Can God Shake This Place?

Can God Shake This Place?

In our lifetime we have heard of, and seen on the news, the deadly destruction that earthquakes, in various parts of the word have left.

Mass destruction.

Cities have been decimated.

Homes and buildings completely destroyed.

10’ of thousands have been injured and 100,000’s have died.

Just like the power of water and fire,you have to have respect for the power of an earthquake.

Their power is destructive and they move with great power and speed.

It is something to be feared.

But can an earthquake be a good thing?

On first thought we would say no.

Something so destructive can not be good.

Something so devastating can not be good.

Something so deadly can not be good.

But in the hand of God anything can be good.

God can take anything that seems bad and use it for something good.

This evening we ask the question, “can God shake this place?”

(Paul and Silas were at a prayer meeting in Philippi.)

Acts 16:16-34

16 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 gain by soothsaying:

17 The same followed Paul and us, and cried, saying, These men are the servants of the most high God, which shew unto us the way of salvation.

18 And this did she many days. But Paul, being grieved, turned and said to the spirit, I command thee in the name of Jesus Christ to come out of her. And he came out the same hour.

19 And when her masters saw that the hope of their gains was gone, they caught Paul and Silas, and drew them into the marketplace unto the rulers,

20 And brought them to the magistrates, saying, These men, being Jews, do exceedingly trouble our city,

21 And teach customs, which are not lawful for us to receive, neither to observe, being Romans.

22 And the multitude rose up together against them: and the magistrates rent off their clothes, and commanded to beat them.

23 And when they had laid many stripes upon them, they cast them into prison, charging the jailor to keep them safely:

24 Who, having received such a charge, thrust them into the inner prison, and made their feet fast in the stocks.

25 And at midnight Paul and Silas prayed, and sang praises unto God: and the prisoners heard them.

26 And suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison were shaken: and immediately all the doors were opened, and every one’s bands were loosed.

27 And the keeper of the prison awaking out of his sleep, and seeing the prison doors open, he drew out his sword, and would have killed himself, supposing that the prisoners had been fled.

28 But Paul cried with a loud voice, saying, Do thyself no harm: for we are all here.

29 Then he called for a light, and sprang in, and came trembling, and fell down before Paul and Silas,

30 And brought them out, and said, Sirs, what must I do to be saved?

31 And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house.

32 And they spake unto him the word of the Lord, and to all that were in his house.

33 And he took them the same hour of the night, and washed their stripes; and was baptized, he and all his, straightway.

34 And when he had brought them into his house, he set meat before them, and rejoiced, believing in God with all his house.

Paul and Silas were courageous.

Paul and Silas were arrested for their work.

After all, they delivered a woman bound by Satan.

Isn’t it strange that people would love sin so much that they would fight you and resist you, even to their own destruction?

First, Paul and Silas were flogged. Literally they were beaten with rods.

Then, they were thrown into prison.

They were placed under tight security.

They were also placed in stocks. They made sure that these two fanatics were not getting away.

Oh yes, these guy’s were dangerous. They ran the devil out of this woman’s body and life, they’ve made sickness behave, caused death to flee, recruited people and promised them freedom if they would accept Christ as their king, taught them to hate the system and reject it’s teaching. Oh yes, they were dangerous. They had to be taken off the streets.

But Paul and Silas never gave up – They had courage and spirit.

And give up what?

There were souls that were lost, that need Jesus and they were determined to give their lives to bring them to Him.

Isn’t it amazing that everywhere you go or are placed, there is always someone who needs Christ? Tell them that Jesus loves them.