Introduction

Good morning, dear friends. As we gather here today, we are united by a common thread, a shared faith that binds us together. It is this faith that strengthens us, that guides us, and that brings us here today. We are here to celebrate, to learn, and to grow together. And in this gathering, we are not alone. We are joined by the company of saints who have gone before us, whose wisdom and insight continue to illuminate our path. One such saint is the renowned preacher Charles Spurgeon, who once said, "Faith goes up the stairs that love has built and looks out the windows which hope has opened."

In this passage, we find Paul and Silas in the midst of a dire situation. Yet, they believed in God's goodness, bore through tough times, and bestowed praise in all circumstances. What can we learn from their example? How can we apply their faith and fortitude to our own lives?

Believing in God's Goodness

Amid their dire circumstances, Paul and Silas held fast to their belief in the goodness of God. This belief was a deep-seated conviction that shaped their attitudes, their actions, and their responses to the challenges they faced.

They didn't believe in God's goodness because they were in a comfortable, safe, and secure environment. On the contrary, they were in a prison, a place of confinement, restriction, and discomfort. Yet, even in such a place, they held fast to their belief in God's goodness. This tells us that their belief was not dependent on their circumstances, but was a fundamental part of their understanding and experience of God.

Moreover, their belief in God's goodness came from their active faith. They prayed, they sang praises, they bore witness to their faith.

Furthermore, their belief in God's goodness wasn’t kept to themselves. Rather than keeping it hidden away in the privacy of their own hearts, they shared it with others. The prisoners heard them, the jailer heard them, and as a result, they too came to believe in the goodness of God. This tells us that their belief was not a private matter, but a communal one, shared with and strengthened by the community of believers.

In the same way, our belief in God's goodness should not be a product of our circumstances. Instead, it should be a fundamental part of our understanding and experience of God, an active participation in the unfolding of God's plan, a communal belief shared with and strengthened by the community of believers, and a public witness to the goodness of God.

Bearing Through Tough Times

Amid the midnight hour, Paul and Silas found themselves in a dire situation ... View this full PRO sermon free with PRO