of thine own church here on earth. We ask, O Lord, that thou would remember us as a nation.
[4:38] O have compassion upon us, we pray thee. In thy wrath remember mercy. O Lord, we pray that thou would restore us once again to be a nation of thy truth.
[4:55] To be a nation that would love thy truth. Who would walk in thy statutes. O Lord, that thou would bless our leaders.
[5:07] That they may come to understand. That righteousness alone exalted thy nation. We ask, O Lord, that thou would continue with us now.
[5:20] As we come to read thy word. And to meditate upon it. And all that we ask with the forgiveness of our sin. Is in Jesus' name and for his sake.
[5:32] Amen. Let us now read the word of God. As we find it in the book of Acts. And chapter 16.
[5:45] The book of Acts. And chapter 16. Then came he to Derbe and Lystra. And behold, a certain disciple was there named Timotheus.
[5:59] The son of a certain woman which was a Jewess and believed. But his father was a Greek. Which was well reported of by the brethren that were at Lystra and Iconium.
[6:13] Him would Paul have to go forth with them. And took and circumcised him because of the Jews which were in those quarters. For they knew all that his father was a Greek.
[6:28] And as they went through the cities. They delivered them the decrees for to keep. That were ordained of the apostle and elders which were at Jerusalem. And so were the churches established in the faith.
[6:42] And increased in number daily. Now when they had gone through Phrygia. And the region of Galatia. And were forbidden of the Holy Ghost to preach the word in Asia.
[6:58] And they were come to Massa. They assayed to go into Bithynia. But the spirit suffered them not. And the passing by Messiah came down to throw us.
[7:12] And a vision appeared to Paul in the night. There stood a man of Macedonia. And prayed to him saying. Come over into Macedonia and help us. And after he had seen the vision.
[7:24] Immediately we endeavoured to go into Macedonia. Assuredly gathering that the Lord had called us. For to preach the gospel unto them. Therefore listening from Troas.
[7:37] We came with a straight course to Samatricia. And the next day to Neapolis. And from thence to Philippi. Which is the chief city of that part of Macedonia.
[7:50] And a colony. And were there in the city abiding certain days. And on the Sabbath we went out of the city by a riverside.
[8:01] Where prayer was wont to be made. And we sat down and spake unto the woman which resorted thither. And a certain woman named Lydia. A seller of purple.
[8:12] Of the city of Tythera. Which worshipped God heard us. Whose heart the Lord opened. That she attended unto the things which were spoken of Paul. And when she was baptised unto her household.
[8:27] She besought us saying. If ye have judged me to be faithful to the Lord. Come into my house and abide there. And she constrained us. And it came to pass as we went to prayer.
[8:39] A certain damsel possessed with a spirit of indianation met us. Which brought her masters much gain by soothsaying. The same followed Paul and us and cried saying.
[8:52] These men are the servants of the most high God. Which show unto us the way of salvation. And this did she many days. But Paul being grieved and turned and said to the spirit.
[9:05] I command thee in the name of Jesus Christ to come out of her. And he came out the same hour. And when her masters saw that the hope of their gains were gone.
[9:17] They caught Paul and Silas. And drew them into the marketplace and to the rulers. And brought them to the magistrates. Saying these men being Jews do exceedingly trouble our city.
[9:28] And teach customs which are not lawful for us to receive. Neither to observe being Romans. And the multitude rose up together against them.
[9:39] And the magistrate rent off their clothes and commanded to beat them. And when they had many stripes laid upon them. They cast them into prison.
[9:50] Charging the jailer to keep them safely. Who having received such a charge. Thrust them into the inner prison. And made their feet fast in the stocks. And at midnight Paul and Silas prayed.
[10:04] And sang praises unto God. And the prisoners heard them. And suddenly there was a great earthquake. So that the foundations of the prison were shaken. And immediately all the doors were opened.
[10:17] And everyone's bands were loosed. And the keeper of the prison awakening out of his sleep. And seeing the prison doors open. He drew out a sword. And would have killed himself.
[10:29] Supposing that the prisoners had been fled. But Paul cried with a loud voice. Saying, Do thyself no harm. For we are all here. Then he called for a light.
[10:41] And sprang in. And came trembling. And fell down before Paul and Silas. And brought them out. And said, Sirs, what must I do to be saved?
[10:52] And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ. And thou shalt be saved in thy house. And they spake unto him the word of the Lord. And to all that were in his house.
[11:04] And he took them the same hour of the night. And washed their stripes. And was baptized. He and all his straightway. And when he had brought them into his house.
[11:15] He said, Meet before them. And rejoiced. Believing in God with all his house. And when it was day. The magistrate sent the sergeant.
[11:25] Saying, Let those men go. And the keeper of the prison. Told this saying to Paul. The magistrates have sent to let you go. Now therefore depart. And go in peace.
[11:37] But Paul said unto them. They have beaten us openly. Uncondemned. Being Romans. And have cast us into prison. And now do they trust us out privily?
[11:48] Nay, verily. But let them come themselves. And fetch us out. And the sergeants told these words. And to the magistrates. And they feared when they heard that they were Romans.
[11:59] And they came and besought them. And brought them out. And decided them to do part out of the city. And they went out of the prison. And entered into the house of Lydia. And when they had seen the brethren.
[12:11] They comforted them. And departed. May the Lord bless unto us. The reading of that portion of his word. Let us turn back to Acts chapter 16.
[12:26] And we shall read from verse 8. And they passing by Messiah. Came down to throw us. And a vision appeared to Paul in the night.
[12:39] There stood a man of Macedonia. And prayed to him saying. Come over into Macedonia. And help us. And after they had seen the vision. Immediately we endeavoured.
[12:50] To go into Macedonia. Assuredly gathering that. The Lord had called us. For to preach the gospel. Unto them. In this chapter of Acts.
[13:05] What we have is. An account given to us. Of how the seed of the gospel. Was first planted. In European soil.
[13:17] This journey of Paul and Silas. Begins in the previous chapter. In Acts 15. In what we call. Paul's second missionary journey.
[13:29] The second journey. Began from Antioch. As the first one did. But there was a disagreement. Between Paul. And Barnabas. Which resulted in them parting ways.
[13:43] Paul took Silas. And went through Syria. And Cilicia. Confirming the churches. That were there. And when they came to Derby. And Lystra. They met with Timothy.
[13:53] Or Timotheus. Who joined with them. But when they had gone. Through Phrygia. And the region of Galatia.
[14:06] They were forbidden. Of the Holy Spirit. To preach the word. In Asia. Afterwards. They came to Messiah. And they tried to go into Bithynia.
[14:18] But the Spirit. Suffered them not. Twice. We have this. Strange statement. They were forbidden. Of the Holy Spirit. To speak the word.
[14:29] In Asia. In some. In some. Undefined way. Of which we are. Not told. They were prevented. By the Holy Spirit.
[14:40] From preaching. The gospel. In what we call. Asia. All that we know. Is that. God. The Holy Spirit. Sovereignly. Indicated.
[14:50] To his servants. That they were not. To preach the gospel. In Asia. At that time. All we know. Is that there is. This. Sovereign activity.
[15:01] Of God. The Holy Spirit. Forbidding. The preaching. Of the gospel. Through Paul. And his. Companions. In Asia. This must have.
[15:14] Left them. Quite perplexed. And. Confused. Wondering. What God's plan. And purpose is. Why was God. Forbidding them. To preach.
[15:24] The gospel. In Asia. After all. They were. Following the commission. Of Jesus. To preach the gospel. To every creature. Everything.
[15:36] To this. Points. Looks. So negative. For them. But. They were to learn. A vital lesson.
[15:47] Which. We must all learn. And that is. That in the outworking. Of that general commission. To go. To go and preach. The gospel.
[15:58] To every creature. There is. The special. Sovereign. Activity. Of the Holy Spirit. Directing. Where the gospel. Should go.
[16:08] And be preached. Through its appointed. Messengers. So. We see. That Paul. And his companions. Comes. To throw us.
[16:18] Us. While the sovereign. Direction. Of the spirit. As we have noted. In verse. Six to eight. Is negative. It also becomes.
[16:30] Positive. In verse nine. Onwards. There we read. And a vision. Appeared. To Paul. In the night. There stood. A man.
[16:40] Of Macedonia. And prayed. Him. Saying. Come over. Into Macedonia. And help us. This vision. That Paul received.
[16:51] Was. Not just. A flash. And it was over. The man. That appeared. In the vision. Stood there. For a while. Continuously. Pleading.
[17:01] Come over. Into Macedonia. And help us. You may ask. How did. Paul know. That he was. A Macedonian. Well. I do not know.
[17:13] The Bible. Does not tell us. All we know. Is that. Paul. Recognized. This man. As a Macedonian. That is. From a place.
[17:24] From Greece. The southernmost. Part. Of Europe. And the result. Of the vision. Is given to us. In verse 10. And after he had seen.
[17:36] The vision. Immediately. We endeavored. To go. Into Macedonia. Assuredly. Gathering. That the Lord. Had called us. For to preach. The gospel. Unto them.
[17:48] Now at this point. It is. Worth noting here. That up until. This part. Luke. Is not writing. We. But. They. But in verse 10.
[18:00] We. See him. Using this word. We. So. That we must conclude. That in using that word. We. That somewhere. In this part. Of. The narrative.
[18:11] Luke. Joined. Paul. Silas. And Timothy. And now. The four of them. According to Luke's record. Conclude. That this vision. Was given to Paul.
[18:22] In order. To direct Paul. And his. Companions. To go across. The Aegean Sea. And to the southern part. Of Europe. There.
[18:33] To preach. The gospel. We are here taught. By Paul. And his companions. That the greatest need. Of the Macedonians.
[18:44] Was the preaching. Of the gospel. You will recall. That the appeal. From the man. That appeared. That appeared. In the vision. Was not come.
[18:54] And preach the gospel. But come. And help us. And yet. The spontaneous response. Of the apostle. And his companions. Was.
[19:05] That the way. That they would bring. The most solid help. To the Macedonians. Is to go. And preach. The gospel. Of the grace. Of God. To them. And this is.
[19:17] The greatest. And the most solid help. That we can give. To anyone. To present them. With the gospel. Of God's grace. In Jesus Christ.
[19:27] Christ. The preciousness. That belongs. To the preaching. Of the gospel. Of God's grace.
[19:39] In Jesus Christ. Have you come. To value. The precious. Preciousness. That belongs. To the gospel.
[19:50] Of God's grace. In Jesus Christ. Christ. The greatest. Privilege. That we can be given. Is to hear.
[20:02] Of the gospel. Of God's grace. In Jesus Christ. That exhortation. To come. And to be partakers. Of God's grace.
[20:14] In Jesus Christ. Through the gospel. God's grace. In Jesus Christ. In Jesus Christ. But we may ask. How did they come. To this. Conclusion. Well. I think there.
[20:25] Some important. Principle. Of guidance. Demonstrated. For us here. In the experience. Of Paul. And his. Companions. That led them. To conclude. That this was.
[20:36] God's will. For them. There is. A combination. Of things. That led them. To this conclusion. First of all. There was. The double. Prevention.
[20:47] By the Holy Spirit. Barring. Their way. Into both Asia. And Bithynia. Then there is. The fact. That they were led. To Troas. Whose sea heart.
[20:58] But faced west. To Macedonia. And this was. Followed. By the night vision. Calling them. To help. And all these things. Became the basis. For a discussion.
[21:09] Among themselves. That led them. To conclude. That God. Was calling them. To Macedonia. To preach. The gospel. There. There. We are here.
[21:22] Told. That there are. Several kind. Providences. That sovereignly. Direct their way. To Macedonia. Therefore. Loosening.
[21:32] From Troas. We came. With a straight. Coast. To Samotrichia. And the next day. To Neapolis. Having. Having. Having come. To their. To their conclusion.
[21:43] That the Lord. Was calling them. To go and preach. The gospel. In Macedonia. They did not delay. They made up. No excuses. But was. Obedient. And willing.
[21:54] To fulfill. Their calling. A ship. Was available. That had room. For the four passengers. And we are told. That the winds. Were fareable. For they made a straight course. And completed.
[22:06] Their journey. Of 150 miles. In two days. That did not always happen. As we read. In chapter 20. That it took. Five days.
[22:16] On their turn. Here we see. That God. Who sovereignly. Said. Do not go. To Asia. Do not preach. The gospel. In Bithynia.
[22:27] Leads them. To Troas. And the vision. Is given. And they are. Obedient. And willing. And now. The same. Sovereign God. Causes. By his fareable. Providence.
[22:39] That his servants. Should make a quick. And straight course. To their. Destination. They come. To Neapolis. And make.
[22:49] Their ten mile walk. To Philippi. Which was. As we are told. The chief city. Of that part. Of Macedonia. And a colony. Philippi.
[23:01] Was given. Its name. By Philip. Of Macedon. The father. Of Alexander. The great. For two centuries. It was. A Greek colony. But then. It became. A part.
[23:12] Of the Roman Empire. And eventually. It was made. A Roman colony. Where. Many of the. Retired soldiers. Of the Roman army. Came to settle.
[23:24] This. Resulted. That. The people. Could. Censate. Themselves. To be. Romans. Rather than. Macedonians. Romans. When.
[23:36] Paul and Silas. Were. Brought before the magistrate. The accusers said. These men. Being Jews. Do exceedingly. Trouble.
[23:47] Our city. And teach customs. Which are not lawful. For us. To receive. Neither to observe. Being. Romans. Romans. We are told.
[23:58] That Philippi. Was. Mortal. After the city of Rome. So it had. Its. Roman arches. Bathhouses. And temples. Which. Dominated. The city. Latin.
[24:09] Was. The official language. And. Although the Greek gods. Had their temples. Emperor worship. Was. The. Most prominent. In. The city.
[24:20] Paul. And. His companions. Were. In the city. Certain days. And one thing. That they knew.
[24:30] As they waited. In Philippi. These certain days. Is. That they are. By the appointment. Of. The living God. In the place. Where God.
[24:40] Wants them to be. The gospel. Did not come. To the city. By chance. Or. By their own. Impulse. Or quirk. But they were brought there.
[24:51] By the sovereign. Activity. Of the spirit. Of God. And that assurance. Must. Have been a tremendous. Strength. For them. As they looked around. The city.
[25:02] And only saw. Pagan. Influence. Seeing. There was. No Jewish. Synagogue. In the city. For. It required.
[25:13] Ten men. To form. A synagogue. Luke. Records. That on. The Sabbath. We went out. Of the city. By a riverside. Where prayer. Was wont. To be made. And we sat down.
[25:25] And speaking. To the woman. Which resorted. Thither. I just wonder. What must have been going. Through their mind. Here they are. In a. Pagan city.
[25:37] There is no. Synagogue. And the only place. Where there are. True devotions. To God. Is held. By a group of women. Down. By the riverside.
[25:47] What must have given them. And strength. Is that. They knew. They were there. By divine. Appointment.
[25:58] And it is precisely. In the same way. That. All our gospel. Endeavors. Are to be undertaken. In complete. Dependence. Upon the Holy Spirit.
[26:10] To lead us. And. Although we do not look. To him. To give us visions. Yet we can trust. That by the spirit. And by his providence. He will close.
[26:21] And open doors. Which will result. In our being. In the place. Of his appointment. Receive from this. The guidance.
[26:31] Of the Holy Spirit. In bringing. The gospel. To the city. Philippi. And then. Into. Europe. But Luke.
[26:43] Also. Brings. Before us. How. The mighty. Power. Of. The Holy Spirit. Made the gospel. Effective.
[26:54] At. Philippi. And it does so. By describing. For us. Three conversions. That we place. In that city. There is.
[27:04] First of all. The conversion. Of a woman. Called. Lydia. A seller. A seller. Of purple.
[27:15] Of the city. Of Tyethera. Which worshipped. God. Heard us. Whose heart. The Lord. Opened. And she. Attended. Into the things. Which were spoken. Of Paul.
[27:27] Lydia. Was. A gentle woman. From Tyethera. And she was. A dealer. In purple cloth. The region. From which she came.
[27:38] Was famous. For its. Textiles. And purple dye. She was. A woman. Who worshipped God. She had. Turned away. From the paganism.
[27:48] Of her. Native city. And attached herself. To the religion. Of the Jews. She saw. Something. In the teaching. Of the Old Testament.
[28:00] That attracted her. And caused her. To turn her back. Upon all of her. Native pagan religion. You would think.
[28:10] That a person. Who is. A worshipper of God. And who is. Seeking after truth. That. When such a person. Would hear the truth. Would. Immediately come.
[28:21] To embrace the truth. To embrace the gospel. That there would be. An immediate. Favorable. Response. To the gospel. But it is interesting.
[28:33] That in the case. Of Lydia. Who seems. To be the most natural. And likely disciple. That Luke says. In language. That cannot be misunderstood. That it was the Lord himself.
[28:46] Who opened her heart. So that she attended. To the things. Spoken of Paul. And here the word. For opened. Is the same word. As used when Jesus said.
[28:57] To the deaf. A man. Be opened. And his ears. Were opened. The same power. That made. A deaf man's ear. To hear. So that he could hear.
[29:08] Sounds. That never registered. With him before. It is the same power. That moved. In the heart of Lydia. So the gospel. Which fell. On the outward ear. Now opened.
[29:19] The door of her heart. To the gospel. So that she attended. To the things. Spoken by Paul. This was the sovereign. Activity. Of the Lord himself.
[29:32] And there are many. Perhaps yourself. Today. Who can share. That experience. Who may for many years. Have been under gospel. Preaching. And yet.
[29:43] Your ears. Were not open. To the gospel. Until one day. And the Lord. Opened that. Outward ear. So that you gave. Attention. To the things.
[29:54] Spoken. In the gospel. Some people. Coming to the conclusion. That the messenger. Of the gospel. Had changed. But it wasn't.
[30:05] The messenger. Of the gospel. Or the gospel. That changed. But yourself. Your ear. Been open. So that you give. Attention. To the things.
[30:17] That are. In the gospel. The second case. Was of. An unnamed. Slave girl. Who was under. The power.
[30:27] Of a demon. And who were. Exploited. By her owners. From whom. She. For whom. She made. A lot of money. By. Fortune telling.
[30:39] And it came to pass. As. We went to prayer. A certain damsel. Possessed. With a spirit. Of divination. Met us. Which brought. Her masters. Much gained.
[30:49] By soothsaying. The same. Followed Paul. And us. And cried. Saying. These men. Are the servants. Of the most high God. Which showed to us.
[31:00] The way of salvation. And this. Did she. Many days. Now this. Demon. Possessed girl. Was acquainted. With the message. Of the gospel.
[31:11] Day after day. She would cry out. These are servants. Of the most high God. Who proclaim. To you. The way of. Salvation. Now this should not.
[31:23] Surprise us. For. We're reading the gospels. That on one occasion. That in the synagogue. There was a man. Which had the spirit. Of an unclean devil.
[31:33] And he cried out. With a loud voice. Saying. Let us alone. What are we to do with thee. Thou Jesus. Of Nazareth. Art thou come. To destroy us. I know thee.
[31:44] Who thou art. The holy one. Of God. And remember. The narrative. Where we're told. About a man. Who are bored. In the tombs. Who had been. Demon possessed.
[31:54] For a long time. And as. Jesus approached. That man. He cried out. And fell down. Before him. And with a loud voicing. What have I to do with thee. Jesus. Thou son. Of God.
[32:05] Most high. I beseech thee. Torment me. Not. We are told that. The devils. Believe. And. Thrumble. But this.
[32:19] Lape girl. All she could do. Under the power. Of that demon. Is taunt. And mock. The servants. Of God. Though she knows. Who they are. And though. She acknowledges. What their message is.
[32:31] She is still outside. The pale. Of that message. Until. As we read. Paul. Been grieved. Turned. And said. To the spirit. I command thee. In the name.
[32:41] Of Jesus Christ. To come out. Of her. And he came out. The same hour. The name of Jesus. Broke the power. Of evil. That had. Possessed.
[32:52] That poor. Slave girl. And we believe. That she came. Into the liberty. Of the gospel. That she found. Salvation.
[33:03] For her soul. Now the third case. Is that of the Roman jailer. He was a man. Who was. Indifferent.
[33:14] And. Cureless. That while. The prisoners. Were listening. To the singing. Of Paul and Silas. At midnight. He is fast asleep. Utterly indifferent.
[33:25] To the fact. That. In his midst. Was the servants. Of God. God. He is utterly. Utterly indifferent. To the fact. That he had. This privilege. That was.
[33:37] Denied. To the people. Of Asia. And Bithynia. He had this privilege. Of having these. Two servants. Of God. With him. Who could tell him.
[33:47] The way of salvation. And what is he. Doing. He is. Fast. Asleep. Have you ever slept.
[33:58] Under the preaching. Of the gospel. Have you ever slept. In church. While. The messenger. Of the gospel. Is.
[34:09] Proclaiming. His message. Well. This. Roman jailer. Although. Paul and Silas. Were singing. And praying. He was fast asleep.
[34:21] He is utterly. Indifferent. And careless. Until God. Sends. An earthquake. And shrieks. The prison. And suddenly. There was a great.
[34:31] Earthquake. So that the foundations. Of the prison. Were shaken. And immediately. All the doors. Were open. And everyone's. Bands. Were loosed. You know.
[34:42] My dear friends. Sometimes. It may not need. A literal. Earthquake. But certainly. It needs. An earthquake. To awaken. People.
[34:53] From. Their slumber. An earthquake. That. Comes. Upon. Them. To awaken. Them. Out. Of.
[35:03] Their slumber. Here. We. Believe. That it was. A literal. Earthquake. That came. And shook. The very foundations. Of the prison. And when this.
[35:15] Jailer. Is wide awake. And realises. The situation. Knowing. That if prisoners. Escape. He would pay for it. With his life. He draws out his sword. And he's about to plunge it.
[35:27] Into his own belly. When Paul cries out. With a loud voice. Do thyself. No harm. For we are all. Here. This man.
[35:40] Saw nothing. But disaster. And tragedy. In his life. And so he draws. Out the sword. And is just about. To put it into his belly.
[35:51] When he hears. Another cry. Which says. Do thyself. No harm. For we are all here. The prison. Door. Is open.
[36:02] And the chains. Are loosed. And. They are still there. The Roman jailer. Called for a light. And sprang in. And came trembling. And fell down. Before Paul.
[36:12] And Silas. This was. Absolutely. Unbelievable. What on earth. Makes prisoners. When the doors. Are open. And the chains. Are off. To stay. In the prison.
[36:26] Maybe the jailer. Remembered. Why Paul and Silas. Was there. In the first place. No doubt. He would have heard. The report. Of what happened. To the slave girl. He might.
[36:36] Remember. Paul and Silas. Praying. And singing. Before he. Went into a slumber. But all that. Comes.
[36:47] Crashing in upon him. So that the man. Who was indifferent. And unconcerned. Now comes. Trembling. And falling down. Before Silas. And cries out. Sir. What must I do.
[36:59] To be saved. Well. A literal. Earthquake. Took him. To that place. But it would be good. Today. If.
[37:09] A spiritual. Earthquake. Took place. In your own heart. And would bring you. To that place. Trembling. And falling down. And crying out. Sir. What must I do.
[37:20] To be saved. Suddenly. This. Roman jailer. Is wide awake. To. Spiritual realities. And if you are out of Christ.
[37:31] Today. That is your greatest need. Oh. To have an earthquake. In your heart. That would bring you. And make you. To be wide awake.
[37:41] To spiritual. Realities. Paul and Silas. Answered him. Believe. Believe on the Lord. Jesus Christ. And thou shalt be saved.
[37:53] And thy house. And they speak unto him. The word. Of the Lord. Now. It would be hard.
[38:03] To imagine. A more. Unlike. And contrasting. Group. That makes up. This. Group of believers. In the. City of. Philippi.
[38:16] To imagine. A more. Unlike. And contrasting. Group. That makes up. The church. At Philippi. We find. A business woman. We find. A slave girl.
[38:27] And we find. A Roman jailer. Lydia. Was from Asia. She's engaged. A very. Lucrative business. A very. Wealthy woman. The slave girl.
[38:39] Really. Had nothing. She owned nothing. The money. That she earned. As a fortune teller. Went straight. Into her master's pockets. She couldn't. Think. Any lower.
[38:50] In public. Estimation. Than. Being. A female slave. And the Roman jailer. Although he had. A responsible work. As.
[39:01] In the local prison. He was still. Supporting it. To. The government. He was a. Supporting it. Official. In government service.
[39:13] They stand. Worlds. Apart. And yet. All three. Were changed. And. Said. By the same gospel. And were welcomed.
[39:24] Into the same church. This brings. Before us. The unifying. Power. Of. The gospel. At Philippi.
[39:35] We see. Both. The universal. Appeal. Of. The gospel. That it could. Save. Such a wide. Diversity. Of. People. A wealthy.
[39:47] Businesswoman. A slave. Girl. And. A Roman. Jailor. And yet.
[39:58] It also. Brings. Before us. The unifying. Effect. On all. That accepts. Jesus Christ. As their. Savior. How.
[40:10] The gospel. Can. Bind. People. Together. Into. God's. Family. Irrespective. Of. Your past.
[40:21] When you come. To Jesus Christ. There is that. Unifying effect. It's. The grace of God. Bringing you. Into the household.
[40:32] Of God. Into the family. Of God. Well. This is the gospel. That is preached. To you today. And it has the same.
[40:43] It has the same efficacy. Today. As it had those. Many years ago. In the city of Philippi. The gospel. The gospel. Which. Is the good news.
[40:54] About Jesus Christ. That gospel. That exhorts you. To believe. On the Lord. Jesus Christ. And thou. Shalt be saved. It saved.
[41:04] Lydia. The business woman. It saved. The slave girl. Who had nothing. And who would be looked down. Upon in her. In her society.
[41:18] And it saved. The Roman jailer. And it saved. Many more. In the city. Of Philippi. Well.
[41:28] Can you testify. Today. That this gospel. That is preached. In. Your. Mids. This gospel. That.
[41:39] You have the privilege. To hear. This gospel. That. Has saved. Others. Can you say.
[41:50] That it has saved you. And if not. Why not. This gospel. That has such. A wide appeal.
[42:02] And this gospel. That unifies. All people together. Into God's family. Why. Well. That is the gospel. That is presented.
[42:14] To you today. And I exhort you. As Paul. Exhorted. The jailer. Believe. In the Lord. Jesus Christ.
[42:25] And thou shalt. Be saved. May the Lord. Bless. These thoughts. Today. Upon his word. Let us pray. Eternal. And ever.
[42:36] Blessed. Lord. We give. Thanks to thee. For the great privilege. That thou has. Given to us. In thy grace. And.
[42:46] In thy love. The good news. Of. Jesus Christ. Thy son. Who came. Into this world. And. Who. Opened a way.
[42:57] Of salvation. For sinners. Such as. We are. O Lord. Open our. Outer ear. So that we can. Truly hear. Open the ears.
[43:09] Of our hearts. That we can. Understand. And that we. Also. Will come. As others. To embrace. The gospel. Of Jesus Christ.
[43:21] And to know. That salvation. O we give. Thanks for the power. Of the gospel. We give. Thanks. Thanks. For the universal. Appeal. Of the gospel. To all ages.
[43:33] And. To all tribes. To all tongues. To everyone. To all sinners. And we give. Thanks for the. Unifying effect. Of the gospel.
[43:44] That brings us. From all nations. And tribes. And tongues. And that brings us. Together. In Jesus Christ. May we know. That. Power.
[43:55] Today. We ask. O Lord. That thou would. Continue. With us. And may the grace. Of our Lord. Jesus Christ. And the love of God. And the fellowship. Of the Holy Spirit.
[44:07] Abide with you. Now and. Forevermore. Amen.