We're going to begin our worship by singing to God's praise. We're singing in Psalm 90,
in the Scottish Psalter, Psalm 90. We're singing from verse 13 down to the end of the Psalm,
page 350 of the Psalm book, Psalm 90 at verse 13 down to the end. Turn,
yet again to us, O Lord, how long thus shall it be? Let it repent thee now for those that servants
are to thee. A Psalm crying out to God for his help. And the prayer at the end of the Psalm,
verse 17, and let the beauty of the Lord, our God, be us upon our handiworks. Establish thou,
establish them each one. We'll sing from verse 13 to 17 to God's praise, and we stand to sing.
Yet again to us, O Lord, how long thus shall it be? Let it repent thee now for those that
that serve us the Lord, our God, be us upon our handiworks. Let it repent thee now for those that serve us the Lord,
and let it repent thee now for those that serve us the Lord, our God, be us upon our handiworks.
O Lord, how long thin we are, and let it repent thee now for those that serve us the Lord, our God, be us upon our handiworks.
O Lord, how long as shall it be? Let it repent thee now for those that serve us the Lord, our God, be us upon our handiworks.
Let it repent thee now for those that serve us after thee.
O with thy tender mercy, Lord, as thou art thee satisfied,
So we rejoice shall all our days, and still be glad in thee.
According as the days of thee,
When we leave the past,
And years when we ill have seen,
So do thou make us glad.
O let thy word and power appear,
Thy servants face thee poor,
And show us who their children dear,
Thy glory evermore,
And let the beauty of the Lord
Our God be us upon,
Our handy word established now,
Established there, ye strong.
We come to God in prayer.
We bow our heads in a word of prayer.
Our Father in heaven,
We thank you for the beauty of this day,
As we've enjoyed walking into the church here,
As we've enjoyed just even looking out through our windows,
On this bright sunny morning.
We thank you for the beauty it shows to us.
But we thank you that behind it all is the wonder of you as the maker,
The creator of it all.
And we have sung of the beauty of the Lord,
And we pray that the beauty of the Lord would be upon us today,
As the psalm says,
That we would know the joy of your presence,
That we would know joy in our time of worship here,
That in all that we do,
We would know, Lord, that we are able to look to you,
And to rejoice in you,
That you are God,
And there is no other.
So we pray, Lord, for everything that we do today.
We pray for the time of worships we enjoy together,
Both this morning and this evening.
We thank you for the Sunday school,
And the creche and the tweenies,
And the time they enjoy together there.
We thank you for times of fellowship around even just a cup of tea,
And getting to know one another,
And sharing with one another.
We thank you for all that we have to enjoy from your hands.
And we pray, Lord, that you will make us thankful,
For every good gift that we have,
All that you give us day by day.
We do pray, Lord, your blessing on us as a people,
From young to old here.
We thank you for all the homes and the families represented.
Thank you for those who are tuning in online as well.
And we pray that near and far, Lord, your word will go with power,
That will speak to us and remind us of the greatness of God,
The goodness that you have shown to us,
And giving your son, Jesus Christ.
And we thank you that we come in his name asking all things.
So we pray, Lord, that you will draw near to us and be with us in all that we do.
That you will pardon our sins as we ask it all in that precious name of Jesus,
For his sake and glory.
Amen.
I'll just have a word to the young ones before you go through next door.
You know, last week I was seeing how many of you were going out,
Coming down through the church.
And it's great to see so many of you coming week by week
And going through to learn so much about Jesus and all that he has done for us.
We're so thankful to be able to gather together and worship.
Now, there was something that was asked of maybe not so much the young folks,
But maybe the parents, but parents might need help in order to do this.
It was on the notice sheet today.
And that is to register for the Sunday school.
And to make it easy or make it more difficult, maybe for some,
There's a QR code.
And then you start thinking to yourself,
What on earth is a QR code?
So probably your parents or grandparents will need a little help in that being explained to them.
And how it works.
Because it's amazing what it can do.
And you think to yourself, I've got a phone here in my pocket.
And this is all you need to register yourself at the Sunday school.
But in order to do that, you need all kinds of codes.
I was thinking, well, there's the QR code.
But before you come to that, there's other codes you need to have as well.
First, you need a passcode to get into the phone.
So everyone will have their own passcode that they have to put into the phone to get entry into the phone.
And then once you're in the phone, to get to the QR code, you need the Wi-Fi code.
You need access to get a connection online.
And then you need to use this QR code to get to the form that you need to fill in.
It all sounds maybe a little bit complicated.
But it's actually quite straightforward.
You look at the QR code there and you scan it and it will do everything for you almost.
But it was reminding me as I thought of all these different codes and how they work.
And how complicated things can sound.
That that's sometimes the way it is with the Bible and the Gospel.
How we can maybe make things sound more complicated than they really are.
But how we can just look at it and see that there's actually easy access to get to the Lord Jesus.
You think about a passcode.
It gives you entry.
Well, as you read the Bible, it's like a code.
It gives you entry to come and draw near to God.
You're coming to hear what God is saying to us.
Then we think of the Wi-Fi connections.
One of these things that so often bothers us.
When we go somewhere new or when we're out and about, is there a Wi-Fi code?
Can I get a connection?
Can I get online?
Well, here we've got a connection as well.
A connection to Jesus.
Through His Word, we have this connection.
And then we come to the QR code.
Does anybody know what QR stands for?
You go into shops, you go into restaurants, you go into all kinds of different places,
and it can say, scan the QR code.
You can sit at your table in a restaurant and order your food and everything just by scanning a QR code.
Does anybody know what QR stands for?
It stands for quick response.
That's what it stands for.
QR stands for quick response.
The QR code enables you to respond quickly to something.
So this QR code on the sheet today, it allows you to respond quickly to Ian
and let him know all your details for registering at Sunday school.
But the Bible calls for a quick response as well.
In many ways, that's what we're going to be looking at this morning as we look in the Book of Acts.
We think of a man who was in charge of a prison.
He was called a jailer.
He had a question.
What must I do to be saved?
And the people that were with him in the prison, Peter and Silas, they gave him a response.
They said, believe in the Lord Jesus Christ and you will be saved.
This is like a QR code for them.
It demanded a quick response.
And he believed.
He trusted in the Lord Jesus.
And that's what the gospel is about.
We can sometimes make it seem so complicated.
But it's about having an entry, coming near to God, having access to Jesus and coming with a quick response.
Believing in the Lord Jesus.
So Ian wants you to respond quickly to this QR code on the sheet.
But more importantly for us all is to have a QR, a quick response to the gospel.
And to believe in the Lord Jesus Christ.
We're going to say the Lord's Prayer together now.
Let's say the Lord's Prayer.
Our Father which art in heaven, hallowed be thy name.
Thy kingdom come.
Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread.
And forgive us our debts as we forgive our debtors.
And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.
For thine is the kingdom, the power and the glory forever.
Amen.
We're going to sing again to God's praise.
We're going to sing in Psalm 130.
And this is in the Scottish Psalter, page 421 of the psalm book.
Psalm 130.
We can sing the whole of this psalm together.
Verse 1.
Lord, from the depths to thee I cried, my voice, Lord, do thou hear.
And to my supplications voice, give an attentive ear.
We'll sing the whole of this psalm to God's praise.
Lord, from the depths to thee I cried, my voice, Lord, do thou hear.
And to thee I cried, my voice, Lord, do thou hear.
My voice, Lord, do thou hear.
And to my supplications voice, give an attentive ear.
Lord, who shall stand if thou, O Lord, do thou hear.
Lord, who shall stand if thou, O Lord, shouldst hearken in pity.
But yet with thee forgive me.
Lord, who shall stand if thou, O Lord, shouldst hearken in pity.
But yet with thee forgive me.
Forgivenesses that fear thou hearst me.
I wait for God, my soul doth wait.
My hope is in his word.
More than may that our morning watch.
My soul doth watch my soul, which are the Lord.
I say more than may that to watch.
The morning light to see.
Let Israel open the Lord.
For with him blesses be.
And plentious redemption is ever found within him.
And from all his iniquities he is death shall redeem.
Give him peace and heal.
Thank you.
I'll return to read in God's word.
Reading in the Book of Acts.
Reading in chapter 16.
Acts chapter 16.
Amen.
We're taking up our reading at verse 16,
although we're taking into consideration
from verse 11 this morning as well.
We will see the conversion of Lydia,
who was a businesswoman, if you like,
seller of purple.
But she was gathered this day with many other women
in a place of prayer.
And Paul and Silas went to see her.
And it says there in verse 14,
One who heard us was a woman named Lydia
from the city of Thyatira,
a seller of purple goods,
who was a worshipper of God.
The Lord opened her heart
to pay attention to what was said by Paul.
So we're taking that into consideration as well
as we take up our reading in verse 16.
As we were going to the place of prayer,
we were met by a slave girl
who had a spirit of divination
and brought her own owners much gain
by fortune-telling.
She followed Paul and us, crying out,
These men are servants of the Most High God,
who proclaim to you the way of salvation.
And this she kept doing for many days.
Paul, having become greatly annoyed,
turned and said to the spirit,
I command you in the name of Jesus Christ
to come out of her.
And it came out that very hour.
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.
And when they had brought them to the magistrates,
they said,
These men are Jews,
and they are disturbing our city.
They advocate customs that are not lawful for us
as Romans to accept or practice.
The crowd joined in attacking them,
and the magistrates tore the garments of them
and gave orders to beat them with rods.
And when they had inflicted many blows upon them,
they threw them into prison,
ordering the jailer to keep them safely.
Having received this order,
he put them into the inner prison
and fastened their feet in the stocks.
About midnight,
Paul and Silas were praying
and singing hymns to God,
and the prisoners were listening to them.
And suddenly there was a great earthquake.
So the foundations of the prison were shaken.
And immediately all the doors were opened,
and everyone's bonds were unfastened.
When the jailer woke
and saw that the prison doors were open,
he drew his sword
and was about to kill himself,
supposing that the prisoners had escaped.
But Paul cried with a loud voice,
Do not harm yourself,
for we are all here.
And the jailer called for lights
and rushed in.
And trembling with fear,
he fell down before Paul and Silas.
Then he brought them out and said,
Sir, what must I do to be saved?
And they said,
Believe in the Lord Jesus,
and you will be saved,
you and your household.
And they spoke the word of the Lord to him
and to all who were in his house.
And he took them the same hour of the night
and washed their wounds.
And he was baptized at once,
he and all his family.
Then he brought them up into his house
and set food before them.
And he rejoiced,
along with his entire household,
that he had believed in God.
But when it was day,
the magistrate sent the police,
saying,
Let those men go.
And their jailer reported these words
to Paul,
saying,
The magistrates have sent to let you go.
Therefore,
come out now and go in peace.
But Paul said to them,
They have beaten us publicly,
uncondemned,
men who are Roman citizens,
and have thrown us into prison.
And do they now throw us out secretly?
No.
Let them come themselves and take us out.
The police reported these words to the magistrates,
and they were afraid
when they heard that they were Roman citizens.
So they came and apologized to them.
And they took them out
and asked them to leave the city.
So they went out of the prison
and visited Lydia.
And when they had seen the brothers,
they encouraged them
and departed.
Amen.
And may God bless that reading from his word.
Let's again just bow our heads
in a word of prayer.
Let us pray.
O Lord, our God,
we thank you
that you are a gracious,
a merciful God,
a God who is patient with his people,
a God who is long-suffering,
as your word describes,
and yet a God who is so quickly
able to transform people's lives.
And we thank you that you are the God,
the one who has all power,
the power to salvation,
the power to convert,
the power to change
from those who are darkness
to those who are
in the marvelous light of the gospel.
And we thank you
for your transforming power,
that just as you spoke
this world into creation,
so your voice still has power
to this day,
power over all people
and all situations.
And we thank you that in your word,
as we have read it together here,
we are reminded of your power,
power and control in all circumstances,
circumstances that seem
outwith our natural control,
but yet everything is in your hands.
We think of the people
we have read of in this passage,
Lydia,
a seller of purple,
and yet one who is so wealthy,
but maybe still distant from you.
But we thank you for your power,
that your word opened her heart.
We thank you too of a young girl
who was used by masters
who were making money out of her,
and yet you had power to set her free.
We thank you for the Philippian jailer
in his household,
the one who was in fear of his very life,
and yet was brought to rejoice in God.
We thank you for the way your word reminds us
that you have power,
not just in all these circumstances,
but power to this day over all our lives,
lives of people who,
as we often do,
find ourselves in so many differing situations,
how changeable our situations often are,
and yet you are the one who changes not.
And so we thank you that today
that we are able to commit ourselves
and all our loved ones
and all that goes on around us
into your mighty hands,
praying for one another,
seeking to encourage one another
and build one another up.
We do, Lord, ask your blessing on us as a people,
on homes and families
and all our different needs,
knowing, Lord,
that they are many and varied,
and yet none hidden from you.
We thank you that whatever our situation today,
whether we are rejoicing
or whether we are sorrowful,
whether we are afflicted
or whatever else may be going on in our lives,
that we know, Lord,
that you are the one
who is able to give us strength.
We ask your blessing then to be upon us
and to be upon those who need you
in particular ways.
Again, we so often pray
for those who are mourning,
and we know
throughout our communities
there are many who are mourning at this time,
mourning in very different circumstances,
and yet all mourning the loss of loved ones
in different ways.
We do pray, Lord,
for your comfort,
for your presence,
for your peace
in the midst of difficult circumstances.
We know that connected to ourselves
as a congregation,
that there are many
who have lost loved ones,
and we just pray, Lord,
that you will draw near to them
and their families, communities,
that your word will be blessed
in the midst of times of sorrow.
We think, too,
of our island community.
We have seen tragedy
in our midst this week
with the passing of Mark Elston,
who was known by many
even in this congregation,
someone who came through
the doors of the hall
on a number of occasions
and attended churches
in different parts of our community.
We pray, Lord,
for his family
as they grieve his passing,
his friends,
those who knew him
in different ways.
We commit them to you, O Lord,
asking for your comfort,
for your grace towards them.
We know, Lord,
in our world
that there are so many troubles.
We see it day by day.
We think of Libya
and the tragedy there.
We think of Morocco
and the earthquake.
We think of
so many other conflicts
going on around the world
and the Ukraine
and further afield.
We know, Lord,
day by day
that there is sadness
and sorrow around us.
But we pray, too, Lord,
that you will not leave us
just looking down
in sorrowful ways,
but that you will help us
to lift our eyes,
to lift our eyes to you
as the one
who is able to do
abundantly more
than all that we ask
or imagine.
And we thank you
that no matter
the difficulties
in this world,
that with you
there is hope,
that the gospel
is a gospel
of change,
of transformation.
and we know, Lord,
that ultimately
you will transform
this world,
you will transform
your people.
But we pray, Lord,
to know your power
even in these days,
that we would see
the power of your word
going out
to convict
and to convert,
the power of your word
bringing people
from darkness
to light,
the power of your word
transforming lives
and households
and communities
as a whole,
that we would see
your saving power
in our midst.
We pray, O Lord,
for there to be
much rejoicing,
the rejoicing
of days of salvation,
people knowing
the joy of salvation.
We ask, O Lord,
that your power
will go through
our lands,
throughout our world,
to all ends
of the earth,
that your word
will go out
with power.
We thank you, Lord,
for every way
that it does go out,
through every individual,
through every congregation,
denomination,
through all your people
around the world.
We thank you
that you have servants
who bring your gospel
and your people, Lord,
who are salt and light
in different parts.
And we pray, Lord,
that you will encourage us,
that you will help us
to be strong in the Lord
and to be encouraged
that you are at work.
Lord, continue to hear
our prayers,
bless us as we turn
to your word,
remember us as a people,
do us good, we pray,
build us up in our faith,
help us to encourage
and pray for one another
all the more.
And we ask all these things,
acknowledging our shortcomings,
our sinfulness
in our heart,
and yet thankful
as we have sung
that with you
there is plenteous redemption.
So, Lord,
forgive our sins
and go with us now,
continue with us
throughout this day
and with Adam
as he's with us
this evening, Lord.
May you encourage him
in his ministry,
in his life,
and in his soul.
And may he be
an encouragement
to us too.
Lord, hear us,
we pray,
and pardon us
as we ask it all
in Jesus' name.
Amen.
Let us again sing
to God's praise.
We're going to sing
in Psalm 80a.
It's in the Sing Psalms
version,
Psalm 80a,
page 106.
We'll sing
from verse 1
to verse 7.
Hear, O Israel,
shepherd, hear us.
Joseph,
like a flock you lead,
you who are enthroned
in glory,
shine upon us
in our need.
We'll sing
from verse 1
to 7
to God's praise.
Amen.
Hear, O Israel,
shepherd, hear us.
Joseph,
like a flock you lead,
you who are enthroned
in glory,
shine upon us
in our need.
Shine on,
angel,
when man has
day,
and forever
as your might.
Turn us once again
towards you.
Come and save us,
give us light.
O Lord God,
the Lord Almighty,
how long will
your anchor's hope,
making void
your people's prayers,
so that all
your enemies
talk.
You have fed
the spread
of sorrow,
tears in plenty
we must shed.
We are now
before our neighbors,
humbled
and discredited.
Luke on us,
O God Almighty,
let us see
your glory
bright.
Turn us once again
towards you.
Come and save us,
give us light.
Amen.
So we can turn back
to our reading
in the book of Acts
chapter 16.
And then we can read
at verse 30.
Acts 16
at verse 30.
Then he brought them
out and said,
Sir,
what must I do
to be saved?
And they said,
believe in the Lord
Jesus
and you will
be saved,
you and
your household.
We're very familiar
with hearing
bad news.
We hear it probably
every day of our lives.
Some sort of
bad news
comes our way,
whether it's
very personal
or local
or whether it's
national
or international.
We hear
bad news
so often.
And the psalm
that we were singing
there,
Psalm 80,
reminds us
that that is
often the case.
In Psalm 80
verse 5
it says,
You have fed us
bread of sorrow,
tears in plenty
we must shed.
There are so much
times of sorrow
in our lives.
But the psalmist
then says,
Look on us,
O God Almighty.
Let us see
your glory
bright.
Turn us
once again
towards you.
Come and save us.
Give us
light.
So we often hear
bad news.
But what's
the best news
you've heard
this week?
Or even in the last
number of weeks,
what's the best news
that you've heard?
What's the best news
you could hear
in the week ahead?
There may be many
things that come
to our mind
when we think
of good news,
great things
that we've heard,
things that make us
rejoice
and are glad.
But is it
that we've heard
of someone
converted?
Is it that we've
heard that God
has opened
the heart
of someone
and they've
come to believe
in the Lord
Jesus Christ?
When was the last
time
you rejoiced
in that good news?
A sinner
saved.
The Bible
tells us
that there is
rejoicing
in heaven
over one
sinner
who repents.
And that would
be great news
for us to hear.
Maybe we have
heard it
in the last week
or the last
number of weeks.
We hear of people
being converted
locally
or in many
different parts
of the world.
Do we go into
the week ahead?
Do we come into
the day-to-day
with a sense
of expectancy,
a wonder,
who the Lord
will save
today?
Do we expect
conversions
to happen?
Are we
praying
for conversions
to take place?
When you look
at the book
of Acts,
it's a wonderful
book of encouragement.
If you're feeling
discouraged
in the work
of the gospel,
if you're feeling
discouraged
in evangelism
and mission,
turn to the book
of Acts
and read through
it and it
reminds you
that God
is a God
of saving
power.
From the small
numbers you see
in the opening
chapter,
by the end
of chapter 2
it says,
the Lord
added to their
number day
by day
those who
were being
saved.
Salvation
is of God.
And so the
book of Acts
is a wonderful
reminder to us
of the power
of God
to salvation
and power
of God
in the midst
of all kinds
of different
situations.
It's not always
easy and plain
sailing for God's
people as you
read through
the book of Acts.
Even as we've
read here
in Acts
chapter 16,
Paul and Silas
they're in prison.
They're bound
in chains
and yet God
is able to use
that circumstance
for his
glory.
And it reminds
us that we have
to keep in mind
the greater
picture of God,
the bigger
picture of God,
that in all the
things that discourage
us and leave us
despondent and
despairing,
all the sad news
that comes our
way so often,
that we can look
to God and
remind ourselves
that God
is at work.
As you go through
the book of Acts,
it's almost a bit
like watching a
child grow.
If you're a
parent of a child
and you're with
that child all
the time,
you're watching
a child grow
and maybe you
don't see much
change.
But if you only
see that child
from time to
time,
if you're in a
relation,
maybe you only
sees them once
a year,
you'll notice
a huge change,
a big difference.
That's the way
it is with the
gospel sometimes.
In the midst
of the church
and the work
of the church,
perhaps you think
there's not much
happening,
nothing's really
changing.
Sometimes you
have to take a
step back
and see that,
yes,
God is at work
in this place.
God is at work
in our lives.
God is a God
of growth
and a God
of change.
That's what the
gospel does.
As you look
through the
book of Acts,
that's the way
you see God
working in
his power.
Perhaps the
people then,
they couldn't
see what God
was doing
until they took
a step back.
Actually,
when you look
at chapter 1,
all you see
is a small
group who
are named.
There were
so few of
them.
But by the
time you get
into chapter 2
and 3,
there are
thousands being
added to the
number being
saved.
It is about
God's power.
That's the same
God that is at
work here today
in our church,
in our community,
in our islands,
in our nation,
in the world.
God is our
God who is
working in
power.
And we can
take encouragement
from God's
word that he
will work,
that he will
do, that as
we look to
him and trust
in him, he
is able to
do far more
than we can
even imagine.
And so let
us keep
praying.
Let us keep
praising God,
just like Paul
and Silas here
in prison,
that God would
work in us
and through
us for
his glory.
Remembering
God's
saving
power.
So what we
see in this
section of
Acts in
chapter 16
is a powerful
passage about
conversion
and the number
of people that
God was at
work in,
in very
different
circumstances.
You have
Lydia,
you have this
young slave
girl,
you have the
Philippian
jailer,
very different
circumstances
and yet God's
transforming power
seen in all
their lives.
It's always
great to hear
someone's
testimony,
someone's story
about the way
God worked
in their life,
brought them
to see and
have their eyes
opened to the
wonder of
Jesus.
And there are
many conversions
you see and
they're maybe
not surprised
to us,
but there are
others that
are complete
surprised to us.
We didn't see
it coming,
but that's how
God works.
He works in
everyone's lives
in different
ways.
And the Bible
is full of
maybe surprising
conversions in
our eyes.
You think of
Paul himself,
his conversion
story is told
in the book
on Acts
on three
occasions.
In chapter
nine you can
read about it.
Saul who
persecuted
Christians,
people were
afraid of
him and
yet God
powerfully
transformed
his life.
Another one
is Cornelius
who we read
of just
previous to
this in the
book of Acts.
Again,
God worked
powerfully
in his
life.
Lydia,
here we are
told that
the Lord
opened her
heart.
The slave
girl,
she was in
bondage
through
spirits of
divination,
a fortune
teller,
yet God
set her
free.
And the
Philippian
jailer,
as we will
see,
someone who
was a
hard man
in so many
ways and
yet brought
to that
point of
bowing
before God.
What must
I do
to be
saved?
Conversions
are wonderful
things.
You just
have to
read through
Hebrews
11,
and there
you see
a list
of people
who God
worked
powerfully
in their
lives.
People
of all
kinds of
different
backgrounds,
all kinds
of different
issues in
their lives,
and yet God
worked
powerfully
in them
and then
through
them.
The gospel
is powerful,
and the
gospel
calls for
a response.
And what
this chapter,
chapter 16,
reminds us
of is the
wonder of
God's
grace.
The wonder
of God's
grace towards
all people,
men and
women,
boys and
girls.
God calls
on us all
to come
to him.
It's this
grace that
is at work
in all
of these
lives.
The grace
of Lydia,
a business
woman of
great means.
She would
have been
rich,
a seller
of purple,
of good
standing in
her town,
in her city.
And we see
that she was
one who
met for
prayer.
In verse
13 of this
chapter,
it says,
on the
Sabbath day,
we went
outside the
gate to
the riverside.
We supposed
there was a
place of
prayer.
So they
went,
and one
who heard
us was
a woman
named
Lydia.
The Lord
opened her
heart to
pay attention.
Again,
it's just
this powerful
way that
God works.
Just there
and then in
that moment,
the Lord
opened her
heart.
And maybe
you've come
in here today
and your
heart has
been hard.
You have
come in
here today.
You're not
really listening
to what
God is
saying to
you.
But in
a moment,
the Lord
can open
your heart.
That is
the power
that he
has.
That's
the power
that encourages
us as
preachers,
as Christians,
that we
don't lose
hope because
God's word
is powerful
to open
hearts.
Open hearts
of maybe
those we've
prayed for
over many
years.
Maybe we're
losing hope
of that
sense of
will they
ever be
converted.
And yet
this reminds
us that
it's the
Lord who
can just
open a
heart in
a moment.
In the
same way
as the
slave girl
too.
She was
caught up
in this
world where
she was
at the
hands of
her master.
She was
a slave
girl who
had a
spirit of
divination.
And yet
in a
word,
her life
is
transformed.
Her
life
is
changed.
The
God of
grace
can set
anybody
free.
From
any
bondage,
any
slavery
that we're
caught up
in,
God can
set us
free.
Why is
that?
Because
with God
it is
possible.
In
Matthew
19
verse
26,
Jesus
looked at
his
disciples
and said
to them,
with man
this is
impossible,
but with
God all
things are
possible.
And what
was the
context?
Salvation.
The
question was
asked,
how can
the rich
be saved?
And
Jesus
said to
them,
it seems
impossible
to you,
but with
God all
things are
possible.
And that's
a reminder
to us of
the power
of God's
word.
That he
is able
to save,
he is able
to convert.
And we
don't lose
hope because
he is able
to do
that.
And that's
what we
see when
we come
to the
Philippian
jailer.
In this
section from
verse 25,
where we
see Paul
and Silas
in prison,
we want
to see
just two
things from
this section.
First,
we see
the question
that the
jailer has.
And then
we see
the response
of Paul
and Silas.
The jailer
was given
orders to
guard these
men.
In verse 24,
having received
this order,
he put them
into the
inner prison
and fastened
their feet
in the
stocks.
They were
put in
the most
secure
part of
the prison.
And this
man was
put in
charge of
looking after
them.
But
something
remarkable
was about
to happen.
Paul and
Silas could
have been
sitting there
thinking,
what's next
for us?
What's
going to
happen?
They could
have lost
heart in
it all.
But look
at what it
says in
verse 25.
About
midnight,
Paul and
Silas were
praying and
singing hymns
to God.
and the
prisoners
were listening
to them.
Here they
were,
they weren't
losing hope,
they weren't
losing heart
in the midst
of all the
badness that
was around
them and
all the bad
things that
were happening
to them.
They were
confident in
God.
They were
rejoicing in
him, they
were praying
and singing
hymns to
God.
and they
were those
who were
beside them
listening to
them,
listening to
them as
they praised
God and
as they
sang to
him.
And in
the midst
of this
there's an
earthquake.
The foundation
of the prison
is shaken
and everything
just seems to
change in a
moment.
They're free
to go
and yet
they don't.
And the
Philippian
jailer in
all his
fear, in
all his
terror,
here, he's
in danger
of losing
his life.
If these
prisoners get
away, his
life would be
taken.
That's the
way it
worked with
the Roman
soldiers in
those days.
But what
happens?
Well we
have this
dramatic
conversion of
the Philippian
jailer.
He fell
down before
Paul and
Silas.
Then he
brought them
out and
said,
Serge,
what must
I do
to be
saved?
Isn't
that a
wonderful
question?
Is that
a question
that you
have today?
Sir,
what must
I do
to be
saved?
What
provokes
this question
in the
Philippian
jailer?
Is it
fear?
Maybe a
little,
but fear
of what?
Is it
a fear
of
retribution
at the
hand of
his
masters?
Or is
it more
a fear
of God?
You
know when
Paul and
Silas were
praying and
singing,
the prisoners
heard it.
And you
wonder if
the Philippian
jailer
heard it
too.
His life
was about
to be
transformed.
A life
that perhaps
had no
thought for
God until
this very
moment on
this night.
And this
was a man
who would
have seen
so much.
A Roman
soldier,
a jailer,
he would
have seen
so many
things in
life,
so many
hard things,
so many
wicked
things.
Perhaps he
was involved
in things
himself that
is now
weighing heavy
on his
heart.
He knows
he has done
wrong as so
many of us
do.
He knows
there are
things missing
in his
life as so
many of
us do.
But it
leads him
to this
question.
What must
I do
to be
saved?
Is that
the question
that is
eating away
at you?
And you're
thinking of
your own
life,
your own
situation,
the way
you've
responded to
God in
the past,
the way
you've
treated
God's
people in
the past,
the way
you've
lived your
life in
general up
to this
point,
and yet
God is
speaking to
you.
And maybe
this is the
burning question
that you have
in your
heart.
What must
I do
to be
saved?
Don't just
push that
question
away.
God is
going to
take you
to be
busy at
times and
you've
just got
a list
of things
that you
need to
get through.
but maybe
God is
just bringing
you to
a shuddering
halt like
this jailer.
You hadn't
expected any
of this to
happen.
An earthquake,
the prisoners
getting free,
his own life
in danger.
It had
happened so
quickly as
our lives
can often
be.
But it
leads to
this question,
what must
I do
to be
saved?
Stop
and ask
that question.
Am I
saved?
If not,
what must
I do
to be
saved?
Well,
the other
thing we
see in
this passage,
we see
the question,
but then
we see
the response.
The response
of Paul
and Silas
in verse
31,
they said,
believe,
in the
Lord Jesus
and you
will be
saved,
you and
your
household.
And they
spoke the
word of
the Lord
to him.
The word
of the
Lord was
spoken to
him.
The word
of the
Lord is
powerful
and mighty
to save.
And this
is the
gospel.
You have
the question,
what must
I do
to be
saved?
And we
can
over
complicate
it so
much.
But the
simple
answer is
here before
us.
Believe
in the
Lord Jesus
and you
will
be saved.
Now,
the response
of Paul
and Silas
could have
been so
different here.
They had
been beaten
by this
man.
They had
been put
into the
innermost
part of
the prison
and put
their feet
in stalks
to this
man.
They could
have easily
turned and
say,
you deserve
nothing.
And grace,
no chance.
But what
they do is
they point
him to
the gospel.
And thanks
be to God
that he
doesn't
treat us
as we
deserve.
That he
doesn't turn
to us and
say, you
don't
deserve,
mercy.
You
don't
deserve
grace.
He
could,
but he
doesn't.
Instead,
he gave
his own
son for
us.
He showed
his love
by sending
his son
into this
world to
die on
a cross
for his
people.
He bore
our sins.
He bore
the punishment
that we
deserved.
He showed
grace when
we didn't
deserve it.
And that's
what Paul
and Silas
remind us
of here.
If someone
comes to
us who's
mistreated
us,
our natural
response is
to want
harm for
them,
not good.
But our
ultimate desire
should be
their salvation,
that God
would have
mercy on
their soul,
that they
too would
come and
believe in
the Lord
Jesus Christ.
In the
midst of
tribulation,
in the
midst of
hardship,
here,
Paul and
Silas find
an opportunity
to be used
by God
to lead
someone to
salvation.
Isn't that
wonderful?
And how
often do we
hear Paul
reminding us
that it's
rejoicing in
tribulation?
salvation.
You see it
so often in
Paul's life
and others
life in
the Scripture,
it's through
their hardships,
through their
suffering,
that they see
the greatest
glory being
given to
God.
And we
have to
understand that
too, that
sometimes it's
in our greatest
tribulation that
God is working
most powerfully,
whether it's in
us or through
us for someone
else, that we
are reminded of
the power of
God to save.
Faith in
God makes us
great optimists,
somebody once
said.
And that's
what we are
guided to here,
believe in
the Lord Jesus
Christ and
you will be
saved.
The
missionary
Adoniram
Judson, he
was a
missionary in
Burma in
the 1800s,
and it was
a very
difficult
place.
And yet
over a
number of
years, he
saw a few
converted.
But he was
always optimistic.
He knew
that's where
God wanted
him.
Even though
things seemed
so dark and
difficult, even
at a time when
he ended up in
prison, he
still held on
to the hope
and the power
of the gospel.
He spent
over 20
months in
prison at
one stage.
And during
his time
in prison,
as he was
chained beside
other prisoners,
one prisoner
turned to
him, smirking
and sneering
at him.
And he
said,
Dr.
Judson,
what about
the prospect
of conversion
of the
heathen
now?
Dr.
Judson
replied
instantly.
He said,
the prospects
are just
as bright
as the
promises
of God.
And that
is our
hope in
the gospel.
We don't
lose hope
because the
prospects
today are
just as
bright as
the promises
of God.
That is what
the power of
the gospel
reminds us
of.
There is
salvation
in no one
else,
but in
the Lord
Jesus Christ.
And that
is what we
are guided
to here.
We have
the question,
what must
I do
to be
saved?
The answer
is clear
and simple.
Believe
in the
Lord Jesus
and you
will be
saved.
And the
word saved
here is
full of
God's
promise.
It means
to be
rescued
from all
harm and
danger
and to
be kept
safe
and sound.
To be
rescued
from all
harm and
danger
and kept
safe
and sound.
And that
is what the
Philippian
jailer came
to know.
That is what
the young
slave girl
came to
know.
That is what
Lydia came
to know.
by the
grace of
God.
What must
I do
to be
saved
today?
Believe
in the
Lord Jesus
and you
will be
saved.
You will
be rescued
from all
harm and
danger
and you
will be
kept
safe
and sound.
God
said to
God
says to
us
for this
is the
will of
my
father
that
everyone
who
looks
on the
son
and
believes
in
him
should
have
eternal
life
and I
will
raise
him
up
on the
last
day.
That
is the
security
of
Christ.
The
salvation
that we
have
in
Christ
as we
believe
in
him.
Do you
have that
question
today?
What
must
I do
to be
saved?
Is it
burning
in your
heart?
Is it
troubling
you?
Is it
keeping you
awake at
night?
What
must I
do
to be
saved?
Here is
the answer.
believe
in the
Lord
Jesus
and you
will
be
saved.
God
can open
our hearts
in an
instant
and give
us
his
peace
of that
salvation
and that
security.
If you
have that
question
don't let
it go.
Don't push
it away
but plead
with the
Lord Jesus
for mercy.
come to
him.
Believe
in him
and know
this great
assurance of
security
and salvation
with him.
What
must I
do?
Believe
in the
Lord Jesus.
Let us
pray.
Lord
our God
our
Father
in heaven
we
thank you
that
your
word
is
powerful
that
your
word
is
sharper
than
any
two
edged
sword
that
is
a
power
to
cut
us
right
to
the
heart
and
we
pray
today
Lord
that
you
will
bring
that
word
of
power
to
us
that
we
will
know
it
not
in a
way
that
just
rebukes
us
and
makes
us
feel
cast
down
but
in a
way
that
lifts
us
up
a
way
that
reminds
us
that
we
can
come
to
you
a
way
that
we
can
approach
with
all
our
questions
and
find
in
you
all
the
answers
that
we
need
and
if
we
have
that
lack
of
assurance
we
have
the
doubt
that
we
are
deserving
of
your
mercy
and
grace
we
thank
you
that
your
word
reminds
us
that
though
we
are
not
yet
you
give
it
freely
and
that
we
are
commanded
that
we
are
might
know
his
great
salvation
help
us
to
find
that
peace
as
we
seek
for
it
as
we
ask
it
in
Jesus
name
Amen
we're
going to
conclude
by singing
again
in
Psalm
80
Psalm
80
page
107
of the
psalm
book
verse
17
down
to
the
end
of
the
psalm
let
your
hand
be
placed
in
blessing
on
the
man
at
your
right
hand
on
the
son
of
man
you've
chosen
whom
alone
you
caused
to
stand
then
we
will
not
wander
from
you
turning
from
you
to
our
shame
strengthen
us
revive
and
heal
us
then
we'll
call
upon
your
name
look
on
us
Lord
God
almighty
let
us
see
your
glory
bright
turn
us
once
again
towards
you
come
and
save
us
give
us
light
we
stand
to sing
these
words
to
God's
praise
let
your
hand
be
placed
in
blessing
on
the
man
at
your
right
hand
on
the
son
of
man
you've
chosen
Then we'll call upon your name.
Look on us, Lord God Almighty,
Let us see your glory bright.
Turn us once again towards you.
Come and save us, give us light.
After the benediction, I'll go to the door to my left.
We'll close the benediction.
Now may grace, mercy, and peace from God,
Father, Son, and Holy Spirit,
that rest upon and abide with us all now and forevermore.
Amen.
Jenkins說