Decide Now! Series

-Life Lessons from the Chief of Sinners-

Decide Now

Acts 16:16-34

Introduction

Many people live under the spell of procrastination - especially of things that they would rather not do. It always seems there is something more important now that keeps me from the thing I do not want to do.

Psychologist Dr. Joseph Ferrari says that “20 percent of adult women and men self-identify as “chronic procrastinators,” meaning they purposively delay tasks at home, school, work, in relationships, appointments. ... These 20 percent chronic procrastinators don’t RSVP on time, fail to mail greeting cards on time for celebrations, wait until the gas tank is empty before refilling, have food spoiling in the refrigerator because it got old, receive multiple late notices for unpaid bills, stay up late at night unable to go to bed, etc. This is their lifestyle.”

Best known quote about Procrastination is probably Benjamin Franklin’s: “Never leave till tomorrow that which you can do today.” Probably the most lived, is Mark Twain’s: “Never put off till tomorrow what may be done day after tomorrow just as well.”

In our text today we find a family that is not given to procrastination - they want to follow Jesus NOW. Now is the perfect time to follow Jesus!

2 Corinthians 6:2 “For he says, “In a favorable time I listened to you, and in a day of salvation I have helped you.” Behold, now is the favorable time; behold, now is the day of salvation.”

We’ve been learning life lessons from the Chief of Sinners.

- Discern the true hope found in Jesus

- Accept the Truth when you hear it

- Partner up to find encouragement

- Open your Heart to Jesus

- Today’s Life Lesson: Decide Now to follow Jesus.

1. Paul Preaches His Way to Prison (Acts 16:16-34)

In Acts 13-14 Paul and Barnabas travel on missionary journeys. At the end of chapter 15 they part ways and Paul takes Silas and Timothy to be his partners. They travel to Philippi and meet Lydia, who is baptized. They stayed there some time.

Acts 16:16-18 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 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.

This demon possessed girl is being exploited by ‘owners’. When healed, the girl’s owners were left without income. They must have been connected to powerful people. Paul and Silas severely beaten, thrown into prison. Acts 16:24 The jailer … “put them into the inner prison and fastened their feet in stocks.”

What would you do if you were Paul and Silas? Imprisoned unjustly, beaten and sore? Paul and Silas turned their hearts toward the Risen Christ. They began to sing and something amazing happened.

Acts 16:25-28 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 that 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.”

The jailor considered suicide, that tells us about the kind of people he worked for.

Acts 16:29-34 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, “Sirs, 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.

That jailer wasn’t a procrastinator when he heard the greatest news ever - Jesus is the Risen Savior!

2. DECIDE NOW!

*Decide Now to Sing! Appeal to God in Prayer and Praise! Beaten and bloodied, Paul and Silas sang praises! Praise is not just for happy times, but for all times! Jesus broke the chains of death for us and He can help us through our roughest times.Lyrics by Casting Crowns "And I'll praise you in this storm, And I will lift my hands, For you are who you are, No matter where I am. And every tear I've cried, You hold in your hand, You never left my side, And though my heart is torn, I will praise you in this storm”